Vincent and the Doctor - Overnight Ratings

Sunday, 6 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Vincent and the DoctorDoctor Who got an audience of 5.0 million viewers for episode ten, Vincent and the Doctor, according to unofficial overnight figures.

4.7 million watched on BBC One, where it was the highest rated show of the day. An additional 0.3 million watched on BBC HD, giving a total audience of 5.0 million and a share of 29.4% of the total audience. It was the 2nd highest rated show of the day.

The winner of the day was the final of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1, which had an audience of 12.3 million, becoming the most watched programme of the week.

Doctor Who is currently 26th for the week, a position which will rise when the final figures are released next week.

On BBC Three, Doctor Who Confidential had an audience of 241,000, a 1.2% share.






FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 5/31

Jonathan Battersby

Saturday, 5 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Jonathan BattersbyThe actor Jonathan Battersby has died at the age of 57.

Jonathan Battersby recently appeared in the second story of the current series playing Winder in The Beast Below. He also appeared in an uncredited role in Victory of the Daleks.

Battersby, as well as being a well respected actor, was well known in financial circles. After graduating from RADA in 1972, he worked as an actor for a number of years, including a spell in the National Theatre. In 1981 he left acting and joined the financial industry, rising to become president of the Life Insurance Association.

He retired from the LIA in 2004, and returned to his previous career as an actor, winning roles in Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Emmerdale as well as Doctor Who.

Battersby was first diagnosed with prostate cancer during his LIA presidency. He died peacefully on 22nd May 2010, at Trinity Hospice, Clapham.




FILTER: - People - Obituary - Series 5/31

Blue Box

Friday, 4 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
A new Doctor Who fanzine has been published in the UK and is now available to order.

Published by Grant Bull, issue 1 includes an interview with David J Howe conducted by Grant Bull and an in-depth interview with Paul Cornell conducted by Gareth Kavanagh.

Also in the fanzine
  • Towering Ambitions by Jez Strickley
  • Writing to the Doctor by Ian Wheeler
  • Playing Games by David Mac
  • Finding Light in a Dark Place by Bob Furnell
  • Doctor Who – A Loving Obsession by Grant Bull
  • Looking Back: Death to the Daleks by Richard Farrell

There is art throughout and the beginnings of a comic strip by Ellis Hampton and Erin. All wrapped in a cover by Draculasaurus.

The Fanzine costs £1.50 in the UK and £2.50 worldwide. Paypal orders to dalek82@hotmail.co.uk or email for more details on the same address.





FILTER: - Fan Productions

Doctor Who Adventures 169

Friday, 4 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who Adventures 168In this week's issue, Doctor Who Adventures takes a look at Rory and reveals what's cracking the universe.

The Magazine looks ahead to find out what is in store for the Doctor and Amy in their next adventure in the top-secret guide to Vincent and the Doctor.

This issue comes with an inflatable TARDIS!




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Manning's walk for life

Friday, 4 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
Katy ManningFormer Doctor Who companion Katy Manning will be doing the Crusaid Walk For Life this Sunday, 6th June, in London.

Manning played Jo Grant, assistant to the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, from 1971-1973, and will return to the character when she stars alongside new Doctor Matt Smith in The Sarah Jane Adventures later this year.

She volunteered to do the walk with the deputy editor of GT magazine, Darren Scott, when she heard he had agreed to do the walk in a novelty Dalek costume. Referring to her infamous naked Dalek photoshoot from the 70s, she joked that the pair should recreate the pose, albeit fully clothed.

Crusaid’s Walk for Life is Europe’s largest fundraising walk for HIV and AIDS. The pair can be sponsored via the event website.




FILTER: - People - Special Events - UK

Doctor Who Night in Tasmania

Friday, 4 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
The ABC Shop Rosny Park, Tasmania, Australia, will be holding its 3rd annual Doctor Who night on Saturday 26th June 2010, between 7 and 9pm. The event will take place both in and outside the ABC Shop in Eastlands Shopping Centre and in attendance will be a full- size replica of the TARDIS, a Dalek and K-9 loaned by Wayne Ottaway of Dalek Downunder.

The last Doctor Who night, held in 2008, attracted over 1000 people. During the course of events, there will be spot prizes, giveaways, a quiz, a theatrical piece tentatively entitled "The End of Time Crash" and the chance to purchase Doctor Who related products, some of which have not yet been released in Australia.

Other retailers such as Gloria Jeans coffees, Wendy’s Ice Cream, Donut King, Little India, What’s New and Tassie Cameras will also offer special deals for the evening.

The event is free and all are welcome.




FILTER: - Special Events - Australia

The Pandorica Opens - Press Details

Thursday, 3 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC Press Office has released details for the penultimate episode of the current series, The Pandorica Opens.

The story is written by Steven Moffat and is scheduled for Saturday 19th June.
The Doctor's friends unite to send him a terrible warning; the Pandorica – which is said to contain the most feared being in all the cosmos – is opening, as the time travelling drama continues. But what's inside, and can the Doctor stop it?

The previous week's schedule has now been confirmed with Doctor Who moving to 6.45pm for Episode Eleven, The Lodger, on Saturday 12th June.

On BBC One, Doctor Who will be sandwiched between Total Wipeout: The Legends and The National Lottery: In It to Win It.

While the Doctor plays football with James Corden on BBC One, viewers to ITV 1 can see live coverage from Rustenburg where England face the USA in the first round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The coverage starts at 6.15pm and runs right to 9.15pm right across Doctor Who's time slot although the actual match doesn't start until 7.30pm, just as Doctor Who finishes.

There is more sport on BBC Two, which is showing Formula 1: Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying, live coverage from Montreal. Channel 4 has Channel 4 News followed by the 1995 film Sense and Sensibility while five has the 1992 film Accidental Hero.




FILTER: - UK - Series 5/31 - Broadcasting

City of the Daleks still in trial mode

Thursday, 3 June 2010 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has admitted the surprise early release of the downloadable game, City of the Daleks, was part of the testing procedure for the game.

Anwen Aspden, executive producer at BBC Wales, told the gaming website MCV.
We’re testing the system with an almost-final version of City of the Daleks ahead of the official release date, The reaction so far has been overwhelming, but we’re still investigating whether we should tweak certain elements up to release on 5th June. So whilst those who’ve downloaded and enjoyed it in its current iteration have the advantage of playing through it early, there may be some minor tweaks coming.

We’re running a launch trailer for the game immediately after Saturday’s episode of Doctor Who, that’s when we expect the servers to come under the most strain – we’ll let everyone know if the finished article is available ahead of then.




FILTER: - Games

US Torchwood Comic announced

Thursday, 3 June 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Titan Publishing have announced a new Torchwood comic for the United States.

Issue One will feature two stories: Captain Jack and the Selkie, a story penned by John Barrowman and his sister Carole, with artwork by Tommy Lee Edwards; and Broken, penned by Gary Russell with artwork by Adrian Salmon. Both stories originally featured in Titan's Torchwood Magazine, published in the UK. (You can read more about Captain Jack and the Selkie in our article from last year.)

Each issue will feature two collectible covers, one of artwork and the other picture-based. Cover art for Issue One is by Ian Churchill, and there will be an exclusive third version by Churchill at this year's San Diego Comic Con.

The first issue is due to be published on the 10th August.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Magazines

Big Finish licence renewed

Thursday, 3 June 2010 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The audio adventures of Doctor Who are set to continue, with Big Finish announcing that their licence to produce the stories has been extended to December 2012.

Says Executive Producer Jason Haigh-Ellery:
This is wonderful news. All of us at Big Finish love making the Audio Adventures of Doctor Who, and after a decade it remains both a thrill and an honour to continue doing so.

Producer David Richardson commented on the ranges:
We have many plans for the future. The main range starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann continues on a monthly basis, as do The Companion Chronicles. You’ll be hearing more from The Lost Stories and Jago and Litefoot. Plus… we’ve been in talks with Tom Baker, who is eager to join the audio range for a series of full cast plays.

Executive Producer Nick Briggs added:
We have a great and fruitful relationship with both BBC Wales and BBC Audiobooks, and long may it continue. Big Finish and BBC Audiobooks work alongside each other to provide the best possible range of audio productions for fans of the series. I never forget what a great privilege it is for us to be in this position.

Everything was planned up until the end of 2011, so now we can forge ahead with our plans for 2012. These are exciting times indeed!




FILTER: - Big Finish