Eccleston on Sacred Nation

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The radio program Sacred Nation will air on Sunday, February 13 at 8:00am on BBC Radio 2. According to the press release, "Christopher Eccleston tells the story of religious belief in the British Isles. From long barrows to stone circles, from Druids to Romans, and through Holy wars, reformations and revivals, he discovers that Britain has always been a pluralistic society. Far from being a solely Christian country, Britain has a rich, multifaith heritage. Written by Michael Symmons Roberts, winner of this year?s Whitbread Prize for Poetry, Sacred Nation asks if there are lessons on tolerance and diversity to be learnt from the past." (Thanks to Phil Creighton, Steve Freestone)

FILTER: - People - Radio

Warring States

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Mad Norwegian Press have released the cover illustration for Warring States by Mags L. Halliday, their next installment of the "Faction Paradox" series of novels based on the characters and situations originally created by Lawrence Miles for the BBC Doctor Who novels. Click on the thumbnail for a larger cover. Outpost Gallifrey still features online the prologue preview for the book, courtesy Mad Norwegian. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

FILTER: - Books

Gold's Theme Tune

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The SFX Magazine website confirms that musician Murray Gold, previously announced as composing the incidental music for each episode of the new series, will be recreating the popular theme tune for the new series. "It's not as radical a remix as many thought we might get," says the article. "The new arrangement updates Delia Derbyshire and Ron Grainer's original, but keeps the basic sounds. Producer Russell T Davies told SFX that the production team did consider keeping the 1960s/70s original, but, 'When we watched it on the small screen, it just seemed a little bit empty and a bit old.'" The article notes that the new theme tune was delivered on January 17 by Gold, and quotes Davies as saying it's "brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I thought the original theme would be perfect though, but the version Murray's done is so faithful." Davies also told SFX that the show would bring back "the classic Jon Pertwee/Tom Baker 'cliffhanger screech'." The issue features an interview with Davies as well as artwork by famed Doctor Who illustrator Chris Achilleos; visit the website for more information.

FILTER: - Music - Murray Gold - Production - Magazines

Colin Baker Helps National Doodle Day

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

On Friday 25 February, National Doodle Day 2005, a doodle by Sixth Doctor Colin Baker will be auctioned on eBay to raise money for Epilepsy Action and the Neurofibromatosis Association. Colin's doodle can be viewed at the National Doodle Day website. Other Doctor Who actors whose doodles are up for auction include: Bernard Cribbins, Brian Blessed, Jim Broadbent, Joanna Lumley, Richard Briers, Derek Martin, Honor Blackman and, from the new series, Richard Wilson and Andrew Marr. Other celebrities from the world of science fiction and fantasy include Brian Cox (X-Men 2), Gillian Anderson (the X-Files), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter), and the author Brian Aldiss. More celebrity doodles are coming in all the time. According to the site, anyone can join in by doing a doodle for National Doodle Day; just visit your local Lloydspharmacy, donate ú1 and pick up a Doodle Card, draw on it (this year's theme is 'My Favourite Things') and send it to us at the address printed on the back. Visit www.nationaldoodleday.org.uk for more information.

(with thanks to Alan Jones)

FILTER: - People

The Claws of Axos Extras

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Full details of the extras from the forthcoming DVD release The Claws of Axos have been revealed in the latest DWM. They include commentaries by Katy Manning, Richard Franklin and producer Barry Letts; an interview with director Michael Ferguson; "Who Was Doctor Axon?", a feature on the restoration of the story produced by John Kelly; another of Richard Bignell's "Now and Then" location features, on Dungeness (Nuclear Power Station), narrated by Katy Manning; a 30-minute compilation of "Vampire from Space" studio material, including all the Roger Delgado footage and some extended and deleted scenes; production subtitles; and a photo gallery. While the release is noted as May 2, the BBC Shop currently lists it as being released on May 9.

FILTER: - DWM - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Confidential Update

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

News regarding the new documentary series Doctor Who Confidential, broadcasting on BBC3 following each episode's transmission in the UK on BBC1: Each edition will have a title and a theme "covered by that week's episode [of Doctor Who] and looking back at how that theme has been developed in previous episodes with past Doctors." (The ratio of "New" to "Classic" Doctor Who will be about 60: 40, according to the report in DWM.) Interviews featured include Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper, Russell T Davies, past Doctors and assistants, DWM and Big Finish, as well as interviews from fans (including, Outpost Gallifrey is aware, footage and interviews from several Doctor Who conventions.) The first edition is titled "Back from the Future" and examines "how the BBC approached the task of bringing back the Doctor." The second is "Aliens - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", going behind the scenes on "The End of the World", including "making convincing aliens... prosthetics, and a visit to the Mill". The third - "TARDIS tales" - "looks at the role of the TARDIS, and the past times the Doctor has visited." Future editions will cover the return of the Daleks, the role of the companion and the possibility of time travel.

FILTER: - Documentary - DWM

New Series Updates

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine features some late breaking updates on the new series. As expected, there is now confirmation of our earlier report that there will be single, on screen episode titles for each episode of the new series. FX house The Mill has completed the new title sequence for the series, which will feature at the start of each episode (previous thoughts about pre-titles sequences have been abandoned, or so we've heard.) The issue confirms that Joe Ahearne will return as director, but notes that Ahearne is directing the final two parter (one episode of which is called "The Parting of the Ways") as the 'sixth block' of filming. However, they state that no director has yet been announced for the 'fifth block', consisting solely of episode 11 (it states that the final two parter is "too ambitious" to allow a third episode into this block; however, this does not discount Outpost Gallifrey's earlier report that Ahearne is directing episode 11, which could indeed be the case but is not 'official.')

The issue also has some new casting additions: In "The Long Game," Colin Prockter plays the Head Chef, and Judy Holt plays Sandra; the issue has several comments about this casting by exec producer Russell T Davies. Also in that story, previously announced cast members Christine Adams and Anna Maxwell Martin have now been confirmed as Cath and Suki respectively. For "The Empty Child" and its second episode, "The Doctor Dances," Florence Hoathplays Nancy; and in roles yet to be announced, Cheryl Fergison, Damian Samuels, Robert Hands, Martin Hodgson, Joseph Tremain, Jordan Murphy and Brandon Miller. The issue also confirms the arrival of John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness in the two-parter. Finally, Davies' production notes is a lengthy discussion of spoilers and the real instigators of such, the British press; he notes that it is very likely full synopses of each episode will be out prior to their broadcast, accusing the British press of being potential 'ruiners' of the series.

FILTER: - Production - Magazines - Series 1/27

Live From New York, It's Saturday Night Who

Saturday, 5 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

There's obviously a fan of Doctor Who on the staff at Saturday Night Live, the popular and long-running American comedy sketch series, as the show gets its second reference this season! On tonight's (February 5) installment, guest host Paris Hilton introduced a segment on phone sex for SF/fantasy fans; it featured genre-based jokes on 'Star Trek' and 'Lord of the Rings' to name a few. Hilton ended the skit by saying "Operators are standing by. Who knows, one of them might be me. Does 'Doctor Who' turn you on, baby? Well, I'm getting into my TARDIS right now. Oooh! I'd better put on my big floppy hat and scarf. I hope I don't find any Daleks here. Are you a Dalek, baby? Do you want to exterminate me? Call today." A screen capture is attached at right. (Thanks to Michael S. Lucart, Steve Manfred, Kevin Schultz)

FILTER: - Press

Alert: Possible Trailer

Friday, 4 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has been told to expect a new trailer for the new Doctor Who series this coming Saturday on BBC1, perhaps one that could offer a glimpse of the TARDIS interior. The exact time of the broadcast is unknown, says the DWAS, but it seems likely that it will be just before or after Casualty. Update: other sources have confirmed with people inside the BBC that a trailer will not air, so this may have been a false alarm; it's anyone's guess as to whether or not a trailer will air tonight. (Thanks to the DWAS for letting us know!)

FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Broadcasting

Project: Who

Thursday, 3 February 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Publicity has issued the following press release concerning the two-part documentary about the return of the series, airing on Radio 2 in March, as follows (with thanks to Stephanie Hardwick of BBC Radio 2 for sending it to us):

Project: Who? - BBC Radio 2 goes behind the scenes of the new Doctor Who

As BBC One launches an all new Doctor Who for the 21st Century, Radio 2 examines the continuing fascination with one of the BBC's best loved and most enduring characters in Project: Who?, a two part documentary presented by Patrick Stewart on Tuesdays 22nd and 29th March.

Radio 2 goes exclusively behind the scenes of the BBC Television series to discover how Doctor Who has been "recreated" by BAFTA award-winning writer Russell T Davies.

The hour-long documentaries feature newly recorded interviews with the cast and creative team behind Doctor Who, and include special contributions from celebrity Who fans.

Featuring exclusive excerpts from the new series, Project: Who? is a reassessment and reappraisal of the ever-popular enigmatic time traveller.

The programmes examine why the BBC decided to launch a new television series nearly a decade after the Doctor's last small screen adventure, how the format of the show has been developed and shaped for a new audience, how the character of the Doctor was cast, and how the series will be launched and marketed around the globe.

Featuring a dramatic mix of interviews, clips, archive and music, Project: Who? is part of Radio 2's Countdown To Who? season which commences in March. The network's website - bbc.co.uk/radio2 - will offer a dedicated mini-site about Doctor Who and Steve Wright's weekday afternoon show, 2.00-5.00pm, will celebrate the series with interviews with the cast and specially themed 'Factoids'.

Written and produced by Malcolm Prince, Project: Who?, presented by Patrick Stewart will broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesdays 22nd & 29th March at 8.30pm. Doctor Who starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper is currently filming on location in Cardiff. The new 13-part series is a BBC Wales production for BBC One.

FILTER: - Documentary - Radio

Previous 10 Stories

Eccleston on Sacred Nation

Warring States

Gold's Theme Tune

Colin Baker Helps National Doodle Day

The Claws of Axos Extras

Doctor Who Confidential Update

New Series Updates

Live From New York, It's Saturday Night Who

Alert: Possible Trailer

Project: Who

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