New commentaries for Hartnell orphan episodes and The Daemons

Friday, 20 May 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Fantom Publishing have announced two new releases of Who Talk, a series of new independent commentaries for Doctor Who episodes.

Who Talk: Day Of Armageddon (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Day of Armageddon
Moderated by Toby Hadoke

Joining Peter Purves for this release is David Graham, Donald Tosh, Clive Doig and Brian Hodgson as they discuss all three remaining episodes of The Dalek's Master Plan, Galaxy Four - Air Lock and The Celestial Toymaker - The Final Test.

Also featured on the release is a bonus interview with Jeremy Young who started in the prequel to The Daleks' Master Plan, Mission To The Unknown.

Producer Paul W T Ballard says:

Thanks to the success of the last two commentaries for The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear, we have been able to get back into studio to start plugging the gaps on other Doctor Who stories which do not have any form of commentary on them. It made perfect sense to get Peter Purves into studio to cover his ‘orphan’ episodes, and we were delighted to get some brilliant support from a number of other key personnel from the time too, all of whom have a lot to say about these stories. We can only hope one day to be able to expand and finish the stories in their entirety...!

Who Talk: The Daemons (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

The Dæmons
Moderated by Toby Hadoke

The new commentary track for The Dæmons features actors Katy Manning, John Levene, Alec Linstead, David Simeon and John Owens together with script editor Terrance Dicks and director's assistant Sue Upton.

Paul explains:

We have also, rather excitingly, taken the move to ‘remake’ a commentary for the first time. Some of the original DVD releases, for one reason or another, didn’t explore all of the available names for the commentary track, and this was especially noticeable for The Dæmons. So we’ve assembled quite a variety of names from both sides of the camera to give their thoughts and memories, and have even given the option of an alternative version for episode two!”

The commentaries are available to pre-order individually and as a special combined offer, on CD or via download. Full details can be found at the Who Talk website.

Who Talk: Day Of Armageddon recording (Peter Purves, David Graham, Toby Hadoke) (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Who Talk: The Daemons recording (Sue Upton, Katy Manning, Toby Hadoke, Terrance Dicks) (Credit: Fantom Publishing)

Please note: these commentaries contain no BBC copyrighted elements and do not feature audio from the episodes themselves - these are designed to be played alongside the official DVD releases.

FILTER: - Audio - Blu-ray/DVD - Fantom - First Doctor - Third Doctor

The Doctor Who Project

Sunday, 20 March 2016 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Project [TDWP] is seeking story proposals to form part of a forthcoming season of short stories.

TDWP centers on the continuing adventures of an alternate Tenth Doctor and his current travelling companion Hannah Redfoot. Stories are published as part of an overall season that concentrates on delivering a collection of short stories that sees the Doctor facing new and original situations in time and space.

The stories have typically been anywhere from 12,000-40,000 words and have featured elements from the original 1963-89 television series as well as original creations developed by the writers. The stories are published as free downloadable PDF documents featuring a novel-like layout and specially created covers.

The project is looking for imaginative, original and entertaining stories that see the Doctor and his companion travel and experience the wonders of the universe.

For details on how to contribute a story proposal to TDWP see the Submission Guidelines.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Unofficial Doctor Who Book Guide

Sunday, 13 March 2016 - Reported by Marcus

Volume 2 of The unofficial Doctor Who Book Guide is currently being prepared and is looking for contributors.

The publishers are asking for short items, around 200 words each, on any fictional Doctor Who book that isn't part of the Target range.

Any profits from the project will go towards cancer research.

For details contact the team via their Facebook page.

FILTER: - Books - Fan Productions

Lethbridge-Stewart arrives on audio

Monday, 1 February 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Forgotten Son (audiobook) (Credit: Fantom Films/Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Schizoid Earth (audiobook) (Credit: Fantom Films/Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: Beast of Fang Rock (audiobook) (Credit: Fantom Films/Candy Jar Books)

Lethbridge-Stewart: Mutually Assured Domination (audiobook) (Credit: Fantom Films/Candy Jar Books)

Candy Jar Books and Fantom Films have announced a partnership to release the first four adventures of Lethbridge-Stewart as audiobooks.

The unabridged stories are to be read by Terry Molloy, an actor/voice-artist well known to Doctor Who as the embodiment of Dalek creator Davros for some 32 years! Paul WT Ballard, director of the audio range at Fantom Films, said:

Terry has done a brilliant job in bringing these stories to life, adding a whole new dimension to them with his skilful renditions.

Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing at Candy Jar Books, said:

People have really been excited about the range, and have continually asked for audio versions of the titles. This was something we’ve always wanted to do, so when Fantom Films got in touch we jumped at the opportunity. It’s a great pleasure to finally be able to announce this new avenue for the series. I am thrilled that Terry Molloy’s narration/performance really reflects the vision the writers had for the characters. We couldn’t be happier with the result.

Andy Frankham-Allen, editor of the Lethbridge-Stewart range and author of the first book, The Forgotten Son, added:

The fans asked, and we listened! It’s a real delight to hear Terry Molloy bring the book, and indeed the characters, to life. Even though I wrote the first book, I found myself listening and wondering what was going to happen next. Such is the power of Terry’s rich performance.

The Forgotten Son is released in February; this will be followed by The Schizoid Earth by David A McIntee in March, with Beast of Fang Rock by Andy Frankham-Allen and Mutually Assured Domination by Nick Walters released in June and July respectively.

All audiobooks are now available for pre-order directly from Fantom Films, which can be purchased individually or as a bundle of all four titles. A sample of the first audiobook will shortly be made available from the Fantom Publishing Soundcloud page.

The original books are also still available to purchase via Candy Jar Books, with the fifth, Moon Blink by Sadie Miller, due to be published in April.

FILTER: - Audio - Books - Candy Jar Books - Fantom

Doctor Who Christmas Cards

Thursday, 5 November 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Christmas Card for 2015 (Credit: Doctor Who Appreciation Society)

Following on from last year's design, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society have released a new Doctor Who themed Christmas card for the 2015 season, the profits of which are to be donated to the Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital Trust, whose vice president is sixth Doctor and the Society's own honorary president, Colin Baker.

The cards are A5-sized and can be purchased worldwide - full details can be found via the DWAS website.

FILTER: - Fan Productions

Commentaries to be released for The Enemy of the World and The Web Of Fear

Friday, 9 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

On the eve of the second anniversary of their publicised recovery, Fantom Films have announced a special project to provide commentaries for The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear, the two returned Season Five stories starring Patrick Troughton that were released 'vanilla' on DVD and via iTunes. Who Talk! will see cast and crew brought together to discuss the two stories, under the guidance of commentary moderation stalwart Toby Hadoke.

Toby Hadoke with Milton Johns and Mary Peach for The Enemy of the World 5 (Credit: Fantom Films)

Toby Hadoke with John Levene and Syvlia James for The Web of Fear 6 (Credit: Fantom Films)

The commentaries will be released on both CD and download formats, and will feature Deborah Watling for both stories, with Enemy represented by Mary Peach, Milton Johns, Carmen Munroe and Bill Lyons, and Web by Ralph Watson, John Levene, and Derek Martin; production reminiscences are provided by Sylvia James and Roger Bunce. In addition, the still unaccounted for episode three of the latter story will feature former BBC Archivist Sue Malden, who gives insight into the BBC policies of wiping and archiving material, as well as missing television in general.

Producer Paul WT Ballard says:

Commentaries have long been a favourite part of my viewing of any of the classic Who DVDs, and we thought it was a huge shame to let these two brilliant stories pass under the radar, and set about gathering quite a stellar line-up to commentate on them.

He also advised:

The only way we can make these and future releases viable is by fans supporting the project and buying copies, rather than bootlegging them. Were there to be any future returns - and I'm sure we're all hopeful of that - then we would want to be able to look at repeating the exercise because it's a hugely culturally important one.

The two releases will be published in November 2015, and will be available to pre-order at a discounted price. See the Fantom Films website for full details.

Who Talk: The Enemy of the World (Credit: Fantom Films)

Who Talk: The Web of Fear (Credit: Fantom Films)

Please note: these commentaries contain no BBC copyrighted elements and do not feature audio from the episodes themselves - these are designed to be played alongside the official DVD/iTunes releases.

FILTER: - Audio - Blu-ray/DVD - Fantom - Second Doctor

TARDIS Eruditorum Volume 6

Thursday, 1 October 2015 - Reported by Marcus

Eruditorum Press has released the latest volume of TARDIS Eruditorum covering The Peter Davison and Colin Baker Years.

Included in this edition

Revised editions of every TARDIS Eruditorum post from the Peter Davison and Colin Baker eras.
A book-exclusive Pop Between Realities, Home in Time for Tea essay on the musical Time, an oft overlooked influence on Trial of a Time Lord, and the expansion of another one to include Box of Delights and Robin of Sherwood.
New essays in praise of Tegan, addressing the stuff left out of the Enlightenment essay, exactly and precisely whose fault the cancellation was, and a completely rewritten essay on "A Fix With Sontarans."
New Time Can Be Rewritten essays on Burning Heart, Dave Stone's Doctor Who/quasi-Judge Dredd mashup, Peri and the Piscon Paradox, Nev Fountain's two-Doctor timey wimey fish farce, and The Holy Terror, Rob Shearman's first-ever Doctor Who story.
A pair of Now My Doctor essays looking at the Fifth and Sixth Doctor eras as wholes.

Plus a forty page long interview with Rob Shearman about his work with Colin Baker at Big Finish and his genuine love for the Eric Saward era.

THis magazine is available in the following editions at these links: US Print ($17.99); US Kindle ($4.99); UK Print (£13.99); UK Kindle (£3.99); Other eReaders/Smashwords ($4.99).

FILTER: - Books - Fan Productions - Fifth Doctor - Sixth Doctor

The Stone Tapes

Wednesday, 30 September 2015 - Reported by Marcus

The Podcast version of Vol 5 of THE STONE TAPES has a distinctly Doctor Who flavour and is now live to listen to and download

The show is hosted by horror writer Sam Stone, and features special studio guest Frazer Hines chatting about his time on Doctor Who, plus BBC Effects designer and writer Mike Tucker discussing his and Stephen Nicholas' new book Doctor Who: Impossible Worlds

Patricia H Ash reviews The Map of Time by Felix J Palma, Robin Pierce looks at the TV Century 21 Comic Strips, and David J Howe leads the discussion about the film Doctor who and the Daleks

The music comes from Risa Hall, Linzi Gold, The Timelords and Muse ... The show producer is Alex Lewczuk.

All episodes are available to download and listen to online with more information about The Stone Tapes and future episode details available on the Facebook Group

FILTER: - Fan Productions

"The Fitzroy Tavern" - change of venue for the regular London Doctor Who fan gat

Thursday, 25 June 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Due to a major refurbishment taking place at the Fitzroy Tavern in Charlotte Street, London, the regular "first Thursday of the month" gathering of Doctor Who fans will be temporarily changing to a new venue:

NEW VENUE FOR LONDON’S DOCTOR WHO SOCIAL SCENE

The Tavern is moving! After more than 30 years playing host to the regular ‘First Thursday’ gatherings of Doctor Who fans, luminaries and commentators, THE FITZROY TAVERN in Central London’s Charlotte Street is closing its doors. But not forever…

This landmark pub at the heart of vibrant Fitzrovia is embarking on a major refurbishment that will see it shut to the public from the end of June until early summer 2016.

The task of finding a suitable alternative venue nearby for these evening pub-meets has fallen to the London Launch Party Team, the group responsible for organising many of the Doctor Who start-of-series parties for fans since 2005.

The College Arms (Credit: Jeremy Bentham)

The College Arms (Credit: Jeremy Bentham)

The new venue will be THE COLLEGE ARMS, Store Street, London WC1E 7DH, close to Goodge Street Underground Station. The first gathering will take place there on Thursday 2 July, from 6.00pm until late. Future evening gatherings will take place on the first Thursday of each month thereafter.

Launch Party founder Jeremy Bentham said:

Tavern nights were the original Doctor Who social media, and their history dates back to the mid-1970s. A once-a-month opportunity for fans and luminaries to hear and debate news and gossip, to exchange ideas, to be in the company of fellow fans, and to share our enthusiasm for all things Who. It’s a tradition that deserves to be continued unbroken.

Normal pub rules about being 18 or over to drink alcohol apply, but otherwise Tavern meets are evenings open to all. “If you’re a newcomer just wear a relevant T-shirt, fez, stick of celery or UNIT badge. You might not know too many faces to begin with – though you might recognise a few – but good conversation is never far away!”

(with thanks to Jeremy Bentham)

FILTER: - Fan Meetings - Fandom

Plaything of Sutekh Issue 4

Saturday, 20 June 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Issue 4 of the fanzine, Plaything of Sutekh is available to order now.

In this issue:

Pacifism in Doctor Who - a look at how The Daleks and The Dominators gave turning the other cheek the thumbs down.
The Ark vs The Ark in Space - David Rolinson looks at the similarities between these two stories.
RTD & Religion - Sean Alexander examines a key aspect of the series under Russell T's tenure.
E-Space - Jez Strickley spies a dystopian slant in this Season 18 trilogy.
Secret Who - we look at two underrated stories The Claws of Axos and The Time Monster
Changing Times - a look back at Peter Capaldi's first season.
Doc Top Ten - one writer looks at his favourite Who comic strips.
Gateway Drug - Stephen Wood confesses how it all started with him and Who…