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Month: February 2022

DOCTOR WHO: CHRONICLES – 2007

DOCTOR WHO: CHRONICLES – 2007

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DOCTOR WHO: CHRONICLES IS A NEW SERIES OF BOOKAZINES FROM THE MAKERS OF DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE.

The latest release in the acclaimed Doctor Who: Chronicles series of bookazines focuses on 2007.

This lavish 116-page publication from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine looks back at the stories, people, events and news in this remarkable year – a time when David Tennant was at the peak of his powers as the Doctor and the series was the most watched show on television. Memorable episodes from 2007 included Blink, Human Nature and The Sound of Drums.

The bookazine also includes articles on Totally Doctor Who, Doctor Who Confidential, the start of The Sarah Jane Adventures, merchandising and much more.

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 2007 is on sale from 24 February, RRP just £9.99 from store.panini.co.uk and selected branches of WH Smith. It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £8.99.

Stewart Bevan 1948-2022

Stewart Bevan 1948-2022

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5 'Doctor Who' companions who left for love

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have just announced the death of actor Stewart Bevan, who played Pro Clifford Jones in the 1973 story “The Green Death”

https://twitter.com/ManningOfficial/status/1495790087841493000

https://twitter.com/ManningOfficial/status/1495793401362591748

Stewart Bevan (born 10 March 1948) was a British actor, best known for his performances in both film and television. His extensive career include the films Brannigan (1975), The Ghoul (1975), House of Mortal Sin (1976), Ivanhoe (1982), Chromophobia (2005) and The Scouting Book for Boys (2009) while on television, he is best known for playing Clifford Jones in Doctor Who (1973) and Ray Oswell in Emmerdale (1977).

Bevan was born into a Welsh family and spent his early years in Southall, Middlesex. It was while working in a menswear shop that a window dresser told Bevan that an amateur dramatics group he attended in the evenings was looking for members and he decided to go along with him. While attending these classes, Bevan participated in a drama festival at The Questors Theatre in which he played the main role as Alec in a production of Still Life for which he won an award for Best Actor.  After enrolling at the Corona Theatre School he became friends with fellow actor Michael Des Barres and the pair went to audition for small roles as teenage schoolchildren for the film To Sir, with Love which they both got.

After his role in To Sir, with Love (1967), Bevan had a part in the film Lock Up Your Daughters! (1969) before he went on to spend two years in a production of Conduct Unbecoming in the West End from 1969 to 1971 playing Lieutenant Edward Millington alongside Jeremy Clyde, Jeremy Bulloch and Gareth Hunt. His film credits include Burke & Hare (1972), The Flesh and Blood Show (1972), Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973), The Ghoul (1975), Brannigan (1975) and House of Mortal Sin (1976).

TV roles include: Public Eye, Secret Army, Shoestring, Blake’s 7, The Enigma Files, Ivanhoe, Airline, The Gentle Touch, Casualty, Silent Witness and Murder in Mind. He is well known for playing Professor Clifford Jones, love interest to popular companion Jo Grant (Katy Manning), in the 1973 Doctor Who serial The Green Death.

Bevan has also made many appearances in theatre including in Chase Me, Comrade, The Taming of the Shrew, Under Milk Wood, The Importance of Being Earnest, Come and Be Killed (1972), Fatal Affair (1974), Candida (1977) and Deathtrap in 2002 with David Soul and Susan Penhaligon.

In 2012, Bevan voiced the character of Inspector Nettles in an episode of the audio series Iris Wildthyme with Katy Manning for Big Finish Productions. Bevan also provided his voice for the part of BOSS for Big Finish Productions in their Torchwood audio series with Manning and John Barrowman.

In 2019, Bevan reprised his role as Clifford Jones opposite Manning in a trailer for the Doctor Who Season 10 Blu-Ray box-set in which he and Manning also feature in a documentary where they revisit the filming locations for The Green Death. In 2020, the pair starred in another trailer in their roles from Doctor Who, this time for the Season 8 Blu-Ray box-set.

Prior to filming Doctor Who Bevan became engaged to Katy Manning, reflecting the plot of their joint appearance in Doctor Who in which Manning’s character left the series to marry Bevan’s character.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1967 To Sir, with Love Schoolboy
1969 Lock Up Your Daughters! Tom
1972 Burke & Hare Bruce
1972 The Flesh and Blood Show Harry Mulligan
1973 Steptoe and Son Ride Again Vet
1975 Brannigan Alex
1975 The Ghoul Billy
1976 House of Mortal Sin Terry Wyatt
1976 Spy Story Sylvester
1981 4D Special Agents Det. Sgt. Crane
2005 Chromophobia David
2009 The Scouting Book for Boys Frank

Television

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1966 The Troubleshooters Twp Morris Episode: “A Run for Their Money”
1973 Doctor Who Prof. Clifford Jones All 6 episodes of “The Green Death”
1975 Public Eye Martins 2 episodes
1977 Romance Rupert Episode: “Emily”
1977 Emmerdale Ray Oswell 8 episodes
1978 Accident Interviewee Episode: “Terri”
1979 Dick Turpin Charles Fenton Episode: “The Pursuit”
1979 Secret Army Flight Sgt. Sharp Episode: “The Last Run”
1979 Shoestring Presenter Episode: “Private Ear”
1979 Paul Episode: “The Link-Up”
1979 DJ Episode: “Stamp Duty”
1980 Blake’s 7 Max Episode: “Death-Watch”
1980 The Enigma Files Lenny Episode: “The Sweeper”
1980 The Onedin Line The Mate Episode: “A Royal Return”
1981 Lamaload David TV film
1982 Airline Glover Episode: “Conscience”
1982 Ivanhoe Edward TV film
1983 The Gentle Touch Ray Gillespie Episode: “Pressures”
1983 Nanny Doctor Brogan Episode: “The Sault”
1983 Number 10 Peter Evans Episode: “A Woman of Style”
1984 The Brief Chief Insp. Long 2 episodes
1987 A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery Sergeant Ryder Episode: “Strong Poison: Episode One”
1988 Casualty Kenith Pollard Episode: “Desperate Odds”
1989 Shalom Salaam Richard 2 episodes
1989 ScreenPlay Stranger Episode: “Seeing in the Dark”
1994 The House of Eliott George Phillips Episode: #3.7
1995 The Bill Howard Sharpe Episode: “Journey Home”
1996 Crocodile Shoes II Superior Officer Episode: “Boom”
1997 Silent Witness Wyn’s Man 2 episodes
1997 Brookside Mr. Dawson Episode: #1.1899
2002 Murder in Mind Mourner Episode: “Rage”
2004 Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking Proprietor TV film
2005 The Brief Chairman of the Jury Episode: “Blame”

 

Doctor Who: Dead Air for Record Store Day 2022

Doctor Who: Dead Air for Record Store Day 2022

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Doctor Who: Dead Air for RSD 2022

Demon Records have announced another release in their successful Who Vinyl range. “Dead Air”, starring David Tennant, forms part of 2022’s Record Story Day celebrations. This annual event designed to encourage people to support their local record shop returns on Saturday the 23rd of April. And once again Demon Records are marking the day with a Doctor Who audio release on vinyl with an eye-catching design.

Doctor Who: Dead Air by James Goss

Hot on the heels of a creature that exists through sound, the Doctor lands on a pirate radio station boat in the late 1960s. The creature has already killed some of the DJs, and the Doctor befriends the survivors. But then the lights go out, and a desperate race for survival begins. Who can the Doctor trust in the dark?

Read by David Tennant in character as the Doctor, speaking directly to the listener with a warning of a creature that lives in sound, Dead Air’s ‘found footage’ conceit makes it a unique listening experience. The 2010 story will be available on vinyl for the first time on two 140g Soundwave Green Vinyl discs.

Doctor Who special confirmed for Easter!

Doctor Who special confirmed for Easter!

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Jodie Whittaker’s penultimate appearance as the Doctor is set to air this April.

Doctor Who

Doctor Who’s next special will air over Easter, the episode’s director has confirmed.

Haolu Wang, who has previously directed short films, revealed on her webpage with agent Independent Talent that she is directing an hour-long Doctor Who special, which is due to air in Easter 2022.

The episode will be the second special in a trilogy of episodes that mark Jodie Whittaker’s final outing as the Thirteenth Doctor as well as Chris Chibnall’s last time as the sci-fi drama’s showrunner.

The BBC had previously confirmed that the second special, which is titled Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils, would arrive on our screens in Spring 2022 – however, we now know for sure that the episode will air over the Easter period.

Legend of the Sea Devils will see Mandip Gill and John Bishop return as the Doctor’s companions Yasmin and Dan, while guest stars Crystal Yu, Arthur Lee and Marlow Chan-Reeves make their debut as Madame Ching, Ji-Hun and Ying Ki.

The episode will follow the Doctor and her gang as they head to a small coastal village in 19th century China that is under threat from pirate queen Madame Ching and a terrifying alien force.

Doctor Who
Crystal Yu as Madame Ching (BBC Studios / James Pardon)

Doctor Who’s Centenary special is set to follow later in the year, with rumours that Bradley Walsh and Sacha Dhawan could return before Chibnall hands the baton to new and returning showrunner Russell T Davies.

The Pirate Planet Heads For Vinyl In March!

The Pirate Planet Heads For Vinyl In March!

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“The life force is dead! We’re all murderers!”

Demon Records presents the debut Doctor Who adventure by Douglas Adams – creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – starring Tom Baker as the Doctor. On the hunt for the Key to Time, the Doctor, Romana and K9 materialise on the planet Calufrax – or do they? Entangled in local events, they are caught between the bombastic Captain – half-man, half-machine – and the sinister Mentiads.

Someone is ransacking whole planets for their wealth, and just as the Doctor discovers who’s behind it another one comes under threat: Earth!

Presented across 2 x 140g Sky Demon Splatter vinyl discs in, this 1978 TV soundtrack is narrated by John Leeson, the original Voice of K9. The supporting cast includes Mary Tamm as Romana with Bruce Purchase, Andrew Robertson, David Warwick and Rosalind Lloyd.

Incidental music is composed by Dudley Simpson, and the familiar strains of the Doctor Who theme are courtesy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The coloured vinyl LPs are presented in a fully illustrated gatefold sleeve showing cast and credits, and inner bags featuring complete episode billings.

You can pre-order this collectors edition here.

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A Rose for Valentine’s Day?

A Rose for Valentine’s Day?

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A Rose for Valentine’s Day 

This October, the multi-award-winning Billie Piper returns to the world of Doctor Who as Rose Tyler in the first of two brand-new box sets of full-cast audio adventure, The Dimension Cannon.

Set after the events of the television story, Doomsday, this spin-off drama series follows the exploits of Rose, her friends and family, trapped in another dimension on a parallel Earth. With her world doomed and a universe at stake, Rose must continue her frantic search for the only person who can help… the Doctor.

Joining Billie Piper in the cast of Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon is co-star Camille Coduri, reprising her role as Rose’s mum, Jackie Tyler, and Mark Benton as Clive Finch.

Both volumes, Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon Volume 2 — Other Worlds and Volume 3 — Trapped are now available to pre-order as collector’s edition box sets (on CD + download for just £19.99 per volume) or digital download only (for just £16.99 per volume).

Billie Piper said: “The Dimension Cannon is such a brilliant idea and gives Rose a lot more life beyond the Doctor. But there’s also something quite sad about her search. It’s a real bitter-sweet series of tales.

“I’m delighted for the fans to receive these new adventures. It’s something they talk to me about just as much as the episodes I appeared in on TV. It seems like there’s an enormous appetite for it and it’s very moving to imagine listeners spending a few more moments with this family particularly.”

Producer Emily Cook added:

“Rose was my gateway into Doctor Who, my first companion, and I adored her. I still do. So safe to say it’s an absolute joy – both on a personal and professional level – to take on producing two more volumes of The Dimension Cannon. I’m such a fan of this series.

“In addition to producing, I had the privilege of writing one of the scripts (my first for Big Finish). There’s such a responsibility when writing for Billie because she’s a phenomenal actor, particularly in terms of her ability to convey raw emotion. That’s something I really wanted to tap into with these stories.

“As with Doctor Who itself, the possibilities for The Dimension Cannon are endless. There are so many potential parallel worlds out there for us to explore and I can’t wait for fans to hear where we go next.”

Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon Volume 2 — Other Worlds is now available to pre-order for just £19.99 (as a 3-disc collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £16.99 (download only).

Big Finish listeners can save money by buying volumes two and three of Rose Tyler: The Dimension Cannon together in a bundle for £38 (as a CD + download) or £33 (download only).

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.

Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.  

The Ninth Doctor meets old friends, Rory heads to Camelot.

The Ninth Doctor meets old friends, Rory heads to Camelot.

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February sees the release of a range of brand-new audio adventures from Big Finish. Here’s a roundup of what’s available to buy on CD and download this month.

Three new adventures for the Ninth Doctor

Doctor Who - Big Finish roundup 2022 Feb

The Ninth Doctor’s first series of audio dramas draws to a close. Christopher Eccleston stars in Fond Farewell by David K Barnes and the two-part finale, Way of the Burryman and The Forth Generation by Roy Gill.

Get The Ninth Doctor Adventures – Old Friends here

Arthur Darvill is back as the Lone Centurion

Doctor Who - Big Finish roundup 2022 Feb

Trapped in a body not his own and stranded in history, Rory Williams is the Lone Centurion. Camelot is in trouble, and it’s up to him to save the day, but can he do it before Merlin’s most dire prophecies come true?

Get The Lone Centurion Volume 2 – Camelot here

The Second and Third Doctors meet on audio

Doctor Who - Big Finish roundup 2022 Feb

The Third Doctor, Liz and UNIT aren’t the only ones to find themselves targeted by a world-shattering alien menace… because they’ve got a previous Doctor and his best friend Jamie in their sights, too!

Get The Third Doctor Adventures – The Annihilators here

Six bite-sized trips in the TARDIS

Doctor Who - Big Finish roundup 2022 Feb

Join the Doctor for six new adventures across space and time in this bumper audio anthology, featuring brand-new writers to Big Finish, and familiar narrators from the worlds of Doctor Who.

Get Short Trips Volume 11 here

Time is ticking for Bernice Summerfield!

Doctor Who - Big Finish roundup 2022 Feb

When Benny, Ruth and Jack arrive on Bubastis to search for a missing girl, they are unprepared for what they will find. Like the insectoid villagers with a decidedly squeamish attitude to mammals, or the rowdy archaeological expedition, and Bernice’s looming deadline.

Get The Slender-Fingered Cats of Bubastis here

All stories are initially available exclusively from the Big Finish website in February. Check back here next month for a roundup of next month’s releases!

Jodie Whittaker announces pregnancy at the BRIT Awards

Jodie Whittaker announces pregnancy at the BRIT Awards

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Doctor Who lead Jodie Whittaker is expecting her second child with husband Christian Contreras.

Mother to a six-year-old daughter, the actress announced this heart-warming news by cradling her baby bump on the BRIT Awards red carpet yesterday (February 8).

Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker announces pregnancy with ...

Outfit designer Carli Pearson wrote on Instagram: “The beautiful Jodie Whittaker in our custom made beanbag ball dress for #thebritawards2022 – the dress is all made from end of life materials and was created specifically to incorporate her pregnancy, while allowing Jodie to retain her sense of self.

“We’ve worked with Jodie before and love the energy she brings to our pieces… for this occasion, we wanted to make something both structured and yet playful – and this is the result!”

With Whittaker passing on the Doctor Who torch later this year, it’s perfect timing for her family.

Just last month, the star recounted her final day of filming on the cult sci-fi series.

“I’ve shot my version of regen[eration], and it was singularly the most emotional day on set I think I’ve ever had. It’s a really bizarre feeling, because it’s the best time I’ve ever had on a job, and I made the decision to leave it, so it’s a really strange thing to do to yourself.”

“It feels like you’re giving yourself stitches – like, ‘Why have you done it?’ But … it felt right,” she added.

“It was a wonderfully-celebratory-slash-grief-ridden day that I could spend with the family that I’d made. I suppose the best thing about it is that the episodes are still on. So until they’re off, I don’t have to really get my head around the fact that it’s not my part!”

Jodie Whitaker will return as The Doctor later this year in “Legend of the Sea Devils”

Classic Doctor Who is coming to Forces TV

Classic Doctor Who is coming to Forces TV

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The Women of Who on Twitter: "What is your favourite ...

Forces TV has confirmed that Classic Doctor Who will be a regular addition to the schedule for the foreseeable future.

They will be showing a “selection” of 12 Doctor Who stories from 1970 to 1988 featuring five Doctors (Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy), starting on Tuesday 15th February as double episodes.

The first episode the channel will show will be the 1970 story Spearhead From Space on Tuesday 15th February. The adventure is the first outing for Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor.

Spearhead From Space synopsis:

“Exile! The Time Lords have banished the newly regenerated Doctor to Earth. But The Doctor isn’t the only alien to have arrived, as a swarm of meteorites have crashed into the sleepy English countryside, bringing with them a terrible new threat to mankind…

“As the Nestene plan takes shape, UNIT, the Doctor and his newly appointed scientific advisor, Liz Shaw, race against time to stop humanity from being replaced by a terrifying plastic facsimile race…

“With an Auton army on the rise, and no TARDIS to help him, could The Doctor’s latest incarnation be over before it has truly begun…?”

Part One and Two of the story will be show on 15th February from 7:55am, 1:25pm and 8:15pm. The next two parts will be shown on Wednesday 16th February. Details about further listings are to be confirmed.

It is currently unclear whether Doctor Who is regular addition to the schedule, and for how long they will continue showing episodes.

Forces TV is available on Sky 181, Virgin 274, Freesat 165 and Freeview 96.

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 574

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 574

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COLIN BAKER, BONNIE LANGFORD AND RUSSELL T DAVIES REVEAL THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR THE SIXTH DOCTOR

Highlights of the new issue include:

  • An exclusive preview of Mind of the Hodiac (Russell T Davies’ first Doctor Who script) ahead of its Big Finish release, with contributions from Colin Baker, Bonnie Langford, Russell, Scott Handcock and Emily Cook.
  • The first instalment of a two-part interview with Doctor Who’s outgoing executive producer Matt Strevens.
  • Visual effects designer Ben Pickles describes his contributions to the Thirteenth Doctor’s era.
  • Zodiak VFX’s Tamsie Thomas and Myfanwy Harris talk about their award-winning work on Doctor Who.
  • A tribute to Doctor Who director Michael Ferguson, who passed away in October.
  • The inside story of how the BBC paved the way for Doctor Who’s long-awaited return in 2005.
  • Pianist Jess Jurkovic discusses his YouTube project ‘Dudley Simpson IS Doctor Who’.
  • Collectivity investigates the increasingly sophisticated world of trading cards.
  • Apocrypha revisits Invasion of the Daleks, a seminal comic strip from 1964’s The Dalek Book.
  • The Fact of Fiction looks at the 1965 story The Romans.
  • Public Image analyses the ratings for Eve of the Daleks.
  • The first part of Hydra’s Gate, a new comic-strip story for the Doctor, Yaz and Dan.
  • Previews, reviews, news, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser, Sufficient Data and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 574 is on sale from panini.co.uk and WH Smith from Thursday 3 February priced £6.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £4.99