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Month: February 2018

William Hartnell’s script for Doctor Who’s first ever episode is now up for auction

William Hartnell’s script for Doctor Who’s first ever episode is now up for auction

A rare piece of Doctor Who history is now up for auction.

William Hartnell’s (aka The First Doctor) personal script for the first ever episode of the iconic show is up for bids, estimated at between £5,000 and £8,000, according to Antiques Trade Gazette.

Doctor Who and the Tribe of Gum (the working title for the show’s first episode) was written by Anthony Coburn, and was previously featured on Antiques Roadshow.

Interestingly, Hartnell’s 1963 script features the blue markings of annotations, and was discovered by the grandfather of the vendor while refurbishing the late actor’s flat.

The script is up for auction through Aston’s Auctioneers of Dudley in the West Midlands on May 3, and it is not the only one going either.

A Welsh auction house is offering original scripts for unaired Tom Baker-era serial Shada, written by Douglas Adams, and they are going for between £200 and £400.

'Doctor Who', 'The Daleks' (1963)

Hartnell’s First Doctor recently featured in the Doctor Who Christmas special, played uncannily by David Bradley as we said goodbye to Peter Capaldi’s incarnation of the Time Lord and hello to Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor.

As well as finally putting a female Doctor in the TARDIS, it looks like the new series of the show will have much more female writing talent too.

BBC drama head Piers Wenger confirmed this week that several episodes of series 11 will be penned by female writers, explaining: “Having a diverse team on that show feels appropriate, important and essential.”

Doctor Who will return later this year on BBC One.

Former Doctor Who star Peter Miles dies, aged 89

Former Doctor Who star Peter Miles dies, aged 89

Former Doctor Who star Peter Miles has died at age 89.

The wider-reaching Doctor Who community of former cast members and super-fans have been sharing remembrances of the late English actor since the sad announcement of his passing was made on Twitter on Tuesday (February 27).

That tweet read: “It is with great sadness that I have to inform you Peter passed away peaceful at home, last week at the age of 89. He didn’t suffer & was full of his usual love of life last time we spoke.

“Thank you all for your interest in Peter, it meant a lot to him, he was always touched.”

Miles portrayed multiple characters in Doctor Who over the show’s storied history, although he most memorably played Davros’ trusted henchman Nyder in the classic serial ‘Genesis of the Daleks’. Watch a clip below:

Through the years, he’d also had supporting Doctor Who roles in the Pertwee-era serials ‘Doctor Who and the Silurians’ and ‘Invasion of the Dinosaurs’ as well.

Later, Miles carried on his connection to the Whoniverse through his voice work in associated radio dramas like 1993’s 30th anniversary special ‘The Paradise of Death’, the ‘I, Davros’ series and the Sarah Jane Smith audio episodes.

Among those paying tribute to him was Third Doctor-era companion Katy Manning, who called Miles “a truly lovely man & a fine actor” on Twitter.

Terry Molloy, who played Davros on-screen in ‘Resurrection of the Daleks’ and other late-’80s TV serials as well as Big Finish’s I, Davros audio dramas, wrote: “So sad to hear that Peter has gone. Such a lovely funny man. We giggled a lot when we worked on ‘I Davros’. Sleep well Nyder!”

BRIGADIER BAMBERA FROM DOCTOR WHO INTERVIEWED FOR MYTH MAKERS!

BRIGADIER BAMBERA FROM DOCTOR WHO INTERVIEWED FOR MYTH MAKERS!

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MYTH MAKERS with ANGELA BRUCE filmed on location at Rutland Water!

Reeltime Pictures spent a marvellous day at Rutland Water on Sunday with Ollie Hardaker (Production Assistant), Denise Yarde (Sound), Sophie Henderson (Aldred) – with her husband Vince Henderson – and, of course, the utterly wonderful Angela Bruce!

Brigadier Bambera was on top form as we travelled around hotels and locations used in the Doctor Who story Battlefield.

NEW DOCTOR WHO ‘TARGET’ STYLE NOVELISATIONS ON THE WAY

NEW DOCTOR WHO ‘TARGET’ STYLE NOVELISATIONS ON THE WAY

Doctor Who novelisations

April sees a whole new range of novelisations of Doctor Who television episodes in the style of the classic ‘Target’ book range.

The five new releases see the debut Doctor Who novelisations from former Doctor Who showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat. The books are also the first novelisations of the show’s post-2005 era.

During the ‘classic’ era of Doctor Who, Target novelisations of episodes were regularly released with almost every story being adapted. For three decades this series of books delighted Whovians with exciting adventures and iconic cover artwork.

Check out the details and cover art below.


ROSE

By Russell T Davies

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.

PRE-ORDER HERE.

ROSE


THE CHRISTMAS INVASION

By Jenny T Colgan

When a British space probe is intercepted by a sinister alien vessel on the eve of Christmas, it marks the beginning of an audacious invasion of the Earth by the Sycorax – horrifying marauders from beyond the stars. Within hours, a third of humanity stands on the brink of death with not a single shot fired.

Our planet needs a champion – but the Doctor is not fit for service. He’s just regenerated, delirious in a new body and a dressing gown. Forced into his battered shoes is his friend, Rose Tyler, a girl from a London council estate. Will she save the world from this nightmare before Christmas – or see it destroyed?

PRE-ORDER HERE.

THE CHRISTMAS INVASION


THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR

By Steven Moffat

The Tenth Doctor is hunting shape-shifting Zygons in Elizabethan England. The Eleventh is investigating a rift in space-time in the present day. And one other – the man they used to be but never speak of – is fighting the Daleks in the darkest days of the Time War. Driven by demons and despair, this battle-scarred Doctor is set to take a devastating decision that will threaten the survival of the entire universe … a decision that not even a Time Lord can take alone.

On this day, the Doctor’s different incarnations will come together to save the Earth … to save the universe … and to save his soul.

PRE-ORDER HERE.

THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR


TWICE UPON A TIME

By Paul Cornell

Still reeling from his encounter with the Cybermen, the First Doctor stumbles through the bitter Antarctic wind, resisting the approaching regeneration with all his strength. But as he fights his way through the snowdrifts, he comes across the familiar shape of a blue police box, and a mysterious figure who introduces himself as the Doctor …

Thrown together at their most vulnerable moments, the two Doctors must discover why the snowflakes are suspended in the sky, why a First World War Captain has been lifted from his time stream moments before his death, and who is the mysterious Glass Woman who knows their true name.

The Doctor is reunited with Bill, but is she all she seems? And can he hold out against the coming regeneration?

PRE-ORDER HERE.


CITY OF DEATH

By James Goss

Visiting Paris in 1979, the Doctor and Romana’s hopes for a holiday are soon shattered by armed thugs, a suave and dangerous Count, a plot to steal the Mona Lisa and a world-threatening experiment with time.

Teaming up with a British detective, the Time Lords discover that a ruthless alien plot hatched in Earth’s pre-history has reached its final stage. If Scaroth, last of the Jagaroth, cannot be stopped then the human race is history, along with all life on Earth …

PRE-ORDER HERE.


All titles are released on April 5, 2018

All 53 episodes of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures are now free to watch on BBC iPlayer

All 53 episodes of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures are now free to watch on BBC iPlayer

While we’re counting down the days until Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the Doctor gets going later this year, the BBC has given Doctor Who fans a little something to occupy their time.

Or 53 somethings rather, as every single episode of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures is now available to watch – for free – on BBC iPlayer.

The series follows the adventures of investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, the Doctor’s former companion who appeared in Doctor Who between 1973 and 1976 alongside Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor and Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor.

It was created by Russell T Davies and premiered in 2007, running for five seasons before it was cancelled in 2011 following the death of Sarah Jane actress Elisabeth Sladen.

Sarah Jane and the Tenth Doctor

During the series’ run, Sarah Jane Adventures featured guest roles from a few Doctor Whocharacters too, including both the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, played by David Tennant and Matt Smith respectively.

The series also featured new companion Bradley Walsh’s first role in the Doctor Whouniverse, appearing in the show’s second-season episode ‘The Day of the Clown’.

Bradley will now star in the main Doctor Who series as a character called Graham, alongside Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor and fellow new companions Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole.

Ahead of series 11 of Doctor Who, the BBC revealed a first look at the show’s new logo as well as some teaser artwork earlier this week, while new photos suggest that Jodie Whittaker and co will be heading on a historical adventure at some point in the new season too.

Doctor Who series 11 will debut in Autumn 2018 on BBC One and, while we don’t have a specific premiere date just yet, you can already win tickets to see episode one before anyone else.

DOWNLOAD EXTRACT FROM NEW DOCTOR WHO STORY COLLECTION, THE MISSY CHRONICLES

DOWNLOAD EXTRACT FROM NEW DOCTOR WHO STORY COLLECTION, THE MISSY CHRONICLES

The Missy Chronicles

Out today is a collection of all-new stories featuring the Doctor’s favourite frenemy, Missy. And we have an extract for you to download below.

Played by Michelle Gomez on television, The Missy Chronicles features tales from the first ever female incarnation of the Master. Authors include: Cavan ScottJacqueline RaynerPaul MagrsJames GossPeter Anghelides and Richard Dinnick.

THE MISSY CHRONICLES

“I’ve had adventures too. My whole life doesn’t revolve around you, you know.”

When she’s not busy amassing armies of Cybermen, or manipulating the Doctor and his companions, Missy has plenty of time to kill (literally). In this all new collection of stories about the renegade Time Lord we all love to hate, you’ll discover just some of the mad and malevolent activities Missy gets up to while she isn’t distracted by the Doctor.

So please try to keep up.

Download PDF extract here.

The Missy Chronicles

The Missy Chronicles is available now

Purchase here

The Doctor Who Experience: more details on why it closed

The Doctor Who Experience: more details on why it closed

Image result for doctor who experience

Last September, the terrific The Doctor Who Experience exhibit in Cardiff closed down, some five years after it opened. A few more details have now come to light about the deal that saw it arrive in Cardiff in the first place, and a clue as to why it closed down.

Basically: money.

The story at the time of its closure was that its lease was up, and the decision was made not to renew it. It turns out now, though, that Cardiff Council was subsidising the Experience, having originally loaned money to BBC Worldwide to bring it to the area in the first place. The deal, as reported by The Cardiffian, was that BBC Worldwide would then repay the council over five years via a share of ticket sales.

However, those ticket sales it seems didn’t quite add up, leaving a reported £1.147m outstanding on the loan. The council remains responsible for that money, having itself borrowed the original money from the Welsh government to give to BBC Worldwide in the first place.

The council was said to have overestimated the amount of money the Experience would bring in, and is now having in turn to borrow cash to repay the remainder of the loan.

The Council has said that “the council subsidised The Doctor Who Experience – but this was no longer sustainable as the Experience, which was operated by BBC Worldwide didn’t meet the financial targets that they set out in their business model”.

As for BBC Worldwide, it’s reaffirmed that there are no plans to take The Doctor Who Experience to another site elsewhere in the UK. Given the red ink on the Cardiff venture, that would seem to draw a line under the whole project’s chance of a future.

A full report can be read at The Cardiffian, here.

Doctor Who series 11 will start later than thought

Doctor Who series 11 will start later than thought

The BBC Worldwide conference is currently taking place in Liverpool, and it’s where the corporation showcases its shows that are coming up.

As you might expect, Doctor Who was represented, and both the new showrunner – Chris Chibnall – and the new Doctor – Jodie Whittaker – were in attendance. The pair took part in a discussion, and if you look closely at the backdrop, you’ll see a piece of new information…

https://twitter.com/GirlyLetters/status/965976300535021568

Yep, it looks like Doctor Who won’t be returning to our screens until October. Autumn series of the show more recently have tended to start earlier than that. We don’t have an exact date for the show’s return as of yet, keep your weekends in October free…

NEW DOCTOR, NEW SERIES, NEW LOGO

NEW DOCTOR, NEW SERIES, NEW LOGO

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Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker today teased the new series of Doctor Who by unveiling a new logo and insignia for the brand to over 700 of the world’s top TV buyers and international press at BBC Worldwide’s annual showcase event in Liverpool.

In an evening devoted to the new incarnation of Doctor Who, Whittaker built excitement in anticipation of the new era of The Doctor, leaving global broadcasters in no doubt as to the sense of wonder, joy and mystery the forthcoming series promises audiences.

The Doctor Who logo is an iconic and powerful trademark for the franchise that is recognised all around the world. The updated logo and insignia mark a new era of for Doctor Who.

Doctor Who

Composer Murray Gold confirms his depature

Composer Murray Gold confirms his depature

Doctor Who Tardis

Composer Murray Gold has officially confirmed that he’s left Doctor Who

It’s official: as we reported back in November, composer Murray Gold has now confirmed that he has indeed left Doctor Who.  He made the announcement at the Gallifrey One convention in the US over the weekend. Last year’s Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time, was indeed his last work on the show.

November 18th 2017

As part of the shake-up behind the scenes of Doctor Who, we understand from multiple sources that composer Murray Gold has left the series. Gold has been doing the music for Doctor Who since the show returned to our screens in 2005. It’s unknown who will be taking over composer duties for series 11.

The reasons for his departure are not clear, although it seems that new showrunner Chris Chibnall wants to bring in a lot of his own team behind the scenes. It’s likely that Gold’s departure is a consequence of that, and from what we understand, he was happy to remain with the show if wanted.

There’s been no official confirmation of this story from the BBC, but we first heard the rumour a couple of months ago, and since then, we have established that it’s true. It’s just coming to light now courtesy of a tabloid rumour in the Mirror today.

Murray Gold’s last episode was the Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time.