BBC Studios

A Doctor Who audio drama podcast is coming March 2024

17 February 2024 admin Comments 0 Comment

The Big Finish Doctor Who Audio Drama Podcast: Into the TARDIS

Coming March 2024, this weekly podcast will present stories in episodic instalments released weekly on Saturdays – like the original serialised broadcast of classic Doctor Who stories on the BBC.

Since 1999, Big Finish Productions has been producing full-cast audio adventures set in the world of Doctor Who. Featuring specially composed music and cinematic sound effects, these stories are officially licensed by the BBC and star original cast members of the TV series.

To mark 25 years of this output, Big Finish Productions, in association with BBC Studios, Zebralution Podcast, Apple and Acast, are excited to announce INTO THE TARDIS, which will showcase fan-favourite stories from Big Finish’s back catalogue.

The stories will be presented in episodic instalments released weekly on Saturdays – like the original serialised broadcast of classic Doctor Who stories on the BBC. Each episode will feature a brand-new introduction read by Colin Baker (who played the Sixth Doctor on TV and continues to do so for Big Finish), as well as behind-the-scenes interviews.

Colin Baker recording in the studio

INTO THE TARDIS will begin in March 2024, with the first two episodes serialising DEATH AND THE QUEEN. Originally released by Big Finish in 2016, this full-cast audio drama stars David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, with a script by James Goss.

Big Finish chairman Jason Haigh-Ellery said:

“As part of the celebration marking 25 years of Big Finish Doctor Who audio drama productions, I am delighted to announce that Big Finish are partnering with BBC Studios, Zebralution, Apple and Acast to launch Into the TARDIS – the first officially licensed Doctor Who audio drama podcast. This is an initiative that we have been working on for some time and I am particularly excited about, as it will bring Big Finish’s work to a far wider audience.”

Jan Paterson, director of audiobooks at BBC Studios, added:

“For many years now, Big Finish has provided Doctor Who fans with thrilling audio dramas and we’re excited to see them extend their offering with a podcast. Into the TARDIS will allow the fanbase to extend their enjoyment of the show as well as open the Doctor Who audio drama world up to a whole new audience.”

Luisa Abraham, managing director at Zebralution Podcast, said:

“We’re thrilled to have contributed our expertise to Big Finish for the launch of their new podcast, Into the TARDIS. Our collaboration marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and we eagerly anticipate sharing numerous captivating stories with the global Doctor Who community and welcoming countless new fans into the fold.”

INTO THE TARDIS will be available via all podcast platforms, and all listeners will be able to stream it for free with ads. Users of Apple Podcasts will have the additional option of subscribing for £2.99 a month, which will give early access to episodes and ad-free listening. A 3-day free trial of this subscription will also be available.

Get ready for INTO THE TARDIS on all podcast platforms

BBC Studios and Toshiba TV unveil partnership for Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary

19 October 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who continues to push boundaries and inspire generations of viewers and this event is a glorious celebration of the brands’ iconic heritage and exciting future!”

— Sarah Bold, Head of Brand and Marketing, Scripted at BBC Studios

Doctor Who: Unleashed is set to land on BBC Three

28 September 2023 admin Comments 0 Comment

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Over the years, I meet so many people who were inspired to find careers in TV, because of the behind-the-scenes material the BBC would show. And now it’s back, in the grand old tradition of Doctor Who Confidential, but in a brand new form, Unleashed! So a whole new generation – and faithful fans of old – can see what the stars and the crew get up to behind the cameras.

— Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Showrunner

Centenary of BBC celebrated in Isle of Man stamp issue

4 June 2022 admin Comments 0 Comment

A set of Isle of Man stamps featuring a range of popular BBC’s programmes has been produced to mark the broadcaster’s centenary.

The 12-stamp collection is set to be released by the Isle of Man Post Office on Thursday.

Each features a programme from the the BBC’s history, including Match of the Day, Doctor Who, and Blue Peter.

The post office’s Maxine Cannon said the broadcaster had an “indelible place in the hearts” of people on the island.

The set also marks the island’s connection to the corporation as Castletown-born Sir Frank Gill played “an integral role in its foundation”, she added.

The engineer has been recognised as playing a formative role in the creation of the British Broadcasting Company in 1922.

The “100 Years of Our BBC” stamp collection was designed in collaboration with BBC Studios.

Head of BBC History Robert Seatter chose the programmes featured on each piece after research into which programmes were most popular with the Manx public.

“Selecting just twelve moments was extremely hard, but we hope we have captured something for everyone,” he said.

‘Fury From The Deep’ cover art and special features revealed

3 August 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

The cover art and special features of the animated version of the missing Doctor Who adventure, releasing on DVD, Blu-Ray and Steelbook on 14th September 2020, have been revealed.

Doctor Who – Fury From The Deep (Limited Edition Steelbook) [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]

Fury From The Deep is told across six episodes and stars Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon and Deborah Watling as Victoria, in her last televised adventure.

The storyline concerns a colony of sentient, parasitic seaweed, last seen in the eighteenth century, returning to attack a number of gas instillations in the North Sea in an attempt to take over humanity.

The three-disc release gives fans the opportunity to enjoy Fury From The Deep in high definition, either in full colour or in black & white. The release will include the surviving clips from the original 1968 production as well.

The six new animated episodes are being made in full colour and high definition and will include the following exclusive special features:

Audio commentaries
The Cruel Sea – Surviving Fury From The Deep
Original surviving footage
Behind The Scenes 8mm footage
Animating Fury From The Deep
Archive interviews with Peter Day and Victor Pemberton
Teaser Trailer
Photo Gallery
The Slide Audio Drama
PDF scripts

Series 12 will be available on DVD and Blu-ray from 20th April 2020

6 March 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who Series 12 DVD

Series 12 sees Jodie Whittaker return for her second outing as the Doctor as she travels through time and space to save the world accompanied by her three best friends Ryan, Yaz and Graham.

This series follows the Thirteenth Doctor as she faces her toughest challenges yet battling the Cybermen, coming face to face with the Master, and encountering a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor. Featuring terrifying monsters old and new, figures from Earth’s history, and an eclectic set of guest stars, this series will delve deeper into the hearts of the Thirteenth Doctor.

This release also includes the New Year’s Day special, Resolution.

Exclusive to this release, fans of the show will be able to enjoy bonus features including ten Closer Look behind-the-scenes documentaries, three audio commentaries and a special ‘What To Expect in Series 12’ preview.

The series is also available as a limited edition steelbook, available exclusively on Amazon.

Doctor Who Series 12 will be available to buy on DVD, Blu-ray and steelbook online and in-store from 20th April 2020. It is available to pre-order below.

Doctor Who – Complete Series 12 (Amazon Exclusive) [Blu-ray] [2020]

Fan Art Competition Winners Announced

21 July 2019 admin Comments 0 Comment

The results are in! The winners and runners up of the Doctor Who Fan Art Competition have been announced, take a look at all of their entries and find out a little bit more about the artists.

Runners Up:

Celeste Madrigal

What inspired your artwork? My artwork was inspired by the energetic and playful layers of the Thirteenth Doctor. The look of wonder in her eyes was important for me to capture. I incorporated the TARDIS as part of her face in three different perspectives to integrate the essence of time travel. I am obsessed with using bold colours in all of my art and in life. I wanted to use colours such as light blue and purple tones to have good contrast and yet still complement each other.

How long have you been a fan of the show? I started watching the show since the Tenth Doctor. There is so much legacy surrounding the show that I really appreciate seeing what each Doctor and companions bring to the show. The new worlds and new times have me hooked.

Who is your favourite Doctor to illustrate? My favourite Doctor is lucky number thirteen. I was over the moon when I heard the announcement of the first female Doctor. I love the fresh take and joy for life that the Thirteenth Doctor brings. I also really enjoy her style and wanted to incorporate that in my artwork. I ultimately chose to create an art piece that was a close up of her face, so I wanted to make sure I got the details in her earrings just right.

See more of Celeste’s work here.

Elizabeth Wallace

What inspired your artwork? My artwork was inspired by the quote from The Doctor’s Wife, “Are all people like this…. So much bigger on the inside” and the idea that the Doctor’s first love is the TARDIS, it is in a way, the Doctor’s heart.

How long have you been a fan of the show? I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who since 2010. I was introduced by some friends and fell in love with the show. I have seen all of the post-2005 seasons so far, as well as classic Doctor Who up through Horror of Fang Rock.

Who is your favourite Doctor to illustrate? My favourite Doctor is the Eleventh Doctor, both to watch and draw. He was my first Doctor and holds a very special place in my heart.

Imogen Newman

What inspired your artwork? My work was inspired by Thirteen’s bounding energy – It was super important for me to try to capture the lovely positivity and vigour that we all love about her. My artwork therefore has a lovely bright palette – I made use of the vivid rainbow tones in her t-shirt and used them in the paint-splattered backdrop. I also illustrated her jumping with a chirpy expression on her face to really try and show off her spirit!

How long have you been a fan of the show? I’ve been a fan of the show since it was revived. My Dad is a super-fan – I remember him sitting down 7 year-old me in 2005 to watch Rose. Fourteen years later, sitting down to watch Doctor Who on a weekend evening remains a valued event in our household. It’s stayed with me through my childhood, my teens, and now my 20s.

Who is your favourite Doctor to illustrate? My favourite Doctor is definitely Jodie Whittaker. She’s also my favourite to illustrate. Jodie is one of my favourite actresses and a big inspiration for me – seeing the Doctor being enriched with fabulous female talent is so refreshing to see. I adore the infectious optimism and relatable awkwardness of her Doctor. Thirteen has a special place in my heart!

See more of Imogen’s work here.

Jason Longstreet

What inspired your artwork? I’m most known for my Legendary Ladies Series of paintings depicting strong leading ladies in film and television so it was elementary for me to choose the Thirteenth Doctor for this painting.

How long have you been a fan of the show? I was introduced to Doctor Who only about 5 years ago but I was instantly captivated.

See more of Jason’s work here.

WINNER:

Gail Schoonmaker

What inspired your artwork? I love the combination of youthful energy and “old soul” that Matt Smith brings to the role of the 11th Doctor. I like to imagine him passing an afternoon of quiet reflection while enjoying the childish fun of flying a kite. A TARDIS kite, of course.

How long have you been a fan of the show? I’m a relative newcomer, but a fast fan. I began watching over my daughter’s shoulder a few years ago, and I got hooked! Now that she is at university, I watch with my husband and compare notes via text with my daughter.

Who is your favourite Doctor to illustrate? My favourite Doctor to illustrate is the Twelfth Doctor because of Peter Capaldi’s wonderful hair. But I have a soft spot for the Ninth, because he is the first Doctor I watched and fell in love with.

See more of Gail’s work here.

Tom Baker and Adric reunite for new Doctor Who audio adventures

22 June 2019 admin Comments 0 Comment

Adric Doctor Who

Brace yourselves, Doctor Who fans: Tom Baker’s Time Lord and companion Adric are set to reunite in a new series of audio adventures.

For the first time since 1981, the fourth incarnation of The Doctor and the boy genius played by Matthew Waterhouse will join forces for more stories set in parallel universe E-Space.

As part of the ninth series of Big Finish’s Fourth Doctor Adventures, the audio play producer will release two volumes of stories featuring the characters.

Set just before Tom Baker’s Doctor’s last televised adventure – between State of Decay and Warrior’s Gate – the audio stories are set to depict the start of the relationship between the Fourth Doctor and Adric, the self-assured 15-year-old and mathematical mastermind.

Originally from Alzarius, a planet existing in the parallel universe of E-Space (as opposed to our universe’s N-Space), Adric first became a companion of The Doctor in 1980’s State of Decay after sneaking aboard the Tardis.

Adric and The Doctor won’t be alone, however. The two will be joined by Time-Lady Romanadvoratrelundar II (Romana to us humans), played by Lalla Ward, while John Leeson will reprise his voice role as robo-canine companion K9.

While both K-9 and Romana have previously appeared in Big Finish adventures with the Fourth Doctor, the new stories will mark the first time Tom Baker and Matthew Waterhouse feature together in an audio drama.

“I’ve always found that when recording a Doctor Who on audio, it felt like coming home,” Waterhouse said about returning to work with Baker. “I absolutely loved it, and this [new series] is another development of that. I love the idea of E-Space with the Fourth Doctor, Romana, Adric and K9 travelling together.”

Explaining what listeners can expect from the new stories, producer David Richardson said: “We’re returning to another much-loved era in Series 9, as the E-Space trilogy gets a massive extension on audio and we explore strange and wonderful worlds in another universe with the genius team of the Doctor, Romana, Adric and K-9.

“It’s been such fun recreating the tone and high-concept style of that era, as the travellers begin the search for a CVE (Charged Vacuum Emboitment) which can take them (or at least most of them) home.”

Volume one of series nine of The Fourth Doctor Adventures, set for release in January 2020, will feature two stories:

Purgatory 12 by Marc Platt
Chase the Night by Jonathan Morris

And volume two, set for release in February 2020, will feature these adventures:

The Planet of Witches by Alan Barnes
The Quest of the Engineer by Andrew SmithRemove term: series nine of The Fourth Doctor Adventures serieRemove term: series nine of The Fourth Doctor Adventures series nine of The Fourth Doctor Adventures nine of The Fourth Doctor Adventure

Big Finish has also confirmed series 10 of The Fourth Doctor Adventures will be released in January and February 2021.

Each volume is available as a 4-disc CD box set for £25 or on download at £20 from www.bigfinish.com. Or you can get both sets together in a pre-order bundle for £45 on CD or £40 on download. Each of these stories are also available at an individual download price of £12.99.