Season Three Releases Update

Tuesday, 24 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Doctor Who Magazine has announced another vanilla release for season three. As previously reported, Volume One will be released on May 21st and will include Smith and JonesThe Shakespeare Code, and Gridlock. The second volume will be released on June 18th and will include Daleks in ManhattanEvolution of the Daleks and The Lazarus Experiment. The remaining volumes will be released later in the year, with a box set for the whole series being released in the autumn.




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Blu-ray/DVD

More books in September

Tuesday, 24 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

BBC Shop has released information about the next set of Tenth Doctor novels which are slated to be released on September 6th.
Wetworld by Mark Michalowski

When the TARDIS makes a disastrous landing in the swamps of the planet Sunday, the Doctor has no choice but to abandon Martha and try to find help. But the tranquillity of Sunday's swamps is deceptive, and even the TARDIS can't protect Martha forever.
The human pioneers of Sunday have their own dangers to face: homeless and alone, they're only just starting to realise that Sunday's wildlife isn't as harmless as it first seems. Why are the native otters behaving so strangely, and what is the creature in the swamps that is so interested in the humans, and the new arrivals? The Doctor and Martha must fight to ensure that human intelligence doesn't become the greatest danger of all.

Sick Building by Paul Magrs

Tiermann's World: a planet covered in wintry woods and roamed by sabre-toothed tigers and other savage beasts. The Doctor is here to warn Professor Tiermann, his wife and their son that a terrible danger is on its way.
The Tiermann's live in luxury, in a fantastic, futuristic, fully-automated Dreamhome, under an impenetrable force shield. But that won't protect them from the Voracious Craw. A gigantic and extremely hungry alien creature is heading remorselessly toward their home. When it gets there everything will be devoured.
Can they get away in time? With the force shield cracking up, and the Dreamhome itself deciding who should or should not leave, things are looking desperate...

Forever Autumn by Mark Morris

It is almost Halloween in the sleepy New England town of Blackwood Falls. Autumn leaves litter lawns and sidewalks, paper skeletons hang in windows, and carved pumpkins leer from stoops and front porches.
The Doctor and Martha soon discover that something long-dormant has awoken in the town, and this will be no ordinary Halloween. What is the secret of the ancient chestnut tree and the mysterious book discovered tangled in its roots? What rises from the local churchyard in the dead of night, sealing up the lips of the only witness? And why are the harmless trappings of Halloween suddenly taking on a creepy new life of their own?
As nightmarish creatures prowl the streets, the Doctor and Martha must battle to prevent both the townspeople and themselves from a grisly fate...




FILTER: - Books

Dalek Masterplan Play Trailer

Tuesday, 24 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Interalia Theatre has released a special trailer for its forthcoming production of The Dalek Masterplan.

As reported earlier by Outpost, the 12-part Hartnell epic has been adapted and condensed for the stage, to be performed at the New Theatre Royalin Portsmouth from Wednesday, October 24 to Saturday, October 27.

Nick Briggs, who voices the Daleks for Doctor Who on TV, will be helping the non-professional company in a similar capacity.

This will be the fourth and final presentation of a "lost" Doctor Who story by the company.

Special links and CGI action have been shot for the play, and producer Rob Thrush said: "It's going to be a spectacular sign-off to our Who stage shows."

To view the trailer, which begins with action from Interalia's production ofThe Evil of the Daleks last year, click here.





FILTER: - Special Events

New DVD Special Features Announced

Tuesday, 24 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Doctor Who Magazine has released information on the special features for this summer's DVD releases. Robot is currently set to be released on June 4th, while Timelash will follow on July 2nd.
Robot will include the following special features:
- A 40-minute documentary called Are Friends Electric? will look at Tom Baker's introduction to the series and the making of his first story. This documentary will include contributions from Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Terrance Dicks, Philip Hinchcliffe, and Barry Letts.
- A clip from Blue Peter recorded on the Robot sets
- A 15-minute featurette called "The Tunnel Effect" which focuses on the creation of the Fourth Doctor title sequence
- A photo gallery
- Subtitle Production noted
Radio Times listings in pdf format
- Commentary from Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Barry Letts, and Terrance Dicks


Timelash will include the following:
- A 25-minute documentary called The Good, the Bad and the Uglynarrated by Terry Molloy and featuring contributions from Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Paul Darrow, and Eric Saward.
- A photo gallery
- Subtitle Production notes
Radio Times listings in pdf format
- Commentary from Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, and Paul Darrow
- There will also be a 'Coming Soon' trailer for the next DVD release




FILTER: - Magazines - Blu-ray/DVD - Radio Times

Sunday Night Ratings and AI Figure

Monday, 23 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Sunday night's BBC Three repeat of episode four, Daleks in Manhattan, achieved a record audience of 1.10 millionviewers, the highest the programme has achieved on this channel. This made it by far the highest rated programme on multichannel television for the day and gave it a6% share of the audience.

Half that audience stayed for the repeat of Doctor Who Confidential, giving it a rating of 0.59 Million viewers and making it the fourth most watched multichanel programme of the day.

Overnight figures for the whole week show Doctor Who is presently the 20th most watched programme of the week. Final figures, released next week, will include figures for those who recorded the programme and should see the programme move up the charts.

Meanwhile, Saturday's BBC One showing achieved an Appreciation Index (AI) figure of 86, once again placing the programme in the excellent category and made it the most appreciated programme of the day.

Last Sunday's BBC Three repeat of Gridlock achieved an AI figure of 86.






FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Series Three Coming to Sci Fi

Monday, 23 April 2007 - Reported by R Alan Siler

In a press release issued today, SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced a major acquisition deal for the US premiere of the third season of Doctor Who. The series will debut on SCI FI in July 2007, kicking off with the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride, guest-starring award-winning comedy actress Catherine Tate.

Chris Regina, Vice President of Programming, SCI FI Channel, said "Doctor Who has become a favorite among SCI FI audiences. We are happy to bring the show back for its third season and look forward to following the Doctor's continuing adventures with his newest companion."

Candace Carlisle, COO, BBC Sales Company, commented, "SCI FI Channel has been a fantastic platform for the Doctor Who series in the US. We're excited for the Season Three launch and think American audiences will simply love the Doctor's hip new companion."

BBC Video will continue to work with SCI FI Channel on joint marketing promotions to support the Doctor Who brand in the US.

Burton Cromer, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products, BBC Worldwide Americas said: "Our promotional partnership with the SCI FI Channel, both on-air and online, was a significant factor in the fantastic success we've had with the new Doctor Who. It's also helped drive awareness and sales of our 40 plus line of classic Doctor Who titles."

The second season of the new Doctor Who earned impressive ratings during its airing on SCI FI, delivering an average of over one million viewers each week.

Read the entire press release here.




FILTER: - USA - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Kylie Minogue cast?

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The British Sunday tabloid newspaper the News of the World is running a report this morning claiming that Australian actress and pop star Kylie Minogue has been cast in the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special. Minogue, best known internationally for a string of chart hits including "I Should Be So Lucky" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", began her career as an actress in the popular soap opera Neighbours in the late 1980s. She has also appeared in films such asStreet Fighter (1994) and Moulin Rouge (2001).

Says the News of the World's report:

"A BBC insider said: 'Kylie jumped at the chance to be in the show and is really looking forward to acting again. She is flattered to be asked to be in such a classic TV show.

'The Doctor Who team are delighted they've got someone as sexy and high profile as Kylie to ensure they win the annual ratings battle with ITV.'"

The report also claims that Minogue was persuaded to take the role by her friend and stylist Will Baker, a Doctor Who fan who has included several sets and costumes inspired by the programme in her stage tour in recent years. The paper also claims that she will appear in the programme as a Cyberwoman, but this is not supported in any of their "insider" quotes.

The paper adds:

"The show spokesman added: 'Russell [T Davies] is just putting the finishing touches to the episode and it will be TV dynamite.' Russell, who has met Kylie to discuss the part, said: 'I imagined she'd be booked up for the next two years'."




FILTER: - Production - Press

Dalek Overnight Ratings

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The earlier start combined with the hot weather across the UK, meant that the overnight ratings for Daleks in Manhattan were6.3 million, a share of 34.9%.

Although lower than the previous three weeks, the programme was still the most watched programme on British television, narrowly beating Casualty, which came second with 6.2 million.

Doctor Who comfortably beat its main opposition on ITV1, Vernon Kay's Game show Marathon, which achieved 3.8 million viewers.

Overall, with one day to come, the programme is the 16th most watched of the week.

On BBC3, Doctor Who Confidential achieved 486,000 viewers and was the third most watched programme on multichannel television.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Friday Ratings

Saturday, 21 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Friday night's BBC Three repeat of episode three, Gridlock, was watched by 328,000 viewers according to unofficial overnight ratings, a share of1.8% of the total television audience.

It was the 9th most-watched programme of the day on multi channel television.

Totally Doctor Who on BBC One had a rating of 0.7 million viewers.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Week 5 Schedules

Saturday, 21 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
For the transmission of episode five, Evolution of the Daleks, Doctor Who again moves its start time, this time to 6.45pm. Once more the programme is sandwiched between The National Lottery: The People's Quiz and Any Dream Will Do with Graham Norton.

ITV1 counters with the latest in Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon, this week recreating The Golden Shot.

BBC Two keeps Snooker addicts happy with three hours of second round of the World Championship 2007 while Channel 4 viewers can seeChannel 4 News followed by Prince Charles: The Bachelor Years, a programme recreating the days when Prince Charles played the field and dated a number of beautiful women.

Channel 5 has the film Blind Date postponed by one week.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting