Audio producers Big Finish have announced that actor James Marsters will be reprising his role as Captain John for a brand new Torchwood adventure alongside Captain Jack Harkness, as played by John Barrowman.
Marsters, also known for his role as Spike in TV shows Buffy and Angel, was last seen in the Torchwood Series 2 finale in 2008 and has returned to wreak havoc in the new release coming next year, The Death of Captain Jack. Producer James Goss comments:
“The Death of Captain Jack is just naughty! It was a joy to get James Marsters back in, and, once again, Captain John romps through Torchwood like a demented clown.
If you’ve ever wondered what Torchwood would be like with Captain John at the helm, wonder no more. Nothing from the world of Torchwood emerges unspoiled – and that includes Queen Victoria, and Ianto’s dress sense!”
Captain Jack is finally dying, and it’s time for his oldest friend to visit his deathbed. King John has come to tell him a story. The story of the life he should have had.
It’s the story of Alexander the Great, sinking ships, falling empires, robot dinosaurs, and alien invasions. It’s a story of love, royal weddings, murder, mass murder, genocide, and very tight trousers.
It’s the story of the life of Captain John and it’s the story of Torchwood. Be careful what you wish for.
James Marsters is joined by John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), Kai Owen (Rhys Williams), Tom Price (Andy Davidson) and many more.
Doctor Who Magazine – issue 516 out now, – features an exclusive interview with the Thirteen Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker.
Whittaker has been discussing what it means to be cast as the Doctor, she told DWM:
“Chris [Chibnall, new Doctor Who showrunner] wouldn’t have cast me as the Doctor because he wanted me to repeat anything that had gone before. And I think as a fan you don’t want to watch something that’s an imitation of something that’s gone before. Or what would be the point of recasting?”
Jodie was announced last month as the new Doctor and will maker her debut in the 2017 Doctor Who Christmas Special, Twice Upon A Time. She adds:
“I never thought this opportunity would come.
I’m very aware that this is an honour. I would never want anyone to think that I’m underwhelmed by this, because I’m certainly not. In fact I’m completely overwhelmed by it. Of course I’m not ‘it’ yet – Peter [Capaldi] is still the Doctor. But I’m incredibly excited about the fun and opportunity that’s out there. I feel like a kid in a toy shop. I feel like I’m five years old.
“In a good way – not a terrifying way!”
You can read the full interview in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine which also includes a preview of the new book from former showrunner Russell T Davies, a look behind-the-scenes of Doctor Who’s monsters with Millennium FX, and much more.
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 516 is on sale now!
Former showrunner in ‘conversation’ for Doctor Who book release
Next month sees the release of the new Doctor Who book of Time Lord verse, Now We Are Six Hundred from former showrunner Russell T Davies and author James Goss.
To celebrate the release of the book, Russell and James will be attending a special event in London – for full info click here.
The pair have a lifelong love of Doctor Who – Russell revived the series in 2005, and James has adapted the work of Douglas Adams. They’ve now found a whole new way of looking at the Doctor, in this charmingly-illustrated collection of funny and whimsical poetry.
Davies and Goss will be joined by the presenter of hit YouTube series Doctor Who: The Fan Show, Christel Dee, as they discuss poetry, Daleks, Cybermen and all things close to a Who fan’s heart(s).
This exclusive event takes place: 7-8pm, September 13, 2017 at The Auditorium at Foyles, Level 6, 107 Charing Cross Road, London.
A WORLDWIDE phenomenon is coming to Leigh for the first time.
Dr Who stars John Leeson, Rosie Jane and Jon Davey will be among the famous faces at the Comic-Con event at Leigh Leisure Centre on Saturday, November 25.
Comic book conventions have steadily grown in popularity since Comic-Con International was launched in San Diego in 1970 and now imitation events are held across the globe.
They attract the some of the biggest names in film and TV as special guests.
The inaugural event in Leigh is being organised by North West Comic-Con and will include talks surrounding Marvel and DC comics as well as independent artists showcasing their work.
Event organiser Paul Prescott said: “We have decided to bring Comic-Con to Leigh because we have had a lot of people from the town coming to our events in Wigan and Bolton so we know there is interest.
“We hope it will prove to be a hit which becomes an annual event like our others.”
Based inside Leigh Sports Village, the leisure centre will host a cosplay competition on the day with a prize going to the best comic book inspired outfit.
A retro computer museum will give gamers the chance to play on 20 consoles from previous generations, such as the ZX Spectrum and Sega Megadrive.
There will also be 10 classic arcade games available on the day.
Props from film and TV shows will be on display and there will be opportunities to have photographs taken with the famous guests.
For example visitors can have their picture taken with John Leeson, his character K-9 and the iconic police box Tardis.
Tickets for the event start from £6, with family passes available for £18.
We’re excited to announce Hank’s brand new album ‘Without A Word’ was released on the 2nd June 2017 on CD, Vinyl and digital. Featuring 14 new recordings, including some of Hank’s favourite songs (he’d wish he’d personally written)
1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
2. Michelle
3. Alfie
4. Theme From ‘Poirot’
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight
6. Russian Doll
7. Peter Gunn/Baby Elephant Walk
8. Moon River 9. Doctor Who Theme
10. What A Wonderful World
11. Cry Me A River
12. The Fool On The Hill
13. America
14. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
It’s available to order from amazon right now, links below:
Earlier this year at The Capitol II Doctor Who fans helped raise over £1400 after tax relief to support an ongoing project run out of Muswell Hill Methodist Church. It provides accommodation and assistance for Syrian Refugees in the UK who have escaped the conflict in that sad country. Peter Capaldi and his wife Elaine lead one of the (secular) groups on the project.
Following this, Peter has kindly donated a unique item for auction – his suitably annotated rehearsal script for the episode ‘Listen’ along with some other twelfth Doctor items.
Bids for these are now open at the DWAS eBay site and we hope you will find time to take a look and maybe make a bid yourself. If you cannot afford to do that we have some other items there you can buy and still support the project.
The casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor in Doctor Who is a significant milestone, with the Broadchurch star set to portray the first female incarnation of the regenerating character from this year’s Christmas special.
However, it has emerged that Whittaker doesn’t believe the Doctor will fundamentally change.
“I never thought this opportunity would come,” Whittaker said in a new interview with Doctor Who Magazine.
“It is the first time a woman’s played it, but in a way it’s not a woman playing the part, is it? It’s a brand new body, and the body happens to be female.”
She added: “It’s not about redefining it away from anything that’s gone before, but this is a brand-new journey for me and for everyone.”
Whittaker’s comments are in line with series canon, where Time Lords have been described to have a more enlightened attitude when it comes to gender.
“We’re the most civilised civilisation in the universe,” Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor told companion Bill (Pearl Mackie) in series 10 episode World Enough and Time.
“We’re billions of years beyond your petty human obsession with gender and its associated stereotypes.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Whittaker also compared her experience creating the new Doctor with the performances of Doctors past, suggesting that her version will be just as unique as the Time Lord’s previous incarnations.
“One of the best things about the role is that all the other Doctors have brought so many exciting elements to it,” she said.
“It’s brand new each time, and there aren’t those rules in place that say you have to behave like this or speak like that. That’s so liberating and exciting for me as an actor.
“I have the ultimate freedom in approaching the role – the same freedom that every previous Doctor has had.”
Personally, we can’t wait to see what she comes up with. Only 4 months to go…
Doctor Who returns to BBC1 this Christmas
LETHBRIDGE-STEWART: THE LEGEND CONTINUES: The LUCY WILSON MYSTERIES
Award-winning independent publisher Candy Jar Books is publishing a new series of novels, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries. A spin-off from Candy Jar’s Lethbridge-Stewart range, Lucy Wilson will likewise feature fully licensed characters and concepts from the BBC’s beloved Doctor Who.
Eleven-year-old Lucy Wilson doesn’t want to move from London to sleepy Ogmore-by-Sea in south Wales. But when she arrives in her new seaside home, it isn’t as boring as she expected. The village is under the control of a mysterious alien force, and it falls to Lucy and her new friend, Hobo, to stop it.
Lucy is a new character in the Doctor Who universe, but she has illustrious heritage. She is the granddaughter of the iconic Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, one of Doctor Who’s longest running characters. The Brigadier, as he is known to fans, was played by the late Nicholas Courtney, whose death in 2011 prompted the show to pay tribute to him in the series finale, The Wedding of River Song.
So far Candy Jar Books Lethbridge-Stewart series has continued on from the BBC’s Web of Fear, taking place in the 1970s period known as Doctor Who’s “classic era”.
But three years into the series, Shaun Russell, head of publishing, thought the time was right to broaden the Brig’s horizons. He says: “The great thing about Doctor Who is that it appeals to adults and children alike. There’s something for everybody to explore, from The Sarah Jane Adventures for the very young, to Torchwood for those a bit older. Lethbridge-Stewart’s last appearance in any Doctor Who media was, in fact, in The Sarah Jane Adventures. I’m sure that sent a lot of kids back to the classic series to see what all the fuss about. And once you’re a fan of that, you’re generally a fan for life.
“The Brig is such a fundamental part of classic Doctor Who, but after Nicholas Courtney’s death, he’s naturally become less a part of the ongoing programme. We thought that, with the Lucy Wilson series, we could ensure his legacy continues into the modern day – at the same time hopefully sending young fans back to the classics! This is why we have decided to pit Lucy up against the iconic Great Intelligence.”
Not only is the Great Intelligence making a guest appearance, but so does the Brigadier and a couple of other characters well known to fans of the Lethbridge-Stewart range of books, and The Web of Fear.
Not that Lucy needs much help. A modern girl with strong values and opinions, she’s dauntless, loyal and whip smart – qualities long embodied by the Doctor himself. Jodie Whittaker’s recent casting as the first ever female Doctor has spotlighted the positive example the character provides young viewers. It is a tradition Candy Jar wanted to continue with its own contributions to the Who universe.
Sue Hampton, author of two previous Lethbridge-Stewart stories, says: “I’m sure that the new Doctor will defeat her enemies with smarts and ingenuity – and with the help of her friends. It’s great for kids to have someone like this as their role model. They’re the values of the show. And while she’s very much her own girl, we see Lucy as embodying similar traits. We hope young readers will find her just as inspiring.”
The book has been endorsed by Eggheads presenter and Radio 2 DJ Jeremy Vine. He says: “A great read – brilliant characters and a plot that keeps surprising you. Sue Hampton writes in three dimensions! Avatars of the Intelligence draws you in from the very first page.”
The cover art is by Steve Beckett, a freelance writer and illustrator who has contributed artwork for the UK’s longest running children’s weekly comic The Beano, including The Bash Street Kids, General Jumbo and Bully Beef and Chips. He says: “I am very excited to have contributed to the expanding Lethbridge-Stewart universe. Shaun contacted me because he was familiar with my work for The Beano. He wanted something that could appeal to the young and adults alike. Hopefully I have achieved this. I have certainly grown quite fond of the characters and I look forward to hopefully drawing them again very soon.”
Avatars of the Intelligence by Sue Hampton is available for pre-order exclusively for fans until the end of September, with dispatch shortly thereafter. The commercial release of the book will be early next year.
BLURB:
Lucy Wilson doesn’t want to move from London to sleepy south Wales. But when she arrives at her new seaside home, it doesn’t appear to be as boring as she expected.
Ogmore-by-Sea seems to be under the control of a mysterious and powerful force. But why is Lucy its target? And why, when students at her new school start to disappear, does no one seem to care?
With the help of her new friend Hobo, Lucy Wilson must assume the mantle of her grandfather, the legendary Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and defeat an invisible enemy before it’s too late.
The Lucy Wilson Mysteries is a Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off adventure and features licensed characters created for Doctor Who by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln.
A 1960s companion, Ben Jackson will be reborn alongside David Bradley’s First Doctor
The big draw for this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special (apart from, you know, that whole regeneration thing) is the casting of David Bradley.
The Harry Potter and Game of Thrones actor takes over the role of the first Doctor from original series star William Hartnell. Of course, Bradley previously played Hartnell himself in An Adventure in Space and Time, the 2013 drama that went behind the scenes of the creation of the show. So we have already seen him in the costume delivering classic lines, albeit as an actor playing a role.
But now Bradley is playing the actual character of the First Doctor – marking the first time fans have seen the earliest incarnation of the Time Lord for decades. And it turns out he’s not the only classic series character we’ll get to meet.
You see, while we already knew that Kingsman’s Lily Travers was taking over the role of Polly (originally played by Anneke Wills) it’s now been revealed that the First Doctor’s other companion at the time of his regeneration – Michael Craze’s Ben Jackson – is also making a comeback.
(Are you keeping up? Good.)
In a report first printed in Doctor Who magazine and then confirmed by the actor himself on Twitter, it’s been announced that Jared Garfield – best known for playing Nathan Nightingale in Hollyoaks – will take on the role of Ben, joining Bradley and Travers for scenes rumoured to be set during the time of final Hartnell adventure The Tenth Planet (with the episode trailer suggesting some scenes will be remade exactly).
Unlike Bradley, neither Garfield or Travers have portrayed versions of these characters before Anneke Wills and Michael Craze were played by Ellie Spicer and Robin Varley in An Adventure in Space and Time – but based on their past experience we’re sure they’ll do them justice.
And in any case, it’s possible we won’t see Ben and Polly much in the special anyway, as the Tenth Planet had them mainly fending for themselves while the Doctor was ill. (In reality, this was a workaround for Hartnell’s poor health at the time).
Meanwhile this story seems to be focusing on Bradley and Peter Capaldi’s Doctors away from the companions, banding together against unknown dangers, perhaps explaining the First Doctor’s absence from the original story.
But however much we see them, it’s nice to know that Doctor Who will deliver old-school charm in a brand new package, and isn’t that what the rebooted series is all about?
Doctor Who returns to BBC1 this Christmas
THE DALEKS & SURVIVAL HEAD TO VINYL FROM SILVA SCREEN RECORDS THIS AUTUMN
A pioneer in the field of electronic music, Tristram Cary served as a wartime naval officer specialising in radar and electronics. He combined a career at the cutting edge of experimental music with works for cinema (The Ladykillers), television and radio. The Daleks made their debut in Doctor Who just before Christmas 1963 and Cary’s music was composed to script as a number of atmospheric pieces for specific scenes and situations. These were then played live into the studio recording, alongside effects tracks. This release of the soundtrack expands on a previous issue and includes music from all seven episodes plus unreleased material and extended cues.
Released 15th of September 2017 on CD/DD Vinyl to follow in October.
Prolific composer Dominic Glynn is closely associated with the 1980s era of Doctor Who. A major creator of production music his work can also be heard in hundreds of film and TV productions worldwide as diverse as The Simpsons, Red Dwarf and Dead Like Me. Transmitted in late 1989, Survival marked the end of an era for Doctor Who, the final series from a continuous 26 year run. A few tracks from the series appeared on the Doctor Who 50 compilation but the rest are all previously unreleased.
Released 15th of September 2017 on CD/DD Vinyl to follow in October.
