Anneke Wills Autobiography

Sunday, 12 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Anneke Wills and The Hirst Group have confirmed the release of the first volume of Anneke's long awaited Autobiography. Self Portrait will be officially launched at Regenerations - the Doctor Who convention taking place in Swansea on the 29th and 30th of September.

Anneke, who played popular companion Polly alongside the first two Doctors, decided to write her autobiography in September 2006. She says, "I was reluctant at first, but once I'd agreed, I lit up with excitement, and kept all my friends awake till 5am, telling stories!" The book promises to be a real treat for fans of cult television, as Anneke recalls her time in The Avengers, The Saint, Strange Report and a whole range of classic TV and cult films. There is of course, comprehensive coverage of Anneke's time on Doctor Who, and one or two revelations...

In the book, Anneke talks fondly of her friendships with the leading lights of the 1960s and gives an insiders view of life at the heart of the swinging sixties.

The book is illustrated throughout with previously unseen photos, and Anneke's own drawings and paintings.

Self Portrait by Anneke Wills, the first part of a two-part autobiography, is published by The Hirst Group and will be available from mid-September.

FILTER: - People - Books

News Bits and Bobs

Saturday, 11 August 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The British press has lots of stories rehashing the BBC's press release about Series Four: BBC News, ITN, The Sun,The Stage, the Manchester Evening News, the Evening Standard and the South Wales Echo all have stories.

Billie Piper recently suffered a bout of temporary blindness, possibly exacerbated by the flash bulbs of paparazzi cameras. The story is covered at The Daily Mirror, ITN and Digital Spy. With a stunning lack of self-awareness, The Sun accompanies the story with photographs taken the night Piper was taken ill.

And, in a story about the recent fire at Rome's Cinecitta Studios, Varietymentions in passing that "the BBC is on site preparing to shoot its revived sci-fier "Doctor Who" at Cinecitta in September." The report is taken up by The Sun, which includes a quote attributed to Julie Gardner about the potential shoot (see spoiler below, which includes speculation on the tenth Doctor). The Sun's story was in turn taken up by Digital Spy. If these reports are accurate, it will be the first time the revived series will see full filming outside of the UK (excluding the brief plate shots taken in New York for "Daleks in Manhattan").

Thanks to Nigel Ellis and David McIntee.
FILMING on Doctor Who was thrown into chaos after an Italian film set bosses planned to use, was hit by a fire. Crew on the BBC1 drama flew out to Rome’s Cinecitta studios — where the Beeb filmed their epic Rome series — earlier this week. They plan to make an Ancient Rome-themed episode for Doctor Who’s fourth series there later this year.

But on Thursday night a huge blaze ripped through the studio — destroying masses of expensive BBC equipment. An insider said: "It was a huge blaze. At one point, it looked like the whole studio was a goner. It threw a real spanner in the works for the Doctor Who team. They’re planning an episode where the Doctor goes back in time to Ancient Rome and thought it would be perfect to use the set."

Who bosses still plan to use the set once fire damage has been cleared up, with insiders suggesting crucial parts were still intact. Doctor Who executive producer Julie Gardner said: "Some of the production team have been looking at locations in Italy for the new series. The Doctor will have a Roman adventure.”

Meanwhile, TV Biz can reveal that show star David Tennant is set to take a starring role in a stage version of Hamlet. The Royal Shakespeare Company is set to announce next month that the actor will play the Danish prince in 2008.

Taking the role is likely to mean David is forced to quit Doctor Who before the end of series four — as we predicted.

FILTER: - Press

Ben Kingsley in Series Four?

Saturday, 11 August 2007 - Reported by Jeremy Bement

According to The Sun and repeated in various other outlets such asdigitalspy, darkhorizons.com and G4's Attack of the Show, actor Ben Kingsley has been reported to be appearing in the upcoming Series Four ofDoctor Who. Sir Ben, famous for his Oscar-winning portrayal of Gandhi in the 1982 film of the same name, is the latest actor to be rumoured to have a role in the new series. However, we would like to point out that the BBC has neither confirmed nor denied this story.

For more information about Kingsley's supposed role, click the spoiler tag below.

According to The Sun, "DOCTOR Who bosses are set to sign up Gandhi star Sir Ben Kingsley — to play the Daleks’ creator Davros.

Sir Ben, 63 — who won an Oscar for his movie role as India’s peace-loving spiritual leader — is in final negotiations to play one of the most dangerous baddies in the galaxy.

A source said: 'Ben’s agent has been in talks for a while now and he’s very keen to play the part of Davros. A deal will be signed any day now.'

Fans will be delighted that insane half-man, half-machine Davros is returning for the fourth series of the hit BBC1 show, which stars David Tennant as the Timelord."

FILTER: - Production - Press

Dalek Panto

Saturday, 11 August 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

This Christmas, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle will pit Aladdin against the Daleks in their seasonal pantomime. The theatre's website says, "...making their first ever appearance in pantomime, The Daleks, from TV's Dr Who, threaten to exterminate Aladdin's plans to marry Princess Jasmine and live happily ever after..." Aladdin is scheduled to run from December 3, 2007 to January 19, 2008.

Thanks to Brian Taylor.

FILTER: - Special Events

Series Four press release

Thursday, 9 August 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The official Doctor Who website has revealed further information about the fourth series of Doctor Who, which has recently entered production. They have announced that in addition to the previously-confirmed return of the Ood, one episode of the fourth series will feature the Doctor and new companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate, encountering well-known thriller writer Agatha Christie.

Christie will be played by Fenella Woolgar, who recently appeared in Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat's BBC One drama serial Jekyll, as Min, one half of the show's lesbian private detective pairing. Also announced is the casting of Felicity Kendal, very well known in the UK for her leading role in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life. Kendal will be playing Lady Clemency Eddison. It has also been announced that Tim McInnerny(Blackadder, Notting Hill) will guest-star in an episode later in the series.

Matthew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandson, is quoted as saying: "As far as I know my grandmother, never saw Doctor Who, but I am sure she would have been intrigued, excited and above all flattered by all this attention in 2007." Showrunner Russell T Davies adds that: "Visiting Agatha Christie has been on my wish-list for ages now, and for the Doctor, it's a real meeting of minds. Viewers can expect many more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Some further information about how the character of Donna is reunited with the Doctor has also been released, and is reproduced in spoiler tags below.

According to the press information about Donna: "When she returns in the new series, viewers will see her track down the Time Lord (David Tennant) during an alien emergency in modern-day London."

FILTER: - Series 4/30 - Press

Torchwood hits Brazil and Mexico

Wednesday, 8 August 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Torchwood is slated to begin airing in Brazil this month. The premiere will be on August 28th on the People and Arts channel.

Since the 9th of July Torchwood has also been available in Mexico, viaCanal22. The programme is shown in a half hour slot on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2230.

Thank you to Karla and Carlos Santillan

FILTER: - Torchwood - Broadcasting

Computer Game Latest

Wednesday, 8 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The UK computer game developer Ironstone Partners is working on a Doctor Who title for the Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation2 and Windows PC platforms, according to Eurogamer.

As reported by Outpost Gallifrey last month, Top Trumps revealed plans for a video game that would be released for Christmas 2007.

Ironstone Partners has previously worked on other games based around the Top Trumps brand.

(Thanks to Zygma Experiment.)

FILTER: - Merchandise

"Voyage of the Damned" Location Report....from Colin Baker

Tuesday, 7 August 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

While the tour of his very successful current play Bedroom Farce(also starring Leela actress Louise Jameson) made a stop in Cardiff, Sixth Doctor Colin Baker was invited to visit the location filming on the 2007 Christmas Special Voyage of the Damned.

Mr. Baker writes about the experience in his Bucks Free Press column. An excerpt is below; please visit here to read the entire article.

"What was particularly unexpected was the welcome that Russell T Davies and Phil Collinson, respectively executive producer and producer, afforded me and the very genuine affection they appeared to have for the original programme - "Classic Who" as it is now called."

FILTER: - People - Specials

Hulke Stories On Audio

Tuesday, 7 August 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Unabridged readings of classic era Third Doctor novels Doctor Who And The Cave Monsters and Doctor Who And The Doomsday Weaponare to be released by BBC Audiobooks, says the official programme website.

Both penned by Malcolm Hulke, the original TV versions of the Jon Pertwee stories were called Doctor Who And The Silurians and Colony In Space respectively.

Caroline John, who played assistant Liz Shaw in Doctor Who And The Silurians, reads Doctor Who And The Cave Monsters, while Geoffrey Beevers, who portrayed the disfigured Master in The Keeper of Traken, readsDoctor Who And The Doomsday Weapon.

The stories will be available from September 3 as CD sets and downloads.

FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

December Who Novels

Monday, 6 August 2007 - Reported by Josiah Rowe

The covers and blurbs for the December Doctor Who novels from BBC Books are now available. All the books feature the Tenth Doctor and Martha, and will be available from 27 December 2007.

For full-size images of the covers, click on the thumbnails below.

Thanks to Paul Taylor of Tenth Planet

The Pirate Loop by Simon Guerrier

The Doctor's been everywhere and everywhen in the whole of the universe and seems to know all the answers. But ask him what happened to the Starship Brilliant and he hasn't the first idea. Did it fall into a sun or black hole? Was it shot down in the first moments of the galactic war? And what's this about a secret experimental drive?

The Doctor is skittish. But if Martha is so keen to find out he'll land the TARDIS on the Brilliant, a few days before it vanishes. Then they can see for themselves...

Soon the Doctor learns the awful truth. And Martha learns that you need to be careful what you wish for. She certainly wasn't hoping for mayhem, death, and badger-faced space pirates.

Wishing Well by Trevor Baxendale

The old village well is just a curiosity -- something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish. Unless something alien and terrifying could be lurking inside the well. Something utterly monstrous that causes nothing but death and destruction.

But who knows the real truth about the well? Who wishes to unleash the hideous force it contains? What terrible consequences will follow the search for a legendary treasure hidden at the bottom?

No one wants to believe the Doctor's warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait -- but soon they'll wish they had...

Peacemaker by James Swallow

The peace and quiet of a remote homestead in the 1880s American West is shattered by the arrival of two shadowy outriders searching for 'the healer'. When the farmer refuses to help them, they raze the house to the ground using guns that shoot bolts of energy instead of bullets...

In the town of Redwater, the Doctor and Martha learn of a snake-oil salesman whose patent medicines actually cure his patient. But when the Doctor and Martha investigate they discover the truth is stranger, and far more dangerous.

Caught between the law of the gun and the deadly plans of intergalactic mercenaries, the Doctor and Martha are about to discover just how wild the West can become...

FILTER: - Books

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