Doctor Who in India

Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Worldwide today launched two new channels in India - BBC Entertainment and the dual-language CBeebies. The two 12-hour channels launch first on Tata-Sky's DTH platform: BBC Entertainment is on air from 6pm local time and the CBeebies channel, from 6am.

BBC Entertainment premieres Britain's most talked-about hit series, including dramas and thrillers such as Doctor Who, Waking The Dead, Cutting It, Hotel Babylon, Silent Witness and Spooks. The channel also showcases the UK's most innovative comedy series, including Extras, My Life In Film and My Family.

CBeebies is a pre-school channel for children aged six years and under. Broadcasting in both Hindi and English, the channel's programme schedule includes The Roly Mo Show, Bill and Ben, Tweenies, Tikkabilla, Big Cook Little Cook and Boogie Beebies.

FILTER: - Broadcasting

Betting Rush On Walsh

Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Sun today carries a piece saying there has been a rush of bets on unknown actorJulian Walsh becoming the Eleventh Doctor.The article quotes Darren Haines of bookmaker Paddy Power as saying: "Julian might not look the part as he's a bit squat and bald.

"But he's the one people have been trying to back in the last 48 hours.

"At first he was not even on our books, but we've had to slash his odds to 12/1. We fear punters might know something we don't. We're not convinced they're right, but we have to sit up and take note."

A spokesman for Walsh said the actor, pictured right, was "bemused by all of this", adding: "Nobody has approached us yet."

One punter reportedly wanted to place a 2,500 pound bet on Walsh, who is best known from 1980s show Jossy's Giants.

The bookmaker currently has Robert Carlyle as 5-2 favourite - and Ricky Gervais at 66-1.

FILTER: - Press

One week delay for 42

Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has announced that Series Three will take a one-week break on Saturday 12th May, meaning transmission of episode seven, 42, will now be on the 19th May.

The episode is being delayed because the BBC is committed to broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest at 8pm that evening.

To fit Doctor Who into the schedule, it would require an earlier than usual start. Past evidence shows that the earlier the start time of the programme the lower the ratings, and it is thought the BBC wish to keep Doctor Who at 7pm in future to maximise the number watching.

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Daleks in Manhattan - Final Ratings

Wednesday, 2 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Figures have now been released by BARB that show episode four,Daleks in Manhattan, had a final official rating of 6.69 millionviewers, making it the 18th most watched programme on British television for the week.

On multi-channel TV, the Sunday repeat got a final rating of 1.13 millionviewers, the highest ever final rating for the programme on BBC3. It was the third most watched programme of the week, being beaten by two sporting events, and the highest rated programme for the week on BBC3.

Sunday's repeat of Doctor Who Confidential was 25th in the list with0.53 million viewers, beating the first showing of the programme on Saturday, which got 0.49 million viewers and was the 32nd most watched programme.

Top twenty Programmes (w/e 22nd April 2007)

1 CORONATION STREET (MON 1933) - 10.53 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (MON 2030) - 10.29 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1929) - 9.81 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 9.73 - ITV1
5 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1934) - 9.42 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 8.96 - BBC1
7 KINGDOM (SUN 2102) - 8.55 - ITV1
8 EMMERDALE (MON 1902) - 8.08 - ITV1
9 THE ROYAL (SUN 2000) - 8.08 - ITV1
10 NEW TRICKS (MON 2100) - 7.95 - BBC1
11 EASTENDERS (TUE 1929) - 7.77 - BBC1
12 EASTENDERS (FRI 1959) - 7.71 - BBC1
13 EMMERDALE (WED 1858) - 7.42 - ITV1
14 EASTENDERS (THU 1929) - 7.41 - BBC1
15 EMMERDALE (TUE 1902) - 7.32 - ITV1
16 EMMERDALE (THU 1902) - 7.15 - ITV1
17 EMMERDALE (FRI 1903) - 6.85 - ITV1
18 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1836) - 6.69 - BBC1
19 CASUALTY (SAT 2034) - 6.57 - BBC1
20 EMMERDALE (SUN 1901) - 6.43 - ITV1

Multi Channel Top Twenty

1 LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Wed 1930) 1,233,000 - Sky Sports
2 LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Tue 1930) 1,197,000 - Sky Sports
3 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2000) 1,130,000 - BBC3
4 LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Sat 1710) 1,097,000 - Sky Sports
5 LOST (Sun 2201) 1,016,000 - Sky 1
6 KATIE AND PETER: THE NEXT CHAPTER (Thu 2059) 1,013,000 - ITV2
7 FORD SUPER SUNDAY (Sun 1530) 772,000 - Sky Sports
8 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2131) 719,000 - ITV2
9 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2030) 662,000 - ITV2
10 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Wed 2301) 650,000 - E4 In
11 UGLY BETTY (Wed 2100) 632,000 - E4 In
12 BONES (Thu 2101) 610,000 - Sky 1
13 F*** OFF, I'M A HAIRY WOMEN (Sun 2101) 604,000 - BBC3
14 HOLLYOAKS (Wed 1859) 576,000 - E4 In
15 SUPERNATURAL (Sun 2105) 576,000 - ITV2
16 EASTENDERS (Thu 2200) 571,000 - BBC3
17 FILM: SISTER ACT (Sun 1432) 558,000 - ITV2
18 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (Mon 2101) 549,000 - Living TV
19 EDWARDIAN SUPERSIZE ME (Mon 2100) 547,000 - BBC4
20 EASTENDERS (Tue 2159) 542,000 - BBC3

(Source BARB)

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Big Finish Release Changes

Tuesday, 1 May 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Big Finish Productions has announced a change in its release schedule for the year. Earthstorm by Stephen Baxter has been moved to a later date, and is to be replaced by a double-CD release entitled 100. This release will feature four one-part stories (similar to Circular Time), with each story reflecting the concept of the number 100. No information yet as to which Doctor will be featured, or when Earthstorm will be released.

FILTER: - Audio

Radio Times

Monday, 30 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus

There is no Radio Times cover this week, but the magazine does promise full coverage of Saturday's episode The Lazarus Experiment.

There is an exclusive interview with guest star Mark Gatiss, who is only the third man ever to both write and appear inDoctor Who, as well as a preview of the episode from The Mill (details below).

There is also the last chance to get the exclusive Doctor Who stickers.

Radio Times is available throughout the United Kingdom from Tuesday 1st May 2007.

The monster is a CGI creation from The Mill, based on [Stephen]Greenhorn's notes, but what they dreamt up astonished the writer. "I'd written a bit about the scientific theory behind where this monster comes from, and a vague idea of how I thought it might look," says Greenhorn. "The guys at The Mill saw that and thought, 'We can do better than that!' They regard themselves as the torch-holders of 'behind-the-sofa' moments - and they reckon this is one of the scariest things they've done."

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Magazines - Radio Times

Sunday Ratings Update

Monday, 30 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who was once more top of the Multi Channel Charts, with the BBC3 repeat of Evolution of the Daleks being watched by1.03 million viewers, beating Lost on Sky One which got 0.82 million.

With the Sunday overnights now available, Doctor Who is the 19th most watched programme for the week. This position is likely to rise once the final figures, which include figures for those who record the programme, are released in 9 days time.

Back on BBC3 Doctor Who Confidential was 9th for the day with 0.44 million viewers.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Evolution - Appreciation Index

Monday, 30 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Saturdays BBC1 showing of Evolution of the Daleks received an Appreciation index, or AI score of 85. This once more places the programme in the excellent category. It was the second highest rated programme on Saturday, being narrowly beaten by CSI:NY on Channel 5

On BBC3, where scores tend to be higher, the Sunday repeat ofDaleks in Manhattan scored 84 and the Friday repeat 88. This weeks Doctor Who Confidential scored 83 while last Sundays repeat scored 78.

The Appreciation Index, or AI, is a measure of how much the audience liked the programme. It is a score out of 100, based on responses from a carefully selected panel. The average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77. A score in excess of 85 is regarded as excellent while a score below 60 is poor.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Doctor Who On Demand

Monday, 30 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Doctor Who will be among the programmes to be made available on demand via the BBC's iPlayer service, it was announced today.

A story on BBC News says the service will be launched later this year.

People will be able to watch selected shows online for seven days after their first broadcast. Episodes will also be able to be downloaded and stored for up to 30 days.

The iPlayer has been given the go-ahead by the BBC Trust after consultations with the public.

Initially, the iPlayer application will only be available to people with Windows PCs. But the trust wants the application to run on different systems within "a reasonable time frame".

It is unclear at present whether access will be limited to UK users.

FILTER: - Online

Eighth Doctor Comic Strips Vol 4

Monday, 30 April 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

Panini Books have released the cover and a press release for their final volume of comic strips featuring the eighth Doctor, as previously featured in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine.

The full-colour softcover book runs to 228 pages and is due in UK shops in early May 2007. It includes the following eight stories:

Where Nobody Knows Your Name
Doctor Who and The Nightmare Game
The Power of Thoueris!
The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack
The Land of Happy Endings
Bad Blood
Sins of the Fathers
The Flood!

The last two will feature newly-extended conclusions. The book will also feature a behind-the-scenes feature in which writers Scott Gray and Gareth Roberts reveal the background and origins to each story, alongside sketches from the artists. You can also learn about the regeneration that never was in an eye-opening feature by Clayton Hickman on the new TV series' effect on the comic strip, with comments from Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. Plus, in full, the alternative, unused script for Part Eight of "The Flood"!

FILTER: - Books

Previous 10 Stories

Doctor Who in India

Betting Rush On Walsh

One week delay for 42

Daleks in Manhattan - Final Ratings

Big Finish Release Changes

Radio Times

Sunday Ratings Update

Evolution - Appreciation Index

Doctor Who On Demand

Eighth Doctor Comic Strips Vol 4

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