Germany: Complete Season 24 DVD boxed set in November

Saturday, 6 September 2014 - Written by Pascal Salzmann

German DVD distributor Pandastorm have announced the release of the DVD boxed set Siebter Doctor Volume 1 (Seventh Doctor Volume 1).

The set contains the complete Season 24, featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, and includes all special features that were present on the single story DVD releases in the UK. According to the website of Pandastorm's distribution partner wvg the discs will run for approximately 350 minutes plus 328 minutes of bonus features. Audio and subtitles will be in English and German.

The description for the DVDs reads as follows:

Die erfolgreiche Sci-Fi-Kultserie öffnet die Tore zu ihrer Vergangenheit. Die Abenteuer des siebten Doctors erstmalig in Deutschland auf DVD. Mit über 5 Std. Bonusmaterial und Booklet. Sylvester McCoy's (Radagast aus „Der Hobbit“ Trilogie) erste Staffel in der Rolle des siebten Doctors ist ein schriller, bunter und witziger Trip durchs All. Dabei begegnet er einer gefährlichen Widersacherin: Die Rani. Diese hat sich mit einem Volk menschengroßer Fledermauswesen verbündet, um die Macht über das Universum zu übernehmen. Auf einem Eisplaneten muss er zudem gegen den skrupellosen Schatzjäger Sabalom Glitz und den Sklavenhalter Kane kämpfen, der mit einer einzigen Berührung seine Gegner zu Eis gefrieren lassen kann. Und trifft schließlich auf die junge Ausreißerin Ace, die den Doctor fortan auf seinen Reisen begleitet und sich als einer der beliebtesten Companions der Seriengeschichte entpuppen soll.

The most successful Sci-Fi cult series opens the doors to its past. The adventures if the seventh Doctor on DVD for the first time. Featuring over 5 hours of bonus material and a booklet. Sylvester McCoy's (Radagast from "The Hobbit" trilogy) first season in the role of the seventh Doctor is a jarring, colourful and funny trip through the galaxy. On it he meets a dangerous enemy: the Rani. The Rani has an alliance with a race of huge bat-like creatures in her plan to rule the universe. On an Iceplanet he fights against the ruthless treasure hunter Sabalom Glitz and the slave trader Kane, who is able to freeze someone to ice with a single touch. And finally he meets the young runaway Ace, who is going to travel with the Doctor and who is seen as one of the most popular companions in the history of the show.

The DVD boxed set will be released on 28th November 2014 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon Germany.

FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Classic Series - Germany - Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #2

Saturday, 6 September 2014 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #2 is out next Wednesday, September 10 and Titan have released a sneak preview.

When the Doctor last visited Rokhandi, it was a planet of such stunning natural beauty that an entire solar system had sworn to preserve it. What better place to take new companion Alice Obiefune on her first off-world adventure?

And it would have been a magical vacation… if the TARDIS hadn’t overshot by fifty years. Now the austerity-hit pleasure planet has become a ‘theme safari’ corporate hell, overrun by eerie, giant-headed mascots and a trillion tramping tourist feet!

But there’s something more sinister at play than rampant commercialism and ecological devastation… and the Doctor and Alice need to uncover all of Rokhandi’s long-buried secrets if they’re to escape with their lives!

Writer Al Ewing (Loki: Agent of Asgard) and artist Simon Fraser (Grindhouse) request that you have a nice day, whichever system you’re from. We hope to SERVE YOU again in the future!

Next week also sees the release of second printings of both sell-out debut issues of Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor #1 and Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor #1. These feature two bold second printing covers by Alice X Zhang.

FILTER: - Comics - Eleventh Doctor

Official BBC Online Shop Launches in Australia and New Zealand

Friday, 5 September 2014 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide have today launched an official online shop in Australia and New Zealand.

Available are a range of over 2,000 clothing, homeware, merchandise, toys and DVD products from a host of popular BBC brands including Doctor Who, Sherlock, Top Gear, BBC Earth and CBeebies, are now available to purchase, including:

Doctor Who DVD’s, clothing, homeware, toys and gadgets, from Sonic Screwdrivers and Vortex Manipulators to TARDIS iPhone 5 covers and Cyberman mugs
The latest Top Gear DVD’s, books, clothing, and gift products, including all things ‘Stig’
Sherlock products previously unavailable in Australia and New Zealand, including ‘Highly Functioning Sociopath’ mugs and t-shirts

New and exclusive products will continue to be added to the site as soon as they become available. Other features of the site include free delivery on orders over $100, recommendations based on browsing and the opportunity to sign up for alerts on the latest products and offers.

The launch follows on from the success of the dedicated Doctor Who e-commerce shop in Australia last year, which marked the 50th anniversary of the show.Doctor Who and Sherlock fans in Sydney can also currently purchase a range of products at the Doctor Who pop-up shop, Shop 9.28A World Square Shopping Centre, 644 George St.

Elie Mansour, Head of Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide ANZ said

As a company we are looking to get ever closer to our consumers, and this site provides us with an advanced platform to take our content and products directly to them. The BBC and its brands are hugely popular across Australia and New Zealand, so we’re thrilled to be able to offer fans with the convenience of a dedicated online shop.

The shop can be found at bbcshop.com.au

FILTER: - Australia - Doctor Who - Merchandise - New Zealand

Doctor Who Extra: Red Button times

Friday, 22 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, with Jenna Coleman as Clara (Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)

The new online behind-the-scenes programme Doctor Who Extra will also be available on British television via the BBC's Red Button service at the following times over the course of next week:

Sunday	6:15pm-7:00pm
Tuesday	5:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday	10:00am-4:00pm
Thursday	5:00pm-9:00pm
Friday	3:45pm-11:00pm
Saturday	2:00am-6:00am

Doctor Who Extra will be available online via the BBC iPlayer.

FILTER: - Doctor Who Extra - Series 8/34 - UK

Doctor Who Extra

Wednesday, 20 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has today announced Doctor Who Extra - a brand new series, exclusively on BBC iPlayer.

Doctor Who Extra will follow Peter Capaldi every step of the way throughout the creation of his first season as the Doctor. Over the course of 12 programmes it will trace the highs and lows of Doctor Who’s most ambitious run of episodes yet, getting the inside take on series 8 from the people who made it.

The Doctor Who Extra team had unparalleled access to stars including Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Samuel Anderson (series regular Danny Pink) plus guests Frank Skinner, Keeley Hawes, Michelle Gomez, Ben Miller, Foxes and many more. Writers, such as Lead Writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat, and directors also contribute as they spill the beans on the on and off-screen drama.

Casual viewers will enjoy the fun, fast pace and lighter side of Doctor Who Extra but there’s plenty for fans, too, with a quick dip into the archive for every edition, reflecting on how Doctor Who’s history is echoed in this current series.

Doctor Who Extra is described as essential viewing for everyone who’s ever watched Doctor Who and wondered what it’s a like to be a part of the team that brings this global phenomena to our screens.

Doctor Who Extra is produced by BBC Cymru Wales and executive produced by Steven Moffat, Brian Minchin and Jo Pearce. Each 10 minute Doctor Who Extra episode will be available after that week’s Doctor Who episode on BBC One. It will also be available via the BBC's Red Button.

FILTER: - Doctor Who Extra - Series 8/34

Doctor Who Magazine Special: The Year Of The Doctor

Friday, 15 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus

Discover the behind-the-scenes secrets of the most exciting year in Doctor Who's long history in the latest Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition. Doctor Who celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013, marking half a century of time-travel adventures. The Year of the Doctor is researched and compiled by Andrew Pixley, and has 100 pages packed with previously unpublished photos, day-to-day details of Doctor Who’s production and hundreds of fascinating new facts.

This essential guide contains in-depth articles on the Paul McGann mini-episode The Night of the Doctor; the 50th Anniversary Special The Day of the Doctor; Matt Smith's final story The Time of Doctor; the drama based on the origins of the series, An Adventure in Space and Time; the hilarious The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot; Doctor Who at the Proms 2013; the Brian Cox lecture The Science of Doctor Who; the documentaries Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide and Me, You and Doctor Who; Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty; and much, much more!

The Year of the Doctor is in shops now, priced £5.99.

FILTER: - Day of the Doctor - DWM - Matt Smith - Time and the Doctor

More tickets available for free-to-attend Series 8 launch party

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - Reported by John Bowman

More tickets to a Series 8 launch celebration that is free to attend are up for grabs.

The Twelfth Knight Party is being held in London on Saturday 23rd August, starting at 3pm, with Deep Breath and any accompanying Doctor Who programming broadcast that afternoon and evening being shown live on big screens.

Organised by Jeremy and Paula Bentham together with Tony Clark, the party - which is open to all people aged 18 and over - was announced before it emerged that the series opener would be simulscreened at cinemas. This has led to cancellations for ticket applications for the free event.

Jeremy told Doctor Who News:

The announcement of nationwide Deep Breath cinema screenings has led to some changes of plan by around 100 people who had earlier pre-registered to attend the party.

I'm therefore delighted to have both the time and the opportunity to offer these "spares" to people who would like to see for free the opening episode of Series 8, plus any other Doctor Who programming being aired while the party takes place, on super-size TV screens in a party environment rather than a popcorn one.

Food and drink will be available to buy at the venue, which is installing extra 55-inch screens.

To apply for tickets, e-mail Jeremy at jjbentham@aol.com by the revised closing date of Sunday 17th August, using the subject line Twelfth Knight ticket applications and stating your name as well as how many people will be in your group.

Tickets and exact details of where the party is being held will be despatched the next day by e-mail. Please note that admission will be by ticket only.

London Transport links for the weekend are currently reported as being good, although people are still urged to consider their transport options for getting home afterwards, as the event will finish late.

Since the show returned to TV screens in 2005, the organisers have held a series of highly popular event parties in London, most recently the Doc Lands @ 50 Party, which took place on 23rd November 2013 to mark the programme's 50th anniversary.

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Premiere - Events - Series 8/34 - Special Events - UK

Planet 55 statement regarding Doctor Who animations

Thursday, 7 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Animation studio Planet 55 have issued the following statement regarding their involvement with creating animated episodes of Doctor Who:

Planet 55 Studios (Credit: Planet 55 Studios)

There have been many queries about Planet 55 Studios's work on Doctor Who and whether we are doing any more.

To date, Planet 55 Studios has completed work on three Doctor Who animated reconstructions for BBC Worldwide's DVD range: The Reign of Terror, The Tenth Planet and most recently The Moonbase. We really enjoyed creating those but they are the only Doctor Who stories Planet 55 Studios have worked on and there are no plans to work on any more.

At the moment the company is focused on animation projects completely unconnected to Doctor Who.

The release comes as the status of the last expected classic series DVD, The Underwater Menace, remains uncertain.

FILTER: - Animation - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Second Doctor

Enumerate! Enumerate! Sesame Street Spoofs Doctor Who

Monday, 4 August 2014 - Reviewed by Alex Frazer-Harrison

Can you tell me how to get to Paternoster Row?

Iconic US children's show Sesame Street starts its 45th season on PBS this fall, and it's turning its eyes to the skies by promising spoofs of a number of sci-fi franchises, including Doctor Who.

Sesame Workshop, producers of the series that introduced Bert, Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster and Elmo to the world recently released a YouTube promo set at "Numeric Con" (a spoof of Comic-Con), where familiar characters don costumes based on Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and other characters. We see one Muppet impersonating Capt. Kirk, another Wolverine, and we catch glimpses of the first-ever Muppet Daleks standing next to a TARDIS-like phone box. Look fast and you'll also spot one of the show's human stars dressed in a very familiar-looking multi-coloured scarf (as a character called Doctor Two).

PBS, of course, has a long association with Doctor Who, as many of its affiliates began airing the Classic Era in the 1970s and '80s, and many also picked up the Modern Era. Sesame Street, meanwhile, seems to be getting a serious attack of the cools in its old age, as the show is planning spoofs of The Avengers and even (though this just sounds wrong, somehow) Game of Thrones.

Check out the minute-long preview in the player below. Sesame Street Season 45 is scheduled to debut on September 15, 2014 on American PBS stations. The Numeric Con episode will air on September 18, 2014, and was previewed at the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Read about that (and why Nerdist host Chris Hardwick thinks Oscar the Grouch deserves a role in Doctor Who) here.

Sesame Street: Numeric Con YouTube

FILTER: - Doctor Who

Cineworld Competition

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus

Cineworld West India Quay are offering readers of Doctor Who News two tickets to the screening of Peter Capaldi's debut in Doctor Who, Deep Breath.

The screening takes place on the evening of 23rd August at the cinema in Canary Wharf in London. Winners would need to make their own way to the location. To enter just tell us the name of the previous character played by Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who. Send entries to comp-cineworld@doctorwhonews.net. Competition closes on 15 August 2014.

FILTER: - Competitions - Doctor Who

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