Neil Gaiman on New Series

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Comic and SF author Neil Gaiman, on his online blog today, posted a response to a question, which was "Russel T. Davies has suggested that the first season of new Doctor Who episodes will include 13 episodes at 45 minutes apiece. Any chance you would write an episode if asked?" Gaiman's answer: "If I have time, certainly. (It took five years to find time to write a Babylon 5 episode, of course...)" Gaiman recently penned the foreword for the forthcoming Telos Doctor Who novella "Eye of the Tyger" so he's obviously very familiar with the show... (Thanks to Steve Manfred)




FILTER: - Press

Davies at Hull Literary Festival

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
New series producer Russell T. Davies today attended a literary festival in Hull, UK, where some interesting bits of information came to light. Davies said that there is no concrete plan for the series at thsi stage, other than an outline (that will likely remain consistent) - nothing is set in stone apart from the fact that the series is coming back. The Doctor has not been cast yet. No master plan to bring the show back was in the offing; it just sort of happened, as a consequence of Davies repeatedly telling the BBC that he'd only work with them if he got to do Doctor Who. There's a production meeting on December 8th; things may start inching ahead around then. There will be other writers on the show but they'll be writing to specific briefs Davies sets. There will be a mix of stories; the whole spectrum of stuff from the old series, plus some new types of stories. Davies mentioned "Sapphire & Steel-type stories" involving shenanigans with time as one possible type of story. The reason BBC Wales are doing it is part of a wider plan to turn Wales into a production centre for television. Davies said that the series would likely consist of 13 45-minute episodes, most of which will be single stories. There are, at the moment, three two-parters, though that number may change according to how the budget plays out. He also said that we need to give Mal Young more credit for bringing back the series - it turns out that nearly every year, he's been coming up with budgeting plans and trying to get the series made. And people shouldn't just judge him by the fact that he produces Casualty and EastEnders - he also does less mass-market stuff like Dalziel and Pascoe, which tends to get overlooked. Doctor Who, he said, is a prestigious thing for the BBC - they're giving them an unheard-of 13 weeks of prep time, for instance, and it's envisaged as a series that will "run and run," in the manner of Casualty... a flagship programme. (Thanks to Stephen Graves, Paul Hayes, Ted Prendergast)




FILTER: - Russell T Davies

BBC Books Update

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC Books' distributor has unveiled the cover blurbs (at least draft versions, we're not sure if they're the final ones) for the first four regular Doctor Who novels of 2004 (minus the "Scream of the Shalka" adaptation), as follows. (Thanks to Diana Dougherty)

SOMETIME NEVER by Justin Richards
This Week: A hideous misshapen creature released a butterfly. Next Week: The consequences of this simple action ensure that history follows its predicted path... Sometime: In the swirling maelstrom of the Time Vortex, The Council of Eight maps out every movement in history and take drastic measures to ensure it follows their predictions. But there is one elemental force that defies prediction, that fails to adhere to the laws of time and space... A rogue element that could destroy their plans merely by existing.

EMPIRE OF DEATH by David Bishop
In 1855, a boy discovers he can speak with the voice of the dead. He grows up to become one of England's most celebrated spiritualists. In 1863, the British Empire is effectively without a leader. Queen Victoria is inconsolable with grief following the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. The monarch's last hope is a secret seance. The Doctor and Nyssa are also coming to terms with loss following the death of Adric and Tegan's sudden departure. Trying to visit the Great Exhibition of 1851, the time travelers are shocked when Adric's ghost appears in the TARDIS, beckoning them to the Other Side. What is hidden in a drowned village guarded by the British Army? Is there life after death and can it be reached by those still alive? And why is the Doctor so terrified of facing his own ghosts? This adventure features the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa.

HALF-LIFE by Mark Michalowski
To lose your memory once may regarded as a misfortune; to lose it twice looks like carelessness. The Doctor's forgotten why he came to the colony world of Espero in the first place, but he's sure it was something important. Before long, he's engaged in the search for a time-bomb that could have consequences not only for Espero, but also for the Doctor himself- and his missing past.

THE ELEVENTH TIGER by David A. McIntee
In interesting times, love can be a weakness, hatred an illusion, order chaos, and ten tigers not enough. The TARDIS crew have seen many times. When they arrive in China in 1865, they find banditry, rebellion, and foreign oppression rife. Trying to maintain order are the British Empire and the Ten Tigers of Canton, the most respected martial arts masters in the world. There is more to the chaos than mere human violence and ambition. Can legends of ancient vengeance be coming true. Why does everyone Ian meets already know who he is? The Doctor has his suspicions, but he is occupied by challenges of his own. Sometimes the greatest danger is not from the enemy, but from the heart... This adventure features the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki.




FILTER: - Books

Wheel in Space CD

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to the Galaxy 4 shop website, the BBC Radio Collection release of The Wheel in Space starring Patrick Troughton has been set for May 2004. This would be their second release of 2004; nothing, however has yet been confirmed. (Thanks to Galaxy 4, Richard Mawson)




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

BBC7 Radio Update

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Martin Montague, Presentation Producer at BBC7 Radio, contacted us regarding our story the other day to clarify some of their plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary. "From Wednesday 19th November," said Montague, "we'll be re-airing the Jon Pertwee stories on weeknights at 6pm and midnight, starting with THE PARADISE OF DEATH and running through to the end of THE GHOSTS OF N-SPACE. Meanwhile, SLIPBACK will be repeated on Saturday nights at 1840 - straight after the THE TWILIGHT ZONE - and again at 0040 Saturday night / Sunday morning. We're airing this serial as 3x 20'00" episodes (it was originally aired as 6x 10'00" episodes). Non-UK listeners can find us at www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7. Incidentallt, we're also carrying 'cross-trails' for the BBCi webcast, so anyone wanting to hear REG [Richard E. Grant] as the Doctor can hear the first 'sneak preview' this Sunday night, just before midnight. (There are other previews leading up to the 'transmission' of the first episode)." Thanks to Martin for letting us know!




FILTER: - Radio

Sunday Herald Articles

Sunday, 9 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The Scottish Sunday Herald newspaper featured four articles on Doctor Who in the November 9 edition, just in time for the anniversary. You can read them online as well... Included were "Forty Years of Time Travel" by BBC Books range editor Justin Richards (here), an article on fandom & the recent Panopticon called "A Strange Meeting with the Fans" by Katy McAulay (here), a feature interview with Sylvester McCoy called "How a Scot Breathed Life Back Into the Doctor" by Louise Bell (here), and "Animated Personality" by Edd McCracken, on BBCi's upcoming webcast (here). (Thanks to Scott Wortley, Neil Smith)




FILTER: - Press

Rowan Atkinson?

Thursday, 6 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Another rumour surrounding the choice of the new Doctor for the next television series appeared in the "Daily Mirror" (Page 14 in The Scurra column, to be precise) on Monday November 3. The article stated the following: "Television executives flying back from New York the other day were, I am told, discussing who they would most like to appear in their new Dr Who series. Rowan Atkinson, expect the call any day now." (Thanks to Terry Francis)




FILTER: - People

BBC7 Anniversary Tribute

Thursday, 6 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Digital radio station BBC7 has been running a trailer stating that Doctor Who's 40th anniversary will be celebrated as part of their 7th Dimension sci-fi slot. Nothing on what precisely will be broadcast, though we expect the Pertwee radio serials (at least "The Paradise of Death") would be a reasonable bet. BBC7 has run "Paradise," the sequel radio drama "The Ghosts of N-Space" and the Colin Baker serial "Slipback" before. (Thanks to Andrew Foxley)




FILTER: - Radio

McGann's Comments

Wednesday, 5 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
At this past weekend's Panopticon convention, Paul McGann was asked if, should he be approached, he would indeed reprise the role of the Doctor in the new series. However, he later emphasized that he hasn't been asked, and despite reports on other websites to the contrary, there are no plans to do so; indeed, we've been told specifically that it will be a new actor, to take the show in 'new directions'.




FILTER: - People

Colin's Comments

Wednesday, 5 November 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Colin Baker appeared on Midlands Today on local BBC Television in the UK on October 29 to promote his role in this autumn's HMS Pinafore. "Fantastic - the backs of sofas, which haven't been visited by children much in the last 15 years, are going to be busy," Colin said. "We're moving ours away from the wall in readiness. A whole new generation have their own Doctor about to happen." When questioned on who should be the new Doctor, Colin said that, although all the previous Doctors had been men, he thought it feasible that part of the Doctor would be in touch with his feminine side -- and he suggested comedy actress Dawn French (of "The Vicar of Dibley", "French and Saunders") would be a good choice. "She'd be a fab Doctor. Her endearing naughtiness would fill those shoes rather well.... I've got a horrible feeling they'll play safe, and get one of the names that you've mentioned." Baker also pointed out that his character had been "promoted beyond his own incompetence" and had a quick dig at the BBC by saying he believed that some people there were very similar! (Thanks to Scott Hughes, Nick Headley)




FILTER: - Colin Baker