Helen McDonald appeal

Thursday, 26 July 2007 - Reported by Marcus
A group of forum members have have launched a fundraising appeal in memory of David Tennant's mother, Helen McDonald, who died recently.

The appeal is in aid of the ACCORD Hospice, based in Paisley, in Scotland. Mrs McDonald was a voluntary worker at the hospice for many years and it was where she was cared for in her final days.

Fans who donate are asked not to mention David in the comments section, in order to protect his privacy at a difficult time for him and his family.

Donations can be made at justgiving.com.

The fan website david-tennant.com has launched a similar appeal.




FILTER: - David Tennant

Return of the Ood

Wednesday, 25 July 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

One of the New Series' most popular monsters, the Ood, are scheduled to reappear in the Fourth Series, according to the Times Online and confirmed on the Official Site.

The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) will encounter the fearsome aliens in an episode called "Planet of the Ood".

Show runner Russell T. Davies commented: "We're delighted the Ood are making a welcome return to Doctor Who. They were last seen falling into a black hole back in series two and we think it's only fair for the viewers to find out what the Ood have to say for themselves. Donna is certainly in for a shock."

According to the article, the episode will delve into the Oods' origins. No word yet on when in the series this episode occurs.




FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30

Doctor Who Magazine 385

Monday, 23 July 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

In the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Freema Agyeman gives the inside scoop on how Martha will have changed when she next meets up with the Doctor in Series Four... "She'll actually be in a relationship by that point, so that part of her soul is fulfilled," Freema hints, "so I think she'll look at her relationship with the Doctor with fresh eyes - older and much, much wiser. The last time they will have seen one another is after she's just saved the world, so she went out on a high. And then they meet up again so I imagine that they'll be sizing each other up a bit!"

Also this issue, the mag goes behind the scenes on the Master's death scenes - and travels back to his very first appearance with a Fact of Fiction article on 1971'sTerror of the Autons. Plus, take a trip to the year 100 Trillion with Blue Peter winner John Bell, and the Doctor Who design team reveals the special effects secrets behind the Master trilogy - with exclusive artwork, design drawings and photographs.

Meanwhile, the Doctor finds himself caught in traffic in DWM's new comic strip adventure, Bus Stop, and the Time Team witness the Resurrection of the Daleks.

Plus there's some exclusive news on Donna's return to the TARDIS; the latest on this year's Christmas Special, Voyage of the Damned, starring Kylie Minogue; and your chance to vote for your Series Three favourites in the DWM Season Survey.

The new issue is sale from Thursday 26 July. Click on the thumbnail below to see the cover.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Time Warrior DVD Update

Monday, 23 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Restoration Team updated its website today with details about the release ofThe Time Warrior on DVD in the UK.

The four-part story from December 1973 to January 1974, which started the final season of Jon Pertwee as the Doctor and introduced not only Elisabeth Sladenas companion Sarah Jane Smith but also the Sontaran race, will be out on September 3.

It will be the first time it has been available unedited.




FILTER: - Jon Pertwee - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Key To Time DVD Extras

Monday, 23 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The official programme website has released details of the extensive extras on the forthcoming seven-disc Key To Time DVD box set release in the UK.

The six stories that comprised the 16th season, which aired in the UK between September 1978 and February 1979 and starred Tom Baker as the Doctor andMary Tamm as Romana, will be released on September 24.

The extras will include a documentary looking at the tenure of producer Graham Williams, deleted scenes and outtakes, excerpts from Blue PeterNationwideand Pebble Mill At One, location visits, Tom Baker reading five stories from the 1978 series Late Night Story, and the festive sketch recorded on the set of season finale The Armageddon Factor for the 1978 BBC Christmas Tape.

The Restoration Team website was updated today with full details as to the work done on the stories plus more about the extras.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Australian media coverage

Monday, 23 July 2007 - Reported by Adam Kirk

Australian media coverage of Doctor Who and Torchwood continues. Kelsey Munro of the Sydney Morning Herald previews 'Daleks in Manhattan', which Ian Cuthbertson of the Weekend Australian describes as 'finely made, with the production values of a feature film and starring those seemingly eternal 'Doctor Who' villains in top form.' Meanwhile Robin Oliver, also of the Sydney Morning Herald, writes that 'Evolution of the Daleks', 'features the most spectacular Dalek action in Doctor Who's history' and that 'writer Helen Raynor provides unusually strong dialogue, which David Tennant employs with great effect.' Fergus Shiel also notes Tennant's amusing appearance onParkinson on the same Saturday night (28 July, ABC, 10.15pm) where he is introduced as 'Doctor Wow!'.

The Melbourne Age's AnnMaree Bellman in previewing Countrycide says 'it's Famous Five Go Camping meets The Blair Witch Chainsaw Massacre'. Ian Cuthbertson also notes that this episode has 'a terrifically creepy beginning to an equally creepy episode . . . Lonely crofters cottages will never look innocent again.'Naoko Mori has also started appearing in Channel Ten 'I believe . . . seriously' promotional trailers, in addition to the similar Ten trailers featuringJohn Barrowman and Eve Myles.

Meanwhile in the Aussie ratings, 'Daleks in Manhattan' scored 839,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals, coming second to the Dame Edna Treatment on Channel Nine. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'Countrycide' scored 673,000 viewers, these ratings probably affected by a twenty minute delay in its start due to an overlong episode of the local version of Big Brother. For more ratings details see the Sydney Morning Herald's Tribal Mind.




FILTER: - Press - Australia

Torchwood Magazine

Sunday, 22 July 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Titan Magazines has announced that they will begin publishing Torchwood Magazinebeginning in 2008. This monthly release will include interviews, behind the scenes reports and original fiction. This new magazine is currently slated to coincide with the airing of series two.




FILTER: - Torchwood - Magazines

New Torchwood Audio

Sunday, 22 July 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

The John Jarrold Literary Agency has announced that Steven Saville, editor of the recent Short Trips Anthology Destination Prague, has been signed on to write a newTorchwood audio. The title will be Hidden, and the story will be delivered in August, for an autumn recording by BBC audiobooks.

John Jarrold said: "The storyline is under wraps, however, I've read the synopsis, and it's terrific! As one of those who remembers watching the first episode of Doctor Who in November 1963 and still watches both the original and Torchwood, I can't wait to hear it!"




FILTER: - Torchwood - Audio

Tony Blair Wanted for Episode Cameo

Saturday, 21 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

ANI is reporting that Doctor Who producers are keen to get former British PM Tony Blair in for a cameo on Series Four of Doctor Who.

"Everyone knows Blair did The Simpsons and has appeared with Catherine Tate who is the new companion for the Doctor. So we're sure he'd be more than open to the offer of a cameo on the show," a BBC insider said.




FILTER: - Press

Voyage of the Damned Filming Delayed

Friday, 20 July 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

syfyportal.com, citing the Paisley Daily Express, reports that filming of"Voyage of the Damned" will be delayed this weekend so David Tennant can attend his mother's funeral.

Tennant's mother, Helen McDonald, died on Sunday, July 15th after a long battle with cancer. She was 67, and was a founding member of Paisley's ACCORD Hospice, where she spent her final days. The funeral will take place at Renfrew North with the Very Rev. James Simpson -- a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II -- officiating.

Filming is expected to resume next week for the Christmas special which will premiere on Dec. 25 on BBC One. The fourth season of "Doctor Who" will air in early 2008, with the third season currently airing Friday nights in the United States on SciFi Channel.




FILTER: - Specials - Press