Shakespeare Code AI Figure

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Saturday's showing of episode two achieved an Appreciation Index score of 87.

This once more places the programme in the excellent category, the average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77.

Doctor Who was the most appreciated programme of the weekend and got the second highest figure for the week, only being beaten by Life on Marswith 88.

In the Multi channel figures, where programmes tend to get higher appreciation figures, the April Fool's day repeat of Smith and Jonesscored an exceptional 90 and the Friday repeat 89

Saturday's Doctor Who Confidential scored 85.

The Appreciation Index, or AI, is a measure of how much the audience liked the programme. It is a score out of 100, based on responses from a carefully selected panel. The average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77. A score in excess of 85 is regarded as excellent while a score below 60 is poor.






FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Possible Gridlock Delay Confirmed

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The new edition of the Radio Times, out today, confirms that Gridlock - episode three of Series Three - will be shown on April 21 rather than April 14 if the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Watford, which precedes it, goes into extra time/penalties, as reported by Outpost Gallifrey on April 7.

How this would affect subsequent episodes is unknown. According to the "Next week in RT" banner at the back of the new edition of the listings magazine, Radio Times is planning a cover story for its edition dated 21-27 April to coincide with the start of the Dalek two-parter, which had been scheduled to go out on April 21 and 28.

Full details of what would happen to tie-in programme scheduling have been published by the CBBC Newsroundwebsite. They are as reproduced below.

(Thanks to Lizo Mzimba for the additional information.)
If the teams are drawing, and extra time has to be played, then the showing of episode three - Gridlock - will be delayed for a week.

It will also mean that behind the scenes show Doctor Who Confidential which usually goes out on BBC Three straight after each episode will go out a week later.

Instead viewers will be given another chance to see the first episode of the first series, Rose.

Extra time in the football will also mean changes on Sunday on BBC Three, when Saturday's episode is usually repeated. If Saturday's showing is delayed because of the football, the 2005 Christmas Special The Xmas Invasion will be on instead.

It also looks extremely likely that the following Friday's episode of Totally Doctor Who will have to go out a week later too.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Radio Times - Broadcasting

Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Big Finish Productions has released information about their upcoming guide to Bernice Summerfield.Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story is due out in October. Ranging from her first appearance inLove and War by Paul Cornell through current season ender The Wake, this chronicle of the first 15 years of Benny's life is penned bySimon Guerrier.
She has brought down empires and decided the fate of the universe. She is feared by the creatures of evil and revered wherever people have had just a little bit too much to drink.

And Bernice Surprise Summerfield is only just turning 15.

The Inside Story charts the history of everyone's favourite space archaeologist. We follow Bernice from her first appearance in Paul Cornell's novel Love and War, through more than 150 books and audio plays to the Draconian-Mim war and the shocking events of The Wake.

The Inside Story talks to all those involved in her development. Find out how she came to be, how she was developed and where she's going next. See the stories that almost-got-told, and listen in on the creative battles, personality clashes and very, very bad jokes.

With exclusive access to 15 years' worth of writers, editors, producers and illustrators, it's as wild, exciting and unlikely a journey as Benny has made herself.




FILTER: - Audio

Press Update

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The Independent on Monday contained a glowing review of The Shakespeare Code saying the programme is going through a glorious renaissance and calling Doctor Who one of those blessed phenomena that come along often enough to ensure that we never forget how clever and fun and joyous mass-market TV can be.

Meanwhile in The Guardian, novelist David Mitchell chose Doctor Who as his TV Choice, stating, "David Tennant is my favourite Doctor; he is brilliant."




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Briggs Joins Dalek Stage Play

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The man who is the voice of the Daleks on TV has been enlisted for a stage adaptation of an epic adventure from the classic era.

Nicholas Briggs will join Interalia Theatre for The Dalek Masterplanat the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth from Wednesday, October 24 to Saturday, October 27.

As reported on Outpost Gallifrey last December, after three previous stage hits the non-professional company has been granted a licence for a final adaptation of a "lost"Doctor Who story.

The other classic adventures given the theatrical treatment were The Web of Fear in 2000, Fury From The Deeptwo years later and The Evil of the Daleks last year.

Briggs was to have been involved with the production of Evil but had to pull out because of other commitments. Producer Rob Thrush said: "Some familiar faces are returning for the show and Nick is desperate to do this one, having missed out before.

"We're shooting a number of special links and some CGI action as well. It's going to be a spectacular sign-off to our Who stage shows."

A mini-convention is also to be held on the Saturday, including Briggs, Davros actor Terry Molloy and Dalek operatorBarnaby Edwards as guests.

Money raised from the shows will go to charity and local causes. See the box below for full cast and production crew details. Click on the thumbnails below for larger versions of the poster and some of the CGI work for the play.

(Thanks to Rob Thrush.)
THE DOCTOR - Nick Scovell
STEVEN TAYLOR - John Paul McCrohon
KATARINA TAYLOR - Helen Stoddart
MAVIC CHEN - James George
SARA KINGDOM - Laura Egerton
BRET VYON - Tim Skedge
GOVERNOR TRANTIS - Phil Cottril
GOVERNOR ZEPHON - Dale Fletcher
MARC CORY - David Bickerstaff
DALEK VOICES - Nicholas Briggs and Lewis Bailey
DALEK COMMANDER - Lorna Bailey
DALEK ONE - Liam Bailey
DALEK TWO - Adrian Cranwell-Child
SCIENCE DALEK ONE - Andrew J Haslam
SCIENCE DALEK TWO - Jess Brookfield
ENSEMBLE - Sally Evans, Jane Hartley, Rosie Grant, Matt Merrit, Jon Andrews,
Emma Louise Van Kooperen, Lewis Bailey, Anya Hodgson
ADAPTOR/DIRECTOR - Nick Scovell
PRODUCER - Rob Thrush
SCRIPT EDITOR - Mike Maddox
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/COSTUMES - Jonathan Scovell
STAGE MANAGER/SPECIAL EFFECTS - Dave Tozer
DSM - Bruce Holman
MUSIC - Martin Johnson
DALEK CONSTRUCTION AND SPECIAL PROPS - Ashley Nealfuller and Stuart Currie
SOUND/VIDEO - Rob Thrush
LIGHTING - Dave Tozer
SET CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN - Rob Thrush and Dave Tozer
POSTER DESIGN - Steve Redfearn




FILTER: - People - Special Events

Moths Tour Extended

Monday, 9 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The one-man show Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf is to return to the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

A nationwide tour was reported by Outpost Gallifrey in January, with dates in Leicester, Bath, Glasgow, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Salford, Ammanford and Sheffield.

Now Toby Hadokepictured right, reports that dates have been added for a limited run at the 2007 Fringe.

See the textbox below for more from the press release.
Venue: White Belly (150 capacity) at The Underbelly.
Start time: 5.45pm (hour-long show).
Dates: August 13 to 19.

The show has been revised and updated, and will be completely different to the BBC7 serial (and BBC Audiobooks CD), which is being broadcast on July 6 and 13.

A reminder for those who may have missed the show first time around:

Award-winning comedian Toby Hadoke's one-man show is a personal odyssey about a lifelong love of a humble television programme. Bittersweet, satirical and very funny, it is a must for anyone who has ever been obsessed by anything (intimate knowledge of Doctor Who is not required).




FILTER: - Special Events

Sunday Ratings

Monday, 9 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who brought 1.0 million viewers to BBC Three on Sunday night, once more the highest rating the series has achieved on this channel. The audience share was 5.9%.

This figure made The Shakespeare Code the most watched programme on multi-channel television for the day, beating World Cup Cricket on Sky Sports 1

Over half stayed for Doctor Who Confidential, which got 0.59 millionviewers. This was a 3.3% share, making it number 4 in the Top Ten list.

Overnight figures for the week now put Saturday's Doctor Who at number 15 in the week's top twenty. Final figures will be released by BARB in about ten days time. When those who recorded the programme and watched it later are included, Doctor Who is likely to move up the chart.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

BAFTA Cymru nominations

Sunday, 8 April 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

icWales reports that Doctor Who and its BBC Three spin-off seriesTorchwood have between them earned 21 nominations at the BAFTA Cymru Awards. The awards, given by the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, celebrate achievements by film and television productions produced in Wales. Doctor Who won the Best Drama Series category at the same ceremony last year, where the show also won several other categories including Best Director and an Oustanding Contribution to Network Television Award was given to Russell T Davies.

This year, both Doctor Who and Torchwood are nominated in the Drama Series category, with David Tennant andJohn Barrowman nominated for the Best Actor award and Billie Piper and Eve Myles both in the running in the Best Actress category.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Cardiff later this month.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Series 2/28

Shakespeare Code ratings

Sunday, 8 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Unofficial overnight figures show that episode two, The Shakespeare Code, was watched by 6.8 million viewers.

Although the figure was down on last week the programme was still the most-watched programme of the day, both in terms of audience and share. The Easter Holiday and good weather in the UK saw audiences drop across the day.

Doctor Who comfortably beat its main rivals on ITV1, with Grease is the Word getting just 4 million viewers and Harry Hill 3.9m.

BBC One took all of the top five positions in the day's ratings chart, withCasualty getting 6 million and Any Dream Will Do5.9m.

During transmission, Doctor Who's audience rose to peak at 8.1m during the last five minutes. It also was top of the children's chart with over double the audience of under 16s of its nearest rival.

In the Multi Channel charts, Doctor Who Confidential was once again the second most watched programme of the day with 617,000 viewers.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Ratings update

Saturday, 7 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The third showing of episode one, Smith and Jones, was watched by381,000 viewers on BBC Three on Friday night, making it the 6th most watched programme on multi-channel television for the day. It had a 2.1% share of the audience.

Earlier in the week, Totally Doctor Who on BBC One had an audience of750,000, which was a 7.8% share. This is similar to the ratings achieved last year and roughly equivalent to other CBBC programmes in this slot.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29