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Month: January 2024

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 600

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 600

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This celebratory issue also includes a 16-page supplement, an exclusive art card, a specially commissioned diorama featuring figures from the recent series and a four-hour long Sixth Doctor audio drama for every reader.

Inside the mag!

  • Millie Gibson checks in with DWM following the debut of companion Ruby Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road.
  • UNIT regulars Jemma Redgrave (Kate Lethbridge-Stewart), Alexander Devrient (Colonel Ibrahim) and Ruth Madeley (Shirley Anne Bingham) face questions from the TARDIS Tin.
  • Production designer Phil Sims takes us on a guided tour of UNIT’s central London HQ!
  • We talk to DWM writers about their experiences interviewing the stars of Doctor Who for early issues of the magazine.
  • International Who! A special report on how the series has become a hit in Spain!
  • Meet Christina Rotondo – the singer who gave voice to Janis Goblin!
  • We pay tribute to Richard Franklin who died on Christmas day – and examine the impact he had as UNIT officer Captain Mike Yates.
  • We talk to production runner Thani Subkhi about his vital work on the upcoming series.
  • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies gives us an update on the progress being made on the next two series!
  • Time-Space Visualiser – discover the secret recipe for sky-high ratings!
  • The Fact of Fiction – we examine the opening episodes of 1973’s Planet of the Daleks.
  • The adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday continue in the comic strip!

PLUS!

  • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
  • Reviews – covering books, audio dramas and games.
  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
  • Win The Daleks in colour, Blu-ray box sets, books and audio dramas!

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600 is on sale Thursday 1 February from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL: THE 2024 YEARBOOK

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE SPECIAL: THE 2024 YEARBOOK

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THE 2024 YEARBOOK

  • A year in the life of the stars of Doctor Who.
  • A look back at the 2023 Specials.
  • The producer of Tales of the TARDIS discusses this nostalgic series.
  • A summary of various instalments of the Doom’s Day multi-media event!
  • Wrarth Warrior actor Robert Strange speaks to the magazine about his role in The Star Beast.
  • A special feature on Goblin celebrity Janis!
  • A report from the Doctor Who at 60 musical celebration at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre.
  • We talk to BBC Audio, Big Finish, Silva Screen and AUK Studios about the various audio offerings over the past year.
  • Doctor Who writers discuss the last 12 months of books and comics.
  • Follow the journey of young fan Piper as she is crowned The Ultimate Whovian by Blue Peter!
  • Alan Barnes and Lee Sullivan discuss their epic Fourteenth Doctor strip, Liberation of the Daleks.
  • We visit a new exhibition of Who props and memorabilia at Gunnersbury Park Museum.
  • A look at the new version of the Daleks… in colour!
  • Archivist Helen Randle on making the BBC’s vast catalogue of information available to the public.
  • A tribute to the Doctor Who luminaries who passed away in 2023.
  • Coming soon… A look ahead to 2024!

Doctor Who Magazine Yearbook 2024 is on sale Thursday 25 January from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £8.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £7.99.

Fugitive Doctor and TARDIS set announced by Character Options

Fugitive Doctor and TARDIS set announced by Character Options

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Character Options Fugitive Doctor

The enigmatic incarnation of the Doctor as first seen in FUGITIVE OF THE JUDOON gets her own figure set in an online exclusive from Character Options.

Character Options is excited and delighted to announce that, for the first time, the Fugitive Doctor will join her esteemed other incarnations with her own figure set, in this latest online exclusive Doctor Who Figure set.

Inspired by the Doctor Who episode entitled FUGITIVE OF THE JUDOON, Character Options is proud to present this figure of the mysterious Fugitive Doctor along with her very own TARDIS! Both are presented in this specially designed 60th Anniversary window packaging.

Set Contents at 5.5 Inch Scale:

  • 1 x Fugitive Doctor Figure.
  • 1 x Division Blaster Accessory 
  • 1 x TARDIS with opening doors

Character Options Fugitive & TARDIS

This incarnation of the Doctor is shrouded in mystery. The Thirteenth Doctor first met the Fugitive Doctor (played by Jo Martin) when she was hiding out as ‘Ruth Clayton’, a tour guide living in Gloucester. Using a Chameleon Arch, she’d re-written her DNA to appear human and buried her TARDIS below ground where it could never be found. She was hiding from her former employer, a mysterious Time Lord agency called ‘The Division’, who had hired the Judoon to track her down. With the arrival of the Judoon and Thirteenth Doctor, the Fugitive Doctor’s secret couldn’t be kept for much longer. 

Ruth flees with the Thirteenth Doctor to a lighthouse she remembered as a child, but what they discover there only deepens the mystery. Sensing something familiar, the Thirteenth Doctor discovers her own TARDIS from the long past, and when Ruth breaks the fire alarm within the lighthouse it triggers a reversal of the Chameleon Arch. Instantly the Doctor once more, she teleports herself and the Thirteenth Doctor into her TARDIS and takes off to confront the ‘Division’. The Thirteenth Doctor is hugely disturbed by the fact she cannot remember being this incarnation but recognises the truth that she undeniably had been. Now free, this no longer fugitive Doctor leaves for further adventures and would go on to meet her Thirteenth self a handful of times, as a projection of the Matrix, and then again as a holograph.

The full story of the Fugitive Doctor remains undisclosed and only time will reveal the full truth… as it always does.

Character Options Fugitive

Al Dewar, Creative Director, commented: 

“Well, it’s finally out there! And safe to say this is one of the most special Doctors I’ve ever worked on. It’s been under wraps for well over a year and a half which helped keep the secret. 
Jo Martin, who was utterly delightful to work with when creating this set and we also give her rather lovely TARDIS a wee overhaul as well, with the original flat roof being replaced by a slightly angled one, with replacement lamp and nice little undercuts between the roof pillars. There is also one neat little easter egg in the pack we hope collectors enjoy. All in all, this is a truly great set.”

The set will be solely available for sale via Character Online from Monday 22nd January 2024.

 
Horror of Fang Rock At The BFI

Horror of Fang Rock At The BFI

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Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock

+ Q&A with Louise Jameson

The Doctor and Leela make a grizzly discovery in this classic story from 1977.

Sunday 04 February 2024 12:00
 
NFT1 On sale

  • Director Paddy Russell

  • With Tom Baker, Louise Jameson, Colin Douglas

  • UK 1977. 4x25min

  • Courtesy of BBC Studios

The Doctor and Leela land on the island of Fang Rock where a trip to a lighthouse leads to a grisly discovery and suspected alien activity. With the power supply compromised and the survivors from a wrecked yacht newly arrived, danger lurks within. This fan favourite kicked off the 15th season of the show and is full of humour and suspense in equal measure. This new version features updated effects and a 5.1 sound mix.

Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 15 will soon be released on Blu-ray by BBC Studios.

Louise Jameson will take part in a paid for signing following this event.

Tickets £16, concs £13 (Members pay £2 less) on sale Tue 16 Jan from 11:30 to BFI Patrons and Champions, from 12:30 to BFI Members and on general sale from 16:00.

Season 15 announced as the next instalment in The Collection Blu-ray range

Season 15 announced as the next instalment in The Collection Blu-ray range

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The Collection S15 - PackshotTom Baker’s fourth season as the Fourth Doctor is the next release to come to Blu-ray when The Collection – Season 15 releases later this year.

Doctor Who fans can continue to build their own home archive on Blu-ray with a SEVEN DISC box set of the 15th Season from 1977, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. Containing six classic stories, this limited-edition set is packed with hours of new and exclusive material.

These stories feature Louise Jameson as the Doctor’s warrior companion Leela and the introduction of trusty robot dog K-9, building to an epic showdown on the Time Lords’ home planet Gallifrey with the Doctor pitted against his old adversaries the Sontarans.

All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media. 

The Collection: Season 15 Blu-ray box set also includes extensive Special Features including:

UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS: 

Exclusive to Blu-ray, on HORROR OF FANG ROCK.

BEHIND THE SOFA: 

New episodes with Louise Jameson (Leela), Colin Baker (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Betsan Roberts (wife of director Pennant Roberts) and comedian and presenter Toby Hadoke.

BLU-RAY TRAILER: 

A brand-new scripted trailer to announce the Season 15 Boxset of Doctor Who.

DARKNESS AND LIGHT: 

A look at the life and career of producer Graham Williams.

IN CONVERSATION: 

Interviewer Matthew Sweet chats to Louise Jameson.

INSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE: 

Making Horror Of Fang Rock.

TOM TALKS: 

Tom Baker muses on life, the universe and everything.

AUDIO COMMENTARIES: 

Exclusive new Audio Commentaries from Tom Baker.

5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX: 

On Horror Of Fang Rock.

RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE

TOM BAKER BLACKPOOL EXHIBITION LINKS

RARE ARCHIVE TREATS

HD PHOTO GALLERIES

INFO TEXT

PDF ARCHIVE

PLUS A LOT MORE...

This seven-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Updated Special Effects, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.

A specially shot announcement trailer has debuted on the Doctor Who YouTube channel, written by series contributor Pete McTighe (KERBLAM! and PRAXEUS) and featuring Louise Jameson’s return as Leela, last seen staying behind on Gallifrey after the events of THE INVASION OF TIME.

Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15 includes the following stories from 1977-78:

Horror of Fang Rock

The Invisible Enemy

Image of the Fendahl

The Sun Makers

Underworld

The Invasion of Time

Pre-order Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 15 now availible to pre order.

Released: 18th March 2024

PRE ORDER NOW

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road Takes Silver on Christmas Day

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road Takes Silver on Christmas Day

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A lot has changed since official figures came in. #CallTheMidwife is now the most-watched on the 25th December as a HUGE 3.3m caught up in the week after. #DoctorWho rose to 2nd place with another huge addition! #Ghosts finalised with a great 6.62m!

Consolidated, The Church On Ruby Road has overtaken both The King and Strictly Come Dancing to become the 2nd most-watched programme on Christmas Day with 7,487,000. Call The Midwife, also broadcast on Christmas Day, was just ahead with 7.66m.

Overall, Doctor Who was the third most-watched title of the week (25th-31st December) across all channels and streamers – only behind the New Year’s Fireworks and Call The Midwife. Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Day special consolidated to 6,596,000 and The King with 6,746,000 on BBC One.

The official top ten for Christmas Day 2023 can be seen below.

A chart shows the top ten shows on Christmas Day according to their official audiences according to BARB. Their overnight audience is also shown.

Doctor Who drives record-breaking festive viewing on BBC iPlayer

Doctor Who drives record-breaking festive viewing on BBC iPlayer

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Picture Shows: The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) on a ship smiling and looking surprised

The BBC has released the viewing figures for Doctor Who over the festive period, and has revealed the sci-fi show from 2005 onwards was watched a whopping 10.01 million times.

During the Christmas week (25th December to 31st December), viewers all flocked to iPlayer and set a new all-time record, according to the BBC.

The Doctor Who Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road, was the fifth most watched series throughout the BBC’s festive fortnight.

It received 1.79 million streams over the festive period, which saw the first full episode of Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor as he met his companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).

Dan McGolpin, director of BBC iPlayer and channels, said:

“It’s wonderful to see that viewers came to BBC iPlayer in record numbers over the festive period.

“Nowhere else would they have found the same range of high-quality British programming to keep them gripped, make them laugh or to provide companionship and news at that special time.

“And with a whole host of compelling drama, comedy, factual programming, entertainment and sport landing on iPlayer in 2024, viewers can look forward to a great year ahead.”

The episode itself, which aired on Christmas Day, had an overnight rating of 4.73 million, which was slightly higher than the final 60th anniversary special.

The Giggle received 4.62 million overnight viewers and 6.85 million over seven days.

The Church on Ruby Road was the third most watched show on Christmas Day, coming behind The King’s Christmas Broadcast (with 7.48 million viewers) and the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special (with 5.29 million viewers).

Top 5 streamed episodes on iPlayer over Christmas:

EastEnders (25/12/23) – 2.96m

Vigil (Series 2 Episode 6) – 2.19m

Rick Astley New Year (Part 1) – 2.02m

Call The Midwife (25/12/23) – 2.01m

Doctor Who (The Church On Ruby Road) – 1.79m (this is not the official +7 day consolidated figure)

Top 5 streamed programme brands on iPlayer over Christmas:

EastEnders – 26.28m

Vigil – 10.96

Bluey – 10.42m

Hey Duggee – 10.12m

Doctor Who (2005-) – 10.01m

Doctor Who Spin Off Series Nears Production!

Doctor Who Spin Off Series Nears Production!

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Doctor Who

As we enter a new era of Doctor Who, we know that some spin-offs are on their way – and a new report on Production List suggests that one of them will begin production very soon.

An entry on the website suggests that a spin-off, titled “The War Between the Land and the Sea“, will start shooting on 4th March 2024.

The series is specifically listed as a Doctor Who spin-off and the entry states it will feature the Sea Devils. The iconic monsters first appeared in the show in the 1972 Jon Pertwee story The Sea Devils and, more recently, they returned in the 2022 Jodie Whittaker special Legend of the Sea Devils.

Production List reports that filming will take place in Cardiff, Wales, and lists Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and producers Phil Collinson, Vicki Delow, Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner as crew members.

Davies previously confirmed that new spin-offs are on the horizon as Doctor Who enters its “next stage” after the 60th anniversary of the show.

Speaking about why it was the right time for him to return to Doctor Who, Davies told GQ:

“So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC’s measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who.

“I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off.

“Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that’s fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things.”

While confirmed details on what exactly the spin-offs will include have been thin on the ground, there have also been rumours about a spin-off relating to UNIT – especially after Jemma Redgrave’s return as Kate Stewart in the 60th anniversary specials.

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 599

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE 599

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In this issue:

  • An exclusive double interview with Ncuti Gatwa and David Tennant – talking about bi-generation.
  • An access-all-areas look at the making of the Anniversary Specials finale The Giggle.
  • Production designer Phil Sims takes us on a guided tour of the new TARDIS.
  • Sonic disruptors! The making of the Fifteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver.
  • A profile of new companion Ruby Sunday.
  • Join Blue Peter competition winner Verity on a tour of Doctor Who’s Wolf Studios.
  • We talk to the people who worked on post-production on the latest episodes.
  • Script editor Scott Handcock relives the anniversary month in his Production Diary.
  • Crowd Sourcing – the concluding part of our feature on the life of extras on 60s Doctor Who.
  • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies explains how the Gallifrey of the Fugutive Doctor was foreshadowed in 70s episode The Hand of Fear – now available on iPlayer.
  • Sophie Aldred – aka 80s companion Ace – remembers her time on the show.
  • The Fact of Fiction – we scrutinise Eleventh Doctor mid-series finale A Good Man Goes To War.
  • A brand-new comic strip featuring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday!

PLUS!

  • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
  • A new-look reviews section – covering radio, books, soundtracks, and audio dramas.
  • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
  • Win a copy of the Anniversary Specials Blu-ray, the new Target adaptations and the latest audio releases.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 599 is on sale Thursday 9 January from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £8.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £7.99.