With the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the Daleks on TV screens fast approaching, a video tribute by Doctor Who's current showrunner Steven Moffat to their last story during the classic era - Remembrance of the Daleks - was posted today by the BBC on the programme's official site.

In the piece, he says of the 1988 four-parter: Moffat's comments were recorded last year as part of a mini series in which he talked about the Daleks in general to publicise their return in Asylum of the Daleks and, in subsequent video posts, looked at what he considered to be the best and most significant Dalek adventures.

The full HD film version of Power of the Daleks - the semi-professional reimagining of Patrick Troughton's first adventure as the Doctor - has been made available to watch for free online.

First released episodically in three parts, it was then shown at conventions worldwide, premièring at a special charity convention in Fareham on 1st September 2012.

Lasting 52 minutes, it features Nick Scovell as the Doctor, with cast members also including Nicholas Briggs, Lisa Bowerman, and Barnaby Edwards in the reworking of the six-part adventure. Adapted and directed by Scovell, it was made by the Doctor Who enthusiasts behind the highly successful Portsmouth stage productions of The Web of Fear, Fury From The Deep, The Evil of the Daleks, and The Dalek Masterplan (the latter renamed from the original 12-parter), with support from TNT Films and music by Martin Johnson.

A video of highlights from the Fareham convention - where the guests included original story director Christopher Barry, actress Anneke Wills, who played companion Polly in the TV version, Briggs, and Edwards - has also been released.

The BBC and BBC America have now released the full trailer for the forthcoming The Time of the Doctor.

A deleted scene from The Day of the Doctor has been made available to view online by the BBC.

The short sequence shows the three Doctors - as portrayed by Matt Smith, David Tennant, and John Hurt - bickering and with their feet shackled, while being led under guard into the Tower of London.

The first teaser trailer for this year's Doctor Who Christmas special can now be viewed online.

The trailer aired on BBC One yesterday immediately following The Day of the Doctor and includes Daleks, a Cyberman, a Silent, Weeping Angels, and a tolling bell, with captions stating: "This Christmas Silence Will Fall".


The episode, whose title is yet to be revealed, is expected to be broadcast on Christmas Day, and will see the Eleventh Doctor regenerate into the Twelfth.

The BBC have revealed a new Red Button video this coming Saturday evening:


The project, as noted above, has been driven by Peter Davison, and also has an associated Twitter account to follow, DayOfTheFishDr.


Davison, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker were spotted filming a "protest" outside BBC Television Centre during the summer, sporting signs such as "No Classics? No 50th!!" and "Have A Heart. Classic Doctors Want A Part". As Conor Keegan observed on Twitter at the time: "Sylvester McCoy and Peter Davison outside TVC right now! Protesting that they aren't in the 50th ann Doctor Who! Mental."; and "Colin Baker has arrived. Outside BBC Television Centre right now, protesting.". Other names associated with the spoof drama include Sean Pertwee, who tweeted an apparent call sheet with his, Paul McGann and Olivia Colman's names listed.

Tom Baker has been named as favourite Doctor in a worldwide poll conducted by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor between 1974 and 1981, stormed home in the best Doctor vote attracting nearly double the number of votes of his nearest rival, David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor. Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor in the 1960’s, came third just behind Tennant, but ahead of current incumbent Matt Smith, who was placed fourth in the vote. Jon Pertwee came in fifth place.

Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith, initially alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker between 1973 and 1976, and then reprised the role twice in the 1980’s, before returning to appear alongside David Tennant in 2006 and then starred in The Sarah Jane Adventures for five series, was voted favourite companion. With nearly 25% she scored more than double her nearest rival, actress and Comedian Catherine Tate, who played Donna Noble alongside David Tennant . Sophie Aldred, Sylvester McCoy's companion, Ace was voted third, whilst Patrick Troughton Companion Jamie McCrimmon, played by Fraser Hines, was fourth.

Other winners in the poll were:

• Favourite Story: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977)
• Favourite Monster: The Daleks
• Favourite Writer: Robert Holmes
• Favourite Director: Graeme Harper.

The poll, which was open to both members and non-members, was run by DWAS between 9th July and 7th August 2013. Votes were received from around the world. Countries include; United Kingdom, Germany, The United States of America, Canada, Australia & New Zealand.

Founded in 1976, The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is the longest running Doctor Who fan club in the world, with members across the globe.

To celebrate 50 Years of Doctor Who, Thursday 21st November will see the publication of the Anniversary Special issue of Celestial Toyroom (CT). CT is the World's longest running publication based on a television programme.

A summary of the media coverage relating to the 50th Anniversary for Wednesday.

(note: the BBC radio broadcasts are available worldwide, but video broadcasts may be unavailable outside the United Kingdom.)

Television

With An Unearthly Child to be broadcast tomorrow evening on BBC4, BBC Breakfast report on a special re-enactment of the first episode at Manchester's Fab Cafe which was attended by the episode's original director Waris Hussein, and the views of a group of schoolchildren invited to a screening of the episode itself.

ITV's magazine programme This Morning examined Doctor Who memorabilia, both from the past and collectibles for the 50th Anniversary, plus a look at items that will feature in the latest Bonhams auction of series props to take place in December. The article is available to watch via the ITV website.

BBC regional news programme Wales Today covered the unveiling of a plaque for Terry Nation at the house in Cardiff where he was born. (BBC iPlayer - from 23:48 available until around 7:00pm tomorrow evening)

Tonight's The One Show on BBC1 was a Doctor Who special with guests Jenna Coleman and John Hurt, plus Steven Moffat from the TARDIS set in Roath Lock. Also, the Radiophonic Workshop play the Doctor Who theme live in studio. (BBC iPlayer)

Radio

BBC Radio Norfolk continues its week-long series of articles on the county's association with the show, this morning talking to Dr Keith Johnston from the UEA in Norwich, who explains how he uses the show in his lectures. (BBC iPlayer)

Today's edition of the Alex Dyke show from BBC Radio Solent continued its Doctor Who exploration, with Richard Latto today talking to John Levene about his memories of being in the show (BBC iPlayer, from 1:35:15, and back to John at 1:45:40). You can also watch a longer interview with John via the BBC Solent website.

Mark Gatiss was a guest on Simon Mayo's Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 in the afternoon to chat about 50 years of Doctor Who and his drama, An Adventure in Space and Time. (BBC iPlayer - from 1:05:10)

BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley presented a Doctor Who Mixtape during the evening, compiled by suggestions from listeners. (BBC iPlayer)

More on the mini-mini episode from BBC Radio Wiltshire's Graham Seaman, this time on who would be playing the Doctor. (BBC iPlayer - throughout the show, but the "Doctor" was revealed from 49:06, and fan encounters from 1:09:28)

BBC Kent's Pat Marsh spoke to writer Neil Perryman and his wife Sue about their book, Adventures with the Wife in Space, their appearance at the Folkstone Book Festival, and what it is like to be a Doctor Who fan. (BBC iPlayer - from 1:21:10)

BBC Scotland's Get It On With Bryan Burnett continued its Doctor Who theme, this time "with the Tardis taking him to the present day, playing songs such as Right Here Right Now and Talk Talk's Today." (BBC iPlayer)

Misc Media Items

• SPACE have released a trailer for their upcoming show InnerSpace LIVE: After the Day of the Doctor
• What's on TV interviewed Matt Smith on acting alongside his predecessor.
• Wales Online present their top 5 regenerations.
• The Huffington Post interviewed fourth Doctor Tom Baker, including comments that can be considered spoilers for the weekend!
• IGN chat to David Bradley about An Adventure in Space and Time.
• The Independent presented a gallery of Doctor Who villains, and also their 50 Doctor Who facts.
• Matt Smith chats to The National Student about the 50th Anniversary
• Steven Moffat tells the Guardian about how he was the original angry Doctor Who fan.
• Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and others pick their favourite Time Lord moments for the Big Issue.
• The Guardian is taken on tour of the set of An Adventure in Space and Time by Mark Gatiss.
• The East Anglian Daily Times reflects on local Dalek maestro John Scott Martin.
• The Radio Times reveals Doctor Who's biggest fan.
• The Telegraph reported on how NHS chief Sir Bruce Keogh happened to be on hand to help deal with an accident befalling a Cyberman on this evening's The One Show!

Coming Up

• Tomorrow evening sees the premiere of the origins drama An Adventure in Space and Time on BBC2, 9:00pm
• The drama is followed on BBC4 by a broadcast of the very first story, An Unearthly Child from 10:30pm
• BBC Radio 2 continues the celebration with The Blagger's Guide to Doctor Who and Who is the Doctor? from 10:00pm
• Jenna Coleman pops in to see Nick Grimshaw on his breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 from 6:30am.
• BBC Radio Wales visits the Doctor Who Experience for some six hours during the day (from 10:00am).
• CBBC's Blue Peter celebrate the 50th Anniversary by launching a new competition and chatting to Jenna Coleman
• Plus more from Radios Norfolk and Solent on Doctor Who in their regions.

For these and other programming during the course of tomorrow and the next few days, visit This Week in Doctor Who.

The BBC have now released The Last Day via iTunes. This is the second minisode to be released in anticipation of this weekend's The Day of the Doctor, and is described thus:
Unlike The Night of The Doctor, this minisode does not feature any of the characters/situations currently unveiled for The Day of the Doctor, but instead relates to another, related day ...

The clip is currently listed for £2.49 in the United Kingdom store, or for free in the United States.

It will also be available as a special feature on the forthcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of the Anniversary adventure.

UPDATE

The BBC have now confirmed that the minisode should be free of charge in the UK as well as the rest of the world. A BBC spokesman told RadioTimes.com

BBC America is celebrating Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary with the first ever live simulcast from YouTube Space Los Angeles.

The station has joined with Nerdist Industries to screen a pre Anniversary show on the station and streamed globally on BBC America's YouTube Channel. Hosted by Veronica Belmont, the Doctor Who 50th Live Pre-Show will air November 23, 2:30pm ET (1930 GMT) just prior to the premiere of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary special The Day of The Doctor.

Doctor Who 50th Live Pre-Show will be an all-out celebration of 50 years of Doctor Who and its passionate fans. As the world awaits the global simulcast of the anniversary special, the pre-show will feature a live curation of fan-created content being shared on social media from celebrations around the globe, plus chats with special guests including YouTube star Phil DeFranco.

Perry Simon, General Manager, BBC America commented:Liam Collins, Head of YouTube Space LA. Veronica Belmont, co-host of the science fiction and fantasy YouTube video show, audio podcast, and book club The Sword and Laser, added:Following the anniversary special, BBC America’s YouTube channel will host a YouTube-exclusive post-show at 4:00pm ET. In addition, BBC America and BBC America’s YouTube channel will simulcast a primetime pre-show at 7:00pm ET, which will look at the day’s events ahead of BBC America's primetime broadcast of the anniversary special.

The Doctor Who 50th Live Pre-Show will culminate a week-long Doctor Who week on YouTube, featuring content from popular YouTube channels like Nerdist, EmergencyAwesome, Doctor Puppet, PBSideaChannel, How to Cook That, and Rugburn.