Doctor Who Returns 11 May 2024Bookmark and Share

Friday, 15 March 2024 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who - Series 14 (Credit: BBC Studios / Disney)

Doctor Who is set to make a return to screens worldwide on Saturday 11th May 2024.

Viewers inside the UK will be able to access two episodes from midnight on the BBC iPlayer, the first time episodes have made their premier on the 'on demand' service.  The episodes will be shown on BBC One later that day just before the annual Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.

For those outside of the UK the episodes will be available on Disney+ from midnight UK time, 2300 GMT.

 

The new season of Doctor Who will see Ncuti Gatwa return as the Fifteenth Doctor, alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, it comes after they made their highly acclaimed debut on Christmas Day in The Church on Ruby Road

Within the upcoming series, audiences will see the Doctor and Ruby travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, to the Regency era in England, to outer space worlds and the sixties.

This season will also see the return of Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday, Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood as well as featuring an array of special guest stars including Jinkx Monsoon, Aneurin Barnard, Yasmin Finney, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush and Indira Varma with more to be announced soon. 

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said: 

At last, it’s my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together.  Monsters!  Chases!  Villains!  Mysteries!  And a terrifying secret that’s been spanning time and space for decades.  Don’t miss a second!

 





FILTER: - Broadcast - Fifteenth Doctor - Series 14/40

Richard Franklin 1936-2023Bookmark and Share

Monday, 25 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The actor Richard Franklin, who played Captain Mike Yates in 43 episodes of Doctor Who, has died at the age of 87.

As one of the UNIT personnel, Franklin was a key character in the team which developed in the third Doctor era, led by Jon Pertwee, as a sidekick to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and a love interest for Jo Grant. 

Richard Franklin made his debut as Mike Yates in the eighth series of Doctor Who, appearing in four of the series' five stories, Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos and the story often designated as a favourite by members of the cast The Dæmons

The character was back in the following year appearing in Day of the Daleks and The Time Monster before returning in the last three episodes of series 10, The Green Death

In Pertwee's final season, the character of Yates found himself on the opposite side to the Doctor in Invasion of the Dinosaurs believing in a project to return the earth to a golden age. His final appearance in Planet of the Spiders saw the characters' redemption.

Richard Franklin died early on Christmas morning after a long illness. His death was announced by family friend Liam Rudden on Social Media

It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #RIP 

Richard Franklin was born in Marylebone, London, on 15 January 1936. He was educated at Westminster School and Oxford University before training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. 

His early work was in the theatre where he spent six years in repertory theatre. His break into television came in 1969 when he was cast as Joe Townsend in the soap opera Crossroads, appearing in thirty-six episodes. 

Other roles included parts in Dixon of Dock Green, The Saint, Little Women, The Borgias and Blake's 7

He returned to Doctor Who in audio productions for BBC Audio and Big Finish and made a cameo in the 20th Anniversary story The Five Doctors.

Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant in the series was a good friend and collogue of Franklin, paid tribute on x.

@ManningOfficial Our wonderful brave captain Yates #RichardFranklin has gone on his awfully big adventure I'm so very grateful i saw him on  Friday. smiling memories & love for him are with me & all of us whose lives he touched & enriched❤️.  my thoughts are with his family.

 

 





FILTER: - obituary - classic series

Classic Doctor Who Now Streaming On TubiBookmark and Share

Thursday, 16 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Classic Doctor Who (Credit: Tubi)

Viewers in the United States and Canada can from today stream over 600 episodes of classic Doctor Who via Tubi

Audiences will now have access to episodes from the original series as well as the recreated animated versions of stories missing from the BBC archive.

The episodes will be available for free via On-Demand and a dedicated FAST Channel.

Fans can dive into the legacy series by Doctor, as well as through the “New to Who” collection which is a great entry point for new viewers to gently climb into the Tardis. 

Doctor Who is the longest-running action-adventure television series in the world spanning 60 years and winning over 100 awards. This quintessentially British show has a huge global following, with 9.6m fans across social platforms/channels and 100m video views on YouTube in the last year alone.

Tubi is the most-watched free TV and movie streaming service in the U.S. As an ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company offers audiences a personalized experience and offers the world’s largest content library of over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 FAST channels. Tubi is part of the Tubi Media Group, a division of Fox Corporation that oversees the company’s digital businesses.

 

 




FILTER: - Classic Series - Tubi

Deluxe illustrated edition of Rose to be ReleasedBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 8 August 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Rose Illustrated Edition (Credit: BBC)

BBC Books have announced the novelisation of the first story of Doctor Who's 2005 revival, Rose, is to be released in a special illustrated version.

The release will celebrate the return of showrunner Russell T Davies to Doctor Who, and mark the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

Novelised by Davies from his original script, Rose is the story that relaunched Doctor Who for the 21st century.

Originally published in 2018, this deluxe edition of ROSE features illustrations from acclaimed artist Robert Hack.

 

In a lair somewhere beneath central London, a malevolent alien intelligence is plotting the end of humanity. Shop window dummies that can move - and kill - are taking up key positions, ready to strike.

Rose Tyler, an ordinary Londoner, is working her shift in a department store, unaware that this is the most important day of her life. She's about to meet the only man who understands the true nature of the threat facing Earth, a stranger who will open her eyes to all the wonder and terror of the universe - a traveller in time and space known as the Doctor.

The book will be published on 23rd November 2023 and is available to preorder on Amazon





FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Books - Ninth Doctor

John Nettleton 1929-2023Bookmark and Share

Friday, 14 July 2023 - Reported by Marcus
John Nettleton (Credit: Chuck Foster)

The actor John Nettleton has died at the age of 94.

In 1989 John Nettleton played the Reverend Ernest Matthews in the Seventh Doctor story Ghost Light.

He was best known for his portrayal of the Whitehall Mandarin Sir Arnold Robinson in the comedy series Yes Minister and its successor Yes, Prime Minister

Born in South London in 1929, John Nettleton graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1951, the same year as Joan Collins and Jacqueline Hill

As a successful character actor, he had a 40-year career in British Television appearing in some of the best-known series of the time such as Softly Softly, Armchair Theatre, The Avengers, Please Sir!, Elizabeth R, Black Beauty, Upstairs Downstairs, The Pallisers, All Creatures Large and Small, The Professionals, Tales of the Unexpected, Brideshead Revisited, Crown Court, Minder, Rumpole of the Bailey, Midsomer Murders, and The Bill

Nettleton’s film work included A Man for All Seasons in the 1960s  and a 2005 adaptation of Oliver Twist

His voice is very familiar to a generation who grew up in the 1970s thanks to his frequent use as a narrator for illustrated stories told on the BBC Children's programme Blue Peter

His work at the National Theatre included Alan Bennett’s adaptation of The Wind in the Willows in 1990 and The Voysey Inheritance in 2006. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and London's Old Vic

A statement from the theatrical agency Scott Marshall Partners said:

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage and screen actor John Nettleton at the age of 94. 

He is survived by his wife the actress Deirdre Doone, who he married in 1954, their three children and five grandchildren. 





FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Lenny Rush Joins Doctor WhoBookmark and Share

Thursday, 15 June 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Lenny Rush (Credit: BBC Studios)

Award winning actor Lenny Rush is to appear in the next series of Doctor Who. 

Having just won a BAFTA at the age of fourteen, Rush takes on the role of Morris in the 2024 series of Doctor Who, starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa.

Lenny Rush has starred in numerous shows including ‘Dodger’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ but it was his starring role in Daisy May Cooper’s ‘Am I Being Unreasonable’ that won him the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme this year.

Now Rush is about to join the team travelling time and space as he takes on his new role as Morris.

Speaking about joining Doctor Who, Rush said:

It’s an absolute honour to be part of Doctor Who, one of the most iconic shows on television and wow what a dream come true!

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said:  

This is what Doctor Who's all about, brand new talent from the next generation, and no one’s more talented than Lenny! He joins the TARDIS team just in time for the Doctor’s greatest nightmare, so hold on tight!

 





FILTER: - Production - Series 13/39

Indira Varma is The DuchessBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 24 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Indira Varma (Credit: BBC Studios / Disney)

The BBC has announced that award-winning actress Indira Varma will join the next series of Doctor Who. 

The actress first encountered the world of Doctor Who when she played Suzie Costello in Russell T Davies’ spin-off series Torchwood, It was a role she repeated for Big Finish Audio productions. 

Varma now steps aboard the TARDIS in her new mysterious role as the Duchess. 

Indira Varma has made her mark onscreen, from her recent role as Ingrid in the thriller series Obsession to her performance as Ellaria Sand on the multi-award-winning Game of Thrones. She now joins Doctor Who from across the galaxy after recently starring in Disney+’s record-breaking Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Varma has also been celebrated onstage, winning an Olivier Award for her portrayal of Liz Essendine in Present Laughter as well as starring in other major theatre productions including the acclaimed Man and Superman and Jamie Lloyd’s production of Chekhov’s The Seagull.

Speaking of joining Doctor Who, Indira Varma says:

I’m thrilled to be in Doctor Who and particularly excited to be crossing cosmic paths with Ncuti, as the Doctor, and look forward to creating interplanetary mischief with him. I loved playing Suzie Costello for Russell T Davies in Torchwood so am thrilled to be entering this world again.

Showrunner, Russell T Davies says:

I’m overjoyed to be reunited with Indira after our Torchwood days, and this part is truly spectacular! A whole new audience will be hiding behind the settee when the Duchess unleashes her terror.

 





FILTER: - Production - Series 14/40

Specials Titles RevealedBookmark and Share

Saturday, 13 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus
2023 Logo (Credit: BBC Studios)

The BBC has released a new trailer for Doctor Who revealing the titles of the three specials to be screened later this year.

Moments before the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final came live from Liverpool, viewers were treated an explosive new trailer which gave viewers a glimpse of what to expect later this year when the TARDIS lands in time to celebrate its 60th anniversary, and it exclusively revealed the titles of the three special episodes.

In the weeks leading up to the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, three mysterious coded teasers were scattered through the BBC One schedule. Each teaser included a binary code which gave eagle-eyed fans clues to one of the three special episode titles. The teasers all pointed to a big reveal on the night of the Eurovision Grand Final when the new trailer announced the titles as: 

·                   Special One: THE STAR BEAST

·                   Special Two: WILD BLUE YONDER

·                   Special Three: THE GIGGLE

The exclusive trailer also gave a look of what’s to come with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, alongside Catherine Tate who has reprised her role as Donna Noble, with further teasers of other epic moments which include leading stars Neil Patrick Harris and Yasmin Finney who step into the world of Doctor Who for the 60thanniversary special episodes.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

The titles are just the beginning of the Doctor’s biggest adventure yet.  Autumn is coming, with three hours of danger, Donna and disaster about to be unleashed!

 

        

Doctor Who 2023 - 60th Anniversary Specials Trailer | BBC
Doctor Who returns with three special episodes ❤️❤️➕🔷





FILTER: - Series 14/40 - production

New Picture ReleasedBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 10 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Jonathan Groff with Ruby Sunday (MILLIE GIBSON), The Doctor (NCUTI GATWA) (Credit: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf)

The BBC has released a new image from the next series of Doctor Who.

The image shows Hollywood star Jonathan Groff who has landed in Wales and has begun filming on Doctor Who.

It gives a first look at him in character in his mysterious key role alongside Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday.

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary.

Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will then air over the festive period. 

Doctor Who will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the UK and Ireland. Disney+ will be the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.

 





FILTER: - Production - Series 14/40

Jonathan Groff Joins Doctor WhoBookmark and Share

Friday, 5 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus
Jonathan Groff  (Credit: BBC)

Award-winning star of stage and screen Jonathan Groff is set to appear in the new series of Doctor Who.

The casting was announced today by BBC Studios who said the actor will have a "key role" in the series. 

Groff shot to fame when he landed the role of Jessie in the musical comedy drama Glee. He has since been internationally celebrated for his work on-screen, from starring as Eric in the box-office hit Knock at the Cabin, to playing Holden Ford in the critically acclaimed series ‘Mindhunter’. As well as having a leading role as the new Agent Smith in The Matrix Resurrections, Groff is renowned for his major voice acting roles in the ‘Frozen’ films

Groff has also made his mark on Broadway, dazzling audiences with his performance as King George III in Hamilton, where he was nominated for not only a Tony Award, but also a Primetime Emmy Award for the live stage recording. 

On joining Doctor Who, Jonathan Groff said:

I am so thrilled to jump into the extraordinary mind of Russell T Davies and watch the incredible Ncuti Gatwa soar in this iconic role!

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said:

This is an incredible coup, and a great honour, to get such a huge star striding onto our set. So strap on your space boots, this is going to be a blast!

 





FILTER: - Production - Series 14/40