Inside the issue Radio Times speaks with David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Bonnie Langford, Millie Gibson and Tom Baker, plus many more to celebrate this TV landmark.
On sale Tuesday 21 November 2023.
Come face to face with the show’s iconic characters, share the Doctor’s adventures and explore some of the worlds visited on screen.
Wellington City Council, WellingtonNZ and Sarner International are thrilled to announce Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Where Science Meets Fiction | Doctor Who Ngā Ao Mīharo: Te tūtakitanga o te Pūtaiao ki te Pakimaero exhibition opens in Wellington in June 2024.
The exhibition will run for five months from June 1 2024, at Tākina, Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, giving fans of the hit BBC television series Doctor Who the opportunity to come face to face with the show’s iconic characters, share the Doctor’s adventures and explore some of the worlds visited on screen. It is the first time the exhibition has left UK shores.
Doctor Who first aired in 1963 and has millions of fans across the globe. It follows the adventures of a Time Lord known as the Doctor who explores space and time in the TARDIS. And since the beginning of the show, science has been prominent in the development of key stories and characters. This exhibition enables visitors to explore scientific themes such as whether time travel is actually possible, and why the TARDIS is bigger on the inside.
Part of the exhibition is the Monster Vault where visitors will come face to face with many of the Doctor’s alien adversaries and learn about their connections with real science. Created in collaboration with BBC Studios, scientific themes such as artificial intelligence, DNA manipulation and cloning – all of which have featured in Doctor Who episodes – are explored and explained.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is excited by the quality of exhibitions now coming to Wellington.
“It is great to see the continued success of Tākina, and to build our exhibition programme offering for our residents and visitors to the city.”
WellingtonNZ General Manager for Events and Experiences Warrick Dent says:
“Doctor Who is arguably one of the most iconic television shows in history. The programme has been incredibly popular for six decades and we can’t wait to welcome its fans to Tākina. Wellington is home to a thriving screen industry – with the World Premiere of Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition opening in the capital in December, followed by the Doctor Who exhibition further cements Wellington’s reputation as a cultural and creative hub.”
Fiona Lang, General Manager, BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand, says:
“We’re so pleased to bring this fascinating exhibition to New Zealand. So many Kiwis have grown up with the Doctor and the show’s regenerations mean there are always new fans being introduced to the wonders of the Doctor’s journey through time and space.”
The Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Where Science Meets Fiction exhibition opens in Wellington, New Zealand in June 2024.
As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of iconic series Doctor Who, one of the show’s most renowned tales is undergoing an out of this world update as it receives an artistic colourisation.
Originally transmitted in December 1963 to February 1964, The Daleks were introduced to audiences and soon became one of the Doctor’s most formidable and enduring foes.
The story follows the very first crew of the TARDIS as they land in a petrified forest on an alien planet. Determined to explore, the Doctor (William Hartnell) leads his companions into the metal city, where they discover danger at every corner and what will become his deadliest enemy, the mutant Daleks.
These seven original 25 minute episodes have now received a cosmic makeover, having been dazzlingly colourised and weaved together into a 75 minute blockbuster to appeal to today’s modern audiences.
With brand new sound, a brand new score – created by Mark Ayres – The Daleks has been gloriously updated, whilst ensuring the original classic story remains as thrilling as it was when it began in 1963.
And, whilst viewers can enjoy watching the colourised version of The Daleks when it arrives on 23rd November on BBC Four, it will also sit within The Whoniverse where viewers can also watch the seven part story in its original form.
Phil Collinson, Executive Producer said: “It’s been my absolute pleasure to spend this past 12 months working with such a talented team to breathe new life into this classic adventure – a story that is literally the foundation stone of all that Doctor Who has become..
“The original is a masterpiece of 1960’s television drama and this new version stands on the shoulders of the pioneering spirit of 1960’s Doctor Who.”
This special episode is one of the many highlights set to commemorate Doctor Who’s outstanding 60 year anniversary,– shortly before David Tennant takes back the reigns of the TARDIS for three highly anticipated specials.
Before we all get embroiled into all the wonderful celebrations of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, we thought it might be useful to our readers if we list (in order) all programmes that are lined up to celebrate this landmark event. We understand this list is complete, however if you know of anything we have missed off, please do let us know so we can add them into our table. (Please not: all times are UK GMT)
DATE | TIME | PROGRAMME | CHANNEL |
17th November | 7.00pm 10.00pm | BBC Children In Need | BBC-1 |
18th November | 1:00am 2:00am | The Classic Years... | BBC Radio 2 |
18th November | 2:00am 3:00am | The Modern Era... | BBC Radio 2 |
18th November | 3:00am 4:00am | My Life In A Mixtape (Sylvester McCoy) | BBC Radio 2 |
18th November | 4:45pm 5:00pm | Doctor Who @ 60: Surviving Doctor Who - An A – Z | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
18th November | 8.00pm 10.00pm | Sounds of the 80's | BBC Radio 2 |
19th November | 12:00am 1:00am | My Life In A Mixtape (Janet Fielding) | BBC Radio 2 |
19th November | 4:00am 5:00am | My Life In A Mixtape (Segun Akinola) | BBC Radio 2 |
19th November | 10.00am 10.45am & 3.00pm 3.45pm & 9.00pm 9.45pm | Desert Island Discs (Russell T Davies) | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
19th November | 4.30pm 5.00pm | Doctor Who: The Wilderness Years | BBC Radio 4 |
19th November | 4.45pm 5.00pm | Surviving Doctor Who - an A-Z (Episode 2) | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
20th November | 7.00pm 7.30pm | The One Show (With Russell T Davies and David Tennant) | BBC-1 |
20th November | 8:55pm 9:00pm | Witness History - Making Doctor Who | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
21st November | 3:00am 4:00am | My Life In A Mixtape (Sophie Aldred) | BBC Radio 2 |
21st November | 6.30am 9.30am | The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show | BBC Radio 2 |
22nd November | 3.00am 4.00am | My Life in a Mixtape (Ruth Madeley) | BBC Radio 2 |
22nd November | 9:25pm 10:00pm | Doctor Who: The War Doctor | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
23rd November | 12.15pm 1.00pm | Bargain Hunt | BBC-1 |
23rd November | 7.30pm 8.45pm | Doctor Who: The Daleks In Colour | BBC Four |
23rd November | 8.45pm 10.05pm | Doctor Who: An Adventure in Space and Time | BBC Four |
24th November | 5.00pm 5.30pm | Blue Peter | CBBC |
24th November | 6.50pm 7.00pm | Doctor Who: The Bedtime Story | Cbeebies |
24th November | 9:00pm 10:00pm | Doctor Who: 60 Years of Friends and Foes | BBC Radio 4 |
25th November | 6.30pm 7.30pm | Doctor Who: The Star Beast | BBC-1 |
25th November | 7.30pm 8.00pm | Doctor Who: Unleashed | BBC Three |
25th November | 8.30pm 10.00pm | Doctor Who: 60 Years of Secrets & Scandals | Channel Five |
2nd December | 6.30pm 7.30pm | Wild Blue Yonder | BBC-1 |
2nd December | 7.30pm 8.00pm | Doctor Who: Unleashed | BBC Three |
9th December | 6.30pm 7.30pm | The Giggle | BBC-1 |
9th December | 7.30pm 8.00pm | Doctor Who: Unleashed | BBC Three |
15th December | 5.00pm 5.30pm | Blue Peter Doctor Who Takeover | CBBC |
15th December | 10.40pm | The Graham Norton Show (Ncuti Gatwa guests) | BBC-1 |
18th December | 10.40pm | Imagine…Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me | BBC-1 |
Doctor Who’s BBC centenary special saw Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor regenerated into David Tennant, who returns to screens as the Fourteenth Doctor alongside Catherine Tate as Donna Noble for Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary specials in November 2023.
The Star Beast (56 minutes long) sees the Doctor and Donna come face to face after all these years, but just how, and why, is about to be revealed. The BBC have today confirmed that The Star Beast will air at 6:30pm on Saturday 25th November 2023.
The official synopsis reads:
The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London. But as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor’s old friend, Donna.
A further synopsis in Doctor Who Magazine adds: “The Doctor barges into [Donna’s] kitchen. By the time a squadron of Wrath Warriors shows up on her doorstep, the Noble family must face facts: Donna’s past is catching up with her. And her mind is about to be blown…”
Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney joined the cast last year in the role of Rose, the daughter of Donna Noble. Jacqueline King will be reprising her role as Donna’s mother Sylvia, and Karl Collins as Donna’s long suffering husband, Shaun.
The show also welcomes Ruth Madeley who will be appearing as Shirley Anne Bingham. American star of stage and screen, Neil Patrick Harris, also joined the cast as classic villain The Toymaker.
Ncuti Gatwa’s first official Doctor Who episode is due to air on Christmas Day, however we know from the trailer that Gatwa will appear in the specials in some capacity. Showrunner Russell T Davies has promised that “the path to Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun!”.
Doctor Who returns Saturday 25th November at 6:30pm on BBC One.
I’m excited to join the Whoniverse under the leadership of the inimitable Russell T Davies. I’ve been a fan of Ncuti Gatwa for some time and getting to share the screen with him as the Doctor has been an absolute joy.
Over the weekend of November 10-12th 2023 Gallifreyan Newsroom had the pleasure of attending the wonderful Pandorica convention, which was held at the Future Inn, Bristol, UK. The convention was once again organised by the wonderful folk at Fantom Events and it was an opportunity of meeting stars of the series both classic and modern in a very relaxed atmosphere. We hope you will enjoy our photos below which will give you a flavour of a memorable weekend.
PHOTO GALLERY
Ahead of this week’s Children in Need live show on BBC One, details have been revealed for the exclusive Doctor Who scene which is set to air during the broadcast.
The scene, which has been written by Russell T Davies, will tie in to the upcoming 60th anniversary specials, and will see David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor sharing an encounter with a mysterious new character, played by Taskmaster and Juice star Mawaan Rizwan.
It has also been teased that this will lead to the Doctor uncovering an age old mystery involving one of his oldest foes – with a first look image hinting at an appearance from the Daleks.
Following the scene, fans will also get a glimpse at new behind-the-scenes show Doctor Who: Unleashed, with a short clip giving a look at the creation of the scene.
Tennant said:
“Every year that I was on Doctor Who we did something for BBC Children in Need, so it only feels right to be doing something this year. Children in Need is a national tradition, it’s certainly a BBC tradition, and Doctor Who is part of that. I’m so glad we’re able to give Children in Need viewers this little extra treat.”
Rizwan said:
“It was such an unbelievable joy to work with my Whoniverse idols David Tennant and Russell T Davies. My inner child was losing his mind on set.”
Meanwhile, Davies added:
“Doctor Who has a fine tradition of supporting BBC Children in Need, and I hope that fans and new viewers alike will be able to watch, enjoy, and contribute to this wonderful cause.”
If the Daleks do appear in the scene, then it is likely to be the last time fans see the classic foe for a while, with Davies having recently confirmed that Ncuti Gatwa won’t have to battle with them in his first season.
Davies said:
“I do think we’ve had a lot of Daleks lately. Because, actually, lovely Chris Chibnall’s Christmas specials have all been Daleks. So I think they’ve been done a lot, so people are expecting them every year now. So I think they need a good pause.”
Originally transmitted from December 1963 to February 1964, The Daleks introduced one of the Doctor’s most formidable and enduring foes. The story follows the very first crew of the TARDIS as they land in a petrified forest on an alien planet. Determined to explore, the Doctor (William Hartnell) leads his companions into the metal city, where they discover danger at every corner and what will become his deadliest enemy, the mutant Daleks.
The seven original 25 minute episodes have now been colourised and weaved together into a 75 minute blockbuster. With brand new sound and a new score – created by Mark Ayres – The Daleks has been gloriously updated, whilst ensuring the original classic story remains as thrilling as it was when it was first seen back in 1963.
This release also includes the original seven episodes on DVD in black & white, as they were first broadcast plus a 15 minute exclusive featurette and all special features from the previous release.
Credits:
Starring William Hartnell, Carole Ann Ford, Jacqueline Hill and William Russell.
Written by Terry Nation.
Directed by Christopher Barry and Richard Martin.
Highlights include:
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 597 is on sale Thursday 9 November from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £8.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £7.99.
