November 2020

‘Revolution of the Daleks’ pin badges available to pre-order!

30 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Hero Collector Eaglemoss will be launching the very first merchandise tie-in to the Doctor Who Festive Special, Revolution of the Daleks, with a brand new Chibi Pin Badge Box Set.

The Chibi Pin Badge Box Set includes seven high-quality metal pin badges, depicting the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) in her prison uniform, the new Revolution Dalek, and five other mystery characters from the special, all in an adorable chibi-style!

These badges make the perfect addition to any outfit, and a great gift for the coming festive season.

A new Festive Special figurine box set is also on the horizon, joining Hero Collector’s range of hand-painted Doctor Who figurines at 1:21 scale (approx. 3.5 inches tall), with more details announced following the episode’s transmission.

The Doctor Who Festive Special will see The Doctor locked away in a high-security alien prison, while her friends Yaz, Ryan, and Graham are left stranded on Earth. It’s not easy for the trio to return to normal life, especially when they discover a disturbing plan afoot – but how can you fight a Dalek, without the Doctor?

The Revolution of the Daleks Chibi Pin Badge Set will launch on New Year’s Day, and is available to pre-order now on the Hero Collector website.

Revolution of the Daleks Heading For New Years Day 2021

29 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who - Revolution of the Daleks — Doctor Who – Revolution of the Daleks

Looks like we’re in for a very Happy Who Year, with a first-look trailer for Doctor Who‘s festive special is set to air on January 1st 2021 at 6:45 p.m. and will run for 70 minutes.

It promises explosive Dalek action and starry guest actors while Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor whiles away the hours in prison.

Introducing guest stars Chris Noth (returning as series 11’s Robertson), Harriet Walter and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett alongside the already-announced John Barrowman MBE, Revolution of the Daleks, the new trailer promises excitement, exterminations and some serious deadly danger. And that’s based on just 60 seconds of footage…

Showing off the Daleks acting as Downing street drones, the “fam” taking on Robertson and rogue squid Daleks attaching themselves to their victims, there looks like there’s a LOT for us to enjoy this episode – even if the Doctor is apparently trapped for most of it.

And who doesn’t love a TARDIS base of operations full of post-its?

“Where else would you get British acting royalty, a globally renowned US screen star, an (inter)national treasure of stage and screen and one of Britain’s hottest young actors — just in the guest cast!” series showrunner Chris Chibnall said in a release.

“Put those together with Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole (and Daleks! Did I mention Daleks!) — and you get a cast to be exterminated for. And things will explode. Promise.”

Based on what we’ve seen so far, he’s not bluffing…

Doctor Who - Revolution of the Daleks

For more Doctor Who hints and a guide to the new-look Daleks seen in the trailer, check out the new Radio Times on sale now, featuring exclusive chats with the cast and crew including Chibnall, Jodie Whittaker, John Barrowman and more.

Revolution of the Daleks

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on New Year’s Day 2021.

Dave Prowse: 1935-2020

29 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Dave Prowse as Darth Vader in Star Wars 19

GNR has been today informed about the death Bristolian of actor Dave Prowse at the age of 85. Although internationally known for playing Darth Vader in Star Wars, however he also played the Minotaur in Doctor Who: The Time Monster in 1972 some five years before he took to the dark side.

Prowse was cast as Vader for his imposing physique, even though the role was voiced by James Earl Jones.

But the weightlifter-turned-actor was most proud of playing the Green Cross Code Man. The role, promoting road safety in the UK, earned him an MBE.

“May the force be with him, always!” said his agent Thomas Bowington.

“Though famous for playing many monsters – for myself, and all who knew Dave and worked with him, he was a hero in our lives.”

Mr Bowington called the actor’s death, after a short illness, “a truly and deeply heart-wrenching loss for us and millions of fans all over the world”.

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movies, said he was “so sad” to hear the news.

“He was a kind man and much more than Darth Vader,” Hamill said on Twitter. “He loved his fans as much as they loved him.”

Star Wars co-star – and fellow Briton – Anthony Daniels, who has played C-3PO in 11 of the 12 Star Wars instalments, paid tribute to Prowse’s contribution to the epic series.

“Dave’s iconic figure dominated the finished film in ’77 and has done so ever since,” he wrote, on Twitter on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees hailed Prowse’s Bristol roots and his legacy: “A Bristol man and along with #WhyDon’tYou and #GrangeHill, part of our 70s and 80s childhoods,” he wrote.

Definitive presence

Prowse’s career as an actor spanned 50 years, but it was his role as the Sith Lord in Star Wars that brought him international fame.

Unfortunately, his West Country accent was not deemed suitable for the part of a menacing Hollywood villain and his lines were dubbed.

However, Prowse was a definitive presence in all three of the early films, thanks to his hulking 6ft 6in (1.98 m) frame, honed by the weightlifting skills which saw him represent England at the Commonwealth Games in the early 1960s.

During this period, he reportedly became close friends with rival bodybuilding competitors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno (later better known as TV’s Incredible Hulk) – long before their on-screen fame.

Even before he began acting, Prowse found success in Hollywood circles, preparing the late Christopher Reeve for the physical demands of his role as Superman, as the actor’s personal trainer.

Prowse made his film debut in 1967 James Bond spoof Casino Royale playing Frankenstein’s Creature, a part he was asked to play again in two films from the iconic Hammer film series, 1970’s Horror Of Frankenstein and 1974’s Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell.

He also regularly featured on cult series such as The Saint, Space 1999 and Doctor Who, in which he was cast as a minotaur in the 1972 episode The Time Monster, opposite Jon Pertwee.

Spotted by director George Lucas in the 1971 film Clockwork Orange, in which he played a bodyguard, Prowse was invited to audition for the roles of Darth Vader and Chewbacca in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

He later told the BBC’s Tanya Beckett, he chose Vader over Chewbacca because “you always remember the bad guys”.

With the success of Star Wars, Prowse became a regular on the fan circuit and attended conventions around the world for almost 40 years, but he was rumoured to have later fallen out with director Lucas and was banned from official events in 2010.

Despite the enduring clamour for Star Wars, the actor always maintained that playing the Green Cross Code Man, which he first portrayed in 1975, was the “best job I ever had”.

Dressed in a distinctive green and white superhero suit, he became the face of British road safety for more than a decade, known for his catchphrase “Stop, look and listen”.

Brought up in Bristol, he spent his later years living in Croydon “a loving husband, father and grandfather”.

His autobiography Straight from the Force’s Mouth was published in 2011.

THE DALEKS ARE BACK!

27 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who: First full look at the all-new Dalek design in this week’s Radio Times.

Jodie Whittaker, Chris Chibnall and the Doctor Who team reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes details from Revolution of the Daleks in our latest issue.

In this year’s Doctor Who festive special the Daleks are back with a fresh look – and now you can see that all-new revamp in full in this week’s Radio Times, featuring exclusive interviews with the Doctor Who cast and crew alongside details and pictures of the intriguing design changes.

“This new special is the Daleks taking on the universe,” Bradley Walsh, who plays Graham in the series, tells the new issue. “For Whovians and the show, it’s massive.”

Alongside a guide to the changes made to the Dalek from series showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens, the issue features the series bosses and the cast reflecting on the Daleks’ history and their place within Doctor Who history.

“No question, they’re a part of British culture – they’re like the Mini of Doctor Who. You can keep updating them but the brilliant design endures,” Chibnall says.

“Even if you don’t know much about Doctor Who, everyone knows the Daleks,” agrees Strevens.

Adds series star Jodie Whittaker, aka the Thirteenth Doctor: “To be honest, they always seemed like Christmassy imagery to me — appropriate for this time of year!”

Featuring exclusive first-look images and interviews with Chibnall, Strevens, Whittaker, Walsh, Mandip Gill and John Barrowman, the Radio Times Doctor Who preview issue is on sale from Saturday 28th November.

And any fans hoping for hints at what’s next for the TARDIS team may even get a few clues about the currently-shooting season 13, which recently began production on a slightly shorter series of eight episodes…

With thanks to Radio Times.

Doctor Who Magazine 558 Subscribers Missing Issue!

25 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

The Thirteenth Doctor Arrives in Doctor Who Magazine #531 ...

GNR has today been sent a statement from Panini about the current situation regarding the very late delivery of Doctor Who Magazine 558. GNR would like to hear whether you are still waiting for your issue as we will certainly pass on your sentiments on your behalf, please send us your thoughts below!

Dear Reader,

“Thank you for your call this morning regarding issue 558. As discussed, we are doing everything we can to ensure your copy does reach you, and thank you again for your patience during this time.”

“We are continuing to chase this issue with Royal Mail as a matter of the highest priority and are finding copies are now starting to arrive with customers this week. Due to this, we hope that you too will receive yours soon as the postal backlog continues to be worked through”.

“Once again I do apologise for the unacceptable frustration and inconvenience caused by this, and should you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

Kind regards Al-fee Phelps | Assistant to Customer Service Department Manager

Panini UK Ltd, Trinity House, Sculpins Lane, Wethersfield, Braintree, Essex, CM7 4AY, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1371 851863 ESco Business Services Ltd manages subscriptions on behalf of Panini UK Ltd.

Since November 16th 2020 GNR has been chasing up the very late delivery of DWM Issue 558 with Panini and here follows our twitter feed with Peter Ware of DWM. Please let us know your thoughts!

Season 8 To Arrive Onto Blu-ray in 2021!

25 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

GNR has just been informed that Doctor Who’s season 8 will be added to “Doctor Who: The Collection” Blu-ray range on 23rd February 2021 and is now available to pre order!

Starring Jon Pertwee as The Doctor with Jo Grant (Katy Manning) alongside as his companion.

Battling Autons, Axons, an alien mind parasite and a mighty Daemon, the Doctor, Jo and UNIT must defend the Earth – and its future pioneers – in five action-packed adventures.

All 25 episodes have been newly restored for Blu-ray and packed with hours of new and existing bonus material.

Featuring:
Terror Of The Autons
The Mind Of Evil
The Claws Of Axos
Colony In Space
The Daemons

Special features include:

Behind the Sofa – New episodes with Katy Manning, Stewart Bevan, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Sacha Dhawan and Anjli Mohindra.
In Conversation – Matthew Sweet chats to companion Katy Manning.
A Devils Weekend – Actors Katy Manning and John Levene take a personal trip back to the picturesque village of Aldbourne, 50 years after they recorded the Doctor Who story The Daemons there.
The Direct Route – Doctor Who directors Michael Briant, Graeme Harper and Tim Combe take an epic road trip to all the filming locations from Season 8 as they discuss directing the show in the early 1970s.
Terrance and Me – Lifelong Doctor Who fan, Frank Skinner sets out to meet the family, friends and colleagues of the late, much-loved writer, Terrance Dicks.
Blu-Ray trailer – A specially shot mini-episode
Extended Episode 1 of The Claws of Axos
90-minute omnibus edition of The Daemons
Immersive 5.1 surround sound on Terror of the Autons and The Daemons
Optional updated special effects and CSO clean-up on Terror of the Autons
Unseen studio footage
Rare archive treats
Convention footage
HD photo galleries
Scripts, costume designs, rare BBC production files

The eight-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD.
And lots more!

Captain Jack is back

23 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

One of the most iconic characters in the Whoniverse is returning for the upcoming Festive Special of Doctor Who as John Barrowman MBE puts on his famous coat once more and reprises his role as Captain Jack Harkness.

Putting on Jack’s coat and setting foot back on the set of Doctor Who was just like going back home.

— John Barrowman MBE

The cheeky Captain left viewers reeling in the series 12 episode, Fugitive of the Judoon, when he made a brief surprise appearance with a stark warning for Yaz, Ryan and Graham to pass on to the Doctor before disappearing.

In the upcoming special titled Revolution of the Daleks, Captain Jack will be on hand to help ‘the fam’ as they discover a disturbing plan forming involving one of the Doctor’s most feared and dangerous enemies, the Daleks. With the Thirteenth Doctor locked away in a space prison, will Captain Jack be able to help save planet Earth?

On returning for the Festive Special, John Barrowman MBE reveals: “Putting on Jack’s coat and setting foot back on the set of Doctor Who was just like going back home. It’s always thrilling to play Captain Jack. He’s a character very close to my heart who changed my life, and to know the fans love him as much as I do makes his return even sweeter. I hope everyone enjoys Jack’s Heroic adventure with Thirteen.”

Chris Chibnall, Executive Producer, says: “A Doctor Who Festive Special means treats galore, and there’s no bigger treat than the return of John Barrowman to Doctor Who, for an epic and emotional feature-length episode. If anyone can blast away the sheer rubbishness of 2020, it’s Captain Jack. Daleks beware!”

Matt Strevens, Executive Producer BBC Studios, adds: “After a tantalisingly brief appearance in Fugitive of the Judoon it’s a total joy and thrill to welcome back John as Captain Jack. One of the most iconic characters in Doctor Who lore, his presence ignites this Festive Special from the start.”

Revolution of the Daleks will air over the festive period on BBC One with more details to be revealed soon. Doctor Who is a BBC Studios Production.

A Doctor Who Day Gift from the BBC.

23 November 2020 admin Comments 2 Comments

Upcoming Blu Ray Releases announced:

The Web of Fear Special Edition Steelbook (with animated Web of Fear episode 3.) & Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Steelbook

Available to Pre-order now:

The Web of Fear Special Edition Steelbook

In order to escape an attack in space, the TARDIS makes an unscheduled landing and ends up deep inside the London Underground. Here the travellers soon find themselves engulfed in a thrilling battle with the Great Intelligence and the Yeti, a deadly enemy set to invade the Earth. But as events take a turn for the worse, it becomes clear that the golden prize is not just the Earth, but the Doctor’s mind too…

This release includes all 5 surviving episodes, plus a brand new fully animated reconstruction of the missing 3rd episode created from the surviving audio-only recordings.

ORDER NOW HERE:

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Steelbook

This four-disc limited edition collector’s set includes special episodes and over 7 hours of extras:

• The Name of the Doctor

The Series 7 finale, starring Matt Smith. The Doctor has a secret he will take to his grave. And it is discovered…

• The Night of the Doctor

Special mini-episode ‘The Night of the Doctor’ to reveal the Doctor’s dark chapter.
Starring Paul McGann, this BBC iPlayer exclusive will for the first time ever reveal what became of the 8th Doctor. On the eve of his most terrible battle, the Time Lord is faced with a choice that will change the course of his life. The darkest of days are about to begin.

The Doctor has always been a man of secrets – and now they can be told…

• The Day of the Doctor

The Day of the Doctor stars Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman, with Billie Piper and John Hurt. The Doctors embark on their greatest adventure in this 50th Anniversary Special: in 2013, something terrible is awakening in London’s National Gallery; in 1562, a murderous plot is afoot in Elizabethan England; and somewhere in space an ancient battle reaches its devastating conclusion. All of reality is at stake as the Doctor’s own dangerous past comes back to haunt him.

• The Time of the Doctor

The Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, takes the controls of the TARDIS for the last time in The Time of the Doctor. Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe’s deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. And amongst them – the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his best friend must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe.

• An Adventure in Space and Time

On November 23rd 1963, a television legend began when the very first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast in the UK on BBC One. Fifty years later, An Adventure in Space and Time brings to life the story of the show’s creation and the role in its success of the first producer, director and, of course, the very first Doctor – William Hartnell.

In addition to over 7 hours of extras, including:

• The Name of the Doctor Behind The Scenes
• Doctor Who – The Ultimate Guide
• Behind the Lens: The Day of the Doctor
• Script to Screen: 50th Read-through
• The Last Day
• Tales from the TARDIS
• Cinema Intros: The Doctor / Strax
• Trailers
• Behind the Lens: The Time of the Doctor
• A Night with the Stars: The Science of Doctor Who
• Deleted scene
• Farewell to Matt Smith
• William Hartnell: The Original
• The Making of AAISAT
• Reconstructions: Scenes from An Unearthly Child / The Pilot / Regeneration
• Deleted Scenes: The Radiophonic Workshop / Verity’s Leaving Party
• Farewell to Susan
• Festive Greeting
• Title sequences
• The Five(ish) Doctors
• Doctor Who at the Proms 2013

ORDER NOW HERE:

Learn to code with the Thirteenth Doctor!

19 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

BBC Learning and Tynker have collaborated to create the HiFive Inventor a Next-Generation Education Technology Mini-Computer, helping kids to learn to code with the voice of the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker!

The HiFive Inventor is a visually stunning Internet of Things-enabled hand-shaped mini-computer designed to teach kids how to control robots or interface with IoT systems to investigate the world around them.

Doctor Who Tynker - HiFive Inventor

The HiFive Inventor will engage kids with its friendly hand-shaped form factor. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies this reinforces the wireless data handoff between devices (or “HiFive”) that will power 21st-century technology applications of computing for smart cities, intelligent factories, and enhanced wearable technology.

Narrated by Jodie Whittaker, the Thirteenth Doctor, she takes students on intergalactic journeys and challenges like learning to code and pilot an alien spaceship, control a robot and program an exotic musical instrument. Like all Tynker courses, the BBC Doctor Who HiFive Inventor will teach kids essential skills as they are having fun. Younger students will begin their learning journey with the Tynker visual block coding and advanced students with Micropython.

Students will be able to read data from the on-board suite of sensors and program on-device decisions to display results using the fun and colorful LED-matrix display. The HiFive Inventor is powered by a robust SiFive processor and comes with an illuminated USB cable, battery pack, and edge connectors to allow for expandability to a range of additional sensors and devices.

Doctor Who Tynker - HiFive Inventor

The HiFive Inventor aims to impart building-block knowledge students can marry with their imagination and creativity to tackle global opportunities and challenges like environmental changes, health and wellness, and a host of other areas to positively impact lives. Enabled by the award-winning Tynker creative coding platform, the HiFive Inventor engages students to begin coding quickly in a self-paced and learner-driven environment.

The BBC HiFive Inventor will be available to order through BBC Shop, Amazon, Pimoroni, and other leading retailers on November 23. Learn more at www.HiFiveInventor.com

THE LETHBRIDGE-STEWART COLOURING BOOK

18 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce that the Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book will be released just in time for Christmas.

This fantastic collection of artwork is a must for all Doctor Who fans, as well as collectors of adult colouring books. It features twenty brand new pieces of art by Thunderbirds, Danger Mouse and Doctor Who artist Martin Baines.

The artwork concentrates on the Lethbridge-Stewart series of novels and features the Dominators, Quarks, Yeti, Anne Travers, Bandrils and much more. Added to this, the book also explores the UNIT era of Doctor Who.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar Books, says:

“2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. Lockdown has taken it’s toll, and it is quite likely that we still haven’t seen the end of COVID-19. Normally we do something special for Christmas. For instance, in 2016 we released The Xmas Files – a collection of Lethbridge-Stewart-inspired Christmas stories, in 2018 our online advent calendar (still available on the Candy jar Books website), and last year The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Christmas Crackers collection of stories. Sadly, due to other commitments, this has not been possible this year. So, when Martin approached me to do the colouring book, I thought why not. This is not strictly a Christmas project, but it certainly is a great stocking filler.”

In 2020 Martin created some of Candy Jar’s most popular covers, including the Downtime sequel Child of the New World (released this summer), as well as Kiss of the Ice Maiden and 100 Objects of Doctor Who, both of which are due out in a couple of months.

Martin says:

“Shaun and I chat regularly about future projects. The conversations are always great fun, particularly when it’s about Lethbridge Stewart and Doctor Who. We are currently developing an epic comic strip starring the Brig (which will hopefully be released 2021). So, having worked on this artwork, I thought a Lethbridge-Stewart colouring book would be something special to end the year. I was so glad when Shaun agreed. The Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book is the celebration of the Brigadier and classic Who in general. If you like the Brigadier, UNIT, Quarks, Yetis and even the Bandrils this is the book for you!”

Shaun continues:

“I suspect some people will prefer not to colour Martin’s images, but instead keep them as a lockdown memento. I’m certainly considering framing one or two of his striking pieces personally.”

Martin concludes:

“Early Doctor Who has for me been a real discovery and I hope this book adds to the legend. I have put in a lot of research and fleshed out certain elements. The Bandrils were particularly interesting to draw, and fleshing out the Lucy Wilson characters was quite fun. I also loved drawing Professor Travers and Sergeant Benton.”

The Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book is available from…

With guaranteed delivery before Christmas if ordered before the 16^th of December 2020!