Dead Of Night: UK final ratings

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Episode Three of Torchwood: Miracle Day had a final official rating of 5.49 million viewers according to figures released by BARB.

The programme was the 8th highest rated on BBC One for the week. The final result includes those who recorded the programme and watched it within 7 days. It does not include those watching on iPlayer.

Episode One of the current series was the 8th most requested programme on the BBC iPlayer in July, with 0.84 million requests, only being beaten by Top Gear and The Apprentice. Episode Two was 11th with 0.65 million requests and Episode Three 38th with 0.41 million requests.

Episode Four had an AI score of 85.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Next Time: The Categories of Life

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Next Thursday (11th August) sees the fifth episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day premiering in the UK, with The Categories of Life being broadcast at 9:00pm on BBC1/BBC1HD. The episode will also be repeated on BBC2/BBCHD the following Monday at 11:20pm, and available to watch online in the UK via the BBC iPlayer until 23rd September.

PLOT SYNOPSIS FOR THE CATEGORIES OF LIFE FOLLOWS - MAY BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER

Torchwood goes undercover and discovers the terrible truth behind the "miracle"; but the enemy is closing in, and death is about to make a shocking return.

The BBC trailer for the episode is available online:

Torchwood episode 3 trailer, BBC, via iPlayer - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Alternatively there is a YouTube version.

A preview clip from the episode is also available to watch:

Torchwood Dead of Night preview, BBC, via iPlayer - may not play outside of the United Kingdom
Alternatively there is a YouTube version.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Online - Miracle Day (Series 4)

BBC Worldwide Productions/Starz Partnership

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide Productions and Starz have announced a new partnership to develop television series for the American cable channel to distribute in the United States and Canada, with BBC Worldwide distributing worldwide.

The deal comes after the perceived success of the co-production of Torchwood: Miracle Day for the two enterprises; Head of BBC Worldwide Productions, Jane Tranter, said:

We're in a uniquely similar place to Starz. With Chris (Albrecht)'s arrival, Starz made a name in originals and is defining themselves as a true player in the U.S. premium cable territory. At BBC Worldwide Productions, we've hit our stride in the scripted business after starting these efforts just over two years ago. Working with Starz on Torchwood: Miracle Day has been a collaborative and invigorating journey. We're very much looking forward to bringing Starz' subscribers more of the programming they're coming to expect - intelligent, groundbreaking, and honest storytelling, which is synonymous with our BBC roots and values.

Albrecht, CEO of Starz, said:

When I came to Starz, we determined that forging strong international partnerships would play centre stage in financing our ramp-up of dynamic original programming; this exciting partnership with BBC Worldwide Productions is a major step in that direction. It will allow us to provide Starz subscribers more original programming, while delivering enhanced opportunity across all our domestic distribution businesses including Anchor Bay and Starz Digital Media. Jane Tranter, and the incredible teams at BBC Worldwide Productions and BBC Worldwide will be terrific partners, and we are very pleased to be able to extend our relationship with them through this venture.

The partnership strengthens the relationship between the two companies, but does not guarantee further series of Torchwood would automatically follow; Albrecht commented at a recent TV Critics Show that the series was not a high priority and would depend upon commitment from Russell T Davies.

(newslink: BBC Worldwide Press Releases)

FILTER: - Press - BBC

People Roundup

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

David Tennant is to play a wedding planner with a passion for plastic surgery in a new comedy on Sky Atlantic. The actor will make a guest appearance in episode one of This Is Jinsy, playing Mr Slightlyman. The series will be shown in September 2011 and future episodes will feature Catherine Tate and Simon Callow.

Tennant has also been signed up for a new CBeebies animation series, Tree Fu Tom. He will provide the voice of the lead character Twigs while the voice Tom will be provided by former companion Sophie Aldred, who played Ace alongside the Seventh Doctor in the 1980's. The series is aimed at 4-6-year-olds, and set in an enchanted world where movement creates magic.

Colin Baker is currently touring the UK playing the role of Count Fosco in the national tour of Wilkie Collins' classic ghost story The Woman in White. This tour runs into the Autumn and includes stops in Swansea, Guildford, Buxton, Worthing, Derby, Basingstoke, Crewe, Malvern and Taunton.

Robert Shearman, who wrote the 2005 story Dalek, will become writer-in-residence at Edinburgh's Napier University from September. The fantasy writer will advise students on the university's MA in creative writing course, a role previously held by Scottish novelist James Robertson.

FILTER: - People - David Tennant - Colin Baker

BBC America 'Best Of' Specials

Sunday, 7 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

BBC America is to air three Doctor Who specials in the run up to the return of Doctor Who to the channel on Saturday August 27.

The three programmes will talk to devoted fans of Doctor Who asking such questions as which Doctor Who monster would make the best roommate? What’s the most fashionable Timelord headgear, fez or Stetson? And. pool in the TARDIS or Vortex Manipulator watch?

These questions as put to celebrity Doctor Who fans as well as viewers who packed the exhibition floor at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con. Their answers will be feature in three original specials that BBC America will show over the next three Saturdays.

Doctor Who: Best of the Doctor – Saturday, August 13 at 9/8c.
Doctor Who: Best of the Monsters – Saturday, August 20 at 9/8c.
Doctor Who: Best of the Companions – Saturday, August 27 following the Doctor Who premiere episode, “Let’s Kill Hitler,” which airs at 9/8c.

The lineup includes: Alison Haislip (The Voice, G4 correspondent), Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Natalie Morales (Parks and Recreation), Eugene Mirman (Flight of the Conchords, Bob’s Burgers), WIRED Magazine senior editor Adam Rogers, singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls), comedian/musician Reggie Watts, Danielle Harris (the Halloween franchise), comedian Paul F. Tompkins, former NFL player Hugh Douglas, and guitar hero Scott Ian (Anthrax). And Who fan fave Mark Sheppard — Canton Delaware III from the two-part season opener — will also be joining the festivities.

FILTER: - USA - BBC America - Series 6/32

BBC Books Update

Saturday, 6 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Books have announced 3 new Doctor Who titles for Autumn 2011:

Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia
Gary Russell

The fully revised and updated Doctor Who Encyclopedia, covering every episode from 2005 to the present

River Song still a riddle? Stumped by the stolen planets in the Medusa Cascade? Forgotten what happened in the Timelines That Never Happened? Look no further…

Completely revised and updated, this is the ultimate guide to everything and everyone that’s ever happened, un-happened and happened again in the worlds and times of the Doctor. The Doctor Who Encyclopedia now covers the Eleventh Doctor's first two seasons, plus every Ninth and Tenth Doctor story, and is packed with photographs and artwork from seven stunning years of adventures - including the charity specials, animated adventures, computer games, TARDISodes and preludes. This is your complete tour of time and space – from ABBA and Inspector Abberline to Melody Zucker and the Zygons.

Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia will be accompanied by some digital plans to be announced at the end of August.

Released 13 October 2011

The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012
Edited by Clayton Hickman

The indispensable official guide to Series 6 of Doctor Who!

Packed with unseen photographs and original artwork and illustrations, The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012 is your indispensable guide to Series 6 of Doctor Who.

Weaving fact and fiction, interviews and information, the Brilliant Book boasts brand new material from the writers of the TV show, including Mark Gatiss, Gareth Roberts, Matthew Graham, Tom Macrae and Steve Thompson, plus exclusive extras from Neil Gaiman. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston take us behind the scenes in revealing new interviews, while showrunner Steven Moffat unravels the secrets of the scripts.

Learn the art of making a memorable monster, discover how the show's secrets are kept, and see a full episode by episode guide, including deleted scenes and hidden gems you might have missed. Find out who legendary Time Lord The Corsair really was, and voyage with the Pirate crew of the good ship Fancy before they heard the Siren's song; discover the full story of the fight for Ganger rights and get a taste of the future with Dorium Maldovar.

The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012 – no TARDIS traveller should be without it!

The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2012 contains the code for a free download of Eleventh Doctor audiobook, Doctor Who: Night of the Humans (produced by AudioGo) by David Llewellyn.

Released 13 October 2011

Doctor Who: The Silent Stars Go By
Dan Abnett

The Doctor battles his old enemies, the Ice Warriors - in a special holiday themed adventure

For centuries the Maintainers have worked. With no help from other worlds, they subsist on the food they can grow and that’s little enough. But their purpose, their whole life is to maintain the machines that will one day make their world as habitable as old Earth.

Life used to be hard. Now as their crops fail, livestock sickens, and the temperature drops, it’s becoming impossible. This year’s Winter Season Feast won’t be the usual celebration. It’s not a time for optimism or hope – and it’s not a time to welcome unexpected guests. The Doctor, Amy and Rory find a society breaking apart under the strain. Tensions are mounting, old rivalries are coming to the fore, people are dying...

And then the Doctor’s old enemies the Ice Warriors make their move. With the cold-hearted threat of invasion, the real battle for survival begins. Or does it? The Doctor begins to suspect that behind everything lies a deadlier, and even more chilling danger...

A thrilling, all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

Released 29 September 2011

FILTER: - Merchandise - Series 6/32 - Books

Escape to L.A.: UK overnight viewing figures

Friday, 5 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Torchwood: Escape to L.A. achieved an average audience of 4.0 million viewers on BBC One and BBC One HD, according to unofficial overnight figures.

The fourth in the series had 17.4% of the audience share and was the 9th most watched programme of the day. It won the 9pm timeslot, with Single Handed on ITV1 watched by 2.9 million viewers.

The figure was slightly down on the last week. The episode saw a drop in viewers during the hour from 4.2 million in the first quarter to 3.9 million in the final quarter

The final ratings will be released in 10 days and will include those who record the programme and watch it within seven days.

Mondays late night repeat of episode Two Dead of Night had 0.43 million watching.

FILTER: - Torchwood - Ratings - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4)

Fanzine Update

Friday, 5 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Issue One of a new Fanzine, Tardis Base, is now available for free download.

In this edition a look at some of Doctor Who's biggest twists and turns, a look at the classic story The Sun Makers, a review of the latest products, a look at all the new changes and characters to hit Torchwood, and a tribute to the late and great Elisabeth Sladen.

There is also a look back at the first 7 episodes of this year's series, and a look forward to the next 6, plus an exclusive sneak peek into the magazine's first eBook, The Devil in the Mist.

The on-line Doctor Who Fiction Fanzine Inferno Fiction, has recently been updated.

First created on paper in the 80's, the fanzine is now available on the world wide web. It features stories from the original pages of the printed fanzine and now includes a collection of new material never printed or seen anywhere before.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Doctor Who Tweet Up Australia

Thursday, 4 August 2011 - Reported by Marcus

The Sci-Fi channel in Australia is celebrating the return of the Fourth Doctor to the nation's TV screens with a series of free (catered) Doctor Who TweetUp events around the country.

The free events are taking place in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide on August 17th. Space is limited and entry is on a first come basis.

More details can be found at twtvite.com/DoctorWhoTweetUpAU

To tie in with with the launch of Doctor Who on the channel, Sci-Fi is also launching Clustr, the nationʼs first branded TV check-in, social networking-enabled smart phone application. Clustr is a forum for viewers to chat in real-time by checking-in to SCI FI programs such as Doctor Who, Lost Girl and many more series, nation-wide. Clustrʼs functionality allows users to keep track of their favourite series and/or episodes, connect, share and compete with their friends for VIP status, discover badges, and read episode reviews.

Peter Hudson, CEO of SCI FI Channel says

SCI FI wants to reach our viewers with something that is one-of-a-kind, innovative and useful. The Clustr app is a lot of fun but it's also a wonderful way for us to bring our passionate community of viewers together on one platform.

Clustr will be available for free download on Android and iPhones in August.

The SCI FI Channel can be found on n FOXTEL and AUSTAR.

FILTER: - Tom Baker - Broadcasting - Australia

Doctor Who Series Six: Part Two Trailer

Thursday, 4 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have released a new trailer to promote the forthcoming second half of the current series of Doctor Who, due back on television in the next few weeks:

Doctor Who Series Six Part Two, Trailer 2, BBC, via BBC iPlayer (may not be available outside the United Kingdom)
(there is also a YouTube version)

This trailer is different to the one that featured at the San Diego Comic Con to promote the series return a couple of weeks ago.

Doctor Who Series Six Part Two, BBC, via BBC iPlayer (may not be available outside the United Kingdom)

FILTER: - Doctor Who - Series 6/32 - Online

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