Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 17

Thursday, 7 October 2021 - Reported by Marcus

Season 17, the penultimate season starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, will be the next to be released as part of the Doctor Who Collection series.

Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 17 was originally shown between September 1979 and January 1980 consists of the following stories

DESTINY OF THE DALEKS
CITY OF DEATH
THE CREATURE FROM THE PIT
NIGHTMARE OF EDEN
THE HORNS OF NIMON
SHADA

In 1979, Tom Baker’s Doctor was in full flight. With Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy) as script editor, the series leaned into Baker’s penchant for humour and paired his Doctor with a regenerated Romana (Lalla Ward) as his travelling companion. Together, they would form one of the most popular Doctor/companion duos of all time.

Although Season 17 was halted behind-the-scenes by strike action (resulting in the season finale being abandoned part-way through production), it remains a beloved slice of Doctor Who history, featuring the return of Davros and the Daleks, and one of the all-time classic stories, Douglas Adams’ own City Of Death.

With all episodes newly remastered from the best available sources, this Blu-ray box set also includes extensive and exclusive Special Features including:

BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARIES
Including a Making-Of documentary for Destiny Of The Daleks, and new featurette for The Creature From The Pit.
TOM TALKS
A candid interview with Tom Baker as he gives us his unique take on life, the universe and everything.
DOUGLAS ADAMS TRIBUTE
Friends and colleagues remember the Doctor Who writer/script editor and creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
IN CONVERSATION
Matthew Sweet chats to Bob Baker, writer of Nightmare Of Eden, co-creator of K9 and one of the creative forces behind Wallace & Gromit.
BEHIND THE SOFA
New episodes with actors Colin Baker, Katy Manning, Matthew Waterhouse, Nicola Bryant, June Hudson, Graeme Harper & Mat Irvine
LALLA WARD INTERVIEW
An extensive interview discussing her first year on the programme.
UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS
View Nightmare Of Eden with optional new effects
SHADA
An updated version of the ‘lost’ story, completed with enhanced animation and presented in six episodes for the very first time, alongside the original 1992 VHS and 2017 versions
EXCLUSIVE NEW AUDIO COMMENTARIES
With Tom Baker on episodes of Destiny Of The Daleks and City Of Death, and Lalla Ward & Catherine Schell on City Of Death
EXTENDED EPISODE
An early cut of The Creature From The Pit Part Three
BLU-RAY TRAILER
A familiar face returns in a brand new mini-episode of classic Doctor Who
IMMERSIVE 5.1 SURROUND SOUND
On Destiny Of The Daleks and Shada
RARE GEMS FROM THE ARCHIVES
BBC archive material covering the promotion of this season
CONVENTION FOOTAGE
A triumphant 1997 appearance from Tom Baker
HD PHOTO GALLERIES
Including many previously unseen images
PRODUCTION SUBTITLES
Behind-the-scenes information and trivia on every episode
SCRIPTS, COSTUME DESIGNS, RARE BBC PRODUCTION FILES AND OTHER RARITIES FROM OUR PDF ARCHIVE

Davros Rises! | The Collection: Season 17 Announcement Trailer

The Collection will be released on 13th December 2021 and is available to pre-order on Amazon

FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Fourth Doctor - Season 17

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1983

Monday, 4 October 2021 - Reported by Marcus

A new 116-page bookazine from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine.

Doctor Who’s 20th anniversary was a milestone in an era when few series had achieved such longevity. Huge transatlantic conventions, a variety of books and a National Film Theatre retrospective celebrated the programme’s status as a cultural institution.

But in many other respects, 1983 was about looking forward – British television now boasted four networks, microcomputers were becoming commonplace and a home video revolution was looming. Could the show maintain its prominence in this new landscape? All-new features, illustrated with rare and previously unseen images, reveal the story behind a momentous year.

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1983 is on sale now, RRP just £9.99 from panini.co.uk and selected branches of WH Smith while stocks last. It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £8.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Fifth Doctor

Christopher Eccleston returns to Big Finish

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 - Reported by Marcus

Christopher Eccleston (Credit: Tony Whitmore / Big Finish)

Big Finish Productions have confirmed the second series of Doctor Who –The Ninth Doctor Adventures starring Christopher Eccleston, due to be released throughout 2022 and into 2023.

Last year, Big Finish announced the Ninth Doctor’s return to Doctor Who, with his inaugural series of full-cast audio dramas currently delighting audiences and critics alike. Now, Christopher Eccleston returns to the TARDIS for twelve more adventures in time and space, across four brand new box sets.

Each volume is now available for pre-order exclusively at the Big Finish website(www.bigfinish.com), with prices starting at just £19.99.

Christopher Eccleston said:

Just before Christmas in 2020, I walked into a small recording studio in an industrial estate in North London. Me and the sound engineer looked at each other and we smiled and said, ‘Let's go!’ Then I started playing the Ninth Doctor again, and I loved it.

It's been one of the great joys for me of the past year. It's a lovely way to do it, so I'm coming back to record more.

Big Finish Chairman Jason Haigh-Ellery said:

I am so glad that Christopher has enjoyed his time with us so much that he has agreed to continue his travels in the TARDIS. Bringing the Ninth Doctor back to the Doctor Who universe has been one of the few enjoyable parts of the past year and I am so glad that the adventures will continue!

Producer David Richardson added:

I’ve spent most of my summer weekends sitting in the garden, iPad on my lap, reading the scripts for The Ninth Doctor Adventures–Series Two. Happy days indeed. No spoilers but expect emotional, character-based stories, and lots of adventure –going deep into Earth’s past and into the far future.

From an old railway station to the seas of Titan, to a very unusual furniture store in the present day, it’s another trip of a lifetime –and I can’t wait to be back in the studio again in October, where we will bring these words to brilliant life. Recording the first season with Chris was one of my happiest times at Big Finish, and I feel privileged to be going back for more.

Doctor Who fans worldwide can now pre-order the second series of the Ninth Doctor Adventures, which are available in three formats –collector’s edition CD, digital download or limited edition gatefold triple LP vinyl –exclusively from the Big Finish website at bigfinish.com.

FILTER: - Ninth Doctor - Christopher Eccleston

Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall to leave Doctor Who

Thursday, 29 July 2021 - Reported by Marcus

Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall will be leaving Doctor Who following a trio of specials ending in an epic blockbuster to air in autumn 2022 as part of the BBC’s Centenary celebrations.

The current showrunner and Thirteenth Doctor have been in charge of the TARDIS since filming for the Thirteenth Doctor began in 2017 but both have confirmed they will be leaving the series at the end of 2022

A six-part Event Serial has been announced for this autumn, and two Specials were already planned for 2022. To help mark the 100th Anniversary of the BBC, BBC One has now asked for an additional final feature-length adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor before the Doctor regenerates once more.

After taking the helm of the show, Chris Chibnall made the groundbreaking decision to cast Jodie Whittaker as the first female Doctor. He also brought in Tosin Cole (Ryan), Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham), and cast the acclaimed Sacha Dhawan as the latest incarnation of The Master, plus Jo Martin as the mysterious Fugitive Doctor, adding new characters, layers and twists to the mythology of the show.

Chris Chibnall said

Jodie and I made a “three series and out” pact with each other at the start of this once-in-a-lifetime blast. So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys.

Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations. She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour. She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!

For me, leading this exceptional team has been unrivalled creative fun, and one of the great joys of my career. I’m so proud of the people we’ve worked with and the stories we’ve told. To finish our time on the show with an additional Special, after the pandemic changed and challenged our production plans, is a lovely bonus. It’s great that the climax of the Thirteenth Doctor’s story will be at the heart(s) of the BBC’s centenary celebrations.

I wish our successors - whoever the BBC and BBC Studios choose - as much fun as we’ve had. They’re in for a treat!

Jodie Whittaker added

In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them. My heart is so full of love for this show, for the team who make it, for the fans who watch it and for what it has brought to my life. And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories. We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side, and pass on the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have ever had. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express what this role has given me. I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever.

“I know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there. That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly.”

Current Director of BBC Drama Piers Wenger added

Over the last four years Chris and Jodie have made Doctor Who history and their time on the show is indelibly marked on our memories. From Rosa Parks to Ascension of the Cybermen, Chris and Jodie have given Doctor Who some of its most life-affirming and tear-jerking moments to date and we are beyond excited to see what they have in store for us in the new series this Autumn. Jodie's final adventure to mark the BBC's Centenary in 2022 is set to be a Doctor Who Special to remember. I’d like to thank them both for their incredible work on the show

With over a year of adventures to come, the Thirteenth Doctor still has plenty in store for fans.

FILTER: - Thirteenth Doctor - Production

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality

Thursday, 22 July 2021 - Reported by Marcus

Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker and Tenth Doctor David Tennant will face a new nemesis in a quest to save reality in a new videogame to be released this Autumn.

Digital entertainment studio, Maze Theory, in partnership with BBC Studios, have today announced that the brand-new videogame Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality will launch on Wednesday 30th September 2021.

Compatible with current and next-gen consoles as well as PC, Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality reimagines and expands on Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, with a completely new and compelling adventure.

With new worlds to explore and all-new modes of gameplay, players will be guided by the ThirteenthDoctor (voiced by Jodie Whittaker), and for the first time will also encounter the Tenth Doctor (voiced by David Tennant) in a new story written by Gavin Collinson (Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins).

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality will include easter eggs, new foes, and iconic monsters such as the Cybermen, the Daleks and the Weeping Angels. Players will also find themselves immersed in the ‘Chaosverse’: a corrupted alternate universe where worlds and timelines collide to create new adventures, encounters, and threats…

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality Highlights

In this thrilling first-person adventure, a ‘reality virus’ is wreaking havoc across the universe, causing time glitches that distort the past, present and future.
Players will face an entirely new antagonist – The CyberReaper, an ominous foe with a terrifying purpose. More to be revealed….
The new story opens up multiple new environments for the player to explore, from a Cybership to the Chaosverse.
New and expanded levels include new gameplay modes, such as puzzles, shooting, collecting and stealth.

Ian Hambleton, CEO of Maze Theory said:

With our partners at BBC Studios, we are giving DoctorWho fans and gamers an incredible new experience through space and time. The appearance of both the Thirteenth and Tenth Doctors is set to be an epic event. The‘Chaosverse’ is a mind-blowing new concept, which brings a whole new dimension to the Doctor Who Experience.

This much-anticipated console/PC launch follows the incredible success of the mobile game Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins and re-affirms our commitment to take players on the most unexpected and immersive narrative journeys.

Kevin Jorge, Senior Producer – Games & Interactive for BBC Studios said

We’re really excited to bring Doctor Who back to console and to give players the chance to be the centre of a new Doctor Who adventure. We’re always striving to bring the Doctor Who universe to life in unique and interesting ways, tell new stories and give fans the chance to be part of their own adventure and I believe we’ve done that with The Edge of Reality. We really hope that fans and those new to Doctor Who alike will enjoy helping the Doctor in this epic adventure.

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality will launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S,Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and PC on 30th September 2021.

For more information, visit: doctorwhotheedgeofreality.com

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality - Release Date Announcement Trailer

FILTER: - Games - Thirteenth Doctor - Tenth Doctor

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 567

Wednesday, 21 July 2021 - Reported by Marcus

The latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine gets us ready for summer.

Going on holiday might not be so easy this year, but we can remember some of the highlights of summers past

A celebration of the BBC’s Doctor Who exhibitions in the 1970s, from the Science Museum in London to Middlesbrough Town Hall, plus Blackpool and Longleat. 16 pages packed full of previously unseen photos, and memories from fans who were there.
A guide to Doctor Who filming locations.
Apocrypha takes a trip to Blackpool with The Nightmare Fair, the Doctor’s rematch with the Celestial Toymaker.
The Fact of Fiction visits a sinister amusement park in the 2013 episode Nightmare in Silver.
An exclusive first-look at the forthcoming Blu-ray Special Edition of The Web of Fear.
Tributes to Jackie Lane (who played the First Doctor’s companion Dodo in 1966) and Damaris Hayman (who played Olive Hawthorne in 1971’s The Dæmons).
A review of The Collection: Season 24 Blu-ray box set.
Results of the 2021 DWM Poll.
Sufficient Data explores Doctor Who’s big ideas.
Previews, reviews, news, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 567 is on sale from panini.co.uk and WH Smith from Thursday 22 July priced £5.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £4.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Third Doctor

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Ever-Running

Monday, 21 June 2021 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books has announced a new collection of short stories in their Lethbridge-Stewart series:

Lethbridge-Stewart: The Ever-Running (Credit: Candy Jar Books) The Ever-Running
Written by Richard Brewer

Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart, the stoic and ever dependable defender of Earth, is about to discover that reality is under attack from an enemy that strikes from beyond the boundaries of space and time. The Ever-Running have vowed that they must never be caught, and to prevent capture they are willing to destroy all that Alistair has sworn to protect.

Explore six new adventures throughout Alistair’s life and beyond, including a desperate battle for survival on a distant ice planet, General Lethbridge-Stewart facing the outbreak of World War 3 in the 1980s, a young girl escaping a remote Hampshire village where the sick never return from an idyllic island, and three further adventures that take the Brigadier to the far future, and a realm beyond the universe itself.

The Ever-Running is written by Richard Brewer, the author of the short story File# 161229 and Shadows in the Glen. Profits from this book will be donated to the Brain Tumour Charity.

If you are a fan of dystopian melodrama or futuristic space operas, then this collection is just for you. However, this book offers something for everyone, especially if you are fond of the classic Doctor Who stories The Daemons or The Android Invasion.

The collection of stories form an arc taking the Brigadier into situations and locations that he has never encountered before, and is written by Richard Brewer, who previously penned Shadows in the Glen for the first Lethbridge-Stewart Short Story Collection.

Candy Jar’s Head of Publishing, Shaun Russell, said:

I was very impressed with the quality of Richard’s work, and after he submitted A Message from the Brigadier – a companion piece that featured alongside the free Lucy Wilson story Copy/Paste during lockdown in 2020 – we began to talk about him writing a full book.

The book introduces a new enemy for the Brigadier,one who has the ability to manipulate his timeline and beyond! Richard said:

I wanted to take the Brigadier to places that he has never been before, It was tremendous fun to drop him into unknown territory!

However, the book had been written whilst Richard had received terrible news:

I started writing The Ever-Running during a particularly difficult time. My wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the beginning of last year. At first, she and I shared a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration at the news. But after the initial shock, and following some investigation into the current state of research into brain tumour treatment, we both knew that we desperately wanted to raise some money. I approached Shaun about writing a selection of short stories to raise funds for this urgent cause and he readily agreed.

Shaun found himself working on The Ever-Running under similar circumstances, as his daughterwas knocked down by a car, fracturing her lower back and pelvis on both sides leaving her unable to walk:

COVID restrictions meant that I had to stay with her as she recuperated in hospital, so as she was sleeping (or playing on her Nintendo Switch) I edited Richard’s book, and I am so grateful that I was able to do this during the obvious worrying times I was facing. As a cancer survivor, I wholeheartedly support this book and encourage all readers to support Richard, either by buying this book, or donating to the Brain Tumour Charity.

The Ever-Running is available to pre-order via The Candy Jar website and will be released in early July 2021. Please note this book is not covered by any subscription offer.

Every year some 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour; a disease which is responsible for more deaths of children and adults under the age of forty than any other cancer. Sadly, despite this startling fact, the funding into research is very low, as is evidenced by the fact that the prognoses for brain tumours have not changed in forty years. The Brain Tumour Charityhelps lead the fight against this devastating and indiscriminate disease.

You can find out more and donate via their website at www.thebraintumourcharity.org

We are delighted to be able to present Richard's short story Shadows in the Glen for readers as a PDF; click on the cover image below to read it!

FILTER: - Candy Jar Books - Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1975

Friday, 18 June 2021 - Reported by Marcus

The second issue in a new series of bookazines, Doctor Who: Chronicles, has been released by the makers of Doctor Who Magazine.

This issue takes us back to 1975

Tom Baker’s debut came as a shock to some critics and even regular viewers, but his charismatic portrayal of the Doctor soon propelled the series to new heights of popularity. In 1975 Doctor Who attracted both critical acclaim and controversy in stories that many regard as the benchmark for everything that would follow.

This 116-page bookazine includes newly discovered images and all-new features, including:

A summary of the year’s most significant events in the Doctor Who universe (both on and off screen)
Highlights of the memorabilia released in 1975
Tom Baker’s column for Reveille!
Dr Where and other spoofs
The story behind the ‘lost’ radio interview with Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter
Doctor Who in the popular press
Archive rarities, including director Christopher Barry’s notebooks, the BBC’s Audience Research Reports, concept artwork from The Sontaran Experiment and unused props created for Pyramids of Mars
The Doctor Who and Dalek annuals
The Doctor Who Monster Book and other Target publications
Special effects and production techniques
Overviews of Robot, The Ark in Space, The Sontaran Experiment, Genesis of the Daleks, Revenge of the Cybermen, Terror of the Zygons, Planet of Evil, Pyramids of Mars and The Android Invasion

And much more!

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1975 is on sale now, RRP just £9.99 from panini.co.uk and selected branches of WH Smith while stocks last. It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £8.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Fourth Doctor

Doctor Who Magazine - Issue 565

Wednesday, 26 May 2021 - Reported by Marcus

This month's Doctor Who Magazine unveils the secrets of the Seventh Doctor

Highlights of this issue include

The story behind the discovery of Season 24’s previously unseen footage.
An interview with 1980s production secretary Kate Easteal, who shares her memories of producer John Nathan-Turner.
Margaret Toley describes her role as secretary to Doctor Who’s story editors in the 1960s and early 70s.
An in-depth preview of the new Season 24 Blu-ray box set
Inside the comic-book sequel to the Season 24 story Paradise Towers, with comments from the original story's writer, Stephen Wyatt.
Some of Doctor Who’s key visual effects designers reflect on their time working on the show in the mid-1980s.
Collectivity explores the miniature world of Dapol, the company that launched the first range of Doctor Who action figures.
A tribute to the late Frank Cox, one of Doctor Who’s first directors.
Apocrypha looks back at the 1989 comic strip Who’s That Girl!
The Fact of Fiction continues its analysis of 1970s The Ambassadors of Death.
Sufficient Data crunches Doctor Who’s numbers.
Previews, reviews, news, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 565 is on sale from panini.co.uk and WH Smith from Thursday 27 May priced £5.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £4.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Seventh Doctor

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 564

Wednesday, 28 April 2021 - Reported by Marcus

This month's issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Issue 564, marks 25 years of the Eighth Doctor

Highlights of this anniversary issue include:

What the Eighth Doctor Did Next – a guide to the adventures that took place after the TV movie.
A revealing interview with the actor who was very nearly cast as the Eighth Doctor.
The second part of an exclusive interview with Christopher Eccleston.
Director Joe Ahearne recalls working with Christopher Eccleston on the 2005 series.
The life and career of Christopher Baker, who briefly appeared as the Doctor in The Brain of Morbius.
A rundown of surprising references to Doctor Who in American TV series and films.
Collectivity looks at the merchandise released to tie in with the 1996 TV movie.
Apocrypha remembers the 2005 novel The Monsters Inside.
The Fact of Fiction begins its analysis of 1970’s The Ambassadors of Death.
Millie McKenzie discusses her Doctor Who-inspired clay creations.
Sufficient Data crunches Doctor Who’s numbers.
Previews, reviews, news, prize-winning competitions, the DWM poll, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 564 is on sale from panini.co.uk and WH Smith from Thursday 29 April priced £5.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £4.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Eighth Doctor

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