Soundtrack releases for The Sun Makers and The Visitation

Saturday, 14 March 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Silva Screen Records have now released details on the forthcoming CD releases of the soundtracks for the fourth Doctor adventure The Sun Makers by Dudley Simpson, and fifth Doctor tale The Visitation by Paddy Kingsland.

The Sun Makers - soundtrack (Credit: Silva Screen)

The Sun Makers
Music by Dudley Simpson

1. Doctor Who Opening Title Theme
2. Death and Taxes
3. Mahogany
4. One Thousand Metres
5. Six Suns
6. The Others
7. Subway 13
8. Subway 13 (Continued)
9. A Heart as Big as your Mouth
10. A Little Hop
11. Jelly Babies
12. Something in the Air
13. K9, Bite!

14. Humbug
15. The P45 Return Route
16. The P45 Return Route (Reprise)
17. Morton's Fork
18. I’ve Heard That One, Too
19. The Rebellion Begins
20. Static Loop
21. The Steaming
22. The Steaming Continued
23. Gentlemen, Good Luck
24. Nobody Works Today
25. The Gatherer Excised
26. Doctor Who Closing Title Theme (53" Version)

The Visitation - soundtrack (Credit: Silva Screen)

The Visitation
Music by Paddy Kingsland

1. Doctor Who 1980 (Opening Titles)
2. Have you Seen the Sky?
3. Heathrow, 1666
4. Richard Mace & The Miller
5. A Fascinating Wall
6. An Incredible Illusion
7. Death in the Cellar
8. Activation
9. Grim
10. The Poacher and his Friends
11. Looking for the Miller / Not Again!
12. Trouble at the Mill
13. Laying a Trap

14. More Trouble at the Mill
15. Oh for a Proper Key
16. The End for us All
17. A Final Visitation
18. Almost Your Old Self
19. Eureka!
20. The Sonic Booster
21. Almost as if we were Expected
22. The Great Fire
23. Doctor Who Closing Title Theme
24. Activation (Unused Version 1)
25. Not Again! (Unused Version 1)

Paddy Kingsland reminisces about the process for the score:

We decided early on that the music should have a period flavour together with the usual high tech (at the time!) synthesiser sounds. Peter was my favourite Doctor Who director and was always enormously encouraging and positive... he generously gave me the freedom to do my own thing, but always knew if something needed to be adjusted. I had about a week to put together the music for an episode before going to the dub… the score is quite sombre although there are elements of “yea verily” type music to set some scenes, which have a lighter texture. I played all the parts, using the synthesisers of the day, Oberheim, Roland and ARP, adding bass guitar plus drums and cymbals… not to mention my trusty Fender Mustang guitar.

Both CDs are due to be released on 1st May 2020.

FILTER: - Fifth Doctor - Fourth Doctor - Music

Lethbridge-Stewart: The George Kostinen Mystery.

Saturday, 14 March 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books have announced the next book in their Bloodlines series of Lethbridge-Stewart.

Lethbridge-Stewart: Bloodlines: The George Kostinen Mystery (Credit: Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: Bloodlines: The George Kostinen Mystery
Written by Chris Lynch
Cover by Adrian Salmon

With the fate of every reality hanging in the balance, the Accord sends Lethbridge-Stewart to a brand-new version of Earth.

His mission: to find Lucy Wilson. She is the final agent the Accord needs to fix the damage done to the quantum realm, but the world Lethbridge-Stewart finds himself in is quite unlike anything he’s ever seen before.

A dystopian nightmare, the UK is caught in a power struggle between the Clown Tithe, the deadly Kruge and the ever-mysterious Volpertinger.

Lethbridge-Stewart’s only ally in this nightmare world is a sixteen-year-old boy from Ogmore-by-Sea called George Kostinen. A boy who, in the real world, should be best friends with Lucy Wilson. Only is this reality – he’s barely heard of her!

How can Lethbridge-Stewart’s mission succeed when Lucy Wilson is a nobody? A girl who’s never even heard the name Lethbridge-Stewart before…

Following last year’s crossover between the Lethbridge-Stewart and The Lucy Wilson Mysteries range of novels, comes a new crossover event. The George Kostinen Mystery is written by Chris Lynch, whose work includes The Lucy Wilson Mysteries novel, Curse of the Mirror Clowns.

Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says:

Bloodlines was always about taking a different look at our own characters, so this was a nice chance to offer up a unique look at the world inhabited by Lucy Wilson and her friend Hobo – only seen through a distorted mirror. The obvious choice for me was Chris – we haven’t actually worked together before, but we spent a lovely day at a convention a couple of years ago and after meeting to discuss the potential of this book, I knew he was the right man for the job. We had much success with our Lethbridge-Stewart/Lucy Wilson crossover project last year, but obviously we don’t want to hit the same beats again. The George Kostinen Mystery is a crossover quite unlike the previous one.

Chris Lynch says:

Andy and all the writers who have worked on the Lethbridge Stewart range before me have created such an intricate, well-realised universe that I have to confess I was a little nervous about stepping into it. It's somewhat like being given a very beautiful, very complicated grandfather clock and then being asked to service a number of vital parts using only a butter knife while wearing a blindfold. Thankfully, I've been let loose in my little pocket dimension where I can forget about butter knives and go at this thing with a nuclear-powered chainsaw. It's enormous fun putting Lethbridge-Stewart, George, and all other characters through the ringer, transforming jolly old Blighty into a dystopian nightmare, creating new creatures to scare people with, and revisiting my very first addition to this universe – the Clowns.”

The cover is by regular Lethbridge-Stewart contributor, Adrian Salmon. Adrian says:

This was a fascinating cover to compose because of the various components and the fact I had the honour of being only the second artist to interpret Lucy Wilson on a cover – the less said about getting her hair style right the better! The Kruge were a lot of fun to draw, and if you look closely you’ll spot the little drawings of their victims faces scratched into their armour.

The George Kostinen Mystery will be followed by Back to the Past, which wraps up the Bloodlines saga, and then the final book of series seven which will see a return to the Schizoid Earth in I, Alastair.

The book is available for pre-order now, an is including in the book subscription with Candy Jar Books.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

Doctor Who Comes to Roblox

Thursday, 12 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

A set of Doctor Who virtual items are available for free this month for the Roblox community to enjoy.

BBC Studios and Roblox today announced the launch of a series of Doctor Who-themed virtual items on Roblox, a global online platform bringing more than 115 million people together through play.

Players can now personalize their avatar with a variety of Doctor Who-themed items, including a TARDIS backpack, and avatars of The Tenth and Thirteenth Doctor, all obtainable for free, from the Roblox Avatar Shop.

These items are available for a limited time (12th March-26th March) and include:

The Pterrible Pting
This tiny terror from Doctor Who can eat any inorganic material. Thankfully, however, it won’t eat any organic material (meaning you).

Portable TARDIS
Funny thing about this backpack…it’s much, much bigger on the inside.

The Tenth Doctor
Two legs, two arms, two hands, BIG hair…and sideburns! This bundle is based on David Tennant’s character in Doctor Who.

The Thirteenth Doctor
This bundle, made of a bit of adrenaline, a dash of outrage, and a hint of panic, is based on Jodie Whittaker’s character in Doctor Who.

Christina Wootton, Vice President of Brand Partnerships, Roblox, said:

On Roblox your online identity is a powerful tool that helps our community express who they are and who they want to become. We are delighted to partner with Doctor Who, whose diverse set of characters inspire the freedom and creativity that help our community define who they are in the real world as much as the virtual world.

Sarah Bold, BBC Studios Global Franchise Head of Marketing for Drama, said:

The Doctor Who fan community is renowned for creativity making it a joy to take the TARDIS to Roblox where millions of fans will be able to play and create with these new items.

FILTER: - Games - Tenth Doctor - Thirteenth Doctor

Timeless Children - Official Ratings

Monday, 9 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

The Timeless Children: The Master (Sacha Dhawan), The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) (Credit: BBC Studios (James Pardon))

The conclusion to this year's series of Doctor Who, The Timeless Children, had an official rating of 4.69 million viewers, according to figures released by the Broadcasting Research Audience Board, BARB.

The figure is the lowest consolidated figure for an epiosde of Doctor Who since the series returned in 2005, a record previously held by the 2017 story, The Eaters of Light. Out of 861 episodes of Doctor Who broadcast since 1963, only 33 have achieved a lower rating.

To put the figue in perspective, it was still the 30th most-watched programme on British TV for the week, much higher that the position achieved by the majority of episodes of Doctor Who shown over the years. The episode had a 21.5% share of the total TV audience.

In detail 4.55 million watched the episode on a conventional TV set. An additional 70,000 watched on their PC, 39,000 watched on a Tablet device and 34,000 watched on a smartphone.

Top for the week was Ant and Dec's Saturday Takeaway on ITV with 7.41 million watching. The top BBC programme was the drama Death in Paradise with 6.78 million.

Doctor Who had an Appreciation Index score of 82

The average viweing figures for 2020 now stands at 5.40m as oposed to 7.96m for Series 11 in 2018. This is lower than Series 10 which averaged 5.64m. It is still higher than the lowest rated season, season 26 which averaged 4.31m .

FILTER: - Ratings - Series 12/38 - UK

Hero Collector Launches New Doctor Who Chibi Range

Saturday, 7 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Chibi (Credit: Hero Collector )

Hero Collector has launched the newest entries in its range of Doctor Who Chibi merchandise: fun pin badges and socks, decorated with chibi-style Doctor Who art.

Hero Collector designs, manufacturers, and publishers of high-quality collectables from across the worlds of pop culture. They already offer pin badges for each incarnation of The Doctor, from William Hartnell's first incarnation to Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor. Now the darker side of the Doctor’s adventures is coming out to play, with almost a dozen iconic monsters captured as chibi-style metal pin badges!

Fans can collect a relentless Cyberman, reptilian Ice Warrior, diminutive Sontaran, wide-eyed Slitheen, terrifying Weeping Angel, ominous Ood, cold-hearted Snowman, an eerie Silent, and three different designs of Dalek.

These badges can be collected individually or as part of three new box sets, collecting Classic Doctors, Modern Doctors, and Monsters. Each design makes a perfect addition to any outfit – even better than a decorative stick of celery…

Plus, fans looking to add a little menace to their footwear can grab three new pairs of Doctor Who Chibi socks – the Cybermen, Daleks, or Weeping Angels decorate these sinister socks, which are 80% cotton and equal parts scary and soft!

These new Chibi Pin Badges and Chibi Monster Socks are all available exclusively on the Hero Collector webstore.

Pin Badges retail at £5.99, or £34.99 in a3 seven-badge box set. Socks retail at £4.99, or £11.99 in a three-pair set.

FILTER: - Merchandise

Doctor Who Series 12 - Official Soundtrack

Thursday, 5 March 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Series 12 Official Soundtrack (Credit: Silva Screen)

Silva Screen Records have announced a two-volume release of Segun Akinola's score for the latest series of Doctor Who, due out on 3rd April 2020 both digitally and on CD.

The composer said:

From the experimental sounds of ‘Orphan 55’ to the emotional rollercoaster of ‘The Timeless Children’, it’s been a complete joy working on the music for Series 12 and I hope that whilst listening to this album, fans can relive all their favourite moments.

Track Listing:

Volume 1
1. Series 12 Opening Titles
2. The Attacks
3. Hold On
4. MI6
5. Beyond Your Understanding
6. Doctor, The Doctor
7. Going Undercover
8. The Spy Master
9. Don’t Panic
10. The Incredible Shrinking Device
11. Thank You
12. The Lie
13. Tranquility Spa
14. Stay Alive
15. One Possible Future
16. Big Fat Liar
17. The American Sense of Humour
18. Official Eviction Notice
19. Superior Minds
20. The Future Is Mine
21. Judoon Warning Transmission
22. You Missed Me, Right?
23. Fugitive Identified
24. The Lighthouse
25. Something Is Coming for Me

Volume 2
1. Together and Alone
2. Praxeus
3. Three Idiots Roaming
4. Get Everyone Out
5. The Bloke Watching Your Dreams
6. His Eternal Partner
7. It’s Not Just You
8. Tales of The Dead
9. A Traveller Moving Through Time
10. Quicksilver
11. She Was the Universe
12. Brendan
13. Be Afraid
14. The Fall
15. The Ascension Shall Begin
16. Everything Is About to Change
17. Tecteun
18. Time Lords
19. The Division
20. CyberMasters
21. My Penance
22. Home Sweet Home
23. Ascension of the Cybermen End Credits

Series showrunner Chris Chibnall said:

Segun’s music is a key component of the Thirteenth Doctor’s era - his extraordinarily eclectic, bold and emotional scores for the series are part of Doctor Who’s identity. From lush orchestral spy movie arrangements to experimental soundscapes, this collection showcases the range, ambition, precision and brilliance of Segun as a composer - and demonstrates how lucky Doctor Who is to have a composer of Segun’s calibre providing dynamic and fresh new scores every episode. No Doctor Who fan should be without it, and no lover of contemporary film scores should miss it.

Creating the Music (YouTube)

FILTER: - Music - Series 12/38

The Trip of a Lifetime – The Making of Modern Doctor Who

Thursday, 5 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

Obverse Books has announced a new book written by former Doctor Who brand manager Edward Russell, looking at the making of Doctor Who from its return in 2005 through to the casting of the first female Doctor in 2018.

Edward Russell on the show throughout the David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi years, and is one of the few people to have an intimate back-stage knowledge of the BBC show. His is able to comment on every aspect of the production from behind the scenes.

With responsibility for everything from day to day publicity to large scale media events, and with a working relationship with the creative team over 12 years of filming, Edward is uniquely placed to shed light on the personalities and processes which go into building a television legend.

There have been a plethora of books about Doctor Who, but speaking to Russell it quickly becomes clear that his was a new – and very well informed – perspective.

Growing up as a fan of Doctor Who since the early 1970s, it was a dream come true to join the team in Cardiff a short while after it returned to screens in 2005. So much has been written about the series that it may surprise fans to know that there are many stories that they haven’t heard. I was at the heart of production throughout the David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi eras and am looking forward to sharing the secrets from that time.

Not only will I discuss in detail how we made the show, I’m also going to cover all the incredible activity around it such us the conventions, the exhibitions, the World Tours, the musical concerts and the mammoth celebrations in the show’s fiftieth year such as a trip to Buckingham Palace and the recovery of long lost episodes. And it’s not just Doctor Who – we also made Torchwood, Class and the Sarah Jane Adventures – all of which will be included.

This is the story of how Russell T Davies took a long gone, but fondly remembered, cult tv show and turned it into a broadcasting phenomenon, and how Steven Moffat then took over the baton and ran with it. Russell sumed up the experience in one sentence.

It was often hard work and stressful, but it was also a lot of fun and I can’t wait to share the joy of that wonderful adventure.

The Trip of a Lifetime – The Making of Modern Doctor Who will be available in Winter 2020, from Obverse Books.

FILTER: - Books

Doctor Who Series 12 - Official Soundtrack

Thursday, 5 March 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Track Listing:

Series showrunner Chris Chibnall said:

Creating the Music (YouTube)

FILTER: - Music - Series 12/38

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 549

Wednesday, 4 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine has an exclusive interview with Jo Martin, who guest-starred as the Doctor in Fugitive of the Judoon and The Timeless Children.

Other highlights include:

Ray Holman reveals how he created the costume worn by Jo Martin’s Doctor.
A celebration of ten years of the Eleventh Doctor with new insights from former showrunner Steven Moffat.
An exclusive preview of the new, animated version of The Faceless Ones.
A disc-by-disc guide to the new Season 14 Blu-ray box set.
The second part of an interview with Timothy Combe, director of Doctor Who and the Silurians and The Mind of Evil.
Plot Devices revisits some of the real historical figures the Doctor has met over the years.
The Fact of Fiction continues its epic exploration of The Daleks’ Master Plan.
How to recreate the Fifth Doctor’s costume.
A new series of articles begins with a look back at The Fishmen of Kandalinga.
Updates on Doctor Who luminaries, past and present, with Time and Space Visualiser.
Public Image looks at how Doctor Who is doing in the TV ratings.
Share your views about the latest series of Doctor Who in the annual season survey.
Part One of The Piggybackers, a new comic-strip adventure featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and her friends.
Big Finish previews and reviews, news, prize-winning competitions, The Blogs of Doom and much more!

On sale from Thursday 5 March 2020 £5.99 (UK)

FILTER: -

Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens - Escape Game

Tuesday, 3 March 2020 - Reported by Marcus

A Dalek Awakens (Credit: Escape Hunt / BBC Studios)

BBC Studios and Escape Hunt have announced a brand-new Doctor Who escape room, Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens.

The newest game can be booked from today at Escape Hunt Reading and Birmingham Resorts World with several other venues, including Norwich and Basingstoke, opening throughout 2020.

Players will step onboard a doomed spaceship, invaded by the fearsome Dalek. This age-old enemy has tapped into the ship’s power system and is preparing for a path of ruthless extermination, the only way for teams to stop the Dalek, is to shut down the ship’s power.

But by shutting down the power, players will also shut down the ship’s life support system, risking the lives of all 10,000 passengers and crew on board.

Teams of up to six are given 60 minutes to solve the puzzles, resolve this impossible situation and prevent catastrophe before the time runs out and extermination is guaranteed for all.

Richard Harpham, CEO Escape Hunt PLC, says

We are delighted to be creating a second game, Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens, with BBC Studios following the success of our first game with them, Doctor Who: World’s Collide.

Doctor Who has a loyal and dedicated fanbase which we have seen from the success of our first game, so to be able to bring some variety to the public with a brand new and innovative game centred around the iconic Dalek characters is an exciting prospect for Escape Hunt.

We look forward to bringing the new game to life at Escape Hunt venues across the UK.

Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens is playable at Escape Hunt Reading from the 9th March and at Birmingham Resorts World from 11th March, while fans in Norwich and Basingstoke can sign up to hear when the immersive adventure is available to book in their cities.

Tickets for Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens are from £25 and are on sale now via escapehunt.com/doctor-who

FILTER: - Games

Previous 10 Stories

Soundtrack releases for The Sun Makers and The Visitation

Lethbridge-Stewart: The George Kostinen Mystery.

Doctor Who Comes to Roblox

Timeless Children - Official Ratings

Hero Collector Launches New Doctor Who Chibi Range

Doctor Who Series 12 - Official Soundtrack

The Trip of a Lifetime – The Making of Modern Doctor Who

Doctor Who Series 12 - Official Soundtrack

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 549

Doctor Who: A Dalek Awakens - Escape Game

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