Forty Years of K-9Bookmark and Share

Sunday, 8 October 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Moments in TimeIt was Forty years ago today, on Saturday 8th October 1977, that we first met the Doctor's 'Tin' Dog, when K-9 made his debut appearance in Doctor Who.

K-9 was the invention of writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin, who created the character for their fourth Doctor story The Invisible Enemy. Although originally intended to appear in that one story, the character was retained after producer Graham Williams saw its potential appeal to younger fans of the series.

K-9 was voiced by John Leeson, who had been contracted to provide the voice of the Nucleus for the story and was also asked to voice the robot Dog. Apart from Season 17, when the character was voiced by David Brierley, Leason has voiced the character ever since.

Making the character a permanent member of the crew was not without its problems for the production team. The radio controlled model was prone to operational problems in the studio and Directors found it difficult to compose a shot comprising the lanky frame of Tom Baker and the squat shape of K-9. However, the character did prove popular with the audience and rapidly became an icon of the series,

K9 - Timequake A new improved model was introduced at the start of season 16, with improved electronics, but the character still had its limits, being written out of some stories altogether.

When John Nathan Turner took over as the producer in 1980, he decided to have the character written out, and at the end of the story Warrior's Gate, K-9 finally left the Doctor. Just a year later the character was back, alongside former companion Elisabeth Sladen, in a one-off adventure K-9 and Company. The first television spin-off from the main series of Doctor Who.

K-9 made a final classic series appearance in the twentieth-anniversary story The Five Doctors.

It was in 2006 that the character returned to the screen in the revamped version of Doctor Who in a story by Toby Whithouse. School Reunion also brought Sarah Jane Smith, in the person of Elisabeth Sladen back into Doctor Who, an appearance that would lead to the commissioning of The Sarah Jane Adventures, also featuring the Robot Dog.

In 2010 an Australian produced series, featuring a redesigned K-9, was broadcast, consisting of 26, 30-minute episodes. The series was produced independently of the BBC, so no BBC owned characters could appear. The series was shown on Channel 10 in Australia and Channel 5 in the UK.

Forty years after his first appearance, K-9's character is still in production, with original co-creator Bob Baker, along with Paul Tams working on a feature film, K9: TimeQuake which will feature the robot dog up against classic Doctor Who villain Omega.




FILTER: - K9 - Moments in Time

The Doctor's Affect and The Doctor's Effects now available for online purchaseBookmark and Share

Sunday, 24 September 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor's Effect (Credit: Simon Meade/Steve Cambden)The Doctor's Effects (Credit: Simon Meade/Steve Cambden)
Two unofficial books about the visual effects work of twentieth century Doctor Who, previously only available to a mainly UK fanbase and via various offline avenues, have now been made available to purchase worldwide online.

The books were written by Steve Cambden, who worked on the show as one of K9's operators. The first, The Doctor's Affect (1999), chronicles how he achieved his dream as a teenager to work on the series, with in-depth accounts of the recording of Destiny of the Daleks, Nightmare of Eden, The Horns of Nimon, Shada, Meglos, Full Circle and State of Decay, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs and a comprehensive account of K9’s creation.

The second, The Doctor’s Effects, features interviews with many of the visual effects and design legends who worked on Doctor Who throughout the 'classic era', covering over a hundred productions including stories such as The Daleks, The Tomb of the Cybermen, The Sea Devils, Genesis of the Daleks, Terror of the Zygons, The Awakening and The Trial of a Timelord. The book includes many previously unseen photographs and includes interviews with Bernard Wilkie, Jack Kine, John Friedlander, Ian Scoones, Mat Irvine and Ray Cusick.


Behind te scenes on Destiny of the Daleks (Credit: Simon Meade/Steve Cambden)The online initiative has been organised by Steve's long-term friend Simon Meade, of The Ark in Space Facebook group and Twitter feed:
Having been a friend of Steve’s for nearly 50 years, and gone through many of those wonderful 70’s Doctor Who fan moments with him, such as meeting actors and production crew, visiting the Longleat and Blackpool exhibitions, and attending the very first DWAS convention in 1977, I’m delighted to see that his two books can now be read by a worldwide audience!

On his Sevenzero.net website, Alex Storer has, for several years now, kindly been sharing information about Steve and his books, and over the coming weeks we’ll be updating the site with more information and readers comments.

Both books are informative and enjoyable reading for Doctor Who fans, especially if you adored the classic years, when so many talented and creative men and people, working with miniscule budgets and often ridiculous time constraints, made television magic that enthralled and captivated so many young hearts and minds.

Full details about the books - which will be personally signed - and how to purchase them can be found via the sevenzero.net website.


Competition

To be in with a chance to win the two books, signed by the author, simply answer the following question:
Name the visual effects assistant who introduced Steve to the world of Doctor Who production.
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-effects@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Affirmative!". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 8th October 2017. Only one entry per household will be accepted.


Details, images and competition with thanks to Simon Meade




FILTER: - Books - Classic Series - Competitions - Fan Productions - K9 - Production

New K-9 Design revealedBookmark and Share

Saturday, 6 May 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The new design for The Doctor's favourite tin dog, K-9 has been revealed at the DWAS convention being held this weekend in Sussex.

The robot dog will feature in a new movie, TimeQuake, due to be released next year.

The new design was unveiled by the Robot's creator, Bob Baker and by Paul Tams, the producer of the upcoming film and one of the men behind the Australian TV series K-9

The new film will see the robot dog battle against Omega, another character created by Bob Baker along with his late partner Dave Martin.

The new design was created using a 3D printer using the films CGI model as a blueprint. It was unveiled at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society Event, The Capitol, being held in Crawley, West Sussex, this weekend.




FILTER: - K9

K9: TimeQuakeBookmark and Share

Saturday, 24 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
K9Official have announced plans to take K9 to the big screen:

K9: Time-Quake (Credit: K9Official)"Move over R2D2 and C3PO"......

K9, the World's most famous robot dog traverses the dimensions of space and time to become the latest robot star of the big screen!

Having made his TV debut nearly forty years ago in the 1977 Doctor Who TV serial "The Invisible Enemy" K9 went on to become one of the most iconic characters from the BBC series.

A new look high tech K9 for today's cinema is being prepared for film stardom.

The film "K9-TIMEQUAKE" has been written by one of K9's original creators; Bob Baker, a renowned writer of classic Doctor Who serials. Bob went on to co-write with Nick Park the Oscar and Bafta winning Wallace & Gromit series of film shorts as well as the feature film Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

The new K9 will be appearing in a Multi-Million Dollar movie which promises to be a great action adventure set in deep Space. The film will be full of dashing heroes and heroines, Androids, monstrous Aliens and an ultimate foe who will also be familiar to Doctor Who fans everywhere; the megalomaniac OMEGA.

The film is to be a UK co-production with exteriors filmed overseas and studio work planned for the UK.

K9 is the perfect character to star in a movie with a whole new bunch of action heroes making this a home grown Star Wars come Guardians of the Galaxy style cinema must see film.

The film is currently slated for release in 2017 which will be K9's fortieth birthday!

K9: TimeQuake (Credit: K9Official)
The producers told Doctor Who News:
Bob and Paul are very excited about the project and having Omega in the Movie will bring a great new dimension to both characters as K9 faces his greatest challenge. The names of the Director and principle cast will be released in the new year. Regular updates will be posted over the next few months.


Competition

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the book The Essential Book of K9, courtesy of the authors, simply answer the following question:
In the television series, who was the original creator of K9?
Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-k9essential@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Affirmative!". The competition is open world-wide, closing date: 8th November 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.




FILTER: - Competitions - K9 - Movies

The future of K-9Bookmark and Share

Friday, 9 October 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Paul Tams and Bob Baker with K-9 (Credit: Paul Tams)Series producer Paul Tams has reported to us that there will shortly be an annoucement over the future of K-9, who appeared in his own series back in 2009.

The announcement will be made by him and K-9 co-creator Bob Baker at the DWAS convention Back to the Eighties, which takes place on the 24th October.



Meanwhile, the duo will also be signing copies of their book, The Essentia Book of K-9, at The Comic Guru store in Cardiff on Saturday 10th October, which celebrates twelve years of comic and sci-fi/Doctor Who specialities.

The Essential Book of K-9 (Credit: Paul Tams)The Essential Book of K-9
Edited by Paul Tams, fiction by Bob Baker

"All you ever wanted to know about the World's favourite Robot Dog... From the inside out!"

Prepare to blast off on a journey beyond Time & Space to meet one of the all time Iconic Heroes of SCI-FI TV, a small robot in the shape of the Dog known as K9!

This book pays tribute to the people that created, voiced, acted with, designed, operated and built K9 throughout the years as well as showing an insight into the World of TV production.

Containing Exclusive Photos, Cross Section Artworks alongside New Fiction written by K9's creator Bob Baker, this book also documents K9's TV history.

The book can be ordered directly from the K-9 Official website.




FILTER: - Conventions - K9

The Essential Book of K-9Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, 28 January 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Essential Book of K-9 (Credit: Paul Tams)A campaign is currently in progress to raise funds to publish a new book about the Doctor's second best friend*, K-9. The initiative is being driven by K-9 series co-creator Paul Tams, and will explore the character's many lives through Doctor Who, K-9 and Company, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and in his own series.

Paul Tams says:
It's amazing there has never been a book dedicated to the full story of K9; his adventures in Time and Space and beyond and the making of the TV shows in which he appeared. We aim to correct this oversight and present an amazing volume of features, photos and behind the scenes information. We also aim to have several new stories and comic strips from classic writers including his original co-creator Bob Baker himself.

The book will become a lasting tribute to the people who created, acted alongside, designed and built K9 throughout the years and an insight into the world of TV production. Plus a look behind the scenes at plans for K9's further adventures on screen!

Funding for the book is being organised through IndieGoGo, and there are a number of perks that can be chosen by those who participate in the campaign.


Details on the modern series of K-9 can be found at the K9 Official website.

(with thanks to Paul Tams)




FILTER: - Books - K9

Back To Earth with K9Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 January 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
K9Tonight sees the return of Stargazing Live to BBC Television on BBC2/BBCHD. The series sees presenters Professor Brian Cox and Dara O'Briain bring their enthusiasm for astronomy to life, inviting viewers to appreciate the sky and the visible objects that surround us each evening.

Each show is followed by a half-hour discussion about the evening's theme and discoveries, with the two presenters joined by guests and a studio audience. This year, Back to Earth also features a special guest in the form of K9! The Doctor's second-best friend will be on hand to offer his own unique knowledge of the stars from his travels.

This week's shows look at Mars, charting history through the stars, and then meteors, asteroids and comets.



K9 isn't the first reference to Doctor Who in Stargazing Live; back in the first series guest Jonathan Ross was quite insistent he had spotted Gallifrey in the night sky! The clip is available to watch via the BBC's YouTube channel.




FILTER: - UK - Miscellaneous - K9 - Broadcasting

A K-9 Christmas!Bookmark and Share

Friday, 14 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
K-9: SyFy - Christmas Day 2012The US broadcaster SyFy are to show the entire first series of K-9 on Christmas Day.

The mammoth run kicks off with Regeneration from 10:00am ET, followed by every episode back-to-back in half-hour intervals leading up to the series finale, Eclipse Of The Korven, from 10:30pm ET.

The press release follows below:
NEW YORK – December, 2012 – Syfy has acquired U.S. broadcast rights to the 26-part Dr. Who spinoff K9 and will marathon the series in its entirety on Christmas Day -- Tuesday, December 25 -- from 10AM-11PM ET/PT.

K9 follows the adventures of the robotic canine created by British writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin and first seen in the original 1978 BBC TV series Doctor Who series. The show mixes live action with stunning CG and special effects and pits the robot dog K9 and his teenage friends against a number of human and alien adversaries. The new dog is voiced by the legendary John Leeson, who voiced the original K9 from the 1978 Doctor Who series.

Bob Baker has won a number of BAFTAs for his co-writing of the hugely successful Wallace and Gromit shorts and feature, and together with his business partner Paul Tams,created the new K9 series.

The show has its own facebook page and website, www.k9official.com, where fans can find out facts, be kept up to date with news, and order exclusive merchandise. Now available: T Shirts, figurines etc.
(with thanks to Paul Tams)




FILTER: - USA - K9

K9 - series updateBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 June 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster
K9 series producer Paul Tams has kindly provided us with an update on how things are progressing with the second series:

Bob (Baker) and I are presently working on the updates for series two and are also entering a new production partnership. Bob will be penning more of the series and plans are for a further 26 episodes.

With the help of a fantastically talented CGi artist I have tweeked K9 for the second series, taking in much of the criticism and likes from the fans. We have already done some test footage of his upgrade. All I can say at present is that I never liked the big ears myself, that was a Disney thing!. We can't say too much at this stage but K9's future is looking very healthy.

We hope to make some further announcements regarding start of production etc later this year.

Meanwhile, the first series is to be broadcast from September on the Canadian channel BBC Kids, which will see the show running alongside The Sarah Jane Adventures! An announcement is also to be made soon about the show's premiere within the United States during the Autumn.

You can follow updates etc. about the series via the K9 Official website and through Facebook.
(with thanks to Paul Tams)




FILTER: - K9

K9 - Series and Merchandise UpdateBookmark and Share

Monday, 5 December 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Back when the first series of K9 premiered on Channel 5 during the festive period last year, we reported that a second series was in development. Producer Paul Tams has updated us with its progress:
K9 series two is still in the works with over half the finance secured, given the world's economic climate that is quite an achievement so far. The new year will see further developments there. Series one has gained momentum in other territories, Russia, Turkey on ATV and the Cartoon Network across Asia and still appears on Disney XD. I can reveal that an upgrade to the new look K9 has been done which we are very happy with.

We have also been very busy with the development of two other TV shows, unrelated to K9, but hopefully fans will like them, news next year on them.
In the meantime both the first and second volumes of Series One are still available on DVD.

Merchandise

The Complete Book of K9 is to be released next year, with pre-orders expected to begin in February. The glossy hardback book is in full colour featuring the life and career of K9, from his travels in time and space with the Doctor to appearing in his very own series. With anecdotes from many of the people involved with K9 over the years, the volume also features exclusive never seen before designs, photos and behind the scenes stories.

Delayed from September, The K9 Story Book is now expected to be released to tie in with a repeat run of Series One on Channel 5 next year (dates to be confirmed). The full colour book features short stories, comic strips and behind-the-scenes features.

Also released imminently is a collectible K9 Figurine, a display figure designed to complement the Character Options range. A limited edition version with signed postcards has been made available through The Who Shop, and the figurine will be generally available from other retailers from 10th December (pre-order from Forbidden Planet).


Updates on merchandise etc. can be found via the K9 Official website and through Facebook.

(with thanks to Paul Tams)





FILTER: - Merchandise - K9