Who on TwoBookmark and Share

Saturday, 30 June 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Two Doctor Who stars have been making appearances on BBC Radio Two.

Freema Aygeman was the guest on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Friday.

The programme will be available for the next six days via the BBC's listen again feature. The interview starts about 1 hour 27 minutes into the programme.

On Saturday morning Mark Gatiss was a guest on Jonathan Ross.

This programme can be heard for the next seven days via the listen again feature. Mark Gatiss appears about 47 minutes into the programme.




FILTER: - People - Radio

Friday RatingsBookmark and Share

Saturday, 30 June 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who had a strong performance on Friday night with unofficial figures showing that 0.55 million watched the BBC3 repeat of Episode twelve,The Sound of Drums, a 3.3% share of the audience.

This was the highest rating the programme has received in this time slot and was enough to make the programme the second most watched multichannel programme for the day.

The earlier repeat of Episode Eleven, Utopia had 0.32 million viewers, a 2.1% share of the audience.

Doctor Who Confidential also did well with 0.33 million watching at 8.45pm and 0.43 million watching at 9.45pm, enough to make this showing the 8th most watched multichannel programme of the day.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Finale Cast Developments, Christmas Update - SpoilersBookmark and Share

Saturday, 30 June 2007 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Tonight's broadcast of Last of the Time Lords, the third season finale of Doctor Who on BBC1, was telecast at 51 minutes long -- the longest episode of the series since its 2005 revival -- and brought with it some of its own headline news items, including major cast developments. Though much of this information will likely be in the mainstream press within the next day or two, we've protected the most important Doctor Who related updates below in the spoiler tags; click on it for details.
Confirming the essence of a story first reported several weeks ago in the Sun, Freema Agyeman left Doctor Who as a series regular at the end of this episode, choosing to remain behind with her family in present-day England. Agyeman's most recent denial in "Radio Times" stated that she was notsacked from the series, contrary to the Sun report; however, as Outpost Gallifrey and other sites have reported, the news did not deny that Agyeman was leaving as a series regular (nor that she was not remaining by her own choice). The end of "Last of the Time Lords" suggests that we will see Martha again, as she gives her mobile phone to the Doctor (David Tennant), likely as a guest star next series; press reports from the Mirror this past week indicate that the fourth series of Doctor Who will see a new companion next year, with Martha making an occasional appearance. (At the time of the Mirror report, "Last of the Time Lords" had not yet aired, and while the article mentions she "won't be in every episode next year, but will appear in the occasional episode for both Doctor Who and Torchwood," it is likely that this was a bit of obfuscation of the as-yet-unannounced departure.)

UPDATE: Russell T Davies has promised on tonight's Confidential that there will be news soon (a possible press release early next week) about Freema's future with the programme, likely as a guest character or recurring (like John Barrowman this series).

John Barrowman also departs from Doctor Who again, as Captain Jack Harkness returns to his base of operations in Cardiff for the second series of "Torchwood" to be aired later this year.

John Simm will (obviously, from the story) not be returning as the Master in subsequent episodes; however, the theft of his ring by a woman (perhaps Lucy Saxon but possibly someone else entirely) indicates that the Master will perhaps be back in next year's episodes.

Meanwhile, the upcoming 2007 Christmas special will be entitled Voyage of the Damned and has something to do with the voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic, judging from the name of the vessel on the life ring found within the TARDIS in the close of today's episode (not to mention, the ship's hull through the walls of the console room!) There is no word as yet as to who will join David Tennant for the episode, although there has been much media speculation about singer Kylie Minogue (we're not sure yet if these are real or simply press hype.)




FILTER: - Production - Series 3/29 - Radio Times

Eight Minutes MoreBookmark and Share

Friday, 29 June 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

FreemaAygeman.com is reporting that finale episode Last of the Time Lords will be twenty percent longer than the other episodes. This episode will time in at 51 minutes, while the others were 43 minutes long.




FILTER: - Production - Series 3/29

TV Guide picks top cult seriesBookmark and Share

Friday, 29 June 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

The American listings magazine TV GUIDE has named its top 30 Cult TV series of all time. Doctor Who comes in at number 22 after Freaks and Geeks and before the original Dark Shadows. For the full list go to
TV GUIDE.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Press

Season Four TARDIS developmentsBookmark and Share

Friday, 29 June 2007 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Mirror this morning reports on some changes in store for the TARDIS crew during the course of next year - if correct the article contains a number of spoilers!

The article also ends with a comment from "Beeb's drama supremo" Jane Tranter: "One thing is certain, Doctor Who will be around on BBC1 for years to come."

Details are below, and you can read the full article at the Mirror's website - do so at your peril!
According to the Mirror article, there will be a new companion in the TARDIS from next year: "A show insider reveals: 'Martha will still be in Doctor Who, but her relationship with the doctor will have changed. The truth is that she loves him but he doesn't feel the same way. She is going to have to share him because he'll be getting a different sidekick. And this is a major addition to the cast.'"

The article goes on to mention that Martha won't be in every episode next year, but will appear in the occasional episode for both Doctor Who andTorchwood. The item also repeats previous reports that singer Kylie Minoguewill be the (only) companion in this year's Christmas Special.




FILTER: - Production - Series 4/30 - Press

Big Finish UpdateBookmark and Share

Friday, 29 June 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper
June 29, 2007 • Posted By Jarrod Cooper
In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Big Finish Productions has announced some of their upcoming releases.

There will be four more installments of the popular Companion Chronicles series, as was previously reported by Outpost Gallifrey. The series will include:

Mother Russia by Marc Platt features the 1st Doctor and Steven read by Peter Purves
Helicon Prime by Jack Elliott features the 2nd Doctor and Jamie read by Frazer Hines
Old Soldiers by James Swallow featuring the 3rd Doctor and the Brigadier read by Nicholas Courtney
The Catalyst by Nigel Fairs featuring the 4th Doctor and Leela read by Louise Jameson

Also announced are the titles of the second series of adventures for the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller.

Grand Theft Cosmos by Eddie Robson
Title TBA by Paul Magrs
The Skull of Sobek by Marc Platt
Max Warp by Jonathan Morris
Title TBC by Jonathan Clements
Kidnapped (Part 1) and Vengeance (Part 2) by Nick Briggs

Doctor Who Magazine also confirmed some cast changes that are coming at the end of the year, please click on theSPOILER tag below for more information.




FILTER: - Audio

Utopia - Final RatingsBookmark and Share

Friday, 29 June 2007 - Reported by Marcus
Final official ratings released by BARB show that Episode Eleven,Utopia was watched by 7.84 million viewers.

It was the 4th most watched programme on BBC1 for the week and the 14th most watched on all UK Television. On Saturday night it was beaten by ITV1's Britain's Got Talent which dominated the top twenty.

On Multichannel Television, the Sunday repeat got 0.82 millionviewers and was the 4th most watched programme of the week.

Saturdays Doctor Who Confidential was eighth in the list with0.74 millionviewers, with the Sunday repeat getting 0.46 million and coming in at 32nd in the list.
Top Twenty Programmes (w/e 17 June 2007)

1 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SUN 2000) - 11.58 - ITV1
2 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SUN 2206) - 11.45 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 10.10 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (MON 2029) - 9.70 - ITV1
5 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 9.64 - ITV1
6 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1933) - 9.44 - ITV1
7 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SAT 1946) - 9.29 - ITV1
8 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (FRI 2100) - 9.28 - ITV1
9 EASTENDERS (THU 1932) - 8.68 - BBC1
10 EASTENDERS (FRI 2000) - 8.44 - BBC1
11 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 8.40 - BBC1
12 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (THU 2102) - 8.36 - ITV1
13 CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029) - 8.07 - ITV1
14 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1914) - 7.84 - BBC1
15 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (WED 2103) - 7.51 - ITV1
16 EMMERDALE (WED 1858) - 7.42 - ITV1
17 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (TUE 2105) - 7.39 - ITV1
18 EMMERDALE (THU 1902) - 7.34 - ITV1
19 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (MON 2100) - 7.28 - ITV1
20 THE APPRENTICE (WED 2100) - 7.09 - BBC1

Top Twenty Multichannel

1 EASTENDERS (Tue 2200) 952,000 - BBC3
2 F1: QUALIFYING (Sat 1731) 861,000 - ITV4
3 HOME AND AWAY (Wed 1829) 828,000 - Five Life
4 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2001) 820,000 - BBC3
5 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT (Wed 2229) 799,000 - ITV2
6 HOME AND AWAY (Thu 1829) 760,000 - Five Life
7 HOME AND AWAY (Fri 1829) 742,000 - Five Life
8 DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL (Sat 2002) 737,000 - BBC3
9 HOLLYOAKS (Wed 1859) 693,000 - E4 In
10 HOME AND AWAY (Tue 1829) 685,000 - Five Life
11 HOME AND AWAY (Mon 1829) 669,000 - Five Life
12 EUROPEAN U21 CHAMPIONSHIP (Thu 1923) 654,000 - Sky Sports
13 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT (Sun 2235) 652,000 - ITV2
14 THE SIMPSONS (Sun 1831) 643,000 - Sky 1
15 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT (Tue 2229) 612,000 - ITV2
16 SUPERNATURAL (Sun 2101) 609,000 ITV2
17 HOLLYOAKS (Thu 1859) 598,000 E4 In
18 FILM: RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (Sat 2147) 577,000 BBC3
19 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT (Thu 2230) 575,000 ITV2
20 60 SECONDS (Sun 1959) 558,000 BBC3

Source: BARB





FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

DW And Torchwood Help Boost BBC ProfitsBookmark and Share

Thursday, 28 June 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Overseas sales of Doctor Who and Torchwood have helped give BBC Worldwide record profits.

The corporation said today that its commercial arm enjoyed record pre-tax profits of 111.1m pounds - a rise of 24 per cent on 89.4m pounds.

A report by BBC News says total sales to March 31 rose from 785.1m pounds to 810.4m.

It adds that Doctor Who and Torchwood were among the notable success stories.

The story is illustrated with a still from The Runaway Bride, with the caption saying more than 1.9 million Doctor Who DVDs have been sold across the globe.

However, losses from digital media widened from 1.6m to 3.9m.

Income from the sale of BBC content and its other commercial ventures goes back into programme-making.

Also reported by Media Guardian (free registration may be required) andDigital Spy.

According to reports, Series Two of Doctor Who and the BBC's revival of Robin Hood, which co-stars Sam Troughton, grandson of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, were two of the best-selling programmes.

Meanwhile, the Independent published an article on Sunday which examined the budget issues the BBC is facing after an expected 2bn pound deficit from the licence fee. Entitled "Who will be exterminated as the Beeb slices back?", the item mentions that Director General, Mark Thompson is resisting across-the-board cuts but could be overidden by the BBC Trust.

The trust has been presented with a number of options for the future, which include "cutting entire services, making thousands more staff redundant, slashing expenditure on lowbrow daytime television shows and slicing budgets across the corporation.

"Headline proposals include merging the six and 10 o'clock news on BBC 1 with the rolling news channel BBC News 24, and making fewer hours of original dramas like Dr Who, Torchwood and Hustle."

FOOTNOTE: The chief executive of BBC Worldwide is called John Smith . . .

(Additional reporting by Chuck Foster)





FILTER: - Press

Canada: Doctor Who pre-empted July 2nd, Gridlock delayed one weekBookmark and Share

Thursday, 28 June 2007 - Reported by Mike Doran

On Monday July 2nd Doctor Who will be pre-empted by the CBC.

The schedule change is due to the network-wide broadcast from Edmonton of a live match from the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The tournament is being hosted by Canada.

New Doctor Who will return on Monday July 9th with Gridlock.




FILTER: - Canada - Series 3/29 - Broadcasting