Andrew Cartmel wins Terrance Dicks Award

Tuesday, 9 December 2025 - Reported by Marcus

Andrew Cartmel and Tony Jordan (Credit: DWAS)

Doctor Who writer Andrew Cartmel has been awarded the 2025 Terrance Dicks Award for Writers by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.

The award, which was inaugurated in memory of the legendary writer, honours those whose work across screen, audio, book and magazine have contributed to - and enhanced - the worlds of Doctor Who.

At the presentation at a DWAS event at Riverside Studios on Sunday, Co-Ordinator Tony Jordan said that it was the unanimous opinion of the Society Executive that Andrew is the personification of these skill sets.

Andrew Cartmel was the Script Editor on Doctor Who for the three seasons that starred Sylvester McCoy as the seventh Doctor.

Cartmel thanked the actors, directors and writers with whom he has worked.

Andrew Cartmel is the fourth winner of the Terrance Dicks Award for Writers, following on from Gary Russell, Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell.

FILTER: - Awards - Seventh Doctor

Children of the Circus

Friday, 3 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Sylvester McCoy, with AUK Studios CEO, Paul Andrews (Credit: AUK Studios)

A new audio musical drama, Children of the Circus, is reuniting the cast of the seventh Doctor story, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy for a unique special.

The limited edition CD set will be released on December 14th, 2023, exactly 35 years to the day that the first episode of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy was broadcast on BBC One.

Once upon a time, there was a circus.

A Psychic Circus, to be precise. A glorious haven for the misfits of the universe.

But then, as is so often the way, it was hijacked by a trio of malevolent Gods.

Things grew unpleasant.

Now, years later, the Gods are gone, but the scars of those who survived the Circus remain. After all, you can't change the past.

Unless you're the Children of the Circus... and you're willing to sing.

Based on the Season 25 story by Stephen Wyatt, Children of the Circus is a brand-new, original, musical play on audio from AUK Studios; written by Kenton Hall (with songs by Christopher Guard) and based on an idea by Barnaby Eaton-Jones.

The special features the return of Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) and Sophie Aldred (who played the Doctor’s traveling companion, Ace). But not as you’d expect. McCoy plays the High Poet; all befuddled charm and with a whisper of duplicity and danger. Aldred gives two magnificently different characters in the form of Captain Gren (the gruff owner of a Time Ship) and AJ (a sentient piece of rust, who navigates the Time Ship).

McCoy himself sums it up

To return to the worlds of Stephen Wyatt's imagination, but as a wholly new character called the High Poet, means I get to be involved with the Psychic Circus rather than fighting against it! As a lover of the circus myself, juggling this new role was a joy (though I'm sad I didn't get to play the spoons).

What fun to be reunited with all the wonderful cast from 'The Greatest Show in the Galaxy' again, 35 years later, and I hope you'll all enjoy this time-sliding, sidestepping sequel from Barnaby Eaton-Jones and his bunch of clowns!

Toyah Willcox, Ian Kubiak, Christopher Guard, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Dee Sadler, Kenton Hall, Ian Reddington, and Sophie Aldred (Credit: AUK Studios)

Joining the cast in a major role is 1980’s icon (singer/actress/songwriter), Toyah Willcox. It’s long been known she was a fan of Doctor Who, as she appeared in Kevin Jon Davies’ acclaimed documentary 30 Years in the TARDIS, but to get her to create a multi-voiced role as The Band of Infinite Harmony (and get her own solo song, which can heard in full after the end credits as a bonus extra track) was something she clearly relished…

At last, I get to play all four members of the band and still have the last say…. love it. Seriously it was wonderful to play THE BAND and equally wonderful to hear this rather fab story unfold, a rock and roll odyssey of comic proportions.

Ever since producer/director Barnaby Eaton-Jones saw the original broadcast of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, he was fascinated by the world that Stephen Wyatt had created…

There was such a wild mix of horror, science fiction, music, and fantasy, that it blew my adolescent mind; with images and characters forever stuck in my head. I wanted to revisit some of the characters and introduce new ones. With the permission of Stephen Wyatt (who came up with the title for this new production), and the help of writer Kenton Hall and actor/musician Christopher Guard, we were able to create something rather unique in the audio medium

Kenton Hall himself says:

Like most swinging, modern people, I receive a daily deluge of emails that begin with the fateful words “would you be interested in…” As a result, I have developed a tendency to give them, at best, a brief, withering glare.

In this case, however, it read “would I be interested in playing in the sandbox of Stephen Wyatt’s marvellous ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’?”

Does the lesser spotted gumblejack smell faintly of cinnamon?

Spoiler: the answer to both questions is yes.

Songwriter, Christopher Guard, who played Bellboy in the original TV serial, added…

As with all the best things in life, I don't remember quite how or when it began. I think I'd sent some of my songs - recent and ancient - to Barnaby just as he was dreaming up a sequel to ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’. It was more a shooting star than a light bulb moment. Irresistible synchronicity had struck, and ‘Children of the Circus’ was a THING!

It was just a question of time. Or timelessness.

Stephen Wyatt blessed us, Kenton Hall seized his cosmic pen, and the rest is mystery. Unravelled. With music.

How amazing to act and sing with so many of the original cast, to slip into Bellboy's loons once more, and to travel seamlessly beyond our wildest dreams.”

Starring Christopher Guard as Bellboy, Dee Sadler as Flowerchild and Ella, Sophie Aldred as Captain Gren and AJ, Toyah Willcox as The Band of Infinite Harmony, Ian Reddington as Delios and the Chief Clown, and Sylvester McCoy as the High Poet.

With Daisy Dunlop, Verity White, Kim Jones, Kenton Hall, Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Ian Kubiak.

Special guest appearances by Ricco Ross as The Ringmaster, Jessica Martin as Mags, Chris Jury as Deadbeat, Deborah Manship as Morgana, Gian Sammarco as Whizz Kid, Daniel Peacock as Nord, and Dean Hollingsworth as the Bus Conductor and Station Announcer.

Produced and directed by Barnaby Eaton-Jones, for AUK Studios.

A preview can be heard here

Limited Edition CD available to pre-order now:

FILTER: - Seventh Doctor

Free Doctor Who Events in Liverpool

Tuesday, 19 July 2022 - Reported by Marcus

The world Museum in Liverpool has announced a series of free events and activities tied to the blockbuster exhibition Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder.

From TARDIS Building to Virtual Reality experiences, the programme of events offers something for the whole family.

Linked to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, the exhibition explores the science behind Doctor Who, with props, monsters and never before seen artefacts from almost sixty years of the TV show.

Fiona Philpott, Director of Exhibitions at National Museums Liverpool, said:

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder has seen families and fans of all ages making the trip to Liverpool to experience this landmark exhibition, alongside the bugs, sea creatures and dinosaurs also on display at World Museum. Running until 30 October, there’s still plenty of time to get your ticket and join us for this exciting series of events throughout the summer holidays.”

The Edge of Time VR Experience

20, 27 July and 3, 10, 17 and 24 August 2022. 10am – 1pm, Drop in

Embark on an experience through space and time with virtual reality. A new mysterious enemy threatens to tear apart the universe and only you can stop them! Doctor Who: The Edge of Time lets players set out on a Doctor Who adventure. Watch as the TARDIS travels through time in Virtual Reality and help solve puzzles to earn Time Crystals. Join us on the fifth-floor skyline gallery for this VR experience on Wednesdays during half term. Suitable for ages 10+.

Make a Sonic Screwdriver

21 July 2022. 10:30 – 12:30pm and 1:30 – 4pm, Drop in

The Doctor’s trusty sonic screwdriver has many uses: scanning, medical applications, welding and computer hacking. We may have to wait a while before we have the technology for a device like The Doctor, but families can join STEAM Engineers to make your own light-up sonic screwdriver to take home in this special event. We'll learn all about circuits and build a simple one ourselves to light up our wooden sonic screwdrivers.

Microbit Sonic Screwdrivers

28 July 2022. 10:30am – 12:00pm and 1 – 2:30pm, Ticket required

In this workshop ran by STEAM Engineers, paint your own MDF sonic screwdriver and create an LED circuit to light it up. Programme a microbit to play the Doctor Who theme, make sonic screwdriver noises, and attach to your own light-up sonic screwdriver! Tickets will be available to book from 11 July.

This is an inclusive event, suitable for SEND and neurodiverse families with children ages 8+. To ensure all available workshop spaces are used Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This event takes place on Level 5, Skyline gallery. This is on the top floor of the museum and our lifts and stairs can be busy especially during weekends, please allow plenty of time to get to the top floor and please ask a member of staff for assistance if needed. For any accessibility needs please email families@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.

Build a TARDIS

4 August 2022. 10:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30 – 4pm, Drop in

The Doctor’s TARDIS, in the form of the blue police telephone box, is one of the most iconic objects from the show. Join us to make your own TARDIS using recycled materials, which will be displayed in the museum afterwards. Everyone knows museums are bigger on the inside!

Create a Costume

11 August 2022, 10:30-12:30 and 1:30-4pm, Drop in

Costumes are a big part of our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition, from alien prosthetics inspired by the animal kingdom to spacesuits and even the iconic outfits of each regenerated Doctor. Join artist Jane Gordon for a drop-in family workshop and create all kinds of weird and wonderful costumes from art materials inspired by your favourite Doctor Who character.

FILTER: - Museums - events

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

Script Doctor Reprint

Sunday, 31 January 2021 - Reported by Marcus

Script Doctor, Script Editor Andrew Cartmel's inside account of the final years of classic Doctor Who returns for a limited reprint.

‘There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea’s asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, and somewhere else the tea’s getting cold. Come on, Ace – we’ve got work to do!’

Andrew Cartmel was the script editor on Doctor Who from 1986 to 1989. During his time on the show, he introduced the seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) and oversaw 42 scripts written by eight writers new to the series.

With a clear mission to bring proper science fiction back into Doctor Who, he formulated what was later termed ‘The Cartmel Masterplan’, reintroducing the mystery to the character of the Doctor as the series celebrated its 25th anniversary and beyond.

Script Doctor is his memoir of this time, based on his diaries written sometimes on set and sometimes not even in the diary itself but on the backs of script pages.

With an introduction by modern-era Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, a foreword by Sylvester McCoy, and an afterword by Sophie Aldred, this book is illustrated with 32 pages of photographs, many never published before. It is a vivid account of life in the Doctor Who production office in the late eighties.

The book can be ordered online

FILTER: - Books - Seventh Doctor - Production

Three Doctors Talking

Wednesday, 24 June 2020 - Reported by Marcus

Three Doctors – Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant and Matt Smith - have come together in a historic interview with IGN to celebrate the launch of Doctor Who on HBO MAX.

The interview went live at 5pm today, and can be found on the Doctor Who YouTube channel.

In the interview Jodie, Matt and David talk about companions they’d like to travel with, the effect of Doctor Who on their careers, and even tease about the upcoming festive special!

THREE DOCTORS! Jodie Whittaker, Matt Smith and David Tennant | HBO Max | Doctor Who, via Youtube
Meeting of the Doctors | Doctor Who | HBO Max, via Youtube

FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor

Black Archive #44 - The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang

Saturday, 20 June 2020 - Reported by Marcus

Black Archive #44 - The Pandorica Opens (Credit: Obverse Books)

The latest release from Obverse Books Black Archive series, deals with the final two episodes of Matt Smith's first series as The Doctor The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang

Who takes the Pandorica takes the universe.

The TARDIS explodes. The universe is cracked. Space-time is collapsing.

The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang typifies Steven Moffat’s ‘timey-wimey’ take on Doctor Who. It draws on the legend of Pandora’s Box and exhorts the power of memories.

This Black Archive explores how time operates in the Series 5 finale, in Doctor Who as a wider narrative, and in real life. How do anomalies and paradoxes work in the show? What might the end and beginning of the universe actually look like? And what caused the TARDIS to blow up anyway?

Asked why he chose The Pandorica Opens for his first Black Archive, author Philip Bates said:

10 years since it was first broadcast, I still get goosepimples when the "hello Stonehenge" speech begins; I still get emotional when "The Life and Death of Amy Pond" kicks in; and I still feel a burst of excitement as the Doctor, Amy, and Rory disappear into time and space, ready for more adventures.

That's why I love The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang. It's a summation of everything good about Series 5, and about Doctor Who.

Philip Bates is a writer and critic and the co-founder of the Doctor Who Companion website.

FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor

Fantom Events over the Spring Bank Holiday week

Monday, 25 May 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Time Space Visualiser (Credit: Fantom Events)

Fantom Events have planned a number of online activities for Doctor Who fans over this Spring Bank Holiday week:

Monday: Time Space Visualiser 7. This will be the usual mixture of brand-new interviews and features, with a variety of guests from all eras of the programme,including Philip Hinchchliffe, new series director Keith Boak and costume designers Louise Page and Hayley Nebauer. Commencing from 5:00pm.
Tuesday: The Unsung Heroes of Doctor Who. As well as new episodes of Alex Moore’s ongoing series acros the week at 6:00pm, Tuesday will also live streaming of a further three episodes at 8:00pm.
Wednesday: Time Space Visualiser 8: The Enemy Within. A mini presentation celebrating the 1996 television movie, which will be broadcast after TARDIS Monkey’s anniversary Tweetalong at 8:45pm. For more information about the tweet along follow the hashtag #ItsAboutTime.
Thursday: Another Fantom Zoom Pub Quiz for everyone to join in with; the questions will be fiendish, but the faces will be friendly! The quiz will start at 8:15pm, to pre-register contact the Fantomteam.
Friday: Time Space Visualiser 9: The Wilderness Years. A mini presentation taking a look at what happened during the period between Survival and Rose, from 8:00pm.
Saturday: Time Space Visualiser 10. Join Dexter and Paul, and Jason in Social Hub from 5:00pm.

All their online events can be watched via their YouTube channel.

FILTER: - Fantom - Online Events

The Unsung Heroes of Doctor Who

Tuesday, 19 May 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Fantom Events have announced a brand-new lockdown project celebrating the “unsung heroes” of Doctor Who.

Hosted by Alex Moore, this series of YouTube videos aims to tell the behind the scenes story of those members of the cast and crew whose perspective might normally go untold.

The series will be launched with a special live stream from 8pm BST on 20th May with four episodes featuring Lee Sheward (stunt co-ordinator for Doctor Who and Torchwood); Shaunna Harrison (provided the make-up for Terror of the Vervoids, The Ultimate Foe and Paradise Towers); Philip Brown (who played the Seventh Doctor double in The Day of the Doctor) and Gareth Milne (who played George Cranleigh in Black Orchid and stunt doubled for both Michael Cochrane and Peter Davison. Other credits include Warriors of the Deep, The Caves of Androzani and Vengeance on Varos).

Each subsequent episode will go live weeknights at 18:00 from 25th May and will occasionally feature as part of our regular virtual conventions Time Space Visualiser.

Series highlights include:

Nick Joseph (Supporting Artist on The Creature from the Pit, The Leisure Hive, Black Orchid, Terminus and The Mark of the Rani)
Ralph Wilton (Production Assistant for Shada and Production Manager on Arc of Infinity)
Jim Dowdall (Stunt Performer on Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster, Genesis of the Daleks, Frontios)
Rocky Taylor (Stunt Performer on The Idiot’s Lantern. He also has uncredited roles in The Daleks’ Master Plan and The Curse of Peladon)
Alan Spalding (Designer for Revelation of the Daleks)
Damon Jeffery (The Curse of Fenric and Survival)
Matthew Savage (Design assistant for series 1 and 2 of Doctor Who. He was also an associate designer and assistant art director for series 1 of Torchwood)
Mickey Lewis (Dalek Operator in Asylum of the Daleks and Into the Dalek, an alien in The Rings of Akhaten, the Third Doctor’s body double in The Day of the Doctor and a cyberman in The Doctor Falls, Ascension of the Cybermen and The Timeless Children)

Host Alex Moore said:

It is wonderful to speak to so many people about the making of Doctor Who and their wider careers. We can bring new perspectives from different voices.

The interviews will be available for free at the Fantom Events website, where you can also find all of their weekend online Time Space Visualiser events and a host of other new and archive material created during the pandemic.

FILTER: - Fantom - Online Events

Double up on Doctor Who event viewing this Saturday

Saturday, 25 April 2020 - Reported by Chuck Foster

There's not one but two Doctor Who related online events taking place today. Starting at 10:00am BST, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society present The Capitol: CONtact has been made, and from 2:00pm BST Fantom Events present their fourth online event, Time Space Visualiser. Both will be broadcast on the organisations' respective YouTube channels and can be viewed afterwards for those in different time zones to the UK, as well as a host of other archive material from previous events also available to enjoy.

The Capitol - CONtact has been made (Credit: DWAS)

The Capitol: CONtact has been made
Presented by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society (via YouTube)

We're delighted to announce The Capitol CONtact has been made, a virtual event that will launch at 10.00am BST on Saturday 25th April. We have specifically chosen this time and date as it’s when The Capitol FIVE was originally scheduled to get underway.

CONtact has been made will be available at our You Tube Channel DWASonline, and features panels from the first four Capitols in their entirety. We are very grateful to our wonderful guests for giving us permission to make them available in these troublesome times as we continue to battle against the invisible enemy.

Panels will include Steven Berkoff talking about Shakespeare, Sylvester Stallone & Hitler, and Jon Culshaw trading blows with Terrance Dicks in a unique double header.

Time Space Visualiser 4 (Credit: Fantom Events)

Time and Space Visualiser
Presented by Fantom Events (via YouTube)

We are back this Saturday with our fourth online convention, bringing you a hectic mixture of brand new interviews, special features, competitions, and archive material, broadcasting live and direct on YouTube… all completely for FREE.

This week we are honoured to have our first Doctor joining us; the seventh Doctor SYLVESTER McCOY is taking part in a specially recorded interview for the event.

Of course any Doctor needs his loyal companions, and we have three of his fabulous friends. KATY MANNING (Jo Grant/Jones), JOHN LEESON (K9) and DAN STARKEY (Strax) will also be joining in the fun.

And if that wasn’t enough, we have brand new interviews with a trio of wonderful guest stars. GRAHAM COLE is best known to Doctor Who fans as The Melkur, but is probably more familiar as PC Tony Stamp in The Bill. JESSICA MARTIN was Mags (and also the voice of the Queen) and also read one of our new stories recently. And finally, JASON WATKINS, one of the most recognisable faces on television right now, who was also a guest star in NIGHTMARE IN SILVER.

FILTER: - Conventions - DWAS - Fantom - Online - Online Events - Sylvester McCoy

Previous 10 Stories