Barry Letts Autobiography

Tuesday, 21 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Barry Letts, writer, director, and producer of the Classic Series, has published the first volume in his autobiography. The book, entitled Who and Me, is available exclusively online here. The second volume is currently slated for release next year.

FILTER: - People - Auto/Biography - Books

Greatest Who Poll Results

Tuesday, 21 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

UKTV Drama has released the results of its Who is the Greatest Doctor Who Poll?. Following weeks of voting, David Tennant has landed first place with over eight thousand votes! A full list of the results is below.

1st Place - David Tennant - 8866 votes
2nd Place - Tom Baker - 2891 votes
3rd Place - Christopher Eccleston - 2694 votes
4th Place - Jon Pertwee - 1527 votes
5th Place - Patrick Troughton - 513 votes
6th Place - Peter Davison - 392 votes
7th Place - William Hartnell - 373 votes
8th Place - Colin Baker - 331 votes
9th Place - Sylvester McCoy - 314 votes
10th Place - Paul McGann - 140 votes

FILTER: - Press

Time Warrior DVD Cover

Monday, 20 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The cover image for the forthcoming UK DVD release of The Time Warriorhas been made available. Click on the thumbnail below for a larger version.

The Robert Holmes four-parter, which originally aired from December 1973 to January 1974, was the first story in Jon Pertwee's final season as the Third Doctor, and introduced not only Elisabeth Sladen as companion Sarah Jane Smith but also the Sontaran race.

It is out on September 3 and will be the first time the adventure has been available unedited.

(Thanks to Carl T Davies.)

Extras on the disc include:

Commentary - with Elisabeth Sladen, producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks
Beginning the End - a 'Making Of' featurette partially shot on location at Peckforton Castle, with contributions from Elisabeth Sladen, Donald Pelmear, Jeremy Bulloch, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and designer Keith Cheetham. Narrated by Simon Ockenden
Optional new CGI Effects
1974 Doctor Who Annual pdf
Radio Times listings pdf
Photo Gallery
Coming Soon trailer
Trails and Continuity

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Radio Times

Sun Spoils Children In Need

Monday, 20 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The Sun has released an article about the forthcoming Children In Need special for Doctor Who. The article comes two days after a similar spoiler was spoken by Sylvester McCoy in New Zealand. As always, nothing has been confirmed by the BBC. Currently the Children In Need telethon is on scheduled for November 16th. Please click on the Spoiler tag below to view the article.

Doctor Who legend Peter Davison is to step back into the Tardis – and come face to face with the current Doctor.

Peter, 56, who played the Timelord in the 1980s, will pull on his famous trenchcoat once again for a Children In Need special.

Bosses are tight-lipped about the storyline, written by Who scribe Stephen Moffat.

But an insider revealed: “The Doctor is forever travelling though time so there’s no reason why he couldn't catch up with a former incarnation.

“Peter was top of the writer’s list to make a comeback."

This year’s Children In Need charity telethon takes place on BBC1 on Friday, November 16.

FILTER: - Special Events - Press

Doctor Who on your mobile

Monday, 20 August 2007 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide's Digital Media division has announced a new content partnership with mobile operator O2.

BBC Worldwide will provide over 300 individual pieces of content under the deal, including video clips, wallpapers and ringtones from programmes such as The Office, Little Britain, Doctor Who, I'm Alan Partridge and League of Gentlemen. The content will be sold through the O2 Active mobile portal.

Grahame Riddell, head of strategic content partners at O2 UK, said the deal 'paved the way' for access to BBC material in a range of formats. BBC Worldwide said the range of programmes and formats available under the deal is expected to grow over time.

Peter Mercier, head of mobile at BBC Worldwide, said: "This is clearly a great deal for us in terms of getting our content in front of consumers and demonstrating how BBC Worldwide continues to innovate in the digital media sector."

FILTER: - Merchandise

Sylvester speaks a SPOILER

Sunday, 19 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Seventh Doctor Actor Sylvester McCoy released a possible spoiler at the Day With A Doctorevent in Auckland, New Zealand. McCoy sited the source of the information as Peter Jackson. There has been no Official Announcement of this from the BBC. Please click on the Spoiler link below.

McCoy claimed that Fifth Doctor Peter Davison is due to return for Series 4 in a Multi-Doctor episode.

FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30

Casting Rumor

Sunday, 19 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Digital Spy has announced a casting rumor for Series 4. The story was originally broken by News of the World. There is still no confirmation from the BBC about the rumor at this time. Please Click on the Spoiler button below for more information.

Iconic British actress Joan Collins has reportedly signed up to play a time-travelling villain in the forthcoming season of Doctor Who.

The News of the World claims that 74-year-old Collins, best known for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby in the soap Dynasty, has already signed up for the role of The Doctor's arch nemesis The Rani, a scheming Gallifreyan scientist who appeared twice in the classic series.

The tabloid quotes an insider in the show as saying: "The Doctor Who team are delighted they've managed to sign Joan. It's a real coup. [She's] perfect for the role... like Alexis Colby with a sonic screwdriver."

The Rani was originally portrayed by Kate O'Mara in 1985's 'The Mark of the Rani' opposite Colin Baker and in Sylvester McCoy's debut story 'Time and the Rani' in 1987. O'Mara, who reprised the role in a 1993 Children In Need special, also played Collins' younger sister Cassandra in Dynasty.

FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30 - Press

2008 Annual Recalled

Saturday, 18 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Booksellers across the globe are currently pulling copies of the Official Doctor Who Annual 2008, following a recall.

There is no information as to why this title has been recalled or if there will be a replacement. Retail chain WH Smith is putting it down to a "printing mistake" and says that the copies must be destroyed once pulled.

There has been no official statement from the BBC regarding this issue.

FILTER: - Books

About Time 6

Saturday, 18 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Mad Norwegian Press has released more information on About Time 6. There is still no release date on this volume.

About Time vol. 6 covers Seasons 22 to 26 of "Doctor Who," focusing on the tenures of Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, as well as the TV movie starring Paul McGann in mind-bending detail. In addition to the usual concerns such as the TV show’s continuity (alien races, the Doctor’s abilities, etc.) and lore (anecdotal, "Did You Know?"-style material), author Tat Wood will examine each Colin Baker, McCoy and McGann story in the context of the year/historical period it was produced, determining just how topical the stories were.

Essays in this volume include: "Is Continuity a Pointless Waste of Time?", "Why are Elements so Weird in Space?", "Why Do Time Lords Meet in Sequence?", "Is There a Season 6B?", "Did They Think We'd Buy Just Any Old Crap?", "What Might the Other Season 23 Have Been Like?", "Who Narrates This Programme?", "How Warped was the Doctor's Mind?", "How 'Good' is the Doctor?", "The Valeyard, Er - How?", "What's All This Stuff About Anoraks?", "What are the Oddest Romances in the Programme's History?", "The Semiotic Thickness of What?", "When Did Susan Go to School?", "What are the Gayest Things in Doctor Who, "Did Cartmel Have Any Plan at All?", "Could It Be Magic?", "Where Does 'Canon' End?", "What Were Josiah's Blasphemous Theories?", "Are These 'gods' Related?", "What About Season 27?" and "Does Paul McGann Count?"

FILTER: - Books

Sarah Jane Adventures Latest

Saturday, 18 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC has unveiled its new look for CBBC with the news that spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures will feature "familiar alien enemies from Doctor Who".

A new logo - seen right - and animated idents have been created for the multi-platform channel dedicated to six-to-12-year-olds, as the new season and new look go on air and online from September 3, although the start date of The Sarah Jane Adventures is yet to be confirmed.

The forthcoming autumn season will also see Reggie Yates, who plays Martha's brother, Leo, and who narrates the audiobook Sting of the Zygons, co-presenting adventure game show Escape From Scorpion Island.

FILTER: - Sarah Jane

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