UK Gold Update

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

This week's UK Gold rebroadcast of the first season of the new Doctor Who series also includes additional rebroadcasts a day later on the UK Gold+1 channel and early morning broadcasts; we've updated the Outpost Gallifrey broadcast calendar with full details on times. Also, we've learned that the show will also be repeated as part of the Big Night in campaign on Saturdays from Week 44; trails have been made to promote the Doctor Who week.

Meanwhile, below are two photos of the UKTV Gold billboard and the UKTV Gold phone box ad for the broadcasts of the current series on the channel, which are noted by our correspondent as "reasonably rare relative to the ads for the new series back in March." Click on each for a larger version. (Thanks to Anthony Forth for the photos)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Broadcasting

SFX 137 and Campaign

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue 137 of SFX Magazine is out shortly, and contains an interview with Russell T Davies about season two (highlights are in today's "Press Clips" section), as well as an interview with Simon Pegg ("The Long Game"), and stories about the new comedy SF series "Hyperdrive," as well as other items. The cover is at right.

Meanwhile, did you see the results of Blue Peter's "Design A Doctor Who Monster" competition? SFX Magazine did, and "great though the winner is, our favourite in the SFX office is Sad Tony. Apparently, Sad Tony is actually his nickname, because no human can pronounce his real monster name. And Tony's species has a terrible wind problem - his little wings aren't for flying, they're for flapping the trump smell away so he can smell where he is going. Aw. We reckon that Sad Tony deserved much better than just a runner-up position, and - as you'll know if you read our last issue - we've launched a campaign to get him into the next series. And our campaign is succeeding!" SFX proceeded to speak to series exec producer Russell T Davies with our demands, who apparently responded, "I'll see what I can do. Tell you what, I don't write that episode until December, so if your petition gets over 500 names, I'll give the Tonester a mention. On BBC One. On Doctor Who. Um, somehow." And so, Outpost Gallifrey is happy to help our friends at SFX by directing them to this page, which will soon have the petition available as well as directions on where to send them. Says SFX, "We'll forward them onto Russell, and you will have played an important part in making Doctor Who history - and making a little girl called Emily very happy." (Thanks to Ian Berriman, Steve O'Brien)

FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Magazines

Doctor Who in Germany

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to a press release from the BBC, Germany is the latest country to acquire the new series, through a deal with commercial broadcaster ProSieben; the show will be seen on the German private TV station "Pro7". The sale was announced at the closing day of MIPCOM, the international audiovisual content market in Cannes. "ProSieben have licensed both the first series ... and the second series, which is currently in production. Russell T Davies' first series of Doctor Who attracted huge ratings and received critical acclaim when it aired on BBC ONE earlier this year. Announcing the deal, Isabelle Helle, Head of Germany, BBC Worldwide, said: 'The series has gained iconic status outside of the UK as well and has already been licensed to broadcasters in sixteen countries worldwide. We are excited that Doctor Who's time travelling will now take him to ProSieben so that viewers in Germany can also enjoy the adventures of the Time Lord and his companions.' ProSieben Head of Programming, Thomas Schultheis, said about the deal: 'Doctor Who is one of the most clever and entertaining series to come from Great Britain. The production values are visibly high and Russell T Davies' scripts provide top quality entertainment for a wide range of viewers: from science fiction fans to family audiences.'" The series is likely to start on ProSieben next year. The story was first announced on the German website www.wunschliste.de. (Thanks to Harald Gehlen, Steve Tribe, Martin Hoscik)

FILTER: - Press - Broadcasting

UK, Australia DVD News

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

At the Stamp Centre signing last Thursday, Tom Baker noted that he had recorded commentaries for two DVD releases, "Genesis of the Daleks" alongside David Maloney and "The Hand of Fear" with actress Judith Parris, the day before, while Nick Courtneymentioned that he had recorded one for "Inferno". As has been noted before, these recordings are not indications that DVD releases are imminent, but merely take advantage of the actors' presence in London and their schedules. However, this fits in with rumors Outpost Gallifrey has heard about potential releases for 2006.

Also, we have been told that the release of the first series boxed set has now been confirmed for 8 December in Australia. (Thanks to David Brider, Tony Keywood)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

BBC 2005 TV Moments

Monday, 24 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the BBC Press Office, voting opens today for viewers to select their favourite television moments of the year, the results of which will be presented by Jonathan Ross at the end of the year. The nominations are broken down into two-month periods, and 'the kiss between Rose and the Doctor in The Parting of the Ways' is one of the selections for May to June. Viewers can vote atwww.bbc.co.uk/tvmoments.

Update: The Doctor Who selection now appears to have changed to a scene from "The Doctor Dances": 'I'm here now! Can't you see me?' in the child's room, after the tape has run out.

FILTER: - Press

Church to Torchwood?

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Today's Daily Sar says that singer Charlotte Church "will become Face of a Devil in the new 'adults-only' Dr Who spin-off. BBC bosses want the 19-year-old beauty to play a raunchy, Satan-worshipping villain in 13-part series Torchwood. The Beeb's new 'fun and sexy' sci-fi drama is being shot in her native Cardiff and stars one of her favourite TV hunks, John Barrowman, 38. ... A source on the show, which airs next summer, said: 'Charlotte's a big fan of the show, so she was thrilled when we approached her with the part. As Torchwood is designed for adults, we can be a lot more risque with content.'" Of course, this 'exclusive' report may or may not have any truth in it.

FILTER: - Torchwood

UKGold Ad Campaign

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

UKGold has launched a billboard campaign all over Britain for their forthcoming Doctor Who week, which vary from location to location -- but many contain a Dalek from the new series and the tagline "Watch Doctor Who Week Or Die". As Outpost Gallifrey previously reported, all 13 episodes of the first season of the new Doctor Who series will air beginning this Sunday, October 23 at 7:00pm, continuing throughout the week; check out the calendar here on the news page for timing. (Thanks to Anthony Forth)

FILTER: - Broadcasting

Beginning Box Delay

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to 2Entertain and BBC Worldwide, the DVD boxed set release of Doctor Who: The Beginning, featuring the stories "An Unearthly Child," "The Daleks" and "The Edge of Destruction," has been delayed to January 30 due to manufacturing issues. The set was previously announced as being released on January 9.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

April BBC Books

Wednesday, 19 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Books has issued details of its three hardcover Doctor Who novels due out on 13 April 2006, featuring the Tenth Doctor and Rose and set during the second series that begins next spring. The Amazon retail site now carries brief descriptions of each of the three books, which are printed below. Amazon also lists these as audio books due out on 3 April, though it is unclear as to whether this is incorrect or if BBC Books is releasing abridged readings on CD. (Thanks to Ryan Piekenbrock)

The Feast of the Drowned, by Stephen Cole
When a naval cruiser sinks in mysterious circumstances in the North Sea, all aboard are lost. Rose is saddened to learn that the brother of her friend, Keisha, was among the dead. And yet he appears to them as a ghostly apparition, begging to be saved from the coming feast... the feast of the drowned. As the dead crew haunt loved ones all over London, the Doctor and Rose are drawn into a chilling mystery. What sank the ship, and why? When the cruiser's wreckage was towed up the Thames, what sinister force came with it? The river's dark waters are hiding an even darker secret, as preparations for the feast near their conclusion...

The Resurrection Casket, by Justin Richards
Starfall - a world on the edge, where crooks and smugglers hide in the gloomy shadows and modern technology refuses to work. And that includes the TARDIS. The pioneers who used to be drawn by the hope of making a fortune from the mines can find easier picking elsewhere. But they still come - for the romance of it, or old-fashioned organic mining. Or in the hope of finding the lost treasure of Hamlek Glint - scourge of the spaceways, privateer, adventurer, bandit... Will the TARDIS ever work again? Is Glint's lost treasure waiting to be found? And does the fabled Resurrection Casket - the key to eternal life - really exist? With the help of new friends, and to the horror of new enemies, The Doctor and Rose aim to find out...

The Stone Rose, by Jacqueline Rayner
Mickey is startled to find a statue of Rose in a museum - a statue that is 2,000 years old. The Doctor realises that this means the TARDIS will shortly take them to Ancient Rome, but when it does, he and Rose soon have more on their minds than sculpture. While the Doctor searches for a missing boy, Rose befriends a girl who claims to know the future - a girl whose predictions are surprisingly accurate. But then the Doctor stumbles on the hideous truth behind the statue of Rose - and Rose herself learns that you have to be very careful what you wish for...

FILTER: - Books

More on Torchwood

Tuesday, 18 October 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to an appearance today by John Barrowman on the chat show "Loose Women" on ITV, a couple of interesting items were revealed about Torchwood... including the fact that it might be repeated on BBC One after its BBC Three run, and that "nobody will know how Jack gets back from the future" to present-day Cardiff (building on the fact that he's stranded at the end of the first Doctor Who series). Today's Daily Star ran a picture of a Dalek, with the caption: "Steamy: Even Daleks might hit trouble with the new hero" (though who knows if they'd ever appear in the show!)