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

The Doctor needs a tailor?

Monday, 15 October 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The Sun is reporting that Fifth Doctor Peter Davison recently experienced a wardrobe issue while returning to the role of the Doctor for the upcoming Children In Need special. The Sun quotes an insider as saying "Peter's not exactly a fatty, but he's filled out a bit after 20 years." The article goes on to report that the costume worn by Sylvester McCoy fit.

It is to be made clear that the BBC have not confirmed ANY of the information currently circulating about the Children in Need special, including the involvement of Davison. Doctor Who Magazinehas reported that if there is any truth to the rumor, they will have full coverage. The Sun reports that the special will air on November 19th.




FILTER: - People - Special Events - Classic Series - Peter Davison

Eccleston on life after Doctor Who

Saturday, 13 October 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

In an interview with the Daily Record, Christopher Eccleston has spoken briefly of his time on Doctor Who.
He said: "99 percent of the dramas I've made have been for adults, and this was a real opportunity to try something new. I've had experience of making drama for children with Doctor Who. I think it's important if we can provide complexity and grey areas rather than just a funfair ride. That's what appeals to me.

"I think a younger audience is much more exacting than adults actually... they're much fiercer in their attachment once they've taken you to your heart, but they have better detectors than us."

Christopher brought Doctor Who back to the BBC and to millions of fans old and new who were gutted when he quit after one series.

While Scot David Tennant has become an even bigger Doctor there have always been questions about why Christopher took on the role just to quit so quickly.

All he will say is that he "was very proud to play the Doctor."




FILTER: - People - Press

Spring Books Update

Saturday, 13 October 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

BBC Books has released full details on the Spring Trio of novels featuring the Doctor and Martha. All three books are currently slated for an April 14th release.
Martha in the Mirror by Justin Richards

Castle Extremis – whoever holds it can control the provinces either side that have been at war for centuries. Now the castle is about to play host to the signing of a peace treaty. But as the Doctor and Martha find out, not everyone wants the war to end.


Who is the strange little girl who haunts the castle? What is the secret of the book the Doctor finds, its pages made from thin, brittle glass? Who is the hooded figure that watches from the shadows? And what is the secret of the legendary Mortal Mirror?


The Doctor and Martha don’t have long to find the answers – an army is on the march, and the castle will soon be under siege once more…

Snowglobe 7 by Mike Tucker

Earth, 2099. Global warming is devastating the climate. The polar ice caps are melting.


In a desperate attempt at preservation the Governments of the world have removed vast sections of the Arctic and Antarctic and set them inside huge domes across the world. The Doctor and Martha arrive in Snowglobe 7 in the Middle East, hoping for peace and relaxation. But they soon discover that it’s not only ice and snow that has been preserved beneath the Dome.


While Martha struggles to help with an infection sweeping through the holidaymakers the Doctor discovers an alien threat that has lain hidden since the last ice age. A threat that is starting to thaw.

The Many Hands by Dale Smith

Edinburgh, 1759.


The Nor' Loch is being filled in. If you ask the soldiers there, they'll tell you it's a stinking cesspool that the city can do without. But that doesn't explain why the workers won't go near the place without an armed guard.


That doesn't explain why they whisper stories about the loch giving up its dead, about the minister who walked into his church twelve years after he died…


It doesn’t explain why, as they work, they whisper about a man called the Doctor. And about the many hands of Alexander Monro.




FILTER: - Books

Sarah Jane Ratings Update

Wednesday, 10 October 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Overnight figures show that Episode Three of The Sarah Jane Adventures was watched by 1.1 million viewers, a 10.1% shareof the total TV audience. The AI figure for this episode was 83, the highest so far for the series and the highest rating on BBC1 for the day.

On CBBC, Episode Four had 0.236 million viewers, a 3% share.

Figures released by BARB show that the debut of Episode Two on the digital channel CBBC, got a final rating of 0.446 million viewers. It was not only the highest rated programme on CBBC for the week, but the highest rated programme on all the Children's channels.






FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Season Four Casting News

Wednesday, 10 October 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

Sarah Lancashire will feature in the first episode of Doctor Who Series Four alongside David Tennant and new companion Catherine Tate.

The ex-Coronation Street actress will play Miss Foster, described as an "enigmatic and powerful businesswoman".

She told the Press Association: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be in Doctor Who. It's a brilliant episode and I'm looking forward to taking the Time Lord on."




FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30

Update on Torchwood Season One DVD Region 1 Release

Wednesday, 10 October 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

According to the TV Shows on DVD website, it was announced today by the BBC and Warner that the Season One (as it is labeled for its US and Canadian release) DVD Box set ofTorchwood will be released on Tuesday, January 22nd, rather than January 8th as originally reported.

In additional news, it is also reported that fans of the show will be able to choose the cover art for the boxset. The studio will soon launch an online poll that will allow fans to vote for their favourite cover art for the set.

More details forthcoming. Below is the product description for the boxset.
The highly anticipated spin-off from the new Doctor Who, Torchwood: The Complete First Season blazes its way to DVD. Separate from the government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations, Torchwood sets its own rules. Led by the enigmatic, ever watchful Captain Jack Harkness, the Torchwood team delves into the unknown and fights the impossible. Everyone who works for Torchwood is young. Some say that's because it's a new science. Others say it's because they die young.




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