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

North American DVD Covers

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Amazon.com has released the covers to the two Classic Series DVD releases for November, Arc of Infinity andTime-Flight. Both of these releases are scheduled to be available on November 6th, alongside The Complete Series Three box set.




FILTER: - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Adventures Successes

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

In a report released by BBC MagazinesDoctor Who Adventures has become the fastest growing consumer magazine in the UK. Doctor Who Adventures magazine posts the industry's biggest year on year growth, up a staggering 99 percent, selling 47,000 more copies per issue than last period.
Peter Phippen, Managing Director, BBC Magazines says: "Yet again we're posting possibly the best overall set of ABC numbers in the business with our total year-on-year circulation rising by 3% (6% pop). We're also publishing the fastest growing title in the industry with Doctor Who Adventures coming in at a 99% year on year rise. A lot of nonsense is talked about the robustness of the magazine market, in particular monthlies, but our outstanding editorial and professional marketing has won through with the result that all our monthly titles bar one are posting year-on-year growth. Nor is it an issue of whether you should back magazines or websites. We're putting massive investment into our websites and our new ABC brand audits are testament to our belief that cross-media brands are the future – something we've believed in for over twenty years."

Jaynie Bye, Joint Managing Director, BBC Children's Magazines, says: "The astounding success story for us this year has been Doctor Who Adventures magazine which, at 99%, posts the largest year-on-year increase this ABC consumer publishing period. The title continues to smash our predictions and has, over the last six months alone, managed to sell 47,000 additional copies per issue and massively grown its market."




FILTER: - Magazines - Press - DWA

Doctor Who Adventures 36

Thursday, 16 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

What do YOU think happened to Dalek Caan?

The new issue of Doctor Who Adventures - out today - takes a look at Caan and wonders if he could be the last Dalek in the universe.

PLUS:

The Journal of Impossible Things - look inside John Smith's mind with our guide to his fantastic dream book.
Doctor's Data - find out about Sally Sparrow, the girl who saved the Doctor.
Adventure guide / Doctor Who Confidential extra - return to present-day Earth for monster scares in The Lazarus Experiment.
Comic strip - a new adventure for the Doctor and Martha called Signs of Life.
Scary mask - become a Pig Slave and serve the Daleks!
Who knows? - your Doctor Who questions answered.
Tales from the TARDIS - the Doctor is attacked by a Plasmavore.
Posters - five exclusive posters of the Ood, Dalek Caan, Gridlock, The Lazarus Experiment and Martha and Tish.

This issue comes with a free gift.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Martha on Torchwood

Wednesday, 15 August 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The BBC Press Office has released more information about the character of Martha Jones appearing onTorchwood, along with a photograph of Freema Agyeman with the rest of the Torchwood cast.

Agyeman is quoted as saying: "Martha has grown up a lot since Doctor Who. She's now a fully qualified doctor and a bit hardened by life experiences. When she finds out that Captain Jack needs her help, she joins Torchwood for a while. She continues to develop her knowledge of alien intelligence, but this time keeping her feet on the ground.

"These will be invaluable skills to take back with her on future adventures with the Doctor. She outgrew the Doctor, in a sense, and so the next time they meet it will be in a more professional capacity. I'm so proud of her journey and who she has become.

"And for me as an actress, it's a great new challenge to be able to broaden and expand Martha as she develops in other directions for this more adult series. The Torchwood team are fabulous to work with and have made me very welcome."

Agyeman will appear in three episodes of Torchwood, which will air early in 2008. The press release also mentions guest stars James MarstersAlan Dale and Richard Briers; Briers' character is described as "Parker, a reclusive millionaire who is the keeper of alien secrets, much later in the series."

Thanks to Ryan Love.




FILTER: - People - Torchwood - Production