Billie and MickeyBookmark and Share

Friday, 30 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Today's The Sun features an article about Billie Piper and Noel Clarke (who is playing her boyfriend, Mickey), including a photo of the two kissing. Click on the link to view. (Thanks to Kirk Jones)




FILTER: - Press

Ghost Light DVD coverBookmark and Share

Friday, 30 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
At right is the stunning cover for the UK DVD release of Ghost Light starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, as created by Clayton Hickman, sent to us by the folks at the Tenth Planet store. Click on the thumbnail for the full wrap-around version. (Thanks to Paul at Tenth Planet for the image!)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Swindon ScansBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Below are scans from the Swindon Evening Advertiser today, which show several pictures of both Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. Below left is the article; the other three are images from the paper (including a front-page column photo). The accompanying article notes that Piper and Eccleston are filming the new series "in London" (yet another confirmation that the show has moved briefly to London). "The former pupil from Bradon Forest School, Purton, is the latest in a long line of glamorous female assistants to have helped out the Time Lord since his adventures first hit the screen in 1963," says the article about Piper. "And Eccleston is the latest incarnation of the Doctor, which began with William Hartnell and has included Tom Baker and John Pertwee [sic]." (Thanks to Dan Garrett)




FILTER: - Press

Thursday Press ClipsBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
A headline in today's Western Mail (also picked up in the Daily Star, the Scottish Daily Record and others) notes that Billie Piper has taken a new flat in Cardiff to be close to the production, and has a celebrity neighbor: musician Charlotte Church. "The new Dr Who star has swapped her Tardis for a plush ú250,000 flat next door to the singer," says the article. Friends have told the various papers that Church, who is 18, "can hardly believe it and can't wait to see Billie when she moves in." Ah, the paparazzi already begins...

Another article in the Manchester Evening News called "Darker side of Dr Who" notes that "Christopher Eccleston is bringing a no-nonsense attitude to his new role as Dr Who. The actor, originally from Little Hulton, has swapped the cult timelord's dandy scarves and hats for a slick leather jacket and sharp black clothes." The Doctor apparently has what is called a "complete wardrobe makeover," and looks more "undercover detective" than a Time Lord. The article also interviews the now-familiar guy charging ahead with his Dalek campaign (again?) and mentions the show's past 'fashion history'.




FILTER: - Press

BBC Books RestructureBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to a story at Publishing News, "Following several months' review of its activities and performance, BBC Books has decided to refocus its publishing and reduce its list by around a third to 55-60 titles a year, many of those TV tie-ins or personality-led books. 'WeÆre slimming down the business and re-engineering the process,' Chris Weller, MD of Consumer Publishing, told PN, after a day of meetings in which the books team were told that there would be 'quite significant' job losses. The announcement coincides with the start of a wider review of all the BBCÆs commercial activities which will report in November. 'They could decide to sell us off, or keep us or enhance us,' Weller continued. 'ItÆs all in the lap of the gods.'" Now, we bring this to you not to say that the Doctor Who line is in any danger; we merely bring you what's been reported in a reputable industry source. We hope to get a statement from the folks involved in the Doctor Who novels very shortly. (Thanks to Gordon Barr)




FILTER: - Books

Red Dalek Cookie JarBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Cards Inc. will feature a limited edition red Dalek cookie jar this fall (October, actually) for the holidays. "Only one thousand of these cookie jars will be available this year and is a must for any Dr Who collector," says the website. Tenth Planet now has the jars on pre-order, and provided us this snapshot of the final product; click for a larger version. (Thanks to Tenth Planet)




FILTER: - Merchandise

John BarrowmanBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
File this in the "rumor" category: we've heard from sources that actor John Barrowman, currently starring in "Anything Goes" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, has been cast in the new series as a character named "Captain Jack". This isn't the first report of a character by that name that we've heard, so we're bringing you the story - a rumor until you hear otherwise. (Thanks to "Ian")




FILTER: - Guest Stars

Doctor Who, Douglas Adams BBC AudiosBookmark and Share

Thursday, 29 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The BBC Shop has posted details of two forthcoming audio releases, both due out September 6: Doctor Who at the BBC, Volume 2, a second volume of rare Doctor Who interviews and clips, and Douglas Adams at the BBC, a look at the life and work of the popular author (among whose career events was as script editor and writer for Doctor Who). Both of these blurbs are from the BBC Shop site, with thumbnail graphics of the covers; we hope to have larger versions soon.
Doctor Who at the BBC, Volume Two

Elisabeth Sladen presents another time-travelling journey through the history of Doctor Who on BBC radio and television.

Our good friend the Doctor may continually jump from the past to the present and back to the future, but heÆs never really gone away. Since 1963 he has had a massive influence on our popular culture û as this second volume of rare material illustrates.

Doctor Who has long been a favourite source of inspiration for comedy programmes including The Mary Whitehouse Experience, IÆm Sorry I HavenÆt a Clue and Dead Ringers. It has also provided an endless source of features for programmes such as Nationwide, Pebble Mill at One, WomanÆs Hour and Talkback. All of these, and more, are featured here.

We hear from no less than seven of the first eight actors to play the Doctor on TV: Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann all talk about what itÆs like to play the role, and the effect it has had on their lives. The DoctorÆs companions are also well featured, with Elisabeth Sladen, Louise Jameson, Matthew Waterhouse and John Leeson popping up in interviews recorded during their time on the programme.

The issue of violence in Doctor Who is discussed by producer John Nathan-Turner, writer Kit Pedler and some very angry parents; director Paul Joyce takes us behind the scenes on the series; and thereÆs a plethora of news items about the DoctorÆs many returns since 1989. So hold on to your hats û the latest journey starts here!


Douglas Adams at the BBC

Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent in The HitchhikerÆs Guide to the Galaxy, presents a look back at the life and work of a writer who has captivated the imagination of millions.

When Douglas Adams created The HitchhikerÆs Guide to the Galaxy for BBC Radio 4, it was the genesis of a science fiction comedy legend. Yet his career at the BBC had begun in Light Entertainment, with contributions to The Burkiss Way, Week Ending and other sketch shows of the time. He went on to script edit a series of Doctor Who, and to write a series of Hitchhiker and Dirk Gently books.

In this triple-CD programme, Simon Jones takes an A-Z look at Douglas AdamsÆs career, taking in extracts from the many radio and TV programmes he contributed to. These include personal appearances on Wogan, TomorrowÆs World and Desert Island Discs, his own radio programmes such as Last Chance to See (about the search for endangered species) and The HitchhikerÆs Guide to the Future (a look at impending technology), and even a ælostÆ segment of The HitchhikerÆs Guide to the Galaxy which Adams wrote specially for Radio 4Æs Steafel Plus in 1982. Also included are some of the many tributes paid to Adams following his untimely death in May 2001.

This is a fascinating and in-depth audio biography of a man whose brilliant work has inspired, enraptured and entertained millions of people worldwide.




FILTER: - Audio

Andrew Marr AppearanceBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 28 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC News political editor Andrew Marr has a cameo appearance in the new series, according to a report that Marr himself wrote for today's Daily Telegraph entitled "Three reasons why the Daleks didn't get Blair"; click on the link to read the article. (Thanks to Matthew Kilburn)




FILTER: - Guest Stars - Series 1/27

Press Clips: London ShootBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 28 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Yesterday's Daily Mirror featured a glimpse of Christopher Eccleston entering the TARDIS, perhaps in the costume we'll see him in during the series. The article notes that Eccleston has "traded hats, cloaks and scarves for a leather jacket." "They were a bit foppish for me, a council estate kid," Eccleston tells the Mirror. Another photo from the pages of theDaily Star features a shot of Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper walking together, perhaps an actual shot from the production. The accompanying article in the Daily Star notes, as we've been hearing, that the production has moved briefly to London to film location sequences. Finally, the Western Mail from June 23 discusses last week's Cardiff shooting, including a photo of the TARDIS being assembled. (Thanks to David Backhouse, John Orin, James Gent)




FILTER: - Press