Children in Need special

Friday, 19 October 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The BBC Press Office has confirmed the long-standing rumours that this year's annual televised Children in Needfundraising night on BBC One will contain what is described as "a very special episode of Doctor Who".

No further details have yet been released. This year's telethon is on the evening of Friday 16th November, live on BBC One from 7pm.

FILTER: - Special Events

Barrowman's Game Show Role Confirmed

Friday, 19 October 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC today confirmed that John Barrowman will host new TV entertainment show The Kids Are All Right.

According to the BBC Press Office, the primetime BBC One programme will see adults competing for cash prizes in a battle of wits, with seven children aged from nine to 15 determined to stop them.

Co-executive producer Andy Rowe said: "We are thrilled to have John Barrowman as our host: he's charismatic, commanding and very funny and gives the show that big event feel."

The show has been commissioned from Endemol company Initial. A pilot edition was taped on July 22, according to Barrowman's official site.

There was no indication as to when production would begin or when the series would start.

Outpost Gallifrey reported on July 20 media speculation that Barrowman had been tipped for the job.

UPDATE (21 OCT): Barrowman's official site is now reporting that the series will comprise eight editions, and will be recorded during the daytime at the BBC's Glasgow studios from November 26 to 30.

To apply for tickets to attend the recordings, follow this link.

FILTER: - People

BBC to sell TV Centre; Doctor Who safe

Thursday, 18 October 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, has announced plans for major cuts at the BBC, including the sale of Television Centre by the end of the 2012-2013 financial year. The complex was one of the world's first purpose-built TV studios and the home of Doctor Who production from 1966-89. The sale of the property is planned as part of a series of cuts proposed to fund digital switch-over in the UK. In a speech to BBC staff today, Thompson declined to discuss how his proposals, which also include a 10% reduction of new programme commissions and a predicted rise in repeats, will affect the BBC's commercial wing, BBC Worldwide.

However, the BBC has confirmed that one of its priorities after the cuts will be television drama, and specifically mentioned Doctor Who as an example of the programmes on which the BBC will focus:

Television drama: prioritising high-impact, distinctive drama series of wide appeal and range, from classic drama such as this autumn's new five-part drama serial Cranford starring Judi Dench to modern drama that captures the imagination of audiences, such as Life On Mars, Doctor Who and Spooks.

A BBC press release about the planned changes can be found here; BBC News covers the story (including BBC staff reactions) here and here.

FILTER: - Production - Broadcasting - BBC

Sladen to sign SJA audios

Thursday, 18 October 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

As previously reported on this page, on Saturday, October 27Elisabeth Sladen will be signing the new Sarah Jane Adventuresaudiobooks at Borders on Oxford Street in London. The two audiobooks,The Glittering Storm by Stephen Cole and The Thirteenth Stone byJustin Richards, will be available at the event a week before they become available for general purchase in stores and via digital download (on November 5). Sladen will be signing copies of the audiobooks from 2 to 4 pm at Borders, 203-207 Oxford Street, London W1.

Thumbnail images of the audiobooks' covers can be seen below.

FILTER: - Special Events - Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane Ratings

Wednesday, 17 October 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Ratings for The Sarah Jane Adventures continue to hold up, with unofficial overnight figures showing that episode four was watched by1.0 million viewers, a 9.2% share of the total TV audience. The AI figure for this episode was 85, the highest so far for the series and putting the programme in the excellent category.

Over on CBBC, episode five was up on last week's figures, with 0.289 million viewers, a 3.7% share of all children watching.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane Adventures Series Two?

Wednesday, 17 October 2007 - Reported by Chuck Foster

In an interview with Elisabeth Sladen conducted by LastBroadcastthis week, she was asked on whether a second series of Sarah Jane Adventures will appear.

The article also mentions an up-and-coming signing event with the actress for the release of the original audio adventures The Glittering Storm andThe Thirteenth Stone, which will take place at the Oxford Street Borders bookstore on Saturday 27th October (2-4pm).

(thanks to Andy Keast-Marriott)

Is there going to be a second series of The Sarah Jane adventures?
I know that they're writing it and planning it, yes, but as always with these things they've not had the green light yet, but it all looks very hopeful I think. They seem pleased with how it's done, it's such a clever format.

FILTER: - Sarah Jane

Sun gives "Voyage" details?

Tuesday, 16 October 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The Sun has reported alleged details from the upcoming Christmas Special "Voyage of the Damned", starring David Tennant andKylie Minogue.

In the past, the Sun has reported some accurate plot details about Doctor Who scripts (such as a 2005 report that the Daleks and Cybermen would face off, as they did in the episode "Doomsday") and has also printed some stories which proved to be false (such as a 2006 report that Zoe Lucker would be playing the Rani).

Time will tell which category today's story falls in; just in case it's correct this time round, the details of this story are in the spoiler box below.

The Sun reports that Minogue's character, named Astrid Peth, will share a kiss with the Doctor, and that at the end of the special the character "spins off into space in a strange 'half-form' of herself." The article also states:

The episode is set on board the Titanic, "which has become a spaceship run by arch-baddie Max Capricorn."
Astrid and the Doctor team up to save the earth from Max's scheme.
"Astrid tells the Doctor: 'You need someone to look after you -- can I come with you?' He agrees."
"The special ends with a stunning scene in which the Titanic falls from the sky and looks like crashing on Buckingham Palace."

FILTER: - Specials - Press

National TV Award nominees announced

Monday, 15 October 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

Doctor Who has once again been shortlisted for the three main awards in the UK's National Television Awards, those being Most Popular Actor (David Tennant), Most Popular Actress (Freema Agyeman) and Most Popular Drama (Doctor Who).

In the past two years, Doctor Who has gone on to win those three awards, recipients including Christopher Eccleston, Tennant and Billie Piper. Voting is now open online at itv.com/nta.

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Awards/Nominations

Further Update on Torchwood Region 1 DVD Box Set

Monday, 15 October 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

BBCAmerica is now taking fan votes to pick the cover for theTorchwood Region 1 DVD Box Set of Season One. The channel has issued the following statement:

On January 22, 2008, BBC Video unleashes Torchwood: The Complete First Season starring John Barrowman (Doctor Who) as Captain Jack Harkness. The biggest hit and highest rated drama in BBC AMERICA's history, this action-packed, adrenalin-fuelled new sci-fi series, from Russell T Davies (writer of Doctor Who, Queer as Folk), follows the adventures of a team of investigators who use alien technology to solve crime.

And the fans have spoken - 1.6 million people alone watched the first episode. Now the fans can be a part of the show and get creatively involved with the DVD release by voting for their favorite cover artwork.

From October 15 through October 26, fans can go to a specialvoting page on BBCAmerica.com and vote for their favorite cover. When the voting closes, the artwork that receives the most votes will be used for this highly-anticipated 7-disc box set, which contains over 6 hours of bonus features. In addition, 20 voters will be chosen at random to receive a copy of the DVD once available at retail.

FILTER: - Torchwood - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Sarah Jane down under

Monday, 15 October 2007 - Reported by Adam Kirk

The Sydney Sun-Herald reports that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation will screen The Sarah Jane Adventures sometime next year. The ABC, which also broadcasts Doctor Who, is yet to confirm that it will be screening the spinoff programme.

FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Australia

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