This episode was the last of three specials that aired this year, and marked Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure as the Thirteenth Doctor.
Written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Jamie Magnus Stone, the feature-length special also starred Mandip Gill, John Bishop, Sophie Aldred, Janet Fielding and Sacha Dhawan.
The overnight rating for its broadcast on Sunday 23 October was 3.6m (21.7%) on BBC One. It peaked with just over 4m towards 9pm with the regeneration scene and David Tennant’s shock return.
Today (Monday 30 October), BARB have released the 7-day consolidated ratings for the episode. It has consolidated to 5.3M. This includes all that watched live, online, on devices within seven days of first broadcast. It was the 5th most watched programme of the week across all channels.
For context, Doctor Who was the second highest rating show of the day, only behind the Strictly Come Dancing results show. This also makes it the best performing Sunday night drama – out rating both Bloodlands (3.8m) on BBC One and The Larkins (3.75m) on ITV.
Comparing to other BBC dramas, recent four-part series Inside Man, written by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and starring the new(ish) Doctor David Tennant, averaged 3.4m across its four episodes and less than 2m overnight.
The Power Of The Doctor was the most watched episode of Doctor Who this year. The Spring special Legend Of The Sea Devils consolidated to 3.67m (7-days) and the New Year’s Day special Eve Of The Daleks consolidated to 4.4m (7-days).
Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce four brand new stories in The Lucy Wilson Mysteries series.
The Lucy Wilson series was born in 2018 with The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: Avatars of the Intelligence by author Sue Hampton and since then Lucy Wilson, the granddaughter of the Brigadier, has carried the formidable legacy of the Lethbridge-Stewart name through eight full-length novels and five short story collections, not including the four newly released pre-order titles.
Kick-starting Lucy’s new quartet of adventures is fairly-new-to-the-scene author Jonathan Macho, with his short story The Ballad of the Borad, which is an action-packed tribute and farewell to the recently closed Bristol Zoo. Jonathan is an exciting new talent from Cardiff who’s first novel The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Serpent’s Tongue was very well received by fans of the series.
Jonathan says: “When Shaun asked me to pen a new story with Lucy and Hobo encountering the Borad and some animal hybrids at Bristol Zoo, it turned out to be a two-fold blessing. Not only did I get to spend more time with two characters I really love to write, but it gave me an excellent excuse to go to Bristol Zoo for ‘research’, just a few days before it closed down! The more I saw and learned about the Zoo and its history, the more clear it became that it was the perfect setting for a Lucy Wilson adventure. I hope I did such a special place justice.”
Popular author John Peel, writer of the third book in the Lucy Wilson series The Midnight People, returns with his second full-length novel The Lucy Wilson Mysteries: The Invisible Women, but there’s a twist! John’s new Lucy Wilson novel crosses over with the ongoing Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off series, Travers & Wells.
Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen says: “First it was The Brigadier and the Bledoe Cadets paired with Lucy Wilson and the Bledoe Cadets and now… When it came time to discuss what our next crossover would be, Shaun suggested Lucy meeting up with Edward Travers and HG Wells. Then came the old ‘who to write it’, which almost always results in Shaun suggesting John Peel. I was on board with that, and knew John would be up for the challenge…”
In The Invisible Women, Lucy is transported back in time for an Edwardian adventure that includes ghosts, ferocious fairies, Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as some irksome invisible women. On their adventure, Lucy and Hobo pair up with popular character in the Lethbridge-Stewart series Edward Travers and his companion HG Wells, in an attempt to stop the monster behind a kaleidoscope of calamities!
John Peel says: “Writing the story was… interesting. The two books had to have separate plots that interlinked, and yet still made sense if read alone – which obviously took a bit of planning! And the last couple of chapters (the wrap-up) had to be the same, obviously, but told from two different perspectives. The only way I could imagine doing this was to write both books together as a single manuscript, so that I could be sure that the pacing worked out and the overlaps occurred at the same time in each tale, and then leave the two respective editors to disassemble the manuscript into two books. Hey, I wasn’t going to do all of the work! I was expecting the process to be challenging, but because the editors and I had worked it out beforehand, it actually proved to be a lot smoother and easier than I had feared. And also a great deal more fun.”
Following on directly from The Invisible Women is The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Memories of the Future by George Ivanoff, which is the first book in a three-part time travel adventure set in Australia.
George says: “The main theme of the book is memories. Lucy has travelled to Melbourne, Australia, in 1985 but has lost most of her memories. She can’t remember where or when she came from, or even who she is. Particularly important are the lost memories of her grandfather, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. In 1985, she befriends a boy named Matty who also has repressed memories. Weaving all those memories into the story as they begin to be reclaimed was the concept that inspired the novel.
“Much of the book’s setting is based around my own teenage years. I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. The library and lifesaving club mentioned in the book were places that I used to ride my bike to. And, just like the characters in this book, in 1985 I attended Aussiecon 2, the 43rd World Science Fiction Convention, as Melbourne was the host city. It was heaps of fun, taking these elements from my formative years, and weaving them into Memories of the Future.”
Fans of The Lucy Wilson Mysteries may notice the change in the series title to The Mystery of Lucy Wilson for this three-part instalment, because Lucy Wilson truly is a mystery to both herself and her new friends, but Lucy is not the only mystery in this story!
George continues: “I was really excited when I was told that I’d be able to use UNIT. in Memories of the Future. I ended up giving UNIT. an Australian branch. In my mind, they are off having other adventures around Australia now that Lucy has returned to her own place and time.”
And last, but certainly not least, in the newly released quartet is The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Rampage of the Drop Bears by Baz Greenland, which is the second book in the three-part time travel adventure set in Australia.
Baz says: “What better inspiration for a kid’s story than evil Koala Bears? I had so much fun stepping into the world of Lucy Wilson, and throwing her into a time travel adventure with one of Australia’s greatest mythical monsters, the legendary drop bears!”
Lucy finds herself back in Melbourne in 1985 and she still doesn’t know who she is or where and when she’s come from! All she does know is that her time ring seems to be defunct and she’s being taken on an even bigger adventure than she’s ever been on before.
Baz continues: “It’s Gremlins meets a tour through Australia’s rich history – from a trip to the Pleistocene era through to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was an honour to follow up a wonderful story by George Ivanoff and I hope Rampage of the Drop Bears delights fans, young and old!”
The third book in the Mystery of Lucy Wilson trilogy will conclude next year.
All four of the newly released books feature artwork by The Beano artist Steve Beckett, who is responsible for all of The Lucy Wilson Mysteries covers (including the logo!).
Blurbs:
The Invisible Women by John Peel
2020 has only just begun, and it already feels like it’s going to be full of back-to-back adventures as Lucy’s time ring sends her and Hobo on their second adventure of the year.
On arrival, our Ogmore-by-Sea teenage heroes have no idea where (or when) they are. They are just grateful that it isn’t lunchtime, as they crash land right in the middle of a dinner table surrounded by strange faces!
With invisible women lurking around every corner, how can they defeat someone when they can’t even see them? Add ghosts, ferocious fairies, Harry Houdini, HG Wells, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into the mix, and this is one strange time travelling escapade. But who is the monster behind this kaleidoscope of calamities, and why does it want Lucy’s time ring?
Lucy and Hobo are about to find out…
Battle of the Borad by Jonathan Macho
School trips are never simple when it comes to Lucy and Hobo. There’s always an adventure just around the corner.
Spending the day at Bristol Zoo, Lucy hopes to have a normal day out, but it’s not long before she realises the zoo has gone wild!
The animals have escaped and, Lucy’s no expert, but these animals aren’t quite what Lucy was expecting: a fish-bird, a cat-snake, a tortoise-spider and a huge, lumbering elephant-frog!
As Bristol Zoo welcomes visitors for the very last time in 2022, Lucy Wilson joins many other visitors in looking back at what makes the zoo special to her as she says a final goodbye.
The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Memories of the Future by George Ivanoff
Melbourne, 1985. Matty is just an ordinary boy having an ordinary evening, browsing for books in his favourite sci-fi shop. Until he meets a girl. A girl who appears out of thin air, into a locked room, and can’t remember who she is or where she came from.
And then Matty’s day gets slightly less ordinary when he encounters time-travelling killer plant people from outer space.
For Matty to put things right, he must work out who his new friend Lucy Wilson is, and why he is suddenly not so ordinary.
The Mystery of Lucy Wilson: Rampage of the Drop Bears by Baz Greenland
Melbourne, 1985. Fred’s best friend Matty has vanished. And now he’s found a new friend, Lucy Wilson.
Lucy doesn’t remember much about herself, but what she does know is that she’s from the future. But time travel isn’t possible, is it?
Aliens, drop bears on a rampage, a Pleistocene safari, a trip to Sydney Olympic Stadium in 2000, and a vicious baby running riot through time. Will Lucy and Fred ever be able to restore the timeline, or has their life as they knew it changed forever?
The Lucy Wilson Mysteries and The Mystery of Lucy Wilson is a Lethbridge-Stewart spin-off adventure inspired by characters created for Doctor Who by Mervyn Haisman, Henry Lincoln and Derrick Sherwin.
The Invisible Women, The Battle of the Borad, Memories of the Future and Rampage of the Drop Bears are all available to pre-order via the Candy Jar shop and will be posted out at the end of October.
Also, Hannah Haisman’s daughter, Amelia Hatt, has illustrated a picture book entitled “A Monster Stole My Lunch Box“, in collaboration with The Analysis Bureau, Lucy Wilson and Lethbridge-Stewart author, Tom Dexter.
The Gallifreyan Newsroom Store is now OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Please do have a browse and pick up some early Christmas presents? Find our store link at the top of the page.
BBC and Disney Branded Television join forces on Doctor Who
Disney+ is to become the new global home for upcoming seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.
The BBC continues as Doctor Who’s exclusive home in the UK – new episodes will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ in late 2023.
Today the BBC and Disney Branded Television – two giants of entertainment – have come together to transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world.
A new era, a new logo and a new global home outside the UK & Ireland
BBC and Disney Branded Television join forces on #DoctorWho
Under a shared creative vision, they will deliver this quintessentially British show to future generations on an unprecedented scale with Disney+ as the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland. The announcement – which was made this morning by the next Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan – begins a new collaboration between BBC and Disney Branded Television.
Both partners have aligned under returning showrunner Russell T Davies’ bold vision, who takes control of the TARDIS in 2023. He was responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005 and is credited with propelling the show into one of TV’s biggest hits.
The new episodes will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ beginning in late 2023 for fans all over the world. The show will be produced in Wales by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios Productions.
Russell T Davies says: “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer says: “We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world. Russell T Davies’ vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor’s epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it’s an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world.”
Alisa Bowen, President, Disney+ says: “We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”
Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television says: “Doctor Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past six decades. We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC, and the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T Davies’ brilliant vision – to life for a huge new global audience. Grab your sonic screwdrivers and prepare to travel through time and space!”
Rebecca Glashow, CEO, Global Distribution, BBC Studios says: “We’re delighted to join forces with a partner who shares our vision and ambition for one of the most iconic shows in British TV history. This is great news for everyone who loves Doctor Who, and for all the new fans we will reach through this powerful partnership.”
Jane Tranter & Julie Gardner, Executive Producers and Co-founders, Bad Wolf, says: “For Doctor Who to have the backing of two of the most innovative and respected media organizations in the world is a testament to the unique drive and vision at the heart of this show. Bad Wolf are beyond delighted to be once again working with the genius that is Russell T Davies and, with the exciting new partnership between the BBC and Disney, we can together reach to even greater heights, producing from Wolf Studios Wales ambitious stories through time and space for audiences across the globe.”
The new episodes of Doctor Who will return to screens in November 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary and will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the UK and Ireland.
David Tennant will play the Fourteenth Doctor for three specials, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the Fifteenth Doctor over the festive season. And to celebrate today’s news a new Doctor Who logo was unveiled for a new era.
As reported by Lizo Mzimba at the BBC, 4.04 m viewers watched as Jodie Whittaker regenerated into David Tennant at the conclusion of last night’s The Power of the Doctor. The programme average was 3.71 m. Although, as always, that figure is likely to rise significantly with catch up viewing #DavidTennant#DoctorWho
The 90 minute Doctor Who special was the fourth most watched programme of the day. After – Strictly Results (8.01m) Antiques Roadshow (4.44m) BBC News (3.88m)
BREAKING: BBC unveils a brand new era of #DoctorWho, with Tenntant & Tate returning for three specials in November 2023, and Ncuti Gatwa's FIFTEENTH Doctor appearing over the festive period next year. Full details:https://t.co/h5ThSIYFwG
Talking about the future, Russell T Davies, Showrunner said: “If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way! The path to Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun! And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose!”
The three special episodes will transmit in November 2023 as Doctor Who celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Doctor Who’s The Power of the Doctor cast and Chris Chibnall on Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure
There will be laughter, there will be huge jeopardy, and there will be tears at the departure of the Thirteenth Doctor. It’s the biggest threat the Doctor has ever faced – and that any Doctor has ever faced – to their life or lives.
A time slot for Jodie Whittaker’s final episode of Doctor Who has been revealed.
Fans will know that the star’s regeneration episode ‘The Power of the Doctor’ will be airing later this month on October 23.
The BBC has now confirmed that the adventure will air at 7.30pm that evening, lasting 90 minutes until 9pm.
The episode’s trailer was released last week, where the Master (Sacha Dhawan) warns the Doctor of “the end of your existence”, while we also get a glimpse of Whittaker’s regeneration scene.
The episode’s full synopsis reads: “Who is attacking a speeding bullet train on the edges of a distant galaxy? Why are seismologists going missing from 21st century Earth? Who is defacing some of history’s most iconic paintings?
“Why is a Dalek trying to make contact with the Doctor? And just what hold does the mesmeric Rasputin have over Tsar Nicholas in 1916 Russia? The Doctor faces multiple threats… and a battle to the death.”
The episode will see a number of returning faces alongside the Doctor and Yaz (Mandip Gill), including Tegan (Janet Fielding), Ace (Sophie Aldred), Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) and Vinder (Jacob Anderson).
The next incarnation of the Doctor is due to be played by Ncuti Gatwa, with Russell T Davies returning to oversee the series for its next era, including the upcoming 60th anniversary specials.
Those will also see the return of David Tennant’s Doctor alongside companion Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate.
The series 13 specials including The Power of the Doctor can be pre ordered here!
(This title will be released on November 7, 2022.)
This product is available on a pre-order basis – we expect to begin shipping by 20 October 2022. If you are pre-ordering this at the same time as another product which is already available, your order will not be sent until all items become available. Please place a separate order if you require your other goods sooner.
This issue of Doctor Who: Chronicles focuses on 1973, the year that marked the show’s tenth anniversary.
This 116-page bookazine from the makers of DWM contains all-new features, including a summary of the year’s most significant events in the Doctor Who universe, both on and off screen; highlights of the spin-o media released in 1973, including The Dr Who Annual and comic strips; Doctor Who in the popular press; special effects and production techniques, and overviews of The Three Doctors, Carnival of Monsters, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks and The Green Death.
Season 8 of Doctor Who: The Collection is the next Blu-ray title to be re-issued in standard packaging.
Stranded on 20th Century Earth, the Third Doctor teams up with UNIT and new companion Jo Grant to thwart alien invasions! And that’s not all, he must also contend with the arrival of his deadliest foe – arch nemesis the Master.
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.
With all episodes newly remastered, this Blu-ray box set also contains extensive and exclusive special features including:
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 DEVIL’S 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!
Season 8 of Doctor Who contains the following stories:
TERROR OF THE AUTONS
THE MIND OF EVIL
THE CLAWS OF AXOS
COLONY IN SPACE
THE DÆMONS
You can pre-order the standard packaging edition of Season 8 from Amazon, ahead of its release on 14th November.
A new era, a new logo and a new global home outside the UK & Ireland 
