ABC to simulcast Deep Breath

Tuesday, 5 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
ABCThe Australian broadcaster ABC have announced on Twitter that they will simulcast the series premiere Deep Breath alongside its UK transmission. The time of the broadcast has yet to be confirmed in either country at present, though cinema presentations in the UK indicate that it is likely to be between 7:45pm and 8:00pm.

After broadcast on ABC, the episode will be available on ABC iview during the day, and will then be broadcast at primetime, 7:40pm on Sunday.





ABC also reported that there will be an exclusive interview with new Doctor Peter Capaldi scheduled for Wednesday 20th August at 8:00pm:

Hosted by Julia Zemiro (Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery), WHEN JULIA MET THE DOCTOR is a half-hour, one-on-one interview that will introduce the new Doctor to Australian audiences four days before his TV debut.

Filmed in Sydney during the upcoming World Tour, the interview will explore Peter’s experiences playing the Doctor so far, his relationship with the character over the years, and the challenges in taking on a role of such global cultural significance.

Julia will also explore Peter’s TV and film career – from his first acting role in the film Local Hero to the foul-mouthed and manipulative Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It.






FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Series 8/34

Enumerate! Enumerate! Sesame Street Spoofs Doctor Who

Monday, 4 August 2014 - Reviewed by Alex Frazer-Harrison
Can you tell me how to get to Paternoster Row?

Iconic US children's show Sesame Street starts its 45th season on PBS this fall, and it's turning its eyes to the skies by promising spoofs of a number of sci-fi franchises, including Doctor Who.

Sesame Workshop, producers of the series that introduced Bert, Ernie, Grover, Cookie Monster and Elmo to the world recently released a YouTube promo set at "Numeric Con" (a spoof of Comic-Con), where familiar characters don costumes based on Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and other characters. We see one Muppet impersonating Capt. Kirk, another Wolverine, and we catch glimpses of the first-ever Muppet Daleks standing next to a TARDIS-like phone box. Look fast and you'll also spot one of the show's human stars dressed in a very familiar-looking multi-coloured scarf (as a character called Doctor Two).

PBS, of course, has a long association with Doctor Who, as many of its affiliates began airing the Classic Era in the 1970s and '80s, and many also picked up the Modern Era. Sesame Street, meanwhile, seems to be getting a serious attack of the cools in its old age, as the show is planning spoofs of The Avengers and even (though this just sounds wrong, somehow) Game of Thrones.

Check out the minute-long preview in the player below. Sesame Street Season 45 is scheduled to debut on September 15, 2014 on American PBS stations. The Numeric Con episode will air on September 18, 2014, and was previewed at the recent San Diego Comic-Con. Read about that (and why Nerdist host Chris Hardwick thinks Oscar the Grouch deserves a role in Doctor Who) here.





FILTER: - Doctor Who

Cineworld Competition

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Cineworld West India Quay are offering readers of Doctor Who News two tickets to the screening of Peter Capaldi's debut in Doctor Who, Deep Breath.

The screening takes place on the evening of 23rd August at the cinema in Canary Wharf in London. Winners would need to make their own way to the location. To enter just tell us the name of the previous character played by Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who. Send entries to comp-cineworld@doctorwhonews.net. Competition closes on 15 August 2014.




FILTER: - Competitions - Doctor Who

Deep Breath in New Zealand cinemas

Sunday, 3 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Fans in New Zealand will get the chance to watch the new series premiere Deep Breath only a few hours after its broadcast in the United Kingdom as some cinemas will present the episode on Sunday 24th August at 10:00am - taking into account time zone differences between the two countries, New Zealand cinema-goers might well be the first to see the debut of the new Doctor outside of Europe!

Hoyts Cinemas will present the same premiere package as with other countries outside of the UK (i.e. the 'prequel' and behind-the-scenes footage but no Q&A), showing at various times during the course of the Sunday; for example Te Awa (Hamilton) has showings at 10:00am, 4:10pm and 6:30pm, whilst Sylvia Park (Auckland) has showings at 10:00am, 4:30pm and 6:40pm; others such have Northlands only has one showing at 2:00pm - see the cinema website for overall availability.

Following the unprecedented success of the 50th anniversary special in cinemas around the globe, BBC Worldwide is delighted to announce a unique big-screen opportunity for the special feature-length first episode of series 8 launching Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor.

Set in Victorian London, episode 1 reunites the newly regenerated Doctor and returning companion, Clara, with series regulars and fan favourites, Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax. The episode will be approximately 80’ in duration and has been specially created to celebrate the launch of series 8, which represents another a key milestone for the Doctor Who brand: the first full length episode with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor. In addition to the main feature, which like the 50th anniversary episode will also be available on TV, cinemas will be offered 15 minutes of exclusive content; 5 minutes of specially scripted content to play before the feature and 10 minutes of behind the scenes post the main feature.

Episode 1 provides the ideal jumping on point for new audiences and an exciting moment in Doctor Who’s history for dedicated fans.

There will be 15 minutes of content exclusive to cinemas this will include:
1 x 5 min scripted drama written by Steven Moffat
1 x 10 min behind the scenes of the series

Update: Event Cinemas will also be showing the episode at various times during the day and following week in local theatres - see their website for times and booking.


Broadcaster PRIME have yet to confirm a transmission date and time for the episode, though if scheduled in a similar fashion to the four debuts of the last couple of series Doctor Who would likely be at 8:30pm on a Thursday evening, starting on the 28th August or 4th September.





FILTER: - Cinema - New Zealand - Premiere Events - Series 8/34

DWAS Auction in memory of Verity Lambert

Saturday, 2 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have sent details about an auction they are running, proceeds of which will be used for the recent commemoration of Doctor Who's first producer Verity Lambert and to the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Following the unveiling last week of a heritage plaque to commemorate the life and career of Verity Lambert, which was celebrated with a free-to-enter screening of An Adventure in Space and Time at Riverside Studios, DWAS is now running an auction via its eBay site. The auction is to raise funds towards the cost of the plaque and the launch event at Riverside. Additionally, 10% of the final selling price of every item will be donated directly to the Breast Cancer Campaign in memory of Verity, as will any funds raised in excess of the heritage costs.

Lots of people and businesses have been very generous and as such we have a wide range of items, many of which should be within the reach of most people. There are a substantial number of signed photographs, signed DVDs and Blu Rays and a couple of very special items, including a VIP Package for two at next year’s ‘Who at The Hilbre 3’ convention in West Kirby (donated by Fans Like Us) and a unique collection of ‘Audio Visuals’ items (donated by Miwk Publishing).

The plaque itself has attracted a lot of interest and remains on display at Riverside Studios. If this fund raising is successful, then with the support of Fandom, DWAS would hope to undertake a similar project in the future..

A link to the auction can be found via the DWAS website.





FILTER: - Auctions

Pandorica Convention guests announced

Friday, 1 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Fantom Films have announced a number of guests that will appear at their forthcoming Pandorica convention, taking place in Bristol over the weekend of 27th-28th September.

Current headliners include series regulars Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Louise Jameson (Leela), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Anneke Wills (Polly) and John Levene (Benton). Other names include Pik Sen Lim (Captain Chin Lee from The Mind of Evil), Bernard Holley (best known as the face of the Axons in The Claws of Axos), and Alun Raglan (Mo in The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood). Plus, story reunions will take place, such as for Revelation of The Daleks with Trevor Cooper (Takis), Bridget Lynch-Blosse (Natasha) and John Ogwen (Bostock). Also appearing is Alexandra Tynan aka Sandra Reid, the designer of the original Cyberman costumes.

As well as interview panels, the event includes autographs sessions, photo opportunities, workshops, commentaries and a full evening of entertainment and a disco!

Further details on the convention, venue, and how to book can be found via the Fantom Films website.



Fantom Films are also presenting an autograph event in Chiswick, London on the 16th August; guests at the Summer Signing Spectacular hail from throughout the 51 years of Doctor Who, and include: Catrin Stewart (Jenny), Dan Starkey (Strax), Richard Franklin (Mike Yates), Keith Barron (Striker, Enlightenment), Cynthia Grenville (Maren, The Brain of Morbius), Simon Rouse (Hindle, Kinda), Chipo Chung (Chantho, Utopia), Michael Melia (Terileptil, The Visitation), Kelly Hunter (Shadow Architect, The Stolen Earth), Robert Whitelock (Mahler, The Bells of Saint John), David Quilter (Greeves, The Unicoern and the Wasp), Chris Webb (inc Monoid in The Ark), Malcolm Rogers (Dracula, The Chase), and Elizabeth Croft (Vampire Girl, The Vampires of Venice).

Details on registration, venue and price of autographs can be found via their website.




FILTER: - Convention - UK

Deep Breath in Australian cinemas

Friday, 1 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Peter Capaldi as the Doctor (Credit: BBC/Adrian Rogers)With broadcaster ABC yet to confirm when series premiere Deep Breath will air in Australia, it seems likely that cinema-goers will get to see the debut adventure of Peter Capaldi first, as national theatres such as Event Cinemas and Palace Cinemas, and local theatres such as Melbourne's Cinema Nova launch a number of presentations of the episode on the big screen, many from 10:00am on the 24th August!

Shown in participating cinemas across the country, the episode be enjoyed at a number of different times during the course of the week: as well as 10:00am, Event Cinemas continue showings at 4:00pm, 6:30pm, and then for 6:30pm on the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings; Palace Cinemas theatre showings occur at various times during the Sunday depending upon location; Cinema Nova has presentations at 10:00am, 11:55am, 1:50pm, 3:45pm, 5:40pm, 7:35pm and 9:30pm all on Sunday.

The programme duration also suggests that the Australian audience will indeed get to see the 'prequel' and behind-the-scenes features that will be enjoyed in UK, USA and Canadian cinemas.

A list of participating cinemas can be found via Sharmill Films.

Set in Victorian London, episode 1 reunites the newly regenerated Doctor and returning companion, Clara, with series regulars and fan favourites, Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax.

(with thanks to James Armstrong)




FILTER: - Australia - Cinema - Events - Series 8/34

Philipp Brammer (1969-2014)

Friday, 1 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Philipp Brammer (Credit: Berchtesgadener Anzeiger)Philipp Brammer, the voice of the tenth Doctor to German viewers, has died after suffering a fall on a walking trip this week. The actor and voice artist from Munich was found by police and mountain rescue crew in the Edelweißlahnersteigs area after he had been reported missing by his wife on Monday, having not returned from his planned trip to the Edelweiss Breitlahner.

Brammer was a popular voice artist who, as well as portraying the tenth Doctor aka David Tennant, also provided voices for Gaeta in Battlestar Galactica, Rainbow in Stargate Atlantis, and Lex Luthor in Smallville; other dubbed actors included Martin Freeman in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Leonardo di Caprio in Marvin's Room and Jason Priestley in both Beverly Hills 90210 and Tru Calling. As an actor he appeared in television series such as Die Rosenheim-Cops, SOKO 5113 and most recently The Old Fox, but was perhaps best known for his role as Jan Günzel in the series Lindenstraße. He also provided voices for video games such as Lost Horizon
Philipp Brammer, 28 August 1969 - 28 July 2014




FILTER: - Germany - Obituary - Tenth Doctor

Silva Screen August sale

Friday, 1 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The 50th Anniversary Collection (Credit: Silva Screen)Silva Screen are running a special offer on their catalogue of Doctor Who related albums during August, which includes their recent releases of The 50th Anniversary Collection and An Adventure in Space and Time.

See their website for full details of pricing and availability.




FILTER: - Audio - Merchandise - Special Offers

Deep Breath in Canadian cinemas

Friday, 1 August 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Deep Breath in Canada cinemas poster (Credit: Cineplex)Fans in Canada will be able to watch Deep Breath on the big screen in participating cinemas across the country via Cineplex. The new Doctor's first adventure (and its associated cinema extras) will be shown twice during the week after its premiere on television, with presentations on Monday 25th August at 7:30pm and on Saturday 30th August at 12:55pm.

A full list of cinemas can be found on the Cineplex website, where you can also book tickets.

This fall, Doctor Who re-launches with a new Doctor, Peter Capaldi (In the Loop, World War Z), at the helm of the TARDIS and a thrilling new adventure through space and time. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience Doctor Who for the first time or for long-time fans to be a part of this highly anticipated season premiere! The electrifying episode will be shown in cinemas and will also include 15 minutes of exclusive bonus content. Capaldi will be joined by companion Jenna Coleman (Captain America: The First Avenger) in what promises to be the most amazing Doctor Who adventure yet, a brand new beginning for a legendary series! The 80-minute adventure, presented in theatrical widescreen (2.35:1) only in cinemas, will also feature a specially shot, 5-minute prequel scene, preceding the premiere, and also a 10-minute “making of” documentary immediately following the event, both exclusive to cinemas.





FILTER: - Canada - Cinema - Series 8/34 - Special Events