New image released of the DoctorBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 31 July 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have released a new image of the Doctor, as played by Jodie Whittaker.

'On top of the world...' Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor (Credit: Steve Schofield/BBC)
"On Top of The World" - BBC Doctor Who on Instagram




FILTER: - BBC - Jodie Whittaker - Publicity - series 11/37

Doctors Meet at London Comic ConBookmark and Share

Monday, 30 July 2018 - Reported by Marcus

Multi-Doctor stories featuring the Ninth Doctor may be the stuff of comics and fan fiction, but but attendees at this year's London Film and Comic Con got the next best thing when the timelines of the actors crossed as they were attending the convention.

The 3-day event saw apperances by all past living Doctors bar the seventh, with Christopher Eccleston undertaking his first signing commitments at a convention event.

It was while Eccleston was being moved around the arena he passed Doctor number Eleven Matt Smith resulting in a heartfelt meeting between the two actors, captured for posterity by surrounding fans.

The Ninth Doctor also met Doctor number Twelve Peter Capaldi coming out of a lift, resulting in a hug between the two men.

Christopher Eccleston was asked to feature in the 50th anniversary story The Day of the Doctor, but the actor decided not to appear, resulting in the show runner Steven Moffat creating the character of the War Doctor.

Fans still have hopes that one day the actor will return to the series — maybe for the sixtieth anniversary?

 




FILTER: - Eleventh Doctor - Ninth Doctor - Twelfth Doctor

Alan Bennion 1930-2018Bookmark and Share

Sunday, 29 July 2018 - Reported by Marcus
Monster of Peladon (Credit: BBC)The actor Alan Bennion has died at the age of 88.

Alan Bennion appeared in 13 episodes of Doctor Who, playing Ice Lords in three serials featuring the Ice Warriors.

He first played Slaar, the leader of the Ice Warriors in the 1969 second Doctor story The Seeds of Death. He returned to the series in 1972 playing Izlyr, the Ice Warrior delegate to Peladon alongside the third Doctor, in The Curse of Peladon. His final appearance as a martian came in 1974 when he played Azaxyr. the leader of the Galactic Federation troops, sent to Peladon in the story The Monster of Peladon

Other television roles included playing The Scorpion in Sexton Blake, the Magistrate in Oliver Twist and Ted Williams in Juliet Bravo. He appeared in A Family at War, Z Cars, The Gentle Touch and Sorry!.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Obituary

Comic-Con Panel With Jodie WhittakerBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 - Reported by Marcus
The BBC has released a recording of the full Doctor Who panel at this year's Comic-Con International at San Diego.

The panel featured new Doctor Jodie Whittaker alongside two of her Doctor Who co-stars Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill as well as showrunner Chris Chibnall and Executive Producer Matt Strevens.

FULL Comic-Con Panel | Doctor Who




FILTER: - Jodie Whittaker - Thirteenth Doctor

Land Of The BlindBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Land Of The Blind (Credit: Panini)The latest collection of comic-strip adventures from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine features the first five Doctors and their companions, plus a special Dalek story.

Land of the Blind also includes exclusive new material revealing how the strips were created, with contributions from the writers and artists, plus never-before-seen images.

The stories include:
Cover art by David A Roach and James Offredi.

Land of the Blind is available now in paperback, published by Panini UK.




FILTER: - Books

The War Master Returns for Big FinishBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 - Reported by Marcus
The War Master: The Master of Callous (Credit: Big Finish)Sir Derek Jacobi is reprising his role as the Master, in an on-going four series special from Big Finish Productions.

After appearing originally in just one television episode of Doctor Who: Utopia back in 2007 alongside David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and John Barrowman, in a few fleeting minutes Derek Jacobi’s incarnation of the Doctor’s arch nemesis made an unforgettable impression on viewers.

Big Finish were delighted to bring Derek Jacobi back as the Master for a set of four adventures last year in the critically acclaimed The War Master: Only the Good, and are now overjoyed to confirm that he’ll return for another three series.

The second series, The War Master: The Master of Callous sees the Master in a brand new four-part adventures, furthering his exploits in the Time War.

On the mining colony Callous, Elliot King struggles to meet the demands of its governor, Teremon. The odds are stacked against him, and his options are running low. The world that once promised dreams now offers only despair.

A wild Ood stalks the forests, carrying an antiquated phone. The caller promises much – he claims he can change the world – but he always speaks a devastating truth. He is the Master and the Ood will obey him... but to what end?
  1. Call for the Dead by James Goss
  2. The Glittering Prize by James Goss
  3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams
  4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams
Nicholas Briggs, executive producer and script editor of the series, told us more on this new arc of stories:
As we travel further with the Master through the Time War, there are epic implications as well as very personal stories. There’s a distinctly dark and mystical feel to some of the episodes, but ultimately we discover that the Master laid some truly dastardly plans before it all started, and that his warped ambition knows no bounds.

It’s been such a pleasure script editing this series. Working closely with producer Scott Handcock, my aim has been to create a balance of the epic and the deeply personal.
Scott Handcock, producer and director of The War Master series:
Even before we finished recording The War Master: Only The Good, Derek had told us how much he wanted to come back, and another series of brand-new adventures for the War Master got an instant green light!

We’ve some really exciting stories in store over the next three box sets, kicking off with The Master of Callous by James Goss and Guy Adams, which also features the return of the subservient Ood. It’s a grand four part masterplan, and I can’t wait for people to hear it come December!
Executive Producer, Jason Haigh-Ellery, adds
Derek Jacobi was amazing in the first series of The War Master,” says “His Master appears at first to be a supportive and friendly Time Lord who wants to help those around him – but there is an underlying malevolent desire for carnage. Derek’s Master’s ruthless desire to win his own game at all costs makes this the Hannibal Lecter regeneration (a part Derek auditioned for) and is truly terrifying.


The War Master: The Master of Callous kicks off the next set of adventures in December 2018.

Series three, The War Master: Rage of the Time Lords will follow in July 2019 written by Tim Foley and David Llewellyn, and series four, The War Master: Anti-Genesis written by Nicholas Briggs and Alan Barnes will complete the saga in December 2019.

All four series can be pre-ordered individually for £20 on download or £23 on CD, or you can save money in a specially-priced War Master bundle with all four series at £80 on download or £90 on CD. If you’ve previously purchased The War Master: Only the Good, you can get series 2–4 at £60 on CD or £68 on download.




FILTER: - Audio - Big Finish

Doctor Who Magazine 528Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The next issue of Doctor Who Magazine is due in the shops on Thursday 26th July, and features an exclusive interview with new lead writer Chris Chibnall and the preparations that took place to reveal Jodie Whittaker as the new Doctor to the world last year. Recalling his anxiety:

Doctor Who Magazine 528 (Credit: Doctor Who Magazine)In my mind I’m thinking: are we really doing this? A secret shoot, with only nine people involved? Will this work? Can we reveal the new Doctor this way? Are the BBC really going to put it out during the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final? Is it crazy? Will people even watch or notice? (Turns out, the answer to all those questions is yes).

Somewhere on a train, Jodie Whittaker is making her way towards us, having told people she’s off to make a low budget Scandinavian film this weekend.

Recce done, we hole up in a hotel. Some of us are checked in under fake names, I can’t work out whether that’s for security, or because we’re all enjoying the cloak and dagger. When I go to check in, I forget my fake name. I’m not very good at this.

The hotel is quiet. Great. As we walk across reception we notice lots of champagne glasses. The staff explain: preparations for the massive wedding reception that’s going to be happening tonight. Right. Uh-oh.

To get to the car tomorrow, Jodie will have to walk through this big reception, where the hungover wedding guests will be checking out in the morning. How do we get the new Doctor from her room to the car park, in the costume she’s wearing for the shoot, without anyone spotting? We’re just going to have to style it out.

Sunday morning. Jo Pearce (Social and Digital genius) has gone out early, done a dry run driving from the hotel to the location checking the route. And she comes back alarmed: there’s a Velothon on the route! Some of the roads are closed! Her brilliantly planned shortest possible route from hotel to location won’t work. What’s more, the car will be passing hundreds of cyclists. What if we have to stop at traffic lights? What if somebody looks in and sees the new Doctor? Hopefully Velothon cyclists will have other things to think about. We manage to smuggle the new Doctor into the back of Jo’s car. Hood up in the back, like she’s cosplaying The Matrix, sandwiched between two others.

The week rolls towards the Wimbledon final. Calls are made. Who needs to know the identity of the new Doctor before the rest of the world? Most importantly, Peter Capaldi. We set a time, I call him…

The full story revealing more details about the secrecy that went on, how the shoot happened and who else received those all-important calls is in the new issue.

Other highlights include:
  • A visit to the archive of Doctor Who writer and script editor Douglas Adams
  • Peter Purves answers questions from the TARDIS tin
  • The untold story of Sky Ray ice lollies and Doctor Who, with images of rare 1960s memorabilia
  • Behind the scenes on IDW’s distinctive range of American Doctor Who comics
  • Graphic designer Lee Binding reveals what went into the packaging for the Season 12 Blu-ray box set
  • The Time Team tackles three of Doctor Who’s most controversial episodes
  • The Fact of Fiction explores the 2017 story Empress of Mars
  • Seventh Doctor cosplay with Jamie Lenman
  • Part Five of The Clockwise War, a new comic strip adventure featuring the Doctor and Bill
  • Previews, audio reviews, news, The Blogs of Doom, prize-winning competitions and much more!

As reported last week, subscribers to the magazine will receive an exclusive 'clear' cover version of the magazine.





FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

The Women Who LivedBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 24 July 2018 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived (Credit: BBC Books)This September, BBC Books will publish Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived, an illustrated collection of inspiring tales of the women of Doctor Who. It will be the first official book published to accompany the new series, celebrating Jodie Whittaker’s debut as the Thirteenth Doctor.

Written by Christel Dee, former presenter of Doctor Who: The Fan Show, and Simon Guerrier, the book will feature more than 75 inspiring tales of remarkable women of the Whoniverse, both real and imagined. From historical figures such as Agatha Christie and Queen Victoria to fan favourites like Bill Potts and River Song, each woman has made a unique contribution to the world of Doctor Who. Whether they’re facing down Daleks or thwarting a Nestene invasion, these women don’t hang around waiting to be rescued – they roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. Scientists and soldiers, queens and canteen workers, women from outlandish science-fiction and those steeped in real history, they don’t let anything hold them back.

Illustrated throughout with specially-commissioned artwork by a team of female artists – including Gwen Burns, Valentina Mozzo, Sonia Leong, and more – the book also features new companion Yasmin, and an extended entry on the Doctor herself.

Albert DePetrillo, BBC Books Publishing Director, says
We thought long and hard about which book would start our publishing programme for Jodie Whittaker’s first series of Doctor Who – and Christel and Simon’s book is the perfect choice. It’s bold and fresh in its approach, it makes a strong statement, it’s beautifully written, and stunning in its design. It represents everything we love about Doctor Who, and we couldn’t be happier to be publishing The Women Who Lived on the BBC Books list.
Christel Dee says
With Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor arriving this autumn, we thought this would be the perfect time to reflect upon the wealth of incredible female characters from Doctor Who’s 55 year history – because there are so many! We hope the stories in this book will inspire a whole new generation of fans and existing fans too.
Simon Guerrier says
We hope this offers a fresh perspective on the history of Doctor Who, a chance to celebrate the richness of past episodes as well as looking forward to the series’ exciting future. I thought I knew Doctor Who backwards, but we discovered loads of new things in our research for the book.
Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived: Amazing Tales for Future Time Lords will be published on 27th September in hardback, priced £16.99.

Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived (Credit: BBC Books)Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived (Credit: BBC Books)Doctor Who: The Women Who Lived (Credit: BBC Books)




FILTER: - Books - Thirteenth Doctor

Doctor Who Escape RoomsBookmark and Share

Monday, 23 July 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Escape Rooms (Credit: Escape Hunt)BBC Studios and Escape Hunt have announced that Doctor Who-themed live escape rooms will be appearing around the United Kingdom in December.

Mat Way, Global Director of Live Entertainment at BBC Studios, said:
It has been a long-term ambition of the team to be able to bring about Doctor Who-themed escape rooms. Our main role here at BBC Studios is to continually extend the fans enjoyment of our brands, and so to be announcing six new live entertainment games across the country to fans is something really exciting.

Richard Harpham, CEO Escape Hunt PLC, said:
Following the success of our original Escape Hunt games, we are thrilled to be partnering with BBC Studios to create Doctor Who - The Live Escape Game. Going on an Escape Hunt is all about stepping into and experiencing new worlds so strength in the science fiction genre is absolutely key to our content strategy. Doctor Who represents the very best in British action adventure and has a loyal and dedicated fan base that spans all generations. We look forward to bringing the show to life for all of them in its first ever live escape game experience at Escape Hunt venues across the UK.

Launching at the Bristol Escape Hunt venue in December, further rooms are due to open in Birmingham, Leeds, Oxford and Reading during 2019. More details can be found from the Escape Hunt website.




FILTER: - Special Events - UK

Clear covers for DWM SubscribersBookmark and Share

Friday, 20 July 2018 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Magazine (Credit: DWM)Having experimented with covers without text back in 2016, Doctor Who Magazine have now announced that these variant covers will become a standard feature of subscribers' copies of the magazine as of the next edition, Issue 528.







FILTER: - DWM