DVD March update

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

The latest edition of DWM clarifies the UK DVD release schedule for the first quarter of 2010.

Following the release of the Peladon Boxset on 4th January and the fourth Doctor story The Masque of Mandragora on 8th February, March will see no fewer than five stories released.

On 1st March the two First Doctor stories The Space Museum and The Chase will be released. A promo for this story was cleared by the BBFC last month. Just four weeks later the Myths and Legends boxset will hit the shops. This is now confirmed as including the Third Doctor story The Time Monster, and the Fourth Doctor stories Underworld and The Horns of Nimon.

The Kameleon Boxset and Time and the Rani, both of which are listed for sale on several DVD sites, have been pushed back to later in the year.

A full release schedule can be see in the sidebar on the right.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Monster of Peladon – Extras

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

The British Board of Film Classification has today passed the extras for the second Peladon story, The Monster of Peladon, set for release in the UK in January.

The Peladon Saga: Part Two: The Monsters and the Monarchs
Where are they now?
BBC News: Jon Pertwee races Lord Montagu
Easter Egg No2
ON Target - Terrance Dicks
Deleted Scene
Photo Gallery

Extras for the first Peladon story were cleared last week.

FILTER: - Jon Pertwee - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Radio Times Cover

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

With a new episode of Doctor Who just five days away, the programme returns to the cover of Radio Times this week.

The magazine takes a look at the special and contemplates whether The Waters of Mars may be the scariest adventure that the intrepid Time Lord's ever had. Russell T Davies explains just why he's ladled on the fear.

Over the years Doctor Who has featured on the cover of the magazine over forty times; the first time it was accorded this honour was in February 1964. There is a full gallery of the covers on The Radio Times website.

FILTER: - Specials - Magazines - Series 4/30 Specials - Radio Times

Waters of Mars - Confirmed Canadian Date

Tuesday, 10 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

The Waters of Mars will come to Canadian Television on Saturday 19th December when it premiers on SPACE at 9pm ET. This is the same date the special will be shown in the US on BBC America.

The final two specials are expected to be shown over the Christmas holiday.

The Waters of Mars is now scheduled in most of the English speaking world with premiers confirmed in Australia, Canada and the United States, all less than 6 weeks after the special has premièred in the United Kingdom.

The Doctor is in, and the countdown is on! David Tennant’s final four adventures as the Tenth Time Lord unfold exclusively on SPACE. The second of four high-octane specials, Doctor Who: The Waters of MarS premieres Saturday, December 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

To kick-start the event, 24 hours prior, SPACE is re-airing DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD. SPACE fans laid claim to the esteemed DOCTOR WHO franchise when this first installment reached nearly half a million viewers earlier in the year. Cited as the most successful and longest running sci-fi series in the world, the latest DOCTOR WHO specials are also available on-demand at www.spacecast.com.

After 900 years of phone booth travel the Tenth incarnation of the Doctor is tidying up the Tardis for the Eleventh Time Lord’s residency. In one of Tennant’s most thrilling adventures yet, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars tracks the Doctor and his companion Adelaide (Lindsay Duncan), as they face terror on the Red Planet. Peter O’Brien (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) guest stars as Ed, Adelaide’s second-in-command at the base.

The final two DOCTOR WHO specials starring David Tennant as the iconic Time Lord are scheduled to premiere over the holidays.

DOCTOR WHO: The Waters of Mars is written by Russell T Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk) and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. Davies and Julie Gardner (TORCHWOOD, LIFE ON MARS) serve as executive producers.

SPACE is Canada’s national science fiction, speculation and fantasy channel. Offering the finest in genre programming, viewers need not look further for their fix of the paranormal, edgy, scary, creepy and fun! SPACE is the station for all those who dare to challenge their imagination. SPACE is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company.

FILTER: - Canada - Specials - Series 4/30 Specials - Broadcasting

Timothy Bateson (1926-2009)

Monday, 9 November 2009 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The Guardian newspaper in the UK has published an obituary for actor Timothy Bateson, who died in September at the age of 83. Bateson enjoyed an acting career stretching from the 1940s to the present decade, and in 1955 appeared in the first London production of the play "Waiting for Godot". He appeared in Doctor Who only once, in the 1978 serial The Ribos Operation, where he portrayed Binro the Heretic. In this role he took part in the scene where Binro explains that be believes there are other planets and other stars; this is frequently regarded as one of the most memorable scenes from Doctor Who, most recently acclaimed as such in Doctor Who Magazine's "200 Golden Moments" special edition. The serial, along with the others in the 1978 "Key to Time" series, is due to be re-released on DVD next week, following its previous limited edition issue.

Image courtesy of the Doctor Who Image Archive

FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Ambassadors DVD Commentary

Monday, 9 November 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Speaking at the Missing in Action convention, the actor Nicholas Courtney reported that he has just recorded a commentary for the seventh season story The Ambassadors of Death, alongside other members of cast and crew including Terrance Dicks, Peter Halliday and Derek Ware.

It should be remembered that commentaries are often recorded way in advance of DVD release (years in some cases!), so this is no indication that the story is currently scheduled to appear in the shops soon!

Restoration Team member Steve Roberts recently discussed the colour recovery process at a talk for the Doctor Who Information Network, during which he reported that recovery work hadn't been undertaken on the story at that point.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Sarah Jane Adventures – Appreciation index

Monday, 9 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Both parts of The Eternity Trap received an AI score of 86. The score is again way above the average score for Children's drama. The scores were one of the highest on BBC One on either Thursday or Friday with only New Tricks scoring higher.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Alan Chuntz 1927-2009

Sunday, 8 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

The actor and stuntman Alan Chuntz has died at the age of 81. Chuntz appeared in at least 15 stories from the classic series. He was a member of HAVOC, the team that provided much of the stunt work for the programme. He played Omega's champion in The Three Doctors and had a rare speaking role as the Chauffeur in The Seeds of Doom.

As well as his work on Doctor Who, Chuntz was a regular face on British Television in the seventies appearing in series such as Z Cars, Some Mothers Do Ave Em, The Avengers, The Persuaders, The Onedin Line, Hazel and Minder.

The Invasion - Stuntman
The Seeds Of Death -Technician
The Ambassadors Of Death - Soldier
Inferno - Soldier
Terror Of The Autons - Stuntman
The Mind Of Evil - Prisoner
The Sea Devils - Stuntman
The Three Doctors - Omega's Champion
The Green Death - Security Guard
Planet Of The Spiders - Stuntman
Genesis Of The Daleks - Kaled Guard
Revenge Of The Cybermen - Stuntman
The Seeds Of Doom - Chauffeur
The Face Of Evil - Stuntman
The Talons Of Weng-Chiang - Stuntman
State Of Decay - Guard
The Visitation - Stuntman

FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Doctor Who Adventures 140

Saturday, 7 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

This weeks Doctor Who Adventures magazine is packed with top scares from swooping Reapers to the destructive Toclafane. Everything you need to know about monsters that fly.

The story guide is all about an explosive Cyberman clash. And to find out how well you know robot dog K-9, with the quick quiz.

Also there is a look at the Fifth Doctor. What did he wear and how long was he the Doctor?

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Sarah Jane Ratings - Friday

Saturday, 7 November 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Part Two of The Eternity Trap, was watched by 0.8 million viewers, with an audience share of 6.6%.

The series, which is rating well above the average for the time slot, has received a slight legacy boast following the appearance of David Tennant in the series last week.

Final figures will be out in around two weeks time.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

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