BBC Doctor Who Prom coverage

Saturday, 13 July 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Tonight will see the first of two Doctor Who concerts to be performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of this year's 2013 BBC Proms. The prom will be broadcast live from 7:30pm on BBC Radio 3 (with a second prom tomorrow morning at 10:30am), and recorded for broadcast on television at a later date.

The concert will feature the premiere of a special song to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the show. Speaking to Mark Lawson on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on Tuesday, series composer Murray Gold discussed writing Song For 50:

We thought it would be appropriate to write something to commemorate the birthday, it's essentially happy birthday to a lovely television programme. It was really the fact that, because I've been in the Royal Albert Hall twice with this body of music, I know how people react, and it's a real privilege to be able to write directly for an audience you know. I wrote this - well it's effective a long song - to speak for everybody in that room.

(full programme available to listen to worldwide via the BBC iPlayer (Murray Gold from 6:20))

Talking about the huge success of the Doctor Who on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Proms presenter Katie Derham said:

Tickets went like that - unbelievable - and the queues I know for those final 1000 tickets - in fact it is so popular that we have two, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. They are just the most fun, those proms, a couple of years ago I took my kids to one and they are desperate to come to one as well because you get to see Matt Smith, you get the monsters and you get this great music.

(full Proms interview available to watch in the UK via the Breakfast website (Doctor Who from 3:40))

A report from the rehearsals of the prom was broadcast on Breakfast Saturday morning, during which Matt Smith said:

I love the Albert Hall, I love the Proms, I love classical music, I think it is a great thing to see, all of Murray's really brilliant score over the years come to life, it's something we're really pleased and proud to be part of.

The rehearsals have been taking place all with, with Murray Gold observing:

It's exciting, it's always exciting, it just gives you that feeling of goosebumps on the skin - it's even better once the audience is in there.

BBC Proms 2013 - Murray Gold at the rehearsals (Credit: BBC)

BBC Proms 2013 - Matt Smith talks about the Proms (Credit: BBC)

BBC Proms 2013 - Rehearsal of Song of 50 (Credit: BBC)

Earlier in the week, he spoke about the proms experience to Suzy Klein on BBC Radio 3's In Tune:

You're just talking about it and you're crystalising it in my head and I'm starting to shake ... I was about to answer "you know what, we've done it a few times now, we've played Sydney Opera House and Ben has conducted all around the world from this body of music, we've all got it down-pat now, and the National Orchestra of Wales know their stuff, and the London Symphonic Choir know their stuff" ... but you know, it's so exciting, and the fact that those tickets sold out in 45 minutes or something, and knowing how excited the audience will be and seeing families, mums and dads and children watching classical music for the first time ... when I think about just walking into that auditorium and hearing the sound of 5000 people - I love that. They start cheering and they start singing and all this stuff happens, and the it's a carnival.

(full interview available to listen to worldwide until Wednesday via the BBC iPlayer (Murray Gold from 57:25). It can also be downloaded as a podcast from the In Tune website)

The Proms isn't all about the music of Murray Gold, however; there will be a selection of other classical pieces from composers such as Bach, Bizet and Debussy, whose music has also appeared in the series, and specially composed music soundtracks created by winners of the BBC's Create a Soundtrack competition. Plus, the concert will also hear music hailing back to the earlier era of the show, with David Jackson, director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales explaining on BBC Radio Wales:

You'll have the whole of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a hundred players, as well as a choir, but also we've got the classic music performed on the same instruments they used in the original Radiophonic Workshop - they're basically electronic instruments that just look like a bunch of old tape recorders and something off the deck of the Starship Enterprise - it looks so old-fashioned we thought they were just props at first! (They'll be played by) people who are specially trained, who've learned how to make those work, they're not members of the orchestra, we just have them joining us, we've been very lucky to have them.

(full interview available to listen worldwide on the BBC website)

BBC Proms 2013 - Ben Foster discusses the prom. (Credit: BBC)

Finally, speaking to BBC London Thursday evening conductor Ben Foster said:

Doctor Who fans are a unique breed as you know, and their enthusiasm and their love for the show is second to none - and the excitement in their faces and in the faces of kids who come to the Albert Hall is like nothing else I've ever done.

Next Thursday's Blue Peter on CBBC will include an item on presenter Barney Harwood's appearance at the Proms - having learnt how to play the trombone in three weeks during May for a Brass Band Challenge on the show, presenter Helen Skelton then presented him with a new challenge to play with the National Orchestra of Wales during the Doctor Who Prom (her challenge can be watched via the CBBC website, from 2:25).

FILTER: - Music - Matt Smith

Matt Smith's First Car Up For Charity Auction

Thursday, 11 July 2013 - Reported by John Bowman

Matt Smith is selling his first car for charity.

The X-reg Vauxhall Corsa Club is being auctioned off on eBay in aid of Starlight - an organisation that grants wishes to children who are seriously and terminally ill and entertains youngsters in hospitals and hospices in the UK.

Also affectionately known as "The Shed", the silver three-door manual vehicle, which was first registered on 30th November 2000, has approximately 60,000 miles on the clock. It has been owned by Smith since he was 18, but has ended up parked on his parents' driveway because of his work commitments. In addition, the MoT expired last November, but the 12V 973cc petrol-fuelled car is taxed until August.

The eBay listing states:

The car has several significant features that Matt is particularly proud of, including a wing mirror held on with gaffer tape and one or two strategically-placed bumps and scratches which add to the car's authenticity as the Time Lord's favoured mode of transport.

Affectionately called The Shed by many of Matt's friends, the Corsa, which Matt has had since new, has been involved in many of his most memorable journeys to and from university in Norwich and to the National Youth Theatre and even to some of the Dr Who locations. Latterly, Matt asked his sister to drive the Corsa, keeping it in near-perfect working order.

Alas, as the car grows slowly older it is now in need of a more loving home, particularly as Matt's career now takes him away so often to far-flung exotic locations where his trusty Corsa cannot go! So it is with a heavy heart that Matt must bid "The Shed" farewell!

Smith, who is an ambassador for Starlight, commented:

While I have been travelling the universe in my TARDIS, my much-loved Vauxhall Corsa, aka The Shed, has been parked outside my parents' house. As my first-ever car, it has seen lots of adventures, not to mention a fair few mishaps, hence the dents.

I'll be very sad to see it go but I understand my parents want their driveway back! I'd love to find a new owner for this great little car, particularly as all the profits will go to Starlight, which is an amazing charity that brightens the lives of seriously and terminally ill children.

The auction closes on Thursday 18th July at 2.11pm BST. At the time of posting this news item, the top bid was £560.

Smith can be seen discussing the car, among other topics, in the following excerpt from an edition of the BBC TV series Top Gear, which was broadcast on 26th February 2012 and uploaded to the show's YouTube channel at the beginning of this year. (NB: May not play outside the UK.)

Matt Smith on Top Gear (via Top Gear YouTube channel)

UPDATE - THURSDAY 18th JULY, 3.40pm BST: The car eventually went for £6,300 after 64 bids.

FILTER: - Matt Smith - Charities

The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule

Tuesday, 9 July 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule - Letter from Tom Baker (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

BBC Worldwide have announced the release of a limited edition set to celebrate the Fourth Doctor, as played by Tom Baker. The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule will contain exclusive merchandise and memorabilia:

An Interview with the Time Lord - a newly commissioned interview with Tom Baker.
Terror of the Zygons - an advance "vanilla" release of the restored story, which is due out later in the year.
Fourth Doctor Action Figure - an exclusive post-regenerative Fourth Doctor, wearing Jon Pertwee’s trademark frill-fronted shirt.
Fourth Doctor sonic screwdriver.
Genesis of the Daleks - an audio version of the classic Dalek "origin" story.
Tomb of Valdemar - a novel by Simon Messingham, set during the Doctor’s search for the Key to Time.
Art cards - featuring all the Fourth Doctor’s companions.
A letter from Tom Baker.

The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule is limited to 5000 copies, and is due to be released in the UK only on 29th July.

The set was subject to a Twitter campaign over the last week using the #thefourth hashtag, which also saw a couple of intriguing teaser trailers released to promote interest:

Teaser 1 | Teaser 2

FILTER: - Merchandise - Tom Baker - Fourth Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

Every Episode of Doctor Who Ever - Live on Stage

Monday, 8 July 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Fuse Box in Sydney, Australia is to play host to a new Doctor Who inspired stage production this coming September, as part of the 2013 Sydney Fringe.

Every Episode of Doctor Who Ever - Live on Stage (Credit: Pat Magee)

Every Episode of Doctor Who Ever - Live on Stage

This September, three and a half comedians are going to definitely perform all 798 episodes of the world's longest running SF series.

Live on stage.

In an hour.
(This is, of course, impossible)

Join lifelong Who fan Pat Magee (Project 52, Pat & Carlo, Full Body Contact No Love Tennis) and his friends Rubee Sookee (The Bear Pack vs Cubs, FBCNLT), Ciaran Magee (Arts Revue 2012, Project 52, Pat's brother) and Nicholas "Amy" Pond (Charley's Aunt, Great Expectations, not Pat's brother) as they pay tribute to the greatest television show of all time and answer the first question, the oldest question, the question that must never be answered: "are you doing Dimensions in Time?"
(No. We're not.)

Performances take place at 9:30pm on Wednesday 11th and 18th September, and Thursday 12th and 19th September. More details can be found via the Sydney Fringe website.

(with thanks to Pat Magee, Dallas Jones)

FILTER: - Theatre - Australia

Official 50th Anniversary Convention: Booking opens Monday

Thursday, 4 July 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who Official 50th Anniversary Convention - Doctors (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

BBC Worldwide have announced that tickets to the official 50th Anniversary convention for Doctor Who will go on sale from 11:00am on Monday 8th July. As with the Cardiff convention last year, each of the three days over the 22nd, 23rd and 24th November will be a self-contained event running between 9:30am and 6:30pm, comprising panels, associated activities and photo opportunities.

The three main panel sessions each day are:

The Eleventh Hour Panel
Ever wanted the inside scoop on the world of Doctor Who? Fancied putting a question to the current Time Lord? Well now’s your chance! The Doctor Who Celebration is hosting ‘The Eleventh Hour’ panels featuring the current cast and crew, including MATT SMITH. Take a seat in the theatre and prepare to be entertained...and you might even get to ask your question.
The Regenerations Panel:
Featuring TOM BAKER (Saturday only), COLIN BAKER and SYLVESTER McCOY. These will be audience Q&A sessions, so get thinking of those questions you’ve always wanted to ask about travelling in the TARDIS, working with K-9 or what Tetrap food is really made of...
The Special Effects Show:
Leave your Nitro-9 at home – we’ll make your weekend go with a bang big enough to reboot the Pandorica! Everyone attending the Doctor Who Celebration is invited to an exclusive show produced and presented by special effects supervisor Danny Hargreaves. From innocent snow (or perhaps the Great Intelligence’s killer snow) and soothing water (or maybe deadly Mars water) to Cyber bombs and destroyed Daleks – Danny's worked with them all. With his team from REAL FX, he'll put on a live show that will let you in on insider secrets, prepare you to tackle the deadliest of enemies and completely blow you away - metaphorically speaking of course! Don’t worry – the universe won’t really be restarted.

As before, there will be two ticket groups - Ice Warriors and Weeping Angels - which will enable access to the panels at different times of the day. A number of other talks and panels will take place throughout the day on two stages, schedules to be announced at a later date.

Other activities taking place include:

Walk like a Monster:
If you can’t beat them – join them! This is your opportunity to learn just how to make those companions run for their lives – with workshops to teach you how to walk like a monster. This is a chance to learn from an expert – the woman who has the inside scoop on all the monsters, because she teaches them how to scare you into hiding behind the sofa! Ailsa Berk, the Movement Choreographer for Doctor Who, will be welcoming potential monsters of all ages four times daily – there’s no need to book in advance, simply turn up and join in!
Stunt School:
Ever wondered how the UNIT soldiers roll with the punches? Or how the companions take a tumble? Our highly-skilled team of stunt co-ordinator, Crispin Layfield, and very own Doctor stunt double, Gordon Seed, will be on hand four times a day to put you through your paces and help you learn some easy stunts – no need to book, just turn up when you feel like a piece of the action.
Cast Photographs: (£20)
Limited opportunities are available throughout the event to have an exclusive photograph taken with MATT SMITH. These photographs are taken by our in-house photographer and are printed for you to take home as a souvenir. These photographs are available via pre-booking only and these tickets are expected to sell out fast. Photographs are strictly limited to one per BOOKING, however, group shots are allowed with a maximum of 4 people on ONE photo.
Autographs: (£15 each)
You’ve got that very special picture of your favourite Doctor or companion – or maybe the wonderful official celebration souvenir book – there’s nothing that could possibly make it any better, surely? Wrong! The official 50th celebration gives you the chance to get up close and personalised, with autographs from the stars of Doctor Who. Due to the popularity of this event, we need you to pre-book the autographs you’d like to buy when you arrive at the event. Why not start your own 500 Year Diary or Journal of Impossible Things, with a signature from your favourite cast member?
Doctor Who Adventures:
Doctor Who Adventures has been the ultimate monster magazine for Doctor Who fans since 2006, with fact files, interviews, quizzes, comic strips, free gifts and competitions. This is your chance to design your very own monster with one of the Doctor Who Adventures artists. The Doctor Who Adventures team will be around all weekend, so there’s no need to book to start your own adventure – just turn up on the day.

A series of evening activities are also expected to be arranged.

A variety of merchandise will also be available to purchase, plus a limited edition event t-shirt that can be pre-ordered via the website once booking has opened.

Tickets can be booked via the event website from Monday. Standard tickets are priced at £45 for adults and £20 for kids, while a family ticket (two adults and two children) will cost £104 - booking fee not included.

FILTER: - Special Events - Tom Baker - Matt Smith - Conventions - Sylvester McCoy - Colin Baker

Royal Visit to the TARDIS

Thursday, 4 July 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Prince Charles and Camilla visit the Doctor Who Set at Roath Lock. 3rd July 2013 (Credit: Simon Ridgway/BBC)

Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Roath Lock Studios as part of their annual summer tour of Wales yesterday, coming face-to-face with the Doctor and a number of his foes!

In the first Royal visit to the BBC Cymru Wales Roath Lock studios since they officially opened in March 2012, the visitors were taken on a tour around the studios and the Doctor Who production office. After being given a rundown on how to fly the TARDIS, The Prince and The Duchess were then introduced to the Daleks, with the Prince demonstrating his own take on their famous cry. The were also treated to displays from the show’s costume designer, locations manager, graphics artist, set decorator and production designer, plus production secrets revealed with a green screen display, demonstrated by SFX.

The visit concluded with Their Royal Highnesses meeting some of the Skillset apprentices who are currently training at Roath Lock.

Commenting on the visit, outgoing Doctor, Matt Smith, said:

It was great to welcome The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to set today. Showing them how to fly the TARDIS was a real treat and something I never thought I would be doing when I first took on the role. The Prince of Wales said he remembers watching the show when he was 15 and seemed very knowledgeable on the Who history, so it’s nice to think they are watching.

Jenna Coleman - who met the Queen at Broadcasting House last month - added:

Meeting The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today was such an honour. The Prince was particularly interested in the mechanics of how the TARDIS works and the storyline for the upcoming 50th anniversary special, but I didn’t give too many secrets away.

Executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat said:

I haven't thought about how I could weave a meeting between the Doctor and the royal family. But Prince Charles's attempt at being a Dalek was great. There would be a part in the show for him if he wanted it.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director BBC Cymru Wales:

It's been a very special day - and a moment to celebrate everything that's been achieved at Roath Lock. Doctor Who's success worldwide is a remarkable story, and I was particularly delighted that our Royal visitors were able to meet the brilliant production team. They are very special talents - and BBC Cymru Wales is immensely proud of their achievements.

Danny Cohen, Director BBC Television:

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall seemed to thoroughly enjoy their visit to the set of Doctor Who. The Prince did an extremely good impression of the voice of the Daleks using the special audio effects. Following his time in the TARDIS we may well have an exciting new option for the casting of the next Doctor.

Videos from the visit can be found on the BBC News site, which include Matt and Jenna's thoughts on meeting the Prince (and his chances of being the next Doctor!), and of the TARDIS set visit (which includes a brief discussion between Jenna and Prince about the 50th Anniversary Special). Photo galleries are also available from both BBC News and the BBC's Doctor Who website.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Special Events - Production - Matt Smith - Jenna Coleman - BBC

The Seventh Doctor Revisited On BBC America

Wednesday, 3 July 2013 - Reported by John Bowman

Remembrance of the Daleks is to be shown on BBC America this month as part of the channel's celebratory strand Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited.

Airing on Saturday 27th July in omnibus form, it will be preceded by a documentary at 7pm ET/PT entitled Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited – The Seventh Doctor, in which Sylvester McCoy, his companion actors Sophie Aldred and Bonnie Langford, plus current lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat will be among the people examining the darker side of this particular incarnation of the Doctor. They will also be viewing some of his surreal adventures and discussing The Rani.

Remembrance of the Daleks, written by Ben Aaronovitch and directed by Andrew Morgan, was originally shown over four episodes in October 1988 and saw the Doctor return to Coal Hill School as well as the Totter's Lane junkyard first seen in the show's premier episode. In addition, it continued the story arc of the Dalek civil war, and marked the last appearance of the Daleks and Davros in the original run of the show.

The Doctor and his companion Ace arrive in 1960s London, where they are caught up in a fierce battle on Earth between two violently opposing factions of Daleks, who will stop at nothing to destroy one another.

BBC America is celebrating the programme's 50th anniversary by showing a story per Doctor per month.

The Doctors Revisited: The Seventh Doctor (via YouTube)

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - USA - BBC America - Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy

Children's Laureate Writes Seventh Doctor E-Book

Wednesday, 3 July 2013 - Reported by John Bowman

The Ripple Effect, by Malorie Blackman (Credit: Puffin Books)

Award-winning Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman has written the seventh e-book short story in the range celebrating Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.

The Ripple Effect, to be released on Tuesday 23rd July by Puffin Books in partnership with BBC Worldwide, sees the Seventh Doctor and Ace encountering Daleks - but these are Daleks with a difference.

When the TARDIS lands on Skaro, the Doctor and Ace are shocked to discover the planet has become the universal centre of learning, populated by a race of peace-loving Daleks. Ever suspicious of his arch-enemies' motives, the Doctor learns of a threat that could literally tear the universe apart . . .

Blackman said:

I have always loved Doctor Who - from the time I was a child and the Daleks used to make me run and hide behind the sofa, to Saturday morning pictures when I first saw the Doctor Who films featuring Peter Cushing, right up to the current Doctor with Matt Smith. So when I was asked to write a Doctor Who story featuring the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, I didn't even need to pause to think about it. My answer was an immediate yes.

I've always found Sylvester McCoy's Doctor fascinating because of the way his character developed from a bit of a clown to a Doctor with a more Machiavellian streak. In my story, the Doctor's actions are responsible for a universal catastrophe which forces him to face up to his own fears and prejudices.

An extract is available via The Guardian's website, and a promotional video featuring Blackman will be available on the BBC's Doctor Who YouTube channel from Thursday 11th July.

Blackman, who will be the Children's Laureate until 2015, has written more than 50 books, including the critically-acclaimed Noughts & Crosses series of novels for young adults. She is acknowledged as one of today's most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers and has been awarded numerous prizes for her work, including the Red House Children's Book Award and the Fantastic Fiction Award. She has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. In 2005, Blackman was presented with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her contribution to children's books, and in 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children's literature.

Details about the e-short for the Eighth Doctor will be revealed on Tuesday 6th August.

FILTER: - Online - Seventh Doctor - Books - WHO50

Who versus Who in the TV Choice Awards

Tuesday, 2 July 2013 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor goes up against Doctor in the final shortlist for the 2013 TV Choice awards with both Matt Smith and David Tennant being nominated as Best Actor, the latter for his role in Broadchurch. The two actors face competition from Brendan Coyle for Downton Abbey and Jeremy Piven for Mr Selfridge.

Jenna Coleman is nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Clara and faces competition from Olivia Colman for Broadchurch, Miranda Hart for Call The Midwife and former Big Finish actress Sheridan Smith for Mrs Biggs.

Doctor Who is nominated for Best Drama Series, a title it has taken for the past three years. It faces opposition from Call The Midwife on BBC One, Downton Abbey on ITV and Waterloo Road on BBC One.

Voting is open online until Friday 12th July with the winners being named at a ceremony hosted by Ben Miller at The Dorchester in London on Monday 9th September.

FILTER: - Matt Smith - Jenna Coleman - David Tennant - Awards/Nominations

Details announced of Splendid Chaps: "Seven/Religion"

Monday, 1 July 2013 - Reported by Adam Kirk

As previously reported, Splendid Chaps is a year-long performance/podcast project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who hosted by comedian Ben McKenzie (Dungeon Crawl, Melbourne Museum Comedy Tour) and writer John Richards (ABC1 sitcom Outland, Boxcutters podcast)

Described by its creators as part intellectual panel discussion, part nerdy Tonight Show, Splendid Chaps is a combination of analysis, enthusiasm and irreverence. The first episode went to number 1 on the iTunes TV & Film Podcast chart in Australia, and to number 4 in the UK. The podcasts to previous episodes are now available at www.splendidchaps.com or at iTunes.

Tickets are now on sale for their 7th Doctor show! This show discusses the seventh and final Doctor of what we now call the classic era, played by variety performer and actor Sylvester McCoy. Famous for escapology, spoon playing and putting ferrets down his trousers, McCoy’s casting raised a few eyebrows, but his performance changed many doubters’ minds – especially when combined with Sophie Aldred as Ace, and under the new direction provided by the incoming production team under Andrew Cartmel. Of course, no-one knew that the program’s days were numbered…

Splendid Chaps are also looking at the theme of “religion” in Doctor Who. The Doctor has been all across space and time and encountered zealots, fanatics, kindly priests, and beings who believed themselves to be gods or demons or the devil himself. But what does the program say about religion, faith and belief? Is the Doctor Who universe truly a rational one in which the supernatural is really just advanced science, or is The Beast really the Devil? Is faith worthwhile, and if so, what does the Doctor believe?

Hosts Ben McKenzie, John Richards and Petra Elliott are joined by guests including writer and game designer Paul Callaghan, comedian and television writer Dave Bloustien, and for their discussion of religion, the Reverend Dr Avril Hannah-Jones, Uniting Church minister and founder of the Church of the Latter Day Geek (as seen on Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight)! Plus a very special musical performance from the one and only Lee Zachariah, and all the usual prizes and surprises!

Space: The Public Bar, 238 Victoria Street, North Melbourne (opposite Victoria Markets)
Time: Sunday 14 July; recording starts 5 PM
Accessibility: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Tickets: $15 (plus booking fee where applicable)
Bookings: via trybooking.com or at the door (subject to availability)
Podcast: not yet available; released 23 July 2013.

With thanks to John Richards

FILTER: - Special Events - Fan Productions - Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy - Australia

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