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Month: July 2018

Jodie Whittaker WILL get a Doctor Who Christmas special after all

Jodie Whittaker WILL get a Doctor Who Christmas special after all

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Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor in Doctor Who (BBC, HF)

In some unseasonably festive good news for Whovians, it has been confirmed that 2018 WILL see a Doctor Who Christmas special come to BBC1, following previous rumours that the now-traditional Yuletide sci-fi story was being scrapped for Jodie Whittaker’s first run.

New showrunner Chris Chibnall confirmed the return of the special at San Diego Comic-Con, also revealing that the episode will come in addition to the already-announced 10 episodes, meaning we’re getting even more Doctor Who than we expected in 2018.

“We seem to be filming 11 episodes, and it’s only a series of 10,” Chibnall joked during a press conference, with executive producer Matt Strevens chiming in: “I don’t know what happened. It’s a show about space and time, so it’s all quite abstract.”

“I would definitely think there’s another episode after the end of the series, yeah,” Chibnall concluded.

Ever since Who returned to screens in 2005 the Doctor Who Christmas special has been a linchpin in the BBC’s seasonal schedule, with every year of the series’ return marked by a festive escapade for the Time Lord right up until last December, when the 2017 special introduced Jodie Whittaker’s new Thirteenth Doctor for the very first time.

However, despite this pedigree fans had become worried that the Christmas specials could be scrapped under new series boss Chibnall, especially after no seasonal episode was announced within the new series’ 10-episode order.

This, plus the falling ratings for the extended episodes led some viewers to wonder if Who was struggling to maintain the specials, a worry only strengthened when previous showrunner Steven Moffat suggested the slot was a big challenge after 13 years of Christmas stories.

“I think it was a brilliant idea [in 2005] and it lasted a very, very long time,” the screenwriter told RadioTimes.com last year.

“I sort of think we might have mined and possibly over mined every single thing we could about Christmas in Doctor Who and the last time we more or less ignored it.”

Still, now those fears have been vanquished – and given that the new series is set to air this autumn, fans will probably end up with the shortest wait ever between series finale and Christmas special in Doctor Who history. Just call it an extra Christmas present.

Carole Ann Ford joins David Bradley in the First Doctor Adventures

Carole Ann Ford joins David Bradley in the First Doctor Adventures

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Image result for Carole Ann Ford joins David Bradley in the First Doctor Adventures

David Bradley will reprise his role as the First Doctor (played by William Hartnell in the original television series) in a third series of The First Doctor Adventures from Big Finish in January 2019.

He’ll star alongside Claudia Grant as Susan, Jamie Glover as Ian Chesterton and Jemma Powell as Barbara Wright as well as a very special guest star, Carole Ann Ford (who played Susan in the television series) who is guest starring as ‘The Woman’.

“It’s always a treat to work with Carole,” says producer David Richardson. “She’s so openly enthusiastic about Big Finish, and we’re currently chatting about new projects that you’ll see her in in the future. I loved the idea of having her in our First Doctor Adventures – she had met David, Claudia, Jamie and Jemma during the making of the TV film, An Adventure in Space and Time, and this was a very happy reunion.

“In fact, David hadn’t noticed Carole’s name on the script front, and so when she walked through the door his face broke into the happiest of beaming smiles. It was clear that he was utterly delighted to have Doctor Who royalty involved!”

Two more adventures await the TARDIS team in The First Doctor Adventures Volume Three:

1. The Phoenicians by Marc Platt

2. Tick-Tock World by Guy Adams

Available in January 2019 on CD and download, you can pre-order The First Doctor Adventures Volume Three at £23 on CD or £20 on download from bigfinish.com

Or you can save money with a bundle. Order Volume Three with Volume Two (out this month) and Volume One (released last year) for £68 on CD or £60 on download.

And if you can’t wait until next year, the TARDIS team will encounter a brave new world, a new alien race and the undiscovered society of Feudal Japan in the second volume of The First Doctor Adventures, released later this month.

2.1 The Invention of Death by John Dorney

After an experimental flight, the TARDIS crew find themselves on one of the strangest worlds they have ever encountered. Alien life takes many forms, and on Ashtallah the travellers find all their preconceptions tested. But this world is about to make a discovery – and it could mean the end of everything.

2.2 The Barbarians and the Samurai by Andrew Smith

In 19th Century Japan, Westerners are forbidden. So when the TARDIS arrives near Lord Mamoru’s castle, the daimyo’s Samurai are soon on their trail. Uncovering secrets at court and treachery in the ranks, the Doctor and his friends are drawn into intrigue. And, as a battle begins, they are caught in the middle.

You can get more information and read behind-the-scenes interviews with both writers in June’s Vortex magazine. Andrew Smith reveals his extensive research for The Barbarians and the Samurai, and John Dorney teases us about the new alien species for the first TARDIS team to discover. You can download Vortex for free here.

Doctor Who series 11: first images of Whittaker with her companions

Doctor Who series 11: first images of Whittaker with her companions

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Following on from the Doctor Who series 11 teaser which arrived during the 2018 World Cup final, the BBC has released a pair of first-look images that show Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor surrounded by her companions.

One image, which you can see at the top of this page, shows Whittaker’s Doctor fiddling with a little device – which is letting off a golden glow – while her companions look on.

The other snap, which is below this paragraph, heralds from Entertainment Weekly and shows the Doctor and her companions surrounded by shrubbery and looking at something.

Tosin Cole’s Ryan, Bradley Walsh’s Graham and Mandip Gill’s Yaz are the three companions that Whittaker’s Doctor has been teamed up with for her first full series in the show’s lead role.

We don’t know much about these three characters yet, although Walsh has recently described Graham as a “regular bloke”. At this stage, it’s unclear how the Doctor ends up meeting these three new chums.

One thing we do know is that Whittaker’s Doctor was rejected by the TARDIS when she first regenerated. It’ll be interesting to see whether she gets straight back in the time-travelling police box, or if she needs to survive without it for a chunk of the series.

We’ll bring you more Doctor Who news as we hear it.

David Tennant dug out his iconic Doctor Who costume and sonic screwdriver for a Muppets live show

David Tennant dug out his iconic Doctor Who costume and sonic screwdriver for a Muppets live show

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(BBC, TL)

Look Who it is! Ex-Time Lord David Tennant has been spotted in his pinstripe suit, Converse and sonic screwdriver combo once again.

Sadly, it wasn’t on the set of the latest Doctor Who series: the Tenth Doctor materialised (to huge applause) for a Pigs In Space sketch during The Muppets Take The O2 on Friday 13th July.

And not only did Tennant deliver some zingers about regeneration to Miss Piggy and even shouted out catchphrase “Allons-y!”, but the former Doctor was also reunited with another former Who star: Kylie Minogue.

Yes, the singer – who played one-off companion Astrid Peth in 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned – also appeared on the muppet stage to sing Mahna Mahna with Who-sounding aliens the Snowths.

And afterwards, Doctor and Peth were brought together for a final singalong.

A great reunion, and one that has us thinking: surely Tennant would want to team up with another of his past co-stars? Perhaps Broadchurch’s Jodie Whittaker? On board the Tardis? In a Dalek-battling multi-Doctor story?

Just something to think about, Chibnall.

Doctor Who shares new photos of the Doctor’s latest friends

Doctor Who shares new photos of the Doctor’s latest friends

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Doctor Who season 11 is almost upon us, which means it’s time to meet the Doctor’s new friends.

The BBC has released brand new promotional images of new companions Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Yasmin (Mandip Gill) on its official Twitter account, introducing us to the Doctor’s latest companions.

We don’t know too much about the newbies just yet, though more new info is rolling in as the new series draws closer.

Yesterday (July 15), a 40-second teaser was released, which saw the first-ever female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, materialise before our very eyes. In addition to Ryan and Yasmin, we were also introduced to Bradley Walsh’s Graham.

So, it looks like we’re going to be getting a full-fledged TARDIS team this time around!

The teaser appeared to show the Doctor visiting her new friends for the first time, as Ryan was mystified by sparkly regeneration dust while eating a fry-up, Yasmin was startled while enjoying a pizza takeaway. Graham was seemingly greeted by the Doctor herself as he waited for fish and chips.

Series 11 with the first female Doctor is due to kick off this autumn.

Jodie Whittaker wants to encourage the “other half” of the population as the first female Doctor

Jodie Whittaker wants to encourage the “other half” of the population as the first female Doctor

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Image result for jodie whittaker radio times cover

After over half a century onscreen, Doctor Who is facing one of its biggest changes yet, with Jodie Whittaker set to appear as the first female version of the ever-changing lead character when the series returns this autumn.

And in an exclusive Radio Times interview Whittaker has revealed exactly how much it means to her to be the first woman given the role, hoping that she can inspire female fans as a character they could truly imagine themselves being for the first time.

“Now it isn’t just attainable for half of the population,” Whittakers says in the latest edition of the Radio Times magazine, which is on sale from Tuesday 17th July.

“The other half can be the Doctor as well. Girls will no longer just think, ‘Oh, I could be a companion.’

“Being the first female Doctor and showing children that their heroes in shows don’t always look the same is a huge honour for me.”

Meanwhile, new Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has revealed that his decision to cast a female Doctor stemmed from a desire to keep the series up-to-date, citing worries that it could be left behind if it didn’t change and innovate.

“I felt the time was right for a female Doctor – I felt the audience were ready for it, the world was ready for it,” he tells Radio Times.

“I think if we hadn’t done it, we would have been behind the world – and Doctor Who has to be out front leading the world, showcasing all the amazing things out there. So it was never a question in my mind. It was time.”

But despite the momentous nature of her casting, Whittaker says she didn’t feel too pressured reinterpreting the Doctor for a new generation.

“The pressure is less for me because I can only do this my way,” she explains.

“All the rules are out the window! That’s what makes it so fun.”

Radio Times’ special Doctor Who preview issue, including interviews with Jodie Whittaker and the new Doctor Who team, is on sale from Tuesday 17thJuly.

MYTH MAKERS – DAVID GOODERSON

MYTH MAKERS – DAVID GOODERSON

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OUT NEXT MONDAY – THE LATEST MYTHMAKERS WITH DAVID GOODERSON who played DAVROS in DESTINY OF THE DALEKS!!!

The extended version of DAVID’s Myth Makers is out on Monday 23rd July! With behind-the-scenes footage and a “spacial” special feature with Kevin Jon Davies and Steve Cambden talking about their visit to the set of Destiny of the Daleks with Jon Saville, way back in July 1979! Needless to say, things happened!!!

A lovely Myth Makers with a true gent! Interviewed by the one and only ROBERT DICK!