Possible Episode Delay Latest

Thursday, 12 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The BBC said today that this coming Saturday's episode of Doctor Whowould be put back a week if the preceding football match overruns because "it could not be broadcast after extra time as it would be 'too late' for younger fans."

It details the alternative schedule for BBC Three, should the episode be bumped, adding that the decision whether or not to pull the episode will be made on the day.

BBC One is broadcasting the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester United and Watford.





FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting

Doctor Who Adventures - Issue 27

Thursday, 12 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The new edition of Doctor Who Adventures promises to take readers to the future with previews of the next two episodes, Gridlock and Daleks in Manhattan.

The magazine also contains a Judoon fact file and a pull-out guide to the abzorbing Abzorbaloff. In the comic strip, you can find out if the Doctor can defeat the deadly Klytode?

There is a guide on how to make a mask of the Face of Boe and a quiz to see if you can crack the Shakespeare Code? Plus posters of the Doctor and Martha and the Daleks and Judoon

This issue comes with a choice of two free monster stationery sets.

Doctor Who Adventures Issue 27 is out on Thursday 12 April.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Gridlock to Break TV Record

Thursday, 12 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The official website has pointed out the fact that Gridlock will be the 727th episode of Doctor Who, which breaks the record previously held byStar Trek for the total number of episodes.

The website says, "Gridlock is the 727th episode of Doctor Who. This will break the record held by the various series in the Star Trek franchise. They amassed a combined total of 726 episodes between them."




FILTER: - Production

Dave Martin

Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Outpost Gallifrey has learned the sad news of the death of Dave Martin, long-time Doctor Who writer and co-creator of K9.

Martin had a long and distinguished writing career, working mainly with his long-term writing partner Bob Baker.

Together they wrote several stage plays before moving into television in the early sixties, working on popular series such as Z Cars. In 1971, they were asked to write their first story for Doctor Who. The Claws of Axos was the first of eight stories over nine seasons creating some of the series most iconic characters and most loved stories.

Their best-known character was created in 1977 for the Tom Baker storyThe Invisible Enemy. K9 was originally intended for this story only, but the production team made a late decision to have him join The Doctor in the TARDIS where he stayed for the next four years.

K9 later returned in the 1981 story K9 and Company and the twentieth-anniversary story The Five Doctors, and made a memorable appearance in the 2006 story School Reunion.

Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. He is survived by his wife and three children. He was 72.

(Thanks to David Goodman.)

The Claws of Axos » Writer GGG - TV - Season 8
The Mutants » Writer NNN - TV - Season 9
The Three Doctors » Writer RRR - TV - Season 10
The Sontaran Experiment » Writer 4B -TV - Season 12
The Hand of Fear » Writer 4N - TV - Season 14
The Invisible Enemy » Writer 4T - TV - Season 15
Underworld » Writer 4Y - TV - Season 15
The Armageddon Factor » Writer 5F - TV - Season 16
School Reunion » K9 Originally Created By 2006-03 TV - Series 2/2006




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Smith and Jones - Final Figures

Wednesday, 11 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Figures released by BARB make episode one of the new series the ninth most watched programme of the week with an official rating of8.71 Millionviewers. This makes it the fourth episode in a row to achive a top ten place, a new record for the series.

As in the overnight figures, the programme was only beaten by the soap giants Coronation Street and EastEnders.

On BBC1, the programme was the 4th most watched, beating an episode of EastEnders.

On Multi channel TV, Doctor Who was the most watched programme on BBC3 for the week, and the second most watched on all Multi Channel TV, with a rating of 1.00 MillionDoctor Who Confidential was 8th in the chart with 0.81 Million viewers.

Final figures are much more accurate than the initial overnights and include figures for those who taped the programme and watched it within seven days.

BARB Top Twenty (w/e 1st April 2007)

1 CORONATION STREET (MON 2029) - 11.59 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1934) - 10.89 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 10.63 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 10.37 - ITV1
5 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1929) - 9.93 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (TUE 1931) - 9.77 - BBC1
7 EASTENDERS (MON 2001) - 9.35 - BBC1
8 EASTENDERS (FRI 2000) - 8.94 - BBC1
9 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1859) - 8.71 - BBC1
10 EASTENDERS (THU 1930) - 8.48 - BBC1
11 THE ROYAL (SUN 2000) - 8.06 - ITV1
12 EMMERDALE (MON 1902) - 7.97 - ITV1
13 EMMERDALE (TUE 1902) - 7.94 - ITV1
14 EMMERDALE (THU 1903) - 7.91 - ITV1
15 EMMERDALE (FRI 1903) - 7.90 - ITV1
16 EMMERDALE (WED 1859) - 7.78 - ITV1
17 ANY DREAM WILL DO (SAT 1945) - 6.85 - BBC1
18 CASUALTY (SAT 2106) - 6.69 - BBC1
19 THE NATIONAL LOTTERY PEOPLE'S QUIZ (SAT 2045) - 6.61 - BBC1
20 LIFE ON MARS (TUE 2100) - 6.56 - BBC1

Multi Channel Top Twenty

1 INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LIVE (Wed 1900) 1,515,000 - Sky Sports 1
2 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2001) 1,003,000 - BBC3 
3 LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Sat 1200) 988,000 - Sky Sports 1
4 LOST (Sun 2200) 961,000 - Sky 1
5 FORD SUPER SUNDAY (Sun 1549) 955,000 - Sky Sports 1
6 MOST ANNOYING POP SONGS...WE LOVE TO HAT (Sat 2310 834,000 - BBC3
7 SUPERNATURAL (Sun 2101) 822,000 - ITV2
8 DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL (Sat 1945) 812,000 - BBC3 
9 BONES (Thu 2101) 760,000 - Sky 1
10 FILM: SHAUN OF THE DEAD (Mon 2105) 705,000 - ITV2
11 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE (Sun 2255) 692,000 - ITV2
12 FILM: SHAUN OF THE DEAD (Mon 2152) 691,000 - ITV2
13 MOST ANNOYING POP SONGS...WE LOVE TO HAT (Sat 2157 672,000 - BBC3
14 EASTENDERS (Thu 2201) 661,000 - BBC3
15 FILM: THE BOURNE IDENTITY (2002) (Sun 2159) 658,000 - ITV2
16 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE (Mon 2151) 644,000 - ITV2
17 34 STONE TEENAGER: SIX MONTHS ON (Mon 2102) 636,000 - BBC3
18 F*** OFF, I'M A HAIRY WOMEN (Thu 2101) 629,000 - BBC3
19 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2030) 624,000 - ITV2
20 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2131) 606,000 - ITV2



source BARB





FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Shakespeare Code AI Figure

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Saturday's showing of episode two achieved an Appreciation Index score of 87.

This once more places the programme in the excellent category, the average score for drama on BBC1 and ITV1 is 77.

Doctor Who was the most appreciated programme of the weekend and got the second highest figure for the week, only being beaten by Life on Marswith 88.

In the Multi channel figures, where programmes tend to get higher appreciation figures, the April Fool's day repeat of Smith and Jonesscored an exceptional 90 and the Friday repeat 89

Saturday's Doctor Who Confidential scored 85.

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

Possible Gridlock Delay Confirmed

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The new edition of the Radio Times, out today, confirms that Gridlock - episode three of Series Three - will be shown on April 21 rather than April 14 if the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Watford, which precedes it, goes into extra time/penalties, as reported by Outpost Gallifrey on April 7.

How this would affect subsequent episodes is unknown. According to the "Next week in RT" banner at the back of the new edition of the listings magazine, Radio Times is planning a cover story for its edition dated 21-27 April to coincide with the start of the Dalek two-parter, which had been scheduled to go out on April 21 and 28.

Full details of what would happen to tie-in programme scheduling have been published by the CBBC Newsroundwebsite. They are as reproduced below.

(Thanks to Lizo Mzimba for the additional information.)
If the teams are drawing, and extra time has to be played, then the showing of episode three - Gridlock - will be delayed for a week.

It will also mean that behind the scenes show Doctor Who Confidential which usually goes out on BBC Three straight after each episode will go out a week later.

Instead viewers will be given another chance to see the first episode of the first series, Rose.

Extra time in the football will also mean changes on Sunday on BBC Three, when Saturday's episode is usually repeated. If Saturday's showing is delayed because of the football, the 2005 Christmas Special The Xmas Invasion will be on instead.

It also looks extremely likely that the following Friday's episode of Totally Doctor Who will have to go out a week later too.




FILTER: - UK - Series 3/29 - Radio Times - Broadcasting

Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Big Finish Productions has released information about their upcoming guide to Bernice Summerfield.Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story is due out in October. Ranging from her first appearance inLove and War by Paul Cornell through current season ender The Wake, this chronicle of the first 15 years of Benny's life is penned bySimon Guerrier.
She has brought down empires and decided the fate of the universe. She is feared by the creatures of evil and revered wherever people have had just a little bit too much to drink.

And Bernice Surprise Summerfield is only just turning 15.

The Inside Story charts the history of everyone's favourite space archaeologist. We follow Bernice from her first appearance in Paul Cornell's novel Love and War, through more than 150 books and audio plays to the Draconian-Mim war and the shocking events of The Wake.

The Inside Story talks to all those involved in her development. Find out how she came to be, how she was developed and where she's going next. See the stories that almost-got-told, and listen in on the creative battles, personality clashes and very, very bad jokes.

With exclusive access to 15 years' worth of writers, editors, producers and illustrators, it's as wild, exciting and unlikely a journey as Benny has made herself.




FILTER: - Audio

Press Update

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by Marcus
The Independent on Monday contained a glowing review of The Shakespeare Code saying the programme is going through a glorious renaissance and calling Doctor Who one of those blessed phenomena that come along often enough to ensure that we never forget how clever and fun and joyous mass-market TV can be.

Meanwhile in The Guardian, novelist David Mitchell chose Doctor Who as his TV Choice, stating, "David Tennant is my favourite Doctor; he is brilliant."




FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Press

Briggs Joins Dalek Stage Play

Tuesday, 10 April 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The man who is the voice of the Daleks on TV has been enlisted for a stage adaptation of an epic adventure from the classic era.

Nicholas Briggs will join Interalia Theatre for The Dalek Masterplanat the New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth from Wednesday, October 24 to Saturday, October 27.

As reported on Outpost Gallifrey last December, after three previous stage hits the non-professional company has been granted a licence for a final adaptation of a "lost"Doctor Who story.

The other classic adventures given the theatrical treatment were The Web of Fear in 2000, Fury From The Deeptwo years later and The Evil of the Daleks last year.

Briggs was to have been involved with the production of Evil but had to pull out because of other commitments. Producer Rob Thrush said: "Some familiar faces are returning for the show and Nick is desperate to do this one, having missed out before.

"We're shooting a number of special links and some CGI action as well. It's going to be a spectacular sign-off to our Who stage shows."

A mini-convention is also to be held on the Saturday, including Briggs, Davros actor Terry Molloy and Dalek operatorBarnaby Edwards as guests.

Money raised from the shows will go to charity and local causes. See the box below for full cast and production crew details. Click on the thumbnails below for larger versions of the poster and some of the CGI work for the play.

(Thanks to Rob Thrush.)
THE DOCTOR - Nick Scovell
STEVEN TAYLOR - John Paul McCrohon
KATARINA TAYLOR - Helen Stoddart
MAVIC CHEN - James George
SARA KINGDOM - Laura Egerton
BRET VYON - Tim Skedge
GOVERNOR TRANTIS - Phil Cottril
GOVERNOR ZEPHON - Dale Fletcher
MARC CORY - David Bickerstaff
DALEK VOICES - Nicholas Briggs and Lewis Bailey
DALEK COMMANDER - Lorna Bailey
DALEK ONE - Liam Bailey
DALEK TWO - Adrian Cranwell-Child
SCIENCE DALEK ONE - Andrew J Haslam
SCIENCE DALEK TWO - Jess Brookfield
ENSEMBLE - Sally Evans, Jane Hartley, Rosie Grant, Matt Merrit, Jon Andrews,
Emma Louise Van Kooperen, Lewis Bailey, Anya Hodgson
ADAPTOR/DIRECTOR - Nick Scovell
PRODUCER - Rob Thrush
SCRIPT EDITOR - Mike Maddox
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/COSTUMES - Jonathan Scovell
STAGE MANAGER/SPECIAL EFFECTS - Dave Tozer
DSM - Bruce Holman
MUSIC - Martin Johnson
DALEK CONSTRUCTION AND SPECIAL PROPS - Ashley Nealfuller and Stuart Currie
SOUND/VIDEO - Rob Thrush
LIGHTING - Dave Tozer
SET CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN - Rob Thrush and Dave Tozer
POSTER DESIGN - Steve Redfearn




FILTER: - People - Special Events