Aaru Movies Get 4K RestorationBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 13 April 2022 - Reported by Marcus
Dr. Who and the Daleks

STUDIOCANAL has announced a brand new 4K restorations of the two classic Dr. Who feature-length films starring award-winning actor Peter Cushing – DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D

Released initially in 1965 and 1966 respectively and directed by Gordon Flemyng, these two films, shot in glorious Technicolor, have been regenerated in 4K and are the perfect collector’s item for Doctor Who and sci-fi fans.

The films, which are to date the only big-screen outings for the Doctor, also boast a supporting cast including Bernard Cribbins, Roberta Tovey, Roy Castle and Jennie Linden. 

STUDIOCANAL will release DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. theatrically in the UK from 10th July 2022 following a special double-bill preview at the BFI in London on June 19th

Both films will be released on 4K UHD Collector’s Editions, steelbooks and digital platforms on 20th June (DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS) and 18th July (DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.)

 

DR. WHO & THE DALEKS (1965) was the first big-screen film adaptation of British TV’s most iconic sci-fi hero, and the first time Doctor Who was ever seen in colour. Having invented the TARDIS, the strange machine capable of travelling into other dimensions, the Doctor and his three young accomplices set forth on a quest through time and space.

Their journey takes them into the dark, undiscovered depths of the universe and to the planet of Skaro, a primitive world devastated by nuclear war and populated by two warring species, a peaceful tribe known as Thals and a life form heavily mutated by radiation, encased in protective machines, a merciless force of destruction known as The Daleks!

The second film, DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D sees Cushing return to the big screen – the future of Planet Earth now belongs to The Daleks, but deep within the London Underground a group of resistance freedom fighters is planning an attack.  Can The Doctor help them succeed in destroying their extra-terrestrial enemies and take back control of Earth?

 
The stunning 4K UHD Collector’s Edition for each film will include:

  • UHD
  • BD
  • 42-page booklet with brand new essays
  • Exclusive 32-page Titan mini-book
  • Collectable coin
  • 5 artcards
  • 2 Posters – new and original artwork
  •  

Plus, an impressive array of extra features:Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D (Credit: STUDIOCANAL)

 

DR. WHO & THE DALEKS

  • New featurette The Dalek Legacy: Destination Skaro
  • New Restoring Dr. Who in 4K
  • Audio Commentary with critic Kim Newman, screenwriter/writer Robert Shearman, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss
  • Audio Commentary - actors Jennie Linden (Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (Susan)
  • Dalekmania documentary
  • Interview with Gareth Owen
  • Original Trailer (remastered for 2013 release)
  • Stills Gallery

 

DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.

 

  • New featurette The Dalek Legacy: Invasion Earth
  • New Restoring Dr. Who in 4K
  • Audio Commentary with critic Kim Newman, screenwriter/writer Robert Shearman, and actor/writer Mark Gatiss
  • Dalekmania documentary
  • Interview with Gareth Owen
  • Interview with Bernard Cribbins
  • Original Trailer (remastered for 2013 release)
  • Stills Gallery
The preview at BFI Southbank on the 19th June will see both films screened back-to-back with a special guest Q&A including cast members Roberta Tovey and Jill Curzon as well as Anthony Waye (the assistant director of both films) and Jason Flemyng, son of the films’ director, Gordon Flemyng. 

The Q&A will take place after 'Dr. Who and the Daleks' has screened and will cover both films. Tickets will be available to BFI Members from 3 May and to the general public from 5 May at www.bfi.org.uk/whatson   

 

 

DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS + DALEKS' INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.





FILTER: - Movies - Peter Cushing - Blu-ray/DVD

Davison vs DaleksBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 15 July 2020 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: Shadow of the Daleks (Credit: Big Finish)Doctor Who: Shadow of the Daleks (Credit: Big Finish)Big Finish have announced that Fifth Doctor Peter Davison will battle the Daleks in Shadow of the Daleks, a new set of audio adventures for Big Finish.

Due in late 2020 as part of Big Finish’s Monthly Adventures range, these eight Doctor Who stories, split across two releases, star Davison chasing the Daleks through time and space on a journey of ultimate terror.

Each of the stories was recorded remotely during lockdown with a small “rep company” of brilliant actors including Nicholas Briggs, Dervla Kirwan, Anjli Mohindra and Olivier Award winner Jamie Parker.

Doctor Who: Shadow of the Daleks Parts 1 and 2 are now available to pre-order as collector's edition box sets (on CD at £14.99 each) and as digital downloads (at £12.99 each) exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

Part 1, due for release in October 2020, contains four one-episode adventures:
  • Aimed at the Body by James Kettle
  • An encounter with a notorious cricketing legend should be right up the Doctor’s street. But the unexpected appearance of an old enemy is about to send the Doctor on a quest.
  • Lightspeed by Jonathan Morris
  • The trail has led the Doctor to a spaceship in the far future - where he finds himself trapped in the middle of a terrifying revenge plot.
  • The Bookshop at the End of the World by Simon Guerrier
  • It’s very easy to forget yourself and get lost in a bookshop. But in some bookshops more than most...
  • Interlude by Dan Starkey
  • The play’s the thing! Or is it? The Doctor is roped into a theatrical spectacular - but who is he really performing to?
Part 2, due for release in November 2020, contains four more exciting episodes:
  • The Echo Chamber by Jonathan Barnes
  • It’s the radio talk show where everyone’s free to call in with their opinions. Time to welcome its host - the Doctor!
  • Towards Zero by Roland Moore
  • The Doctor finds himself in an old country house where he has to solve a very unusual murder - his own!
  • Castle Hydra by Lizzie Hopley
  • Nearing the end of his journey, the Doctor enters a jail filled with familiar faces. But who are the prisoners and who are the wardens?
  • Effect and Cause by John Dorney
  • A crash in the vortex leads the Doctor to the source of his all his troubles, and to the Daleks. The answers are here. If he can live long enough to find them.
Producer David Richardson said:
Necessity really is the mother of invention. In the very early days of lockdown, we knew we would have to adapt some of our plans for the Monthly Adventures range. What we needed were two releases that could be achieved with one Doctor and four guest cast members, recording remotely in a block. When you have a brief like that, it’s not at all restricting - it forces you to do something different, something bold, something fun.

So what we have in Shadow of the Daleks Parts 1 and 2 are eight half-hour stories, in which the Doctor lands in different times, different places... and keeps meeting the same faces, but as different people. The mystery is heightened by the oblique appearances of Daleks. And not only that - these are Time War-era Daleks!

And so we had a lot of fun with these stories - weaving them together, pushing in different directions, and getting to play with the audacious concept. And Peter Davison really enjoyed it - we had a fantastic and esteemed guest cast, and by the end of recording it was almost like we were at the studio together, sipping coffee in the green room and chatting like old friends.
Doctor Who: Shadow of the Daleks Parts 1 and 2 are now available to pre-order as collector's edition box sets (on CD at £14.99 each) and as digital downloads (at £12.99 each) exclusively from the Big Finish website.




FILTER: - Peter Davison

Big Finish - Fifth Doctor meets CiceroBookmark and Share

Friday, 5 April 2019 - Reported by Marcus
Samuel Barnett, Peter Davison (Credit: Big Finish)Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor meets Samuel Barnett’s Cicero this September in a Doctor Who audio drama from Big Finish Productions as the Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa travel back to ancient Naples and the town of Cumae by the base of Mount Vesuvius.

The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) resumes his travels in space and time this September with companions Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton). But instead of exploring the far reaches of space he’s taking a little trip back in time to meet an icon of classical philosophy.

Cicero was a Roman politician, lawyer and orator living in a time when the Roman Empire was in a turbulent position due to the rise of Caeser. Cicero’s impact on Latin languages is immeasurable, which makes him a worthy candidate to meet the hero of space and time, the Doctor!

Samuel Barnett, the star of Cicero – a Big Finish Originals range – reprises his role to join the world of Doctor Who in Tartarus by David Llewellyn.

Peter Davison, who first played the Doctor on television in 1981, told us more about recording this new audio story
I love an adventure where we interfere with history, especially when we completely destroy the reputation of a historical character! My Doctor travelled to The Great Fire of London, then the destruction of the dinosaurs… everything in history is handed down to us.

I think all our heroes of history would be disappointments if we actually met them! Plus, I was ‘fanboying’ over Dirk Gently which Samuel starred in.
Samuel Barnett also told us more about bringing his portrayal of the classic orator to the world of science fiction
There is a precedent in Doctor Who of the Doctor visiting real life occasions, locations and people that are familiar to us in history. The Doctor meeting Cicero lets us see Cicero’s skills as an orator that will hopefully help to save the day… Peter Davison’s portrayal of the Doctor was my Doctor on television when I was growing up, so I’m absolutely thrilled.
October’s release of The Monthly Adventures is Interstitital / Feast of Fear by Carl Rowens / Martyn Waites and in November, Warzone / Conversion by Chris Chapman / Guy Adams.

All three Fifth Doctor adventures can be pre-ordered ahead of their release in September, October and November 2019 at £14.99 on CD or £12.99 on download. All CD purchases unlock a download option via the Big Finish app and the Big Finish website.




FILTER: - Audio - Big Finish - Fifth Doctor - Peter Davison

CHAS - Charity EventBookmark and Share

Thursday, 4 April 2019 - Reported by Marcus
Adam Meldrum and Peter Capaldi at CHAS Capital Sci-Fi Con 2019Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, better known as CHAS have launched a campaign asking people to ‘get your geek on’ for Geeky T-Shirt Weekend.

The event follows the success of Edinburgh’s Capital Sci-Fi Con, the not-for-profit pop culture, comic and movie convention which donates all profits to CHAS.

On Friday 3rd and Saturday, May 4th, CHAS are encouraging the public to show allegiance for their preferred science-fiction and fantasy heroes. Whether you’re into Doctor Who or maybe Star Wars or Star Trek, DC or Marvel, Harry Potter or hairy Hobbits.

All supporters need to do is don their favourite geeky t-shirt on the day and donate £2 to the charity by calling 0141 779 6180 or visiting www.chas.org.uk/donate. Schools, workplaces and community groups who would like a pack to participate can contact support@chas.org.uk.

Support has already come from Scottish actors Peter Capaldi and Billy Boyd, who have pledged to get their geek on for the occasion. Capaldi recently gave a full day of his time to meet well over 500 fans at Capital Sci-Fi Con, raising thousands of pounds for the charity by donating 100% of proceeds raised from his autographs.

Peter Capaldi said
I’ve seen at first-hand what fan communities are capable of when they get together. And the CHAS cause is one I know they will want to unite behind. Get your geeky t-shirt on to help the families this wonderful charity cares for.

Every week, three children in Scotland die from a life-shortening condition. At present, CHAS can only reach one of those three. The reality can be stark for some families and CHAS are focused on helping find light and joy in their hour of need.

The funds and awareness raised by Geeky T-Shirt Day will help them on their mission to reach every single baby, child and young person who needs them.
CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. The national charity offers palliative care and family respite via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch.

The CHAS at Home service supports families in their own homes across the whole of Scotland and has teams working in communities and hospitals across the country. In addition, the charity supports families and clinical teams with a network of Diana Children’s Nurses




FILTER: - Charities - Peter Capaldi

Season 19 Gets Limited Edition Blu-rayBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 21 August 2018 - Reported by Marcus
Season 19 - Packshot (Credit: BBC Worldwide)BBC Studios have announced Doctor Who Season 19 will be the next release in the Doctor Who: The Collection range.

Season 19 is Peter Davison’s first series as the Fifth Doctor and this edition follows the success of Tom Baker’s first season on Blu-ray which sold out within days of release.

The set will be released on the 19th November 2018, as a collector’s edition limited run.

The title will be available to pre-order from HMV and Amazon from tomorrow.

Peter Davison joined the long running BBC series in 1982, replacing Tom Baker as the Doctor. His first season bursts with the fresh energy and breathless excitement that would come to define his era. Across seven classic adventures, the Doctor and his companions Tegan, Nyssa and Adric face off against The Master, the terrifying Mara, the Terileptils, the Plasmatons, Monarch and the revamped Cybermen, making a triumphant return to the series in one of the programme’s all-time classics.
The Limited Edition Blu-ray includes brand new ‘Special Features’ exclusive to this set include: Five new ‘Making-Of’ documentaries for Castrovalva, Four To Doomsday, Black Orchid, Earthshock and Time-Flight, surround sound mixes for Kinda and Earthshock, an Extended Version of Black Orchid Part One, rare studio footage from Castrovalva, Four To Doomsday, Earthshock and Time-Flight, updated special effects for Castrovalva, seven more editions of Behind The Sofa and a newly-shot one-hour interview Peter Davison In Conversation with Matthew Sweet, and much more.

The eight-disc box set also includes the Peter Davison/David Tennant mini-episode Time Crash, plus hours of extensive special features previously released on DVD.

All 26 episodes are being remastered from scratch by Peter Crocker and Mark Ayres. With this season’s original 16mm film elements still in existence, the location material can be presented in true HD, with studio material upscaled. Lee Binding is again providing stunning packaging design and Pete McTighe has written extensive booklet notes and is the content consultant for the title.

Doctor Who: The Collection is executively produced for BBC Studios by Russell Minton.

Season 19 - Packshot (Credit: BBC Worldwide)DOCTOR WHO: THE COLLECTION - SEASON 19 includes the following stories from 1982:

Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 19 is available in the UK from November 19, 2018 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon

Details of the international release will be available soon.

The Season 19 Safety Video with Tegan Jovanka




FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Peter Davison - season 19

Doctor Who tops Twitter trendsBookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Twice Upon a Time: The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Simon Ridgway))Doctor Who has topped the worldwide trends on Twitter this evening, reaching the number one spot within minutes after Peter Capaldi's finale aired on BBC Television.

At 7:00pm, the hashtag #DoctorWho proved most popular topic, with "Jodie" and "Capaldi" in third and fourth places respectively - only the topic "Happy Christmas" split the subjects in second place. Outgoing show writer "Steven Moffat" also featured in fourteenth place.


Overnight viewing figures for the episode should be available tomorrow morning.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Jodie Whittaker - Peter Capaldi - Ratings - Steven Moffat

Twice Upon A Time - Media PackBookmark and Share

Monday, 18 December 2017 - Reported by Marcus
Twice Upon A TimeWith just one week to go until the world gets to see the final moments of the Twelfth Doctor in Twice Upon A Time, the BBC has released a wealth of promotional material, including interviews with the main cast.

The final chapter of the Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor’s journey sees the Time Lord team up with his former self, the first ever Doctor (David Bradley and a returning Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie), for one last adventure.

Two Doctors stranded in an arctic snowscape, refusing to face regeneration.

Enchanted Glass People, stealing their victims from frozen time.

And a World War One Captain destined to die on the battlefield, but taken from the trenches to play his part in the Doctor's story.

An uplifting new tale about the power of hope in humanity’s darkest hours, Twice Upon A Time marks the end of an era. But as the Doctor must face his past to decide his future, his journey is only just beginning...

Twice Upon A Time is written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and executive produced by Brian Minchin. The 60-minute special guest stars Mark Gatiss as The Captain and Nikki Amuka-Bird as the voice of the glass woman, and will see Peter Capaldi’s Doctor regenerate into the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker).
A message from Peter Capaldi

Doctor Who has taken me on an amazing journey. Now that it’s coming to an end, I wish the Doctor all the very best for the future, and the past, and everything in-between. Time I was off.
Peter Capaldi On Filming His Regeneration Episode

An interview with David Bradley

Twice Upon a Time: The First Doctor (David Bradley) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Simon Ridgway))How did you get the call?

Well it all started with An Adventure in Space and Time (the 2013 biopic about the start of Doctor Who) a few years ago. Mark Gatiss who wrote that tapped me on the shoulder one day at an event in London and asked me to play Hartnell in that, and I was absolutely thrilled. I said yes even before I’d seen a script! Doing that was a great experience but most of it was getting under the skin of this amazing actor and quite complicated man which Mark’s script captured beautifully I thought.

After that wrapped I thought “Well, I’ve done it now. That’s my Doctor Who adventure over” I’d sort of been the Doctor, but I couldn’t join the pantheon or lay any claim to being 'a Doctor Who'. And I never thought for a moment there was any reason for the First Doctor to come back to the main series - but it turns out there really was, because what a great story we’ve got in store for you! And the fact that it’s not only Steven’s last gig but Peter’s last performance as the Doctor, combined with the fact it’s the Christmas episode, means that it doesn’t get any better really.

What’s it like playing the First Doctor?

From my previous role as Hartnell playing the Doctor I was already familiar with that way he would look at someone uneasily - his head tilted back and to one side - with the “Do I believe you or not?” quizzical, searching look that he gives people across his face. And of course his authoritative pose with his hands on his lapels, which makes him feel in charge of things. Though of course sometimes he doesn’t, because he’s a mixture of authority and vulnerability. And together with the humour, that’s where the humanity lies. He’s got so many different aspects to his personality.

Were there any sets or locations that you particularly enjoyed working on?

Oh just all of it! Visually, I cannot wait to see the finished episode. Every set was so well crafted with real detail, so many playgrounds for the First Doctor to explore. It’s as big in scale and production values as anything I’ve ever done before.

How would you describe the tone of this episode?

I think the message is that if there’s life, there’s hope - just keep going!

How did it feel to be part of Peter Capaldi’s final episode at the Doctor?

I really did realise that this particular episode was a big event. Not that there was any pressure on the studio floor, but it was clear that it’s going to be a celebration of all the great work Peter has done over the last three years, and that Steven had done over the last decade or so, meaning it felt special in the sense. As well as being special because it’s this year’s big Christmas episode too!

How does the First Doctor look at the Twelfth Doctor?

I think he views the Twelfth as junior to him and his Doctorship! He thinks this new man claiming to be the Doctor has a lot to learn - he quizzes and questions him a lot on the decisions he makes and why he throws himself into certain situations. I think the First Doctor really wonders if the Twelfth has got the experience and the nous to carry him through his adventures and dangerous situations. But across he soon comes to realise that the Twelfth Doctor is himself as well, so he’s got to acknowledge that this figure who stands before him is who he becomes in the future. Which leads to a whole set of other questions, of course.

Can you explain the enduring appeal of Doctor Who?

I think it’s the fact that it takes place in so many different eras and places - the possible stories are limitless! The TARDIS can go anywhere - it can go back to ancient Rome, it can go to a World War One battlefield as it does in this episode, it and go a million years into the future at the other side of the galaxy. And of course the idea of time travel is such a fascinating and appealing one. Even now scientists are arguing if time travel is even possible. So many want it to be true.


An interview with Mark Gatiss

Twice Upon a Time: The Captain (Mark Gatiss) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Simon Ridgway))What have we got to look forward to in this episode?

This is not just a Christmas special, it’s also the end of Steven Moffat’s era and the end of Peter Capaldi’s era. It’s got two Doctors interacting, two TARDISes, Bill is back, and there’s a very interesting new threat. Plus there’s lots of snow, lots of laughs and lots of tears and - not only that - we get to meet the Thirteenth Doctor. Lucky for some!

How did you get the casting call?

It happened very touchingly a couple of months ago. We were at a script meeting for the series ten episode I’d written, Empress of Mars, when Steven took me aside and said “I know you get booked up quickly so will you keep June and July free?” I said yes straight away, and then asked why! He said “I’m writing a part you’d be perfect for in Peter’s last story, and I want you to be there when I go”. Which is a Doctorish line in itself and made me well up.

It’s my privilege and pleasure to be involved. It was honestly one of the happiest jobs I’ve ever had. It’s been utterly delightful with Peter, Pearl and David. Though dealing with epic themes it’s actually quite a contained, intimate story on one level - in some ways a chamber piece. We’ve had a really good laugh. It’s been delightful.

You’ve been involved with Doctor Who since it came back in 2005. What was it like to finally get to travel with the doctor?

It was heaven - I got to do it all! At one point I even come through the TARDIS doors and say in amazement “it’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside!”. All these things I’ve always wanted to do! I did have to ask myself how I would cope with experiencing that, and actually I made sure that my character didn’t get used to it too quickly. I wanted to make sure you get a sense - which is in the script - of The Captain being overwhelmed by it all and really shocked, rather than just taking it in his stride. But at the same time he is a soldier, so he reacts to certain other situations in quite a straight forward way.

Were there any sets or locations that you particularly enjoyed working on?

I play a Captain from the First World War so there is a trench and battlefield element, which we filmed on location across a number of fields. We had one hundred extras playing German, French and British soldiers and it was really very moving to be part of. Something about the sheer amount of people in these splendid uniforms. The weather was quite drizzly, but it suited the story and it got very muddy, which of course it really would have been. There was an incredible moment when all these extras swarmed over the battlefield - at which point everyone on set was tearing up. It was moving and extraordinary to be a part of.

How would you describe the tone of this episode?

It’s a very funny and very lovely story. It’s perfect for Christmas as - for me at least - I feel that Christmas is always a mixture of happy and sad. It’s Peter’s last story and it’s obviously infused with that, but it’s a story that takes place out of time, where he has one last adventure before he goes and regenerates into the Thirteenth Doctor. And I suppose it’s about that - it’s about letting go.

The Twelfth Doctor’s encounter with the First Doctor is the central part of the story, with all the lessons that he learns from that.

How did you feel to be part of Peter’s final episode?

I know that Peter really just wanted to enjoy his last adventure. I’m sure that as he got to the last few days the sense of finality will have sunk in - you know, “that’s the last time on location, that’s the last time I’ll run down a corridor, that’s the last time I fight a monster…” etcetera, but it was a really joyous shoot to be a part of. With my old Doctor Who fan head on - Worzel Gummage style - to be a part of any Doctor’s final adventure was incredible, but particularly for Peter who I think has been magnificent. It’s the end of so many eras and you couldn’t help but feel that. It was a real pleasure.

Why should we tune in to Twice Upon A Time?

There’s always something magical about being on Christmas Day, and I think Doctor Who itself has a magic to it. Somewhere deep in its bones there’s something brilliant about this show, and the combination of the two things gives you that shiver. It’s a wonderful thing to be there as a Christmas Day treat. This episode, as it’s the end of an era, has that. Christmas is an interesting time too. There’s something special about it, something in the frosty air that always feels like it’s a good time for ghost stories or stories of enchantment; it’s happy but bittersweet. That’s what this ep has in spades.


An interview with Pearl Mackie

Twice Upon a Time: Bill (Pearl Mackie), The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) (Credit: BBC/BBC Worldwide (Simon Ridgway))What have we got to look forward to in this episode?

There’s so much! We’ve got not one but two TARDISes, and we travel in both of them which is pretty exciting. We’ve also got three Doctors - that’s pretty amazing. Obviously we’ve got the current Doctor who we all know and love, but we’ve also got the First Doctor played by David Bradley - who is phenomenal. The current Doctor, who’s dying but refusing to regenerate at the start of the story, meets him as a way of dealing with his current struggles. The interaction between those two is great - really funny, but also surprising and very moving in places. And of course there’s also the regeneration, when the Twelfth Doctor becomes the Thirteenth Doctor!

Were you excited to get the call asking you back?

Very much so - it was a total honour to be asked back and it’s even more exciting that it’s for a Christmas special! Bill is 100% back with the full Bill energy, but she’s not quite all she seems...

What else can you tell us about the episode?

We also have a new monster - a lady who’s made of glass, but you’ll have to tune in to find out what she’s up to. We’ve also got some old foes returning, to make Christmas even more exciting!

Were there any sets or locations that you particularly enjoyed working on?

It was very exciting to be on the set of the first Doctor’s TARDIS. It wasn’t something I was that familiar with, but great to get acclimatised on. And apparently there were lots of props that were actually used in the original TARDIS that were used in our set too, so it really does look and feel like the real deal from the first series of Doctor Who over fifty years ago. Some of the ice sets were really cool too, plus the huge battlefield which features during some key moments of the episode.

Why should we watch?

One of the amazing things about Doctor Who is that it’s sci-fi, but it has that humanity to it. It has human relationships and interactions, with the added excitement of the monsters, the amazing sets and the wonders of exploring all of time and space. This episode has all of that in a really big accessible adventure for all ages - plus the regeneration!


An interview with Steven Moffat

Steven MoffatWhat does Twice Upon A Time have in store for us?

There are some new eerie creatures of glass haunting the Doctor and his friends throughout this story - but what their purpose and what their plan is, and what their time traveling machinations are, is going to be a big surprise to the Doctor.

Were there any sets or locations that you particularly enjoyed working on?

There’s a real range of spaces that we visit across the special. We have the inside of a giant stone spaceship full of creepy glass creatures. We’re in the first Doctor’s TARDIS - recreated and brought back from the 1960s to stand proud in the Welsh studios. We’re on a First World War battlefield. And at long last we go to a location that I mentioned in my very first episode of Doctor Who back in 2005, as we visit the ruins of Villengard.

How would you describe the tone of this episode?

This episode is somewhere between a coda and drumroll. It’s a coda to the time of the Twelfth Doctor played by Peter Capaldi, and a drumroll to usher in the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker. Approaching it, one issue I had was that The Doctor Falls (this year’s series finale) was the end of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. That episode saw the Twelfth Doctor stating what he stands for and standing on the hill on which he was prepared to die.

That was the end of his story. But - as often happens in stories and real life - it didn’t end there. He kept going, he started to regenerate, so at Christmas what we’re going to see is a man weary and tired and, having made his point and having made his stand and given his life for something that matters, he has to learn just how to carry on after that. But of course this being Doctor Who and Christmas it’s much warmer and hopeful than that, so in perfect timing walking towards him out of the snow he meets earliest incarnation. The William Hartnell version of the Doctor - played now by David Bradley in an astonishing performance - and the two of them are about to regenerate. Tonally it’s about saying “to hell with dying, let’s get on with living”. And what’s more Christmassy that that? It’s the turn of the year, a time for new beginnings, it’s the time when we start climbing back towards the light.

How does the First Doctor look at the Twelfth Doctor?

Well the Doctor never gets on with himself. Arguably he doesn’t get on with himself when it’s just him alone - we had the whole plot of Heaven Sent (in series nine) about that - so he doesn’t get on with himself even when it’s just him. But here I think we have perhaps one of the most interesting instances of the Doctors meeting, because the First Doctor as we know from the show is quite different from the Doctor we know now.

Ultimately he’s the same person - he has the same set of impulses and ideals - but he hasn’t yet become at home with what he’s becoming. If you look at the original William Hartnell series, the Doctor’s starting to fight the good fight, but he’ll arrive in a spot of trouble and generally speaking he’ll only help others out because he needs to get back to the TARDIS. So often there’d be a plot contrivance to stop William Hartnell’s Doctor getting back to his TARDIS and flying out of danger. Slowly that started changing as the Doctor developed as a character. He’d start saying “No I can’t leave yet - not because I can’t get to the TARDIS, but because these people are still in trouble and this evil is still in control. I have to help these people.”

Without noticing it, or it ever being his plan or his intent, he’s starting to engage with the universe and he’d be horrified to think that he’s starting to become its protector. Now, at the end of that lifetime when the First Doctor is facing his end, he doesn’t yet realise that’s what he already is. He’s already the man who rides to the rescue, the saviour of the oppressed, but he doesn’t own up to that. Now he meets the Twelfth doctor, and the Twelfth doctor has been doing this for so long. He’s used to the idea that he’s already Earth’s protector - an idea that completely bewilders his younger - except kind of older self. The thing to focus on this time, alongside the flourishes that distinguish the two doctors - it that they are at very different moments in their lives. The First Doctor is not quite yet the hero we are used to.

How did you feel to be writing your final episode of Doctor Who?

The truth about writing anything is that it’s always difficult. You can change the reason why it’s difficult, but the fact is it’s just always difficult! Throughout writing this I wanted to feel more about the fact it’s the last one I’ll ever write, and I wanted to feel more about it’s the last one Peter will ever play, but the truth is that the technicality and the difficulty and the demands on your creativity - all that overwhelms you to the point where you’re just trying to write a great Doctor Who story! That’s enough to contend with - you can’t have the real life drama of two old Scotsmen making their way to the door.

Once we got into shooting it, however, and especially when we approached filming Peter’s last moments as the Doctor which were done at the end of the shoot, we did talk more about how exactly he should meet his end. We were both very pleased with that final section of the script already, but as we went through piece by piece we thought there were ways to improve it so I’d be banging out new pages each night for us to discuss on set each day. That was so enjoyable and exciting to do - to really feel that we were getting his send off right - that in a way it took whatever emotions we were both having about leaving and put them on screen where they belong. By the time we got to that part of filming I think Peter and I were probably the least emotional on set because we’d put it all in the show!


The episode premieres in the UK on BBC One on Christmas Day at 5.30pm, followed by transmission around the world. Full details here




FILTER: - Peter Capaldi - Publicity - Series Specials - Twelfth Doctor

Peter Capaldi Book Cover for AuctionBookmark and Share

Friday, 1 December 2017 - Reported by Marcus
The Metamorphosis - Cover by Peter Capaldi (Credit: House of Illustration)
Peter Capaldi has designed a new, original jacket for a first edition of The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka to raise money for House of Illustration – the world’s only public gallery solely dedicated to illustration and graphic arts.

The auction, at Sotheby’s London, on 11 December 2017 - 12 December 2017, will offer a collection of 33 first editions of classic books, each with an original dust-jacket, created and donated by leading artists and designers to benefit House of Illustration.

Each artist selected a book they felt a strong connection to and then created a new dust-jacket or artwork in response to it. The re-worked classics include Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land, D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers and George Orwell’s Animal Farm.

Peter Capaldi chose to illustrate The Metamorphosis, the novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915.
I chose to illustrate the cover of The Metamorphosis because I find the story so powerful, the imagery unforgettable, and the sadness at its heart completely human
The book is expected to raise up to £2000 for the charity which works with schools across London on projects with young people to inspire creativity and enable them to communicate visually, overcoming barriers such as language, literacy levels and special educational needs.

Ahead of the sale, all works will be on display at Sotheby’s London (34-35 New Bond Street) from 8-11 December 2017. In total, thirty-one artists have donated to the sale.

For more information visit Sothebys Website.




FILTER: - Auctions - Peter Capaldi

Access All Areas - Doctor Who SpecialBookmark and Share

Thursday, 23 November 2017 - Reported by Marcus
As the Twelfth Doctor approaches his final story, BBC Radio Two is to broadcast a two hour special documentary looking behind the scenes of Doctor Who.

Broadcast on Thursday 21 December at 8pm, the programme sees Jo Whiley gain exclusive access to the Doctor Who team. She catches up with the stars of the series on the set - including Pearl Mackie, David Bradley, Exec Producer Steven Moffat, and the Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi. She also hears from outgoing companion Matt Lucas, and digs into the BBC Doctor Who archive.

There will be stories from behind the scenes, including how Lucas approaches being recognised by fans; the radical ways in which Mackie's life has changed; Pele’s reaction to signing a Brazil shirt for the Doctor and how Doctor Who has always been with Peter Capaldi - from dressing up as a Dalek as a child to karaoke singalongs to The Killers (all in the name of getting into character).

Plus, Radio 2 listeners will find out which member of the team has a penchant for Chas and Dave

BBC Radio 2 can be heard worldwide via the BBC Radio iPlayer.




FILTER: - Documentary - Peter Capaldi - Radio

Children in Need 2017Bookmark and Share

Friday, 10 November 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
This year's annual fundraising evening Children in Need will take place from 7:30pm on Friday 17th November, and as in previous years will include a preview of the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special. The preview is currently scheduled to be shown during the first half hour.

Children in Need 2017 - Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie and David Bradley (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)
Children in Need 2017 - Peter Capaldi (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway) Children in Need 2017 - Peter Capaldi (Credit: BBC/Simon Ridgway)
Children in Need 2017 - Pearl Mackie (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston) Children in Need 2017 - Pearl Mackie (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)


Donate here!





FILTER: - BBC - Charities - Children in Need - Pearl Mackie - Peter Capaldi