Join the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the BBC Singers, directed by Alastair King, as they celebrate the glorious musical sounds of Doctor Who in this special 60th anniversary concert for Radio 2.
Featuring I Am The Doctor, Abigail’s Song, This Is Gallifrey, The Impossible Girl, I Am A Good Man, The Shepherd’s Boy and the timeless Doctor Who Theme as brilliantly imagined by composers Murray Gold and Segun Akinola.
There’s also a trip back in time to the classic years of Doctor Who from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s featuring the vintage synthesisers of BBC Radiophonic Workshop veterans Mark Ayres and Peter Howell. Plus a look ahead to the keenly awaited 60th anniversary specials on BBC One later in the year.
Special guests include Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall.
GNR has just received confirmation that this concert will air on BBC Radio 2 as part of their “Sunday Night is Music Night” strand on 15th October 2023 at 20:00 (BST), the concert duration is 1 hour, 57 minutes.
Get a preview of the new book ‘Doctor Who: The Daily Doctor’ with some memorable mantras from 60 years of Doctor Who.
To celebrate the release of THE DAILY DOCTOR: 365 1/4 WHONIVERSAL MEDITATIONS ON LIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IT, you can read some exclusive excerpts from the book here on the Doctor Who website.
Featuring quotes from every leading Doctor – from William Hartnell’s First Doctor to Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor – this page-a-day collection of pearls of wisdom from the show’s 60 years will help you stay inspired, remain ever the optimist, and travel hopefully.
The First Doctor (William Hartnell)
9 FEBRUARY – SENSE IN RETROSPECT
History sometimes gives us a terrible shock and that is because we don’t quite fully understand. Why should we? After all, we’re all too small to realise its final pattern. THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW’S EVE by John Lucarotti (1966)
The TARDIS lands in Paris in 1592, where the Doctor and his young friend Steven are soon caught up between warring religious factions. Steven befriends a serving girl, Anne Chaplet, but when events in the city turn especially violent, the Doctor tells Anne to go home. Steven and the Doctor leave in the TARDIS where the Doctor reveals that some ten thousand people will die in the massacre he and Steven just fled.
Steven is furious that the Doctor left Anne in such potential danger but the Doctor insists (not for the first time) that history cannot be changed… The Doctor believes he’s made the right albeit difficult choice – but will come to rethink this kind of decision.
It’s hard to understand events as they’re happening. Dramas and crises can be overwhelming. But later, looking back, we can gain perspective to make sense of what happened – and learn from the experience.
The Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton)
26 FEBRUARY – GENIUS OR STUPID
Dastari, I have no doubt you could augment an earwig to the point where it understood nuclear physics – but it’d still be a very stupid thing to do! THE TWO DOCTORS by Robert Holmes (1985)
Professor Joinson Dastari is Head of Projects at Space Station Camera in the Third Zone, a pioneer in genetic engineering and, according to the Doctor, has enough letters after his name for two alphabets. He’s exceedingly clever, as demonstrated by his fascinating work on rho mesons as the unstable factor in short-lived pin galaxies (which only exist for one quintillionth of a second).
But even someone as bright as Dastari can be spectacularly dim. In technologically augmenting the Androgum known as Chessene o’ the Franzine Grig, he unwittingly creates a formidable villain. Then there’s the fact that he sides with the Sontarans because they will support his experiments, not considering what evil they might do with it. Dimmer still, he attempts to pit his wits against two incarnations of the Doctor at the same time!
Even very intelligent, talented and experienced people can make mistakes or do daft things. Judge people by their actions not their accolades.
The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)
24 MAY – FEAR DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A WEAKNESS
Courage isn’t just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It’s being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway. PLANET OF THE DALEKS by Terry Nation (1973)
Codal is part of a task force confronting the Daleks. He is captured in the Spiridon jungle while drawing pursuers away from his fellow Thals. The Doctor finds Codal in a Dalek cell and commends his bravery.
Codal dismisses it, saying he didn’t think about his actions. He’s been terrified ever since landing on the planet. Unlike the others, he’s a scientist and not a soldier. He didn’t have the courage to be the only one in hundreds not to volunteer for service – even though the Thals have only recently developed space flight for a voyage of this length. The Doctor’s little tutorial on bravery reassures Codal that what he’s described, and what he did in the jungle, are certainly examples of courage.
Being afraid of danger and uncertainty is natural, not a failing. Fear isn’t a weakness; failing to act because of it is. In any situation, true bravery appears when you’re understandably frightened but still choose to do the right thing.
The Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker)
12 APRIL – EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS
Never guess. Unless you have to. There’s enough uncertainty in the universe as it is. LOGOPOLIS by Christopher H Bidmead (1981)
A pale figure on a bridge gestures towards the TARDIS on the river- bank far below. The Doctor goes to talk with the stranger, and Adric observes their conversation from a distance.
Adric knows that they arrived by the River Thames to flush out the Doctor’s old enemy, the Master. The Doctor won’t tell him the identity of the mystery figure on the bridge, so mathematical genius Adric puts two and two together and makes five: it must be the Master. The Doctor admonishes Adric without correcting him about the stranger’s true identify. He’s spotting connections in a chain of circumstances that fragments the law that holds the universe together – and so guessing most certainly won’t help.
Expectation inspires us with possibilities in a way that dry facts do not. But random conjecture is no substitute for informed deduction, whatever the situation. Equip yourself with facts before decisions are made.
The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison)
25 APRIL – MIRROR, MIRROR
THE DOCTOR: What is the one thing evil cannot face – not ever? TEGAN JOVANKA: What? THE DOCTOR: Itself. KINDA by Christopher Bailey (1982)
The verdant planet Deva Loka, also known as S14, is home to the peaceful, enigmatic Kinda who turn out to be far more sophisticated than they first appear. A group of would-be colonisers from another world dismiss the Kinda as ‘primitive’ because they recoil from the sight of a mirror, fearful that it might somehow capture their soul.
But there’s another lifeform on Deva Loka: the evil Mara. It usually inhabits ‘the dark places of the inside’ but succeeds in making a telepathic connection with Tegan using her dreams as a conduit. The Doctor realises that the Kinda’s fear of mirrors is a clue to their power. To defeat the huge, snake-like manifestation of the Mara and free the people it has possessed, he traps the creature within a circle of polished solar generator panels. The Mara is faced with infinite reflections of itself and can only escape by withdrawing to the dark place from which it came.
Most of us like to think that we’re basically good people. However, we might occasionally behave badly and not necessarily be aware how we’re affecting others. Every now and again it’s a good idea to hold up a mirror to our own actions and see ourselves as others do.
The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker)
10 JANUARY – COMPASSION WHEN TESTED
THE DOCTOR: You know, I’ll never understand the people of Earth. I have spent the day using, abusing, even trying to kill you. If you’d have behaved as I have, I should have been pleased at your demise. PERI BROWN: It’s called compassion, Doctor. THE TWIN DILEMMA by Anthony Steven (1984)
The newly regenerated Sixth Doctor is liable to sudden, dramatic changes of mood. At one point, he even attacks his poor companion, Peri. Horrified by his own actions, he heads to the desolate asteroid Titan 3, to live a repentant life as a hermit. Poor Peri has no choice but to go with him.
Soon they are caught up in a sinister alien plot, and find themselves trapped in a base which has been set to self-destruct. With typical quick thinking, the Doctor finds a way to transmat Peri to safety, but the base apparently explodes before he can join her back in the TARDIS.
The Doctor is amazed by Peri’s relief when he then turns up alive; it’s not at all what he deserves. But her compassion transcends such small concerns. Don’t take pleasure in the suffering of others, no matter what they might have done.
The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy)
12 SEPTEMBER – TIME FLOWS BY
Funny old business, time. It delights in frustrating your plans. All Kane’s bitterness and hatred thwarted by a quirk of time. DRAGONFIRE by Ian Briggs (1987)
The vicious criminal Kane was captured by his people on Proamon and exiled to the frozen, dark side of the planet Svartos.
For 3,000 years Kane plotted revenge against his own people – without knowing that he was wasting his time. A thousand years after he was exiled from his home world, its local, cold red star turned supernova and all the planets were engulfed in the explosion. Kane finally realizes that for two-thirds of his imprisonment, there has been no one to avenge himself on. All his efforts and diabolical schemes have been for nothing.
The Doctor is also long-lived and has suffered all kinds of loss and injustice. Yet his behaviour on Svartos is completely different to Kane’s. The Doctor explores, makes new friends and even goes on a treasure hunt.
Humans don’t live as long as the Doctor or Kane. We don’t know how long our lives – or those of others – will be. Don’t waste time in bitterness. Move on and make the most of what you have.
The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann)
16 JULY – USE THE TIME YOU’VE GOT
Four minutes? That’s ages! What if I get bored. I need a television, couple of books. Anyone for chess? Bring me knitting! THE NIGHT OF THE DOCTOR by Steven Moffat (2013)
The Doctor comes to the rescue of a young woman called Cass on a gunship racing out of control through space. Unfortunately, Cass wants nothing to do with any Time Lord – she thinks they’re no different from Daleks now, in the midst of the raging Time War. After the Doctor is unable to persuade her that he only wants to help, the ship smashes down on to the surface of the planet Karn. Cass is fatally injured in the crash. So is the Doctor.
Yet the infamous Sisterhood of Karn use their Elixir of Life to restore him for a brief time. Anyone else would surely be horrified to learn they have just four minutes to live. The Doctor, however, immediately thinks of all the fun things he can cram into that time.
In fact, this is a central idea in the philosophy of Stoicism, which flourished among the ancient Greeks and Romans. One Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, put it like this in his famous book, Meditations: “Don’t act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.”
The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)
17 APRIL – SAVOUR OTHER CULTURES
Time travel’s like visiting Paris. You can’t just read the guide book, you’ve got to throw yourself in. Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double and end up kissing complete strangers. Or is that just me? Stop asking questions, go and do it! THE LONG GAME by Russell T Davies (2005)
Adam Mitchell is overwhelmed by his first trip in the TARDIS. In the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire, planet Earth is at its height. It’s covered with mega-cities, has five moons, a population of 96 billion, and is the hub of a galactic domain stretching across a million planets and a million species.
On closer examination, the space station they’re on doesn’t exhibit the culture, art, politics, fine food and good manners Adam’s been promised. But the Doctor gives him a credit card for pocket money, tells him to stop asking nagging questions, and sends him off to explore for himself.
When you visit a foreign country, don’t just head for familiar burger and chips in the nearest themed pub. Make it your opportunity to understand a culture, language, architecture and cuisine different to your own. Who knows how your own tastes will be changed by the experience.
The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant)
25 SEPTEMBER – GIVE IT A TRY
Thing about me, I’m stupid. I talk too much. Always babbling on. This gob doesn’t stop for anything. Want to know the only reason I’m still alive? Always stay near the door. FOREST OF THE DEAD by Steven Moffat (2008)
The Doctor and his party flee through the linked skyscrapers of the biggest library in the universe. He sends the others ahead of him while he tries to talk to the creature hot on their heels.
River Song isn’t convinced the Doctor can reason with a carnivorous swarm in a suit. Nevertheless, the Vashta Nerada tell him new information about their origins – but not before they consume another victim and close in. The Doctor distracts them by chatting as he prepares to open a trapdoor beneath him and escape.
Don’t be afraid to try something novel, go to a place you’ve not visited before or meet different people at a party or an event. You’ll learn new things, make fresh connections and maybe change your perspective. And if things don’t go too well, you can always prepare an excuse that allows you to pop out at a moment’s notice.
The Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith)
5 JUNE – HOLD ON TO SUNSHINE FOR THE RAINY DAYS
What’s the point in them being happy now if they’re going to be sad later? The answer is, of course, because they are going to be sad later. THE DOCTOR, THE WIDOW AND THE WARDROBE by Steven Moffat (2011)
The Doctor says this to Madge Arwell, who is desperate for her children Lily and Cyril to have the best Christmas ever – before they learn the terrible news that their father has died. All Madge wants is for her children to be happy but she finds herself shouting at them instead. The Doctor gently explains the turbulent brew of emotions we call grief.
In time, we all lose people dear to us. Sometimes we simply drift apart or move away; sometimes people die. Grief can smother everything for a while, leaving us upset and angry and numb all at once. It’s awful and exhausting. If you don’t understand that already, sadly you will someday…
But that’s all the more reason to cherish what we have. Recognise the good times as you’re having them. Tell the people you love that you love them. None of us know how long we’ve got together, so make the most of it while you can.
The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi)
28 JUNE – POSITIVE OUTLOOK
THE DOCTOR: I have a time machine. I can be back before we left. BILL POTTS: But what if you get lost, or stuck, or something? THE DOCTOR: I’ve thought about that. BILL POTTS: And? THE DOCTOR: Well, it would be a worry, so best not to dwell on it. Look at this building. Look at it. You know what I like about humanity? Its optimism. Do you know what this building is made of? Pure, soaring optimism. SMILE by Frank Cottrell-Boyce (2017)
The Doctor tells Bill Potts that a journey back to his office in the TARDIS for a cup of tea can encompass everything that ever happened or will happen – all before the kettle boils. Where would she like to go?
He dismisses Bill’s worry that something could prevent them returning, instead pointing out the beauty and wonder of the futuristic colony city in which they have just arrived.
You’ll enjoy life more by assuming a positive outlook. Take sensible precautions, but don’t let fear of a worst-case scenario spoil your enjoyment of the moment.
The Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker)
28 APRIL – LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
Something seems impossible. We try – it doesn’t work, we try again. We learn, we improve. We fail again, but better. We make friends, we learn to trust, we help each other. We get it wrong again. We improve together, then ultimately succeed. Because this is what being alive is. And it’s better than the alternative. So come on, you brilliant humans. We go again. And we win. EVE OF THE DALEKS by Chris Chibnall (2022)
It’s déjà vu all over again. The Daleks track the TARDIS to execute the Doctor as punishment for destroying their war fleet. They succeed immediately, exterminating the Doctor and her friends in a storage facility. The End.
Well, not quite. The TARDIS traps them inside a time loop. The relentless Daleks learn the Doctor’s tactics each time the loop repeats. But it shortens on each reset, so they only have so many chances. The Doctor uses the penultimate loop to plan tactics that make the most of time available to each of them. Six previous failures are acceptable if it makes a final seventh attempt successful.
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Don’t just repeat your actions. Learn from your mistakes, work out whose help you need, picture a successful outcome and go for it.
Every Doctor (Almost)
6 APRIL – WHEN I SAY RUN…
THE DOCTOR: Run! THE FACELESS ONES by David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke (1967) THE THREE DOCTORS by Bob Baker and Dave Martin (1972–73) IMAGE OF THE FENDAHL by Chris Boucher (1977) FOUR TO DOOMSDAY by Terence Dudley (1982) VENGEANCE ON VAROS by Philip Martin (1985) PARADISE TOWERS by Stephen Wyatt (1987) DOCTOR WHO by Matthew Jacobs (1996) ROSE by Russell T Davies (2005) NEW EARTH by Russell T Davies (2006) THE ELEVENTH HOUR by Steven Moffat (2010) ROBOT OF SHERWOOD by Mark Gatiss (2014) ROSA by Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall (2018)
Here’s a useful fact for you. The First Doctor never tells anyone to run in any of his TV adventures – he’s more likely to tell them to wait so he can catch up. But every other Doctor has yelled this instruction, and so saved someone’s life.
There’s an awful lot of running in Doctor Who. After all, there’s a whole universe of deadly creatures and robots to escape from. But look again and that’s not always what’s happening. Sometimes the Doctor runs headlong into danger, eager to help those who need it. We could all be a bit more courageous and active in helping. So imagine the Doctor taking hold of your hand – and run.
You’ve never seen a Doctor Who Annual quite like this . . .
In November 2023, Doctor Who returns to our screens with an almighty TARDIS-crashing bang. David Tennant is back as the Doctor, Catherine Tate is back as the incredible Donna Noble.
And the Doctor Who 2024 Annual is THE place to start an incredible journey. With everything you wanted to know about the Doctor – plus costumes, games, behind-the-scenes info – it even includes a never-seen-before Fourteenth Doctor story, and a sneak peek at the long-awaited Fifteenth Doctor . . .
So get your sonic screwdrivers at the ready, and plunge into a Whole New Who World.
Soon after Yasmin Finney was cast as a new character named Rose in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, many fans speculated that she would be playing the daughter of returning companion Donna Noble.
Wishing a very happy birthday to Yasmin Finney, whose character Rose is the daughter of companion Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate) and Shaun Temple (Karl Collins). pic.twitter.com/z9op4tpc8s
Those theories were only bolstered by pictures and footage showing Donna and Rose together, and now they have been confirmed, with Finney’s character officially being named as Rose Noble.
In a post on Twitter, which has recently been rebranded to X, the official Doctor Who account celebrated Finney’s birthday by confirming that her character, Rose, is the daughter of Catherine Tate’s companion and Shaun Temple, played by Karl Collins.
The account also teased in a subsequent post: “So the question is, what happens when Rose meets one of her mum’s oldest friends?
“It is a mystery for now, but what we do know is that just like her mother, Rose stumbles across something alien – and from that point her seemingly ordinary family is never quite the same…”
While Donna is only expected to appear in the show’s three 60th anniversary specials later this year, it appears that Finney’s Rose may be going on to star in next year’s season 14, alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor.
First, Finney confirmed in an interview that she would be sharing the screen with Gatwa.
Then, returning showrunner Russell T Davies wrote in Doctor Who Magazine that Finney had wrapped only “a few days ago” as season 14’s production came to a close.
Also starring alongside Finney, Tate and David Tennant in the 60th anniversary specials will be Neil Patrick Harris as a villain and Ruth Madeley, who will be playing a character called Shirley Anne Bingham.
Madeley recently said of her character: “You’re gonna love Shirley, you’re gonna love the episodes, or episode, who knows.
“All I will say is, whatever questions you have, my answer will be, ‘Guess.'”
ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE – 60 YEARS OF DOCTOR WHO ART
It is claimed to be the largest collection of art from the programme ever shown.
ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE – 60 YEARS OF DOCTOR WHO ART EXHIBITION Weston Museum 21 October 2023 – 27 January 2024
Allons-y, time travellers and art aficionados! Weston Museum is all set to take you on a nostalgia-filled ride with “Adventures in Time and Space – 60 Years of Doctor Who Art.” Celebrating the show’s whopping six decades of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey greatness in November 2023. This exhibition promises to be a treat for all those who’ve shared an adventure with the Doctor.
Hold onto your sonic screwdrivers as we journey back to the roots of the longest-running Sci-Fi extravaganza known to humanity. From the classic era that graced our screens from 1963 to 1989, to the modern reboot that’s been stealing our hearts since 2005, this exhibition is a heart-warming journey for Doctor Who fans of all generations.
This is the largest collection of original and digital art from and about the programme ever shown in one location.
Expect to be greeted by the images of familiar faces of the Doctors we’ve cherished through the years – from the stern charm of William Hartnell to the iconic scarf-swirling of Tom Baker, the cheeky charm of David Tennant, the ground-breaking brilliance of Jodie Whittaker, and with the excitement of the new Ncuti Gatwa. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Doctor Who affair without our favourite villains – the Daleks, Cybermen, and a host of creatures that have given the Doctor a run for their money across time and space.
The exhibition unfolds like the pages of a well-worn book, displaying iconic book covers, a blast from the past with those VHS video covers we all remember (oh, the nostalgia!), annuals, comics, and graphic novels that have kept us hooked. To add a sprinkle of that quintessential Doctor Who magic, there’s even a painting that made its debut on the show itself.
We’ve dived into the TARDIS of artistic archives, rounding up an exceptional collection from private art collectors and dedicated fans who’ve lovingly held onto these visual treasures. Marvel at the original cover art of the very first Doctor Who Annual from way back in 1965 – the colours as vivid as a freshly regenerated Time Lord. We’ve joined forces with Doctor Who’s very own artistic time-travellers, securing their prized works from their dusty vaults and bringing them to life with high-resolution digital wizardry.
This artistic ensemble features legends like Andrew Skilleter, whose art has become as timeless as the Doctor’s adventures, and Chris Achilleos, the genius behind the iconic covers of the Target Doctor Who novels. There’s also Colin Howard, the artist responsible for those captivating video covers, the legendary Dave Gibbons of Marvel comics fame, pop culture chronicler Jeff Cummins, and storyboard extraordinaire Mike Collins from Bad Wolf Studios. The line-up continues with Jessica Martin, Bill Donohoe, David McAllister, Lee Binding, Lee Sullivan, Sophie Leong, Gwen Burns, Eren Angiolini, and the dynamic duo Anthony Dry & Stuart Crouch.
‘Don’t blink’ for an expedition that transcends time and space, as we celebrate the legacy of Doctor Who through a captivating display of artistry and many other Dr Who events that will take place during the run of the exhibition. The exhibition was organised by the South West Heritage Trust and Events of Wonder.
ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE – 60 YEARS OF DOCTOR WHO ART EXHIBITION Weston Museum 21 October 2023 – 27 January 2024
The Dr Who superfan from Swindon with one of the world’s largest collections
Phil Stevens has amassed countless original models and replicas of Doctor Who memorabilia – keeping it all in a storage unit
A Dr Who superfan from Wiltshire has amassed one of the world’s largest collections of memorabilia from the show.
Phil Stevens’ assortment of items is so large it needs to be kept in a storage unit as it does not all fit in his home in Swindon.
But Phil conceded his wife would also rather see the collection remain out of the house.
He said: “I think Sally would prefer everything to be in the Big Yellow storage unit here, rather than cluttering the house up.
“She doesn’t want strange monsters lurking around the place – she’s got me!”
Phil’s collection includes Dr Who’s most infamous enemy from across the years, the Dalek
But the superfan added that the cool and controlled conditions in the storage unit has helped preserve some of his items, with some of the memorabilia dating back several decades.
Phil has also created replicas of Dr Who merchandise as well, also being a keen model-maker.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed it. I’m a model kit maker, so I tend to focus more on the props and models and behind-the-scenes stuff.
Phil also owns multiple cybermen outfits, which show how they have changed through the series
Phil believes he’s been interested in Dr Who since he first saw the show when he was three years old.
But he thinks with new seasons coming out, his hobby shows no signs of stopping. Asked if he is going to carry on collecting, he said: “I hope so, yes.”
“I’ll start nailing things to the ceiling if I begin running out of room in here,” he joked.
Doctor Who regeneration wins TV Moment of the Year at Edinburgh TV Awards
The Thirteenth Doctor regenerates in “The Power of the Doctor”
Doctor Who, The Traitors and BBC One all took home trophies at this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival Awards.
BBC One picked up the Channel of the Year award, while other wins for the broadcaster included The Traitors topping the Best Entertainment category and Graham Norton being named Best Entertainment TV Presenter.
Best Drama was awarded to Sally Wainwright’s hit series Happy Valley, while Ellie Simmonds triumphed in the Breakthrough Presenter category for her documentary Ellie Simmonds: A World Without Dwarfism?.
It was a strong showing too for Channel 4, with Kate Winslet taking home the Best TV Actor in a Drama award for her performance in the drama I Am Ruth, and Lewis Gribben picking up the Breakthrough Actor award for his turn in the acclaimed series Somewhere Boy.
Channel 4 also scored awards in the programme categories, for Best Documentary (Children of the Taliban), Best Popular Factual (Rosie Jones’ Trip Hazard), and Best Comedy series (Derry Girls).
Elsewhere, Jamie Demetriou won Best TV Actor in a Comedy for his performance in Netflix series A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou, Best International Drama was awarded to Succession, and Best On Demand Service was won by ITVX.
This Year’s Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Claudia Winkleman in recognition of her contribution to some of TV’s most popular shows, including the BBC’s long-standing Strictly Come Dancing and new hit series The Traitors and The Piano.
In the only award voted for by the public, the scene in Doctor Who that saw Jodie Whittaker regenerate into David Tennant – from the episode The Power of the Doctor – was crowned TV Moment of the Year.
A full list of winners can be found below.
Best TV Actor – Comedy: Jamie Demetriou
Best TV Actor – Drama: Kate Winslet
Best TV Presenter – Factual: Ramita Navai
Best TV Presenter – Entertainment: Graham Norton
Breakthrough Actor: Lewis Gribben
Breakthrough Presenter: Ellie Simmonds
Best Comedy Series: Derry Girls
Best Documentary: Children of the Taliban
Best Drama: Happy Valley
Best Entertainment Series: The Traitors
Best International Drama: Succession
Best Popular Factual Series: Rosie Jones’ Trip Hazard
Climate Impact Award: Guy Martin’s Great British Power Trip
Production Company of the Year: Dancing Ledge Productions
Production Group of the Year: STV Studios
Small Indie of the Year: Afro-Mic Productions
Best On Demand Service: ITVX
Channel of the Year: BBC One
Ones to Watch Random Acts Live Pitch: TBC
Outstanding Achievement Award: Claudia Winkleman
TV Moment of the Year: “Dr Who Regenerates”
Doctor Who fan from Hertfordshire achieves Hollywood success
Steven Ricks (right) became a Doctor Who fan during the 1970s Jon Pertwee era and has now helped make costumes for two other Doctor actors, including Paul McGann (left)
A Doctor Who fan has told how he turned his hobby of making replica costumes into a film industry career.
Steven Ricks, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, started sharing images of the costumes he made online after being made redundant in 2008.
Fans shared his work online, eventually catching the attention of those in the television and film industries.
The 57-year-old has since worked on Oscar-winning films and recreated costumes for former Doctor Who stars.
The first costume he made was a replica of a coat which was worn on screen in 2005 by the 10th TV Doctor, David Tennant.
“I was getting all these really nice positive messages,” said Mr Ricks, who then began making coats for other fans.
After the financial crisis of 2008, the former print advertiser decided to retrain as a tailor at West Herts College in Hemel Hempstead and in Savile Row in London.
Mr Ricks continued to create replicas of Doctor Who costumes which came to the attention of film and TV costume designer Robert Allsopp.
Recalling a phone call he received, the tailor said: “They were doing a film about the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen – I ended up making two costumes for Rami Malek.”
Malek won an Oscar for his portrayal of the flamboyant singer.
Peter Davison played The Doctor between 1982 and 1984Steven Ricks recreated the costume for Peter Davison during the pandemic, but lockdown restrictions meant he did not meet the star until after the episode aired.
The tailor said that despite having worked on a costume of an Oscar-winning actor, the highlight of his career was working with the Time Lord he watched as a teenager.
When fifth Doctor Who actor Peter Davison appeared in Jodie Whittaker’s final episode last year, the tailor was asked to assist in remaking his costume.
“Peter loved it so much he asked if he could keep it at the end of the filming,” he said, explaining how the former Doctor now wears it at conventions for photos with fans.
Paul McGann returned to Doctor Who in 2013 with a new costume, 17 years after his debut in the one-off Doctor Who TV movie in 1996.Paul McGann told Steven Ricks he “loved” the recreation of his costume.
The long queues at such conventions caught the attention of Paul McGann, the eighth TV Doctor, who then asked Mr Ricks to remake his costume from scratch.
“It was a real collaborative process between us; he was fascinated by every part of recreating the costume,” said the tailor.
The former Time Lord actor wore his costume in public for the first time last weekend at Doctor Who convention in Long Island, New York.
When Mr Ricks’ “perfect client” first tried the costume he did not hide his enthusiasm for putting the costume back on.
“I’m not which of us was more excited to see him back in costume. I’m sure the fans will feel the same,” he said.
(With thanks to BBC News)
Sylvester McCoy’s life story to be brought to the screen by Film Stories
Sylvester McCoy’s going to tell his extraordinary life story in a very special film from Film Stories, our first feature.
Film Stories is proud and delighted to announce its first ever movie project – and it’s a feature that’s a big part of the 80th birthday celebrations for the brilliant Sylvester McCoy.
Entitled Sylvester: Who’s The Real McCoy?, the film sees Sylvester telling his remarkable life story on screen.
He explores his youth growing up in Dunoon, his training to be a priest, and how he made the jump from working in the city of London to a life of performance.
There are the adventures in the Ken Campbell Roadshow, his journeys around the world, and – of course – his life as the universe’s most famous Time Lord in Doctor Who, and his time in Middle Earth across The Hobbit movies.
Sylvester also candidly tells the story of losing his father just before he was born, his mother’s mental health battles, and growing up with family members in the absence of his parents.
The film is centred around a specially-filmed new interview and conversation with Sylvester, as well as materials from his personal archive. There is a sporting chance that the playing of spoons may be involved too.
It’s the first time Sylvester has released any kind of memoir.
Sylvester: Who’s The Real McCoy? is a Film Stories and Whynow production. It is executive produced by Sylvester McCoy and Clare Eden, produced and directed by Simon Brew.
The film is currently in post-production, and release details will be announced soon. For now, we leave you with the poster…
A newly remastered Series 1 – 4 Blu-ray of Doctor Who is coming soon.
In its 60th anniversary year, newly upscaled versions of sixty Doctor Who episodes from the Ninth and Tenth Doctor’s eras are coming to Blu-ray.
These new episodes are now available to pre-order in one Blu-ray set. For the ultimate fan, this collection includes every episode and special from the first four series freshly upscaled to high definition using the latest technology, plus the Tenth Doctor specials, existing bonus features and a new specially shot extra, A LOOK BACK THROUGH TIME AND SPACE with Russell T Davies and David Tennant.
The boxset features newly upscaled versions of episodes from the following series.
SERIES 1
Christopher Eccleston plays the Ninth Doctor, an alien and a loner (it’s difficult keeping up with friends when your day job involves flitting through time and space) who meets Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a shop-girl from the present day. From the moment she meets the Doctor, they click. They understand and complement each other. As they travel together through time, encountering new adversaries, the Doctor shows her things beyond imagination. The trip of a lifetime begins!
SERIES 2
The complete second series introduces David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, with Billie Piper returning as Rose. The Doctor and Rose travel across the Universe, facing dangers and thrills at every turn. Whether that’s in Victorian Scotland facing a Werewolf, or on an impossible planet orbiting a black hole.
SERIES 3
The third series of Doctor Who is full of new adventures, new laughs, new heartbreak and some terrifying new monsters. From the moment the Doctor walks into the life of medical student Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), he changes it forever. But whatever you do, don’t blink!
SERIES 4
David Tennant is back in his role as the Doctor in the fourth series of the hit sci-fi show! Award-winning comedienne Catherine Tate returns as the Doctor’s new companion, Donna Noble in this epic series that culminates in the Doctor’s friends coming together to stop the Daleks!
THE COMPLETE SPECIALS
Five specials complete the Tenth Doctor’s journey as he meets new friends, familiar faces and comes face-to-face with an old enemy in a year of special adventures.
This Complete Specials includes all the Doctor Who Specials from 2009 – The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars, The End of Time – Part One and The End of Time – Part Two.
This boxset features eighteen discs containing sixty episodes of timeless adventures, remembered forever!
