Parkinson to interview Tennant

Friday, 27 April 2007 - Reported by Kenny Davidson

David Tennant will be a guest on the first edition of the next series ofMichael Parkinson's high-profile chat show on ITV1. The vetran interviewer will talk to Tennant on a programme that will also feature comedian David Mitchell, actress Amanda Holden and singer Michael Buble.

The episode is provisionally scheduled for May 5th.

FILTER: - David Tennant

Interactive Comic Book

Friday, 27 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Digital Spy carries a report today about an interactive Doctor Who comic book being launched on the official programme website.

It quotes series co-executive producer Russell T Davies as saying: "For the very first time, fans of the show will be able to create their own magical Doctor Who adventure and bring it to life."

People will be able to incorporate a photo of themselves in their stories, with guidance being given on creating adventures.

Davies adds: "The amazing Comic Maker will allow fans to interact with every aspect of the exciting world of Doctor Who."

New Media Age carried a report earlier this month about the BBC producing a Comic Maker for the site.

NB: Due to rights restrictions, the Flash version of the site is only available to users based in the United Kingdom.

(Thanks to Paul Gregory.)

FILTER: - Online - Books

Davies dismisses Kylie rumour

Friday, 27 April 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

Doctor Who executive producer and chief writer Russell T Davies has dismissed the rumour spread by several media sources this week that Australian pop singer and actress Kylie Minogue was to appear in the 2007 Christmas special of the show.

The rumour originally appeared in last Sunday's edition of the News of the World newspaper, as reported at the time by Outpost Gallifrey, and was subsequently picked up by several websites and other newspapers. However, speaking to the BBC's weekly in-house magazine Ariel, Davies has rubbished the suggestion.

"Don't be stupid," he told the publication. "I haven't even written the script yet, and a woman like that is booked up two years in advance."

FILTER: - Specials - Russell T Davies - Production

Series Three Air Date In US

Friday, 27 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Sci Fi Channel has announced it will start airing Series Three ofDoctor Who in the USA fromJuly 6 at 9pm.Outpost Gallifrey reported four days ago that the channel had acquired the series. The press release said Sci Fi would be showing the programme in July but a precise date was not given by the company then.

(Thanks to Scot Ferre.)

FILTER: - USA - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Pig Farming Helped Carnes Prepare for Role as Laszlo

Thursday, 26 April 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

The Daily Record is currently featuring an interview with American actorRyan Carnes, best known for his role as Justin in Desperate Housewives, about his experience under heavy pig makeup as Laszlo inDaleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks.

Ryan had many years of research for the role under his belt even before being approached for it - he grew up on a pig farm: "It's ironic as my father and grandfather raised pigs until around the time I was 10. I used to help feed and call the pigs daily. And to make this part even more spooky, I grew up in Pike County, Illinois, which at one time was the 'pork capital of the world'. So playing a pig after working on a pig farm in the world capital of pigs is all very strange."

Ryan was not a fan of Doctor Who or of science fiction, but he says he "didn't have to really think too hard about taking the role" as he was familiar with the show's global appeal: "I wasn't a fan, but I'd known about it because a friend of mine had a Doctor Who pinball machine in his basement when I was a teenager, so that was my first introduction as an American."

Ryan also talks about the isolation of being under that much makeup, his desire to become an action figure, and his newfound respect for the Daleks.

FILTER: - People - Series 3/29 - Press

DW Toys Bump Up Profits

Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Doctor Who toys have helped the Character Group post a 122 per cent jump in profits.

Pre-tax profits rose to 6.3 million pounds in the six months to February 28, up from nearly three million pounds last year, part of which was down to the demand for its "highly successful" Doctor Who toy range.

It said it also expected to benefit from strong interest in its forthcoming Dalek Sec voice-changing helmet, after the success of the Cyberman voice-changing helmet last year, as well as toys from The Sarah Jane Adventures, which is due to air in the autumn, according to the Press Association.

Also reported at Telegraph.co.uk, which states that the new voice-changer will be of Dalek Sec Hybrid.

FILTER: - Merchandise

Infinite Quest Preview Online

Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The Totally Doctor Who website has a 15-second preview of the next episode of cartoon series The Infinite Quest.

According to the official programme website, it will be updated every Monday.

FILTER: - Online - Animation

Fifth Doctor meets Dracula

Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

April 25, 2007 • Posted By Jarrod Cooper
Big Finish Productions has released more information about their upcoming September release Son of the Dragon. James Purefoy, known to fans from his roles in Rome and Beau Brummell, will be guest starring as Dracula in this release which sees the legendary vampire take on the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison), Peri (Nicola Bryant), and Erimem ( Caroline Morris). Photos from the recording are currently available from the Big Finish Productions website.

FILTER: - Audio - Peter Davison

Gridlock - Final Ratings

Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Figures released by BARB show that episode three, Gridlock, achieved a final official rating of 8.41 Million viewers, making it the7th most watched programme on British television for the week.

The programme was the BBC's second highest rated programme, beating all but Monday's edition of EastEnders. The only other programme to beat it was ITV1's soap Coronation Street.

On multichannel television, the Sunday BBC Three repeat gained0.83 million viewers and was the 4th most watched programme.

Saturday's Confidential was 19th with 0.58 Million in the multichannel charts, and Sunday's Confidential repeat got 0.47 million making it 34th in the list.

Finally the Friday repeat of The Shakespeare Code was watched by 0.53 Million, making it the 26th most watched programme.

Final figures are accepted as the industry standard, being much more accurate than the initial overnights. They include viewers who record the programme and watch it within seven days.

Top Twenty Programmes (w/e 15th April 2007)

1 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 10.96 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (MON 2030) - 10.83 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1935) - 9.91 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1930) - 9.63 - ITV
5 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 9.33 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 9.11 - BBC1
7 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1940) - 8.41 - BBC1
8 EMMERDALE (MON 1903) - 8.33 - ITV1
9 EASTENDERS (FRI 2001) - 8.30 - BBC1
10 THE ROYAL (SUN 2001) - 8.05 - ITV1
11 FOYLE'S WAR (SUN 2105) - 7.89 - ITV1
12 EMMERDALE (TUE 1900) - 7.77 - ITV1
13 EASTENDERS (THU 1930) - 7.64 - BBC1
14 NEW TRICKS (MON 2100) - 7.58 - BBC1
15 EASTENDERS (TUE 1930) - 7.56 - BBC1
16 LIFE ON MARS (TUE 2059) - 7.44 - BBC1
17 EMMERDALE (FRI 1903) - 7.39 - ITV1
18 EMMERDALE (THU 1900) - 7.39 - ITV1
19 EMMERDALE (SUN 1903) - 7.24 - ITV1
20 EMMERDALE (WED 1858) - 7.05 - ITV1

Top Twenty MultiChannel TV

1 LIVE FA CUP FOOTBALL (Sun 1530) 1,503,000 - Sky Sports
2 LOST (Sun 2200) 1,094,000 - Sky 1
3 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (Tue 1929) 1,088,000 - ITV4
4 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2001) 826,000 - BBC3
5 EASTENDERS (Tue 2159) 772,000 - BBC3
6 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE (Wed 1900) 755,000 - Sky Sports
7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Wed 2300) 707,000 - E4
8 FILM: INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) (Fri 2100) 693,000 - Film4
9 LIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Mon 1710) 687,000 - Sky Sports
10 EASTENDERS (Thu 2200) 685,000 - BBC3
11 BONES (Thu 2100) 677,000 - Sky 1
12 34 STONE TEENAGER: SIX MONTHS ON (Sun 2101) 627,000 - BBC3
13 SUPERNATURAL (Sun 2105) 617,000 - ITV2
14 AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (Mon 2100) 608,000 - Living TV
15 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2134) 600,000 - ITV2
16 UGLY BETTY (Wed 2101) 596,000 - E4
17 FILM: JAWS (Fri 2154) 593,000 - ITV3
18 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2031) 585,000 - ITV2
19 DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL (Sat 2026) 581,000 - BBC3
20 FORD MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Mon 1930) 562,000 - Sky Sports

Source BARB

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Doctor Who Adventures 28

Wednesday, 25 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus

The new edition of Doctor Who Adventures features the new look for Dalek Sec on the cover.

Inside, there is a special preview of Evolution of the Daleks and there's also a look at The Lazarus Experiment - with photos from Martha's first trip home.

You can also discover loads of facts about those hags called the Carrionites and there's a pull-out guide to the blood-sucking Plasmavore.

Martha Jones joins the comic strip for the first time in an adventure aboard the astroliner Tritanic in part one of The Skrawn Inheritance, and there are posters of The Shakespeare Code, Evolution of the Daleks, The Infinite Quest and the Face of Boe.

The issue comes in a gift pack – with five different gifts inside! There’s a Doctor Who stencil notebook, a pencil, part one of a TARDIS poster, a sticker booker and stickers.

Doctor Who Adventures issue 28, is out in the UK on Thursday 26 April.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

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