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Month: March 2023

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 589

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 589

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Doctor Who’s directors discuss the new TARDIS!

The latest Doctor Who Magazine includes an exclusive interview with all three directors of the forthcoming 60th anniversary specials – Chanya Button, Tom Kingsley and Rachel Talalay. In this revealing feature, they discuss the new TARDIS set…

Chanya Button:

“Oh my gosh, it’s enormous. I mean, it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s sort of church-like in scale, and yet it’s also this intimate space that takes you from one place to another – to even larger, wider worlds.”

Tom Kingsley:

“So much detail and love and thought has gone into it. You can point the camera anywhere at it and it looks amazing.”

Rachel Talalay:

“I was around for the four months watching it being built. My DP [director of photography] and I were having all these conversations about how to light the wall roundels, and things like that, but I just kept thinking, ‘It will never be ready in time…’ So the fact that, in the last couple of days of my contract, we finally got on there, was amazing.”

Other highlights of the new issue include:

  • The DWM 60th Anniversary Poll – the analysis of the results begins, with this issue looking at the rankings of every story from the 1960s.
  • Liberation of the Daleks Part Six – the adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor continue in the epic comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan.
  • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies on writing the next series, exciting nights out and the hunt for silver glitter body spray.
  • Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock files his latest report on the forthcoming episodes, direct from Doctor Who’s HQ.
  • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news, including new cast announcements and executive producer Phil Collinson on Doctor Who’s involvement with Comic Relief 2023.
  • How Cleo Carried On ­­­– Cleo Sylvestre recalls the early years of her career, when she appeared in the 1965 story The Crusade.
  • Best Life – Moses Ogundeji reveals what it’s like to work as ‘best boy’ on the new series of Doctor Who.
  • Tea Time Terror – a look back at The Amazing World of Doctor Who, the 1976 book that’s about to gain a surprising new lease of life.
  • 60 Objects, 60 Years – from The Key to Time in 1978 to a Neo-Cyberman in 1982, the latest instalment of this series tells the story of one object from every year of Doctor Who’s history.
  • The Fact of Fiction uncovers the secrets of the acclaimed Twelfth Doctor adventure Flatline.
  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to forthcoming stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
  • Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 589 is on sale Thursday 30 March from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £6.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £5.99.

CHANNEL 5 TO EXPLORE DOCTOR WHO’S SECRETS AND SCANDALS

CHANNEL 5 TO EXPLORE DOCTOR WHO’S SECRETS AND SCANDALS

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Classic 'Doctor Who' YouTube Channel Launches

Channel 5 are to explore Doctor Who’s “secrets and scandals” in a new 90-minute documentary. The documentary was provisionally due to air over Easter, however it’s understood that plans have changed and this has now been pushed back.

No further details are available.

Paul O’Grady: 1955-2023

Paul O’Grady: 1955-2023

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Comic Paul O'Grady from Aldington recovers after 'feeling poorly' and ...

It was with great sadness that this morning we heard about the sad death of Paul O’Grady, known to millions for his altar ego Lilly Savage, for hosting “Blankety Blank” and For The Love Of Dogs, however Paul does also have a link with Doctor Who, as he appeared in a cameo playing himself during the 2008 story “Stolen Earth” alongside Dave Tennant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTDVFhXZxtk

He also played “The Doctor” in a parody sketch as part of The Lilly Savage Show in 1997.

Paul James O’Grady MBE DL (14 June 1955 – 28 March 2023) was an English comedian, broadcaster, actor, writer and drag queen. He achieved notability in the London gay scene during the 1980s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage, through which he gained broader popularity in the 1990s. O’Grady subsequently dropped the character and in the 2000s became the presenter of various television and radio shows, including The Paul O’Grady Show.

Born to a working-class Irish migrant family in Tranmere, Cheshire, O’Grady moved to London in the late 1970s, initially working as a peripatetic care officer for Camden Council. He developed his drag act in 1978, basing the character of Lily Savage upon traits found amongst female relatives. Touring England as part of drag mime duo, the Playgirls, O’Grady then went solo as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980s. Performing as Savage for eight years at a South London gay pub, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT), he gained a popular following among London’s gay community and used his character to speak out for gay rights. After being nominated for a 1992 Perrier Award, O’Grady attracted mainstream attention and made various television, radio, and theatrical appearances. As Savage, he presented the television shows The Big Breakfast (1995–1996), Blankety Blank (1997–2002), and Lily Live! (2000–2001), earning various awards and becoming a well known public figure.

Wishing to diversify from Savage, O’Grady starred in the BBC One sitcom Eyes Down (2003–2004) and presented two travel documentaries for ITV. In 2004, he began presenting ITV’s daytime chat show The Paul O’Grady Show. After the network refused to transfer creative control of the series to O’Grady’s production company Olga TV, he moved to Channel 4 in 2006, where the show was rebranded as The New Paul O’Grady Show, airing until 2009. O’Grady presented the late night ITV show Paul O’Grady Live (2010–2011) and BBC Radio 2’s Paul O’Grady on the Wireless (2009–2022). Additional television shows included Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs (2012–present), Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans (2014–2016), Blind Date (2017–2019), and Paul O’Grady’s Great British Escape (2020). He published several books, including a four-volume memoir.

O’Grady was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment. In 2020 he became president of the British Music Hall Society, taking over the role from Roy Hudd. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent.

Coming soon – Doom’s Day

Coming soon – Doom’s Day

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Doom's Day

This special multi-platform story will celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary by introducing a brand-new character on a 24-hour pursuit of the Doctor.

Someone has sent literal Death after Doom. She can only outrun it for 24 hours. Unless she can find the Doctor.

Launching later in 2023, this standalone trans media series will allow Doctor Who fans to follow Doom, the Universe’s greatest assassin, as she travels through all of time and space in pursuit of the Doctor to save her from the ever-approaching Death. She only has 24 hours and a vortex manipulator to save herself before her fate is sealed forever.

Sooz Kempner as Doom
Sooz Kempner as Doom

Stand-up comedian, comedy sketch artist and actor Sooz Kempner will be the face and voice of Doom, and a number of fan-favourite characters will feature along her journey.

Russell T Davies says:

“DOOM’S DAY is a huge new adventure for the whole Doctor Who universe – starring the brilliant and hilarious Sooz Kempner as an intergalactic assassin. Her adventures will span comics, audio, a novel, video games stories and more, expanding the world of Doctor Who into brand new territories. Beware the Doom’s Day, it’s coming for us all.”

Sooz Kempner says:

“To be part of the Doctor Who universe, a British institution up there with cups of tea and James Bond, is surreal and amazing! I love everything about Doom and can’t believe I get to travel across time and space with her.”

Doom’s Day will kick off on Doctor Who digital channels later this year followed by products from Doctor Who Magazine, Titan Comics, Penguin Random House, East Side Games, Big Finish and BBC Audio, each telling a section of Doom’s story.

Each partner will create their own adventures for DOOM’S DAY, each focusing on one of the 24 hours Doom has left on the clock. The standalone stories will also have an overarching narrative that will play out before the finale which will release on Doctor Who digital channels.

More details on each individual DOOM’S DAY storyline will be revealed.

The Fourth Doctor faces the Ice Warriors, Leela meets Marie Curie and more audio adventures

The Fourth Doctor faces the Ice Warriors, Leela meets Marie Curie and more audio adventures

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March 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.

Leela meets Marie Curie

Big Finish - March

In 1920s New York, the Doctor introduces Leela to the great Marie Curie. But the time travellers are not the only people interested in the famous scientist…

Missy is in trouble. Stuck on Earth, she’s targeted one of the Doctor’s companions to get his attention, but her timing’s off. Now young Amy Pond has a strange new therapist…

Order The Eighth of March: Strange Chemistry here.

The Terror of the Master returns!

Big Finish - March

A Masterful three-hour audiobook set in the Third Doctor era is re-released as a standalone download.

Dr. Derek Drake is a National Treasure – he’s going to solve the energy crisis and stop pollution. So why is the Doctor convinced the humanitarian and darling of the media is really the Master in disguise?

Order Terror of the Master here.

Tom Baker returns for brand-new adventures

Big Finish - March

The Doctor explores an unusual art gallery on a distant world and a mysterious, manufactured island in space in a brand-new box set of full-cast audio adventures.

Order New Frontiers here.

The Fourth Doctor faces the Ice Warriors

Big Finish - March

Everything Margaret Hopwood knew was turned upside down by the arrival of a strange man in a blue box inviting her to an unusual art gallery on a distant world. Little do they know a deadly plan is about to commence – one involving creatures called Ice Warriors.

Order Ice Heist here.

The Doctor explores a mysterious island…

Big Finish - March

Antillia. A manufactured island in space, lost to time. But now it’s finally been found. The Doctor and his friends arrive at the same time as an expeditionary party, delighted to solve one of the great mysteries of history. But they may have found more than they bargained for.

Order Antillia the Lost here.

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

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL: SHOWRUNNERS

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL: SHOWRUNNERS

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DWM SPECIAL 63: SHOWRUNNERS

Doctor Who’s 60-year journey was launched by producer Verity Lambert; the series, in turn, served as the springboard for her own remarkable career. Since then, a further 12 producers have accepted the unique challenge of steering one of the most demanding programmes on television. The latest Special Edition of Doctor Who Magazine examines what each of these people brought to the role and gains exclusive new insights from their colleagues.

£8.99 On sale Thursday 16 March

Doctor Who: Redacted Season 2

Doctor Who: Redacted Season 2

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Doctor Who: Redacted cast Holly Quin-Ankrah, Lois Chimimba and Charlie Craggs.

The creator of podcast drama Doctor Who: Redacted has claimed she was dropped from the show, amid reports of a second season being in the works for BBC Sounds.

The series, which debuted last year, followed university dropouts Cleo, Abby and Shawna, who maintain a long-distance friendship by making a podcast about conspiracy theories – including one about a certain blue box.

They soon find themselves wrapped up in a supernatural conspiracy as anyone with ties to the Doctor begins to disappear without trace, as if being redacted from reality.

Before long, they are the only ones left who can uncover the truth of what’s going on.

Though yet to be confirmed by the BBC, reports of a second season have cropped up across the internet, stemming from a recent update by writer Karissa Hamilton-Bannis.

Redacted season 1 producer Ella Watts responded to the news on her personal Twitter account, expressing her dismay at being apparently replaced “without explanation”.

The statement began: “It looks like there’s a Doctor Who: Redacted season 2 in the works. Sadly, I won’t be working on it. Whilst I was clear I wanted to remain on the project, I was replaced by the BBC without explanation or an application process.

“I believe I’ll be replaced by James Goss as producer. If Redacted s2 is anything like his previous work, it’ll be fantastic and I wish him the best.”

Watts continued:

“Doctor Who means different things to different people. As a fan and a queer woman, to be part of bringing a queer women fronted show to the Whoniverse was an immensely proud moment in my life.

“From pitching it in 2018, to bringing Juno [Dawson, writer] on board in 2019, then producing, casting, script-editing, writing on and directing it – it’s been incredible.”

She added:

“I’m sorry I’ve not been given the opportunity to see it through. This isn’t the first time in podcasting that women have been replaced by men following successful first seasons. I’m heartbroken it happened here. “I don’t know more. I hope production goes well. I can’t wait to listen!”

It is not a rare occurrence for creative talent to change between seasons on a production.

David Tennant shows off new Doctor Who costume for Red Nose Day

David Tennant shows off new Doctor Who costume for Red Nose Day

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David Tennant
David Tennant

Doctor Who star David Tennant has given fans another look at his Fourteenth Doctor costume in new photos for Red Nose Day — and it looks absolutely glorious.

The actor, who played the Tenth Doctor, has returned to the show to star in the 60th anniversary specials alongside co-star Catherine Tate (Donna Noble).

Now, ahead of his return to host Red Nose Day, Tennant has posed alongside Comic Relief co-founder Lenny Henry in a whole host of epic snaps.

One of the photos shows him recreating his regeneration in The Power of the Doctor, while more see him proudly sporting a red nose and striking a pose with Henry.

Fans are absolutely thrilled to see more of the epic costume and have even speculated that it means the iconic Doctor Who ‘minisodes’, which used to form part of the Red Nose Day broadcast, might be making a comeback.

Tennant is no stranger to Red Nose Day. During his first run as the Doctor, he appeared on the broadcast various times, including in a beloved sketch that saw the Tenth Doctor meet Tate’s iconic character Lauren Cooper.

This year, Tennant is returning to host Red Nose Day alongside AJ Odudu and Joel Dommett as well as Zoe Ball and Paddy McGuinness.

Fans first saw Tennant’s new costume when he made a surprise appearance in The Power of the Doctor after the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, regenerated.

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies previously said of Tennant and Tate’s return to the show: “They’re back! And it looks impossible — first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on Earth is happening?

“Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”

Red Nose Day returns to BBC One on Friday 17th March.

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 588

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 588

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The latest Doctor Who Magazine features a 28-page retrospective of every story in The Sarah Jane Adventures, the much-loved spin-off from Doctor Who that ran from 2007-11 and starred Elisabeth Sladen. Included are new interviews with stars Daniel Anthony, Tommy Knight and Anjli Mohindra, plus lead writer Phil Ford.

Other highlights of the new issue include:

  • Liberation of the Daleks Part Five – the adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor continue in the epic comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan.
  • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies on the return of The Sarah Jane Adventures to iPlayer, and the changes that had to be made.
  • Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock files his latest report on the forthcoming episodes, direct from Doctor Who’s HQ.
  • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news, including exclusives from Russell T Davies, executive producer Phil Collinson and two of Doctor Who’s new directors.
  • Visual Thinking – an interview with Siân Reynish, Doctor Who’s new VFX co-ordinator.
  • 60 Objects, 60 Years – from a giant maggot in 1973 to K9 in 1977, the latest instalment of this series tells the story of one object from every year of Doctor Who’s history.
  • The Fact of Fiction takes to the high seas as it looks back at the Eleventh Doctor adventure The Curse of the Black Spot.
  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to forthcoming stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
  • Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 588 is on sale Thursday 2 March from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £6.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £5.99.