AudioGO have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming CD release of The Stones of Blood.

From the pen of the original script writer David Fisher, "The Stones of Blood" is set in 20th Century Dorset, where the ancient Cailleach has exerted her powers throughout the ages.

The Doctor, Romana and K9 team up with Professor Amelia Rumford and her friend Vivian Fay in their search for a powerful artefact...

This is a brand new audio novelisation of a classic Doctor Who TV adventure, which starred Tom Baker as the Doctor.

+  The Stones of Blood is released on 5th May 2011, priced £13.25.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: AudioGO]

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 9th August 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of Paradise Towers.

Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary

• Horror on the High Rise

• Casting Sylvester

• Deleted and Extended Scenes 

• Continuity

• Girls! Girls! Girls! - The Eighties 

• Photo Gallery 

• PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

• Production Note Subtitles 

• Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

+  Paradise Towers is released on 9th August 2011, priced $24.98 (USA) / $26.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the 9th May Doctor Who DVD Box-set release of Mannequin Mania.

Spearhead from Space

The Doctor is exiled to Earth in the late 20th Century by his own people - the Time Lords. The newly regenerated Doctor finds himself in Oxley Woods alongside a shower of mysterious meteorites.

Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskfoce led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. UNIT are soon called into action when people and meteorites start going missing but puzzling of all is the attempted kidnapping of a strange hospital patient - a man with two hearts, who insists that he knows the Brigadier... The new Doctor soon joins forces with his old friends, UNIT and the recently recruited Dr Liz Shaw, but time is running out.

Special Features:

•  Two Commentaries – One with actors Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney and another with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks.

•  Down to Earth – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story and how a strike at the BBC studios inadvertently created the only classic series story to be made entirely on film. With actor Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor (and inadvertent Auton actor) Robin Squire. Narrated by Carl Kennedy.

•  Regenerations - From Black and White to Colour – ‘Spearhead from Space’ marked not only the arrival of a new Doctor but also the transition from black and white to colour. This documentary looks at the challenges faced by programme makers during this period. With actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, producer Derrick Sherwin, script editor Terrance Dicks, directors Timothy Combe, Christopher Barry and Michael Ferguson, designer Roger Cheveley and graphic designer Bernard Lodge.

•  UNIT Recruitment Film (dur. 4’ 48”) – a spoof army recruitment film put together for BBC transmission during Doctor Who’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 1993.

•  Trailers – two trailers for the 1999 BBC2 transmission of the story and for ‘Doctor Who Night’from the same year.•  Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

•  Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

•  Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.

Terror of the Autons

Earth is in terrible danger. The Master has arrived with an evil scheme to destroy humanity and silence the Doctor forever by awakening the awesome power of the Nestene - a ruthlessly aggressive alien life form. With their control over all types of plastic, they form into faceless automatons, a willing army of destruction easily controlled by the evil Time Lord himself.

Aided by the Brigadier and his enthusiastic new assistant, Jo Grant, only the Doctor can combat their evil power, but this is easier said than done when every plastic doll, phone flex, or chair can be turned against him. First, however, he must defeat the Master.

Special Features:

•  Commentary - With actors Katy Manning and Nicolas Courtney, producer Barry Letts.

•  Life on Earth – In this documentary, cast and crew look back at the making of the story and the differences in the way Doctor Who was made in the seventies compared to now. With actors Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and new series producer Phil Collinson.

•  The Doctor’s Moriarty– with the introduction of the Master, the Doctor now had his very own Moriarty, who would be the dark figure behind every story in season eight, and many more beyond that. This featurette discusses the enduring appeal of the character. With actor Katy Manning, producer Barry Letts, script editors Terrance Dicks and Christopher H Bidmead and writers Robert Shearman and Joe Lidster.

•  Plastic Fantastic – how did the writers of Doctor Who and other programmes take something as everyday as plastic and turn it against us? With writers Francesca Gavin, Robert Shearman and new series designer Matthew Savage.

•  Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

•  Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

•  Radio Times Listings and promotional material for Sugar Smacks and Nestle products in Adobe PDF format.

+  Mannequin Mania is released on 9th May 2011, priced £30.63.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

The BBC Doctor Who website have now uploaded the full trailer for Series 6 of Doctor Who:

+  Rate / Discuss the Trailer in the DWO Forums.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

To herald the new series of Doctor Who, BBC Learning and Doctor Who Confidential today announced Script To Screen, an exciting competition that will give one lucky team of school children the chance to write their own Doctor Who mini-adventure starring the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith.

To win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, school children aged 9 to 11 years will be encouraged to collaborate on a three-minute script that takes the resident Time Lord on a new quest travelling through space and time inside the TARDIS.

The lucky winners will travel to the BBC's studios in Cardiff where they will see their script brought to life by the Doctor Who team and cast, including Matt Smith.

Doctor Who Confidential will also be on hand to take viewers behind the scenes to show how the script gets developed from paper to television screen – from the first script meeting, a cast read-through, on-set filming... all the way to the final edit.

Saul Nassé, Controller of BBC Learning, said: "Doctor Who is loved by children across the UK, and I can think of no better programme to inspire the next generation of story tellers.

"The Script to Screen competition is a fantastic way for children to learn new writing skills, whether or not they are winners. We are delighted that the stellar cast and crew of Doctor Who are on board for this journey of learning through time and space."

Children can be as creative and imaginative as they like in order to put together a story that's filled with all the excitement and adventure of the popular BBC One sci-fi drama.

The action-packed script must feature Matt Smith and can include one of four fearsome monsters/aliens from the show: Ood, Judoon, Cyberman or Weeping Angel, as well as a brand new human character to test the wits of the Doctor.

Tailored learning resources will be available on the BBC Learning website to help guide teachers and pupils through the process.

BAFTA winner and head writer at Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, will also offer his expert advice and helpful tips on how to pull together a stand-out script with memorable characters.

Steven Moffat said: "Doctor Who made me want to write. It made me fall in love in television, script-writing and storytelling, and led me by the hand to the best job in the world. It also made me want to defend the Earth from aliens but that hasn't come up so often.

"I know the power this show has to set young imaginations alight, because I've lived it, so I'm incredibly excited to be involved in this project. Plus it's never too early to start looking for your replacement."

The winning script will be chosen by Steven Moffat, Saul Nassé and executive producers of Doctor Who, Piers Wenger and Beth Willis.

[Source: BBC Press Office]

The SFX website has unveiled the title for Episode 4 of Series 6 of Doctor Who.

The episode, written by Neil Gaiman, is now confirmed as 6.4: The Doctor's Wife.

New Series Producer, Marcus Wilson, says on the episode:

“It’s an episode that involves quite a big sprawl, huge alien world locations and a new take on a familiar character, which required a lot of work. It’s a big episode, but I think it’ll be one the fans will love. It’s a real love letter to the fans.”

[Source: SFX]

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 12th July 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of The Gunfighters.

Tombstone, Arizona, 1881. The air is filled with the sounds of shooting, cussing, and toe-tapping tunes knocked out on the battered piano at the Last Chance Saloon. And then there is something less familiar: the wheezing, groaning sound of a Police Box materializing.

The Doctor and his companions aren't the only newcomers in town. The Clanton brothers have ridden in to settle a grudge with Doc Holliday, the notorious gambler, drinker, and dentist. In the Wild West, tempers are short, guns are swift, and a moment's hesitation on the draw can mean death.

Special Features:

•  Audio Commentary

•  The End of the Line

•  Tomorrow's Times

•  Photo Gallery

•  PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

•  Production Notes Subtitle Option

+  The Gunfighters is released on 12th July 2011, priced $24.98 (USA) / $26.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 12th July 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of The Awakening.

Little Hodcombe, 1984. The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough arrive in a small English village, looking forward to spending some time with Tegan .js" type="text/javascript"> 's grandfather. They soon discover that all is not well - Tegan's grandfather is missing and the locals are reenacting dangerous war games from 1643.

With the past mixed up with the present, can the Doctor stop the games before an evil entity hidden in the village church awakens?

Special Features:

•  Audio Commentary 

•  Return to Little Hodcombe 

•  Making the Malus 

•  Now and Then

•  Extended and deleted scene s

•  The Golden Egg Awards

•  Photo Gallery (8 mins)

•  PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

•  Production Note Subtitles 

•  Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

+  The Awakening is released on 12th July 2011, priced $14.98 (USA) / $15.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

The BBC Doctor Who website have uploaded a new promotional image for Series 6 of Doctor Who.

The image shows Amy, The Doctor and Rory reflected in an Astronauts helmet - a theme that has been running throughout this week's promos on the BBC Doctor Who website.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

The BBC Doctor Who website have now uploaded a prequel video for 6.1: The Impossible Astronaut.

The two-minute clip features non other than President Nixon in the Oval Office, and introduces us to the new threat that The Doctor will be facing in the episodes to come.

Watch the clip below:

Stay tuned as the BBC Doctor Who site have confirmed that a new promo image will be released at 12:01am Tonight!

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

TV features website; TV Line, have unveiled the promotional poster and airdate for Torchwood: Miracle Day.

The new series will air on Friday 8th July 2011, as previously posted on the DWO News page.

The BBC Doctor Who website have uploaded a 15-second teaser trailer for Series 6 of Doctor Who.

The teaser, which can be seen below, features The Doctor, reflected through an astronaut's helmet as it approaches the TARDIS. Further teasers will begin airing on the BBC channels from 9pm this evening.

As well as the teaser, the BBC Doctor Who site have also uploaded a teaser trailer for the upcoming prequel to 6.1: The Impossible Astronaut (below), which can be seen on the site from 4pm on Friday:

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

BBC Books are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a novelisation of the great ‘lost’ Doctor Who serial Shada.

Shada retells an adventure that never made it to the screen. Production of the planned finale to the 1979-1980 season of Doctor Who was halted part-way through due to industrial action at the BBC, and the story was never completed.

Now, drawing on drafts of the script and production notes as well as original designs and the material that was completed, prolific Doctor Who TV script writer Gareth Roberts tells this unique story, featuring Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, in full for the first time.

Published with the full support of the Estate of Douglas Adams and Adams' agent Ed Victor at Ed Victor Ltd, Shada will be the first ever novelisation of Douglas Adams's work on Doctor Who.   

+  Shada will be released in March 2012 as a hardback, priced £16.99.

[Source: BBC Books]

Manufacturer: BBC DVD / 2|Entertain

Written By: Robert Sloman and Barry Letts

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 18th April 2011

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 20th March 2011

The epic, six part conclusion to Jon Pertwee's era of Doctor Who arrives with this double disc DVD from BBC DVD / 2|Entertain.  Disc one is the episodic version of Planet of the Spiders, complete with an optional commentary from Elisabeth Sladen, Richard Franklin and the now sadly passed away and much loved and missed Nicholas Courtney. All the info usual text is available and it's a great romp; one hundred and fifty minutes of classic science fantasy television.  The giant spiders of Metebelis Three are after the blue crystal The Doctor removed from the planet back in The Green Death, and will stop at nothing to get it back in their webby little legs...

Pertwee's swansong adventure is a long, but very entertaining affair.  It features every form of transport you can think of, and even some dashing about in the TARDIS - something or a rarity for this incarnation of the Time Lord.  The UNIT family are all together one last time, and it's a celebration of the Third Doctor, and all handled in precisely the way that had made the first colour season of Doctor Who work so well.  It's fun, exciting and worth every second.  You'll never look at those big spiders in your bathroom the same way again...

On disc two there's the extras, and something quite surprising.  There's a really nicely put together look back over Pertwee's time as the Doctor, and an equally warm feature with Barry Letts looking back on his time with Doctor Who; both of which show just how much work and love went into the show from start to finish.  Both featurettes have contributions from a variety of sources, including Jon Pertwee, Terrance Dicks, and of course Barry Letts himself.  There are also some great anecdotes from people like Mat Irvine on the spider props and the lesson of telling people what you need in good time; and from John Kane, the immensely likeable and gentle Tommy in the story, on his memories of Who and what he's done since.

Then there's the longest television trailer ever for a repeat run of Planet of the Spiders shown as one long story on a Saturday afternoon in December on BBC1 - the trailer just rambles on and on and on, with clips upon clips; it looked like the BBC had a lot of time to fill that Christmas!

And then, the surprising thing is... they included the abridged story itself!  The unrestored and very long edited together version is here too for your enjoyment, which slightly mystifies me, as there's no extra material as there was with the Battlefield release for example, but if you're a completist it's all good for the collection.

The story gets 10/10 for being suitably epic and wrapping up the UNIT years with panache and style, and the extras get 10/10 for leaving you with a warm glow that Doctor Who was genuinely loved and cared for during Pertwee's tenure as the Time Lord.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

Matt Smith has no plans to leave Doctor Who as he reveals he is going back to film the 2012 series.

It has previously been reported that the quirky actor was planning to leave the hit sci-fi show after the upcoming series airs on BBC this spring, however in an interview with The Daily Telegraph the star has insisted that he doesn’t want to ‘give it up anytime soon.’

“I’m going back this year,” he said. “I guess [I'll] get another one out the way, see what everyone thinks of that. I love doing it, I don’t want to give it up anytime soon, put it that way.”

Smith also confessed that he was terrified about his debut on the show last year, because he wasn’t sure fans would accept him as David Tennant’s successor.

“Before that came out, I didn’t know if people were going to hurl tomatoes at me,” he said. “I had no idea. But then I suppose every actor goes through that period of, ‘Like me! Like me!’ That’s part of being an artist, I think.”

[Sources: Unreality TV; The Daily Telegraph]

The BBC have added the 2 mini Comic Relief Doctor Who episodes to their YouTube Channel, which DWO have embedded below:

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+  Rate / Discuss the episodes on the DWO Forums.

Although the fundraising evening is now over, your donations are still needed. Remember that these episodes were made especially for the Comic Relief cause in the hope that us fans can get involved and help make a difference. To give you an idea of what your money can do we have included some examples below:

£5 - could pay for a mosquito net to protect a mother and child from potentially fatal mosquito bites that spread malaria.

£10 - could pay for 12 children to be tested for malaria so they can get a quick diagnosis and receive lifesaving treatment.

£30 - could pay for three people caring for loved ones with dementia to attend a support group to help them feel less alone.

£50 - could provide 40 children with severe malaria in Uganda access to the vital drugs needed to help them survive long enough to get to hospital.

£150 - could pay for a child in Kenya to have an operation that removes cataracts from both eyes, enabling them to see again.

[Sources: BBC; Comic Relief]

BBC Books are very pleased to announce the republication of 6 Classic Doctor Who novels with Chris Achilleos’s stunning classic artwork and a series of new introductions by Neil Gaiman, Charlie Higson, Gareth Roberts, Stephen Baxter, Russell T Davies and Terrance Dicks.

Doctor Who and the Daleks

Written by: David Whitaker - Introduction by: Neil Gaiman

The mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan are joined by unwilling adventurers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright in an epic struggle for survival on an alien planet 

In a vast metal city they disc over the survivors of a terrible nuclear war – the Daleks.  Held captive in the deepest levels of the city, can the Doctor and his new companions stop the Daleks’ plan to totally exterminate their mortal enemies, the peace-loving Thals?  More importantly, even if they can escape from the Daleks, will Ian and Barbara ever see their home planet Earth again?

This novel is based on the second Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 21 December 1963 – 1 February 1964. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara.

Doctor Who and the Crusaders

Written by: David Whitaker - Introduction by: Charlie Higson

Arriving in the Holy Land in the middle of the Third Crusade, the Doctor and his companions run straight into trouble.  The Doctor and Vicki befriend Richard the Lionheart, but must survive the cut-throat politics of the English court. Even with the king on their side, they find they have made powerful enemies.

Looking for Barbara, Ian is ambushed – staked out in the sand and daubed with honey so that the ants will eat him.  With Ian unable to help, Barbara is captured by the cruel warlord El Akir. Even if Ian escapes and rescues her, will they ever see the Doctor, Vicki and the TARDIS again?

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 27 March – 17 April 1965. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Ian, Barbara, and Vicki.

Doctor Who and the Cybermen

Written by: Gerry Davis - Introduction by: Gareth Roberts 

In 2070, the Earth’s weather is controlled from a base on the moon. But when the Doctor and his friends arrive, all is not well. They discover unexplained drops of air pressure, minor problems with the weather control systems, and an outbreak of a mysterious plague.

With Jamie injured, and members of the crew going missing, the Doctor realises that the moonbase is under attack. Some malevolent force is infecting the crew and sabotaging the systems as a prelude to an invasion of Earth. And the Doctor thinks he knows who is behind it: the Cybermen.

This novel is based on ‘The Moonbase’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 11 February–4 March 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Polly, Ben and Jamie.

Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen

Written by: Terrance Dicks - Introduction by: Stephen Baxter

The Doctor has been to Det-Sen Monastery before, and expects the welcome of a life time.  But the monastery is a very different place from when the Doctor last came.  Fearing at attack at any moment by the legendary Yeti, the monks are prepared to defend themselves, and see the Doctor as a threat.

The Doctor and his friends join forces with Travers, an English explorer out to prove the existence of the elusive abominable snowmen.  But they soon discover that these Yeti are not the timid animals that Travers seeks.  They are the unstoppable servants of an alien Intelligence.

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 30 September – 4 November 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Jamie and Victoria.

Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion

Written by: Terrance Dicks - Introduction by: Russell T Davies

Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower.  But t hese are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has begun its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and deadly shop window dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack.  But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn’t even recognise him.  Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT’s trust before the invasion begins? 

This novel is based on ‘Spearhead from Space’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3 – 24 January 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters

Written by Malcolm Hulke - Introduction by: Terrance Dicks

UNIT are called in to investigate security at a secret research centre buried under Wenley Moor.  Unknown to the Doctor and his colleagues, the work at the centre has woken a group of Silurians – intelligent reptiles that used to be the dominant life form on Earth in prehistoric times.

Now they have woken, the Silurians are appalled to find ‘their’ planet populated by upstart apes.  The Doctor hopes to negotiate a peace deal, but there are those on both sides who cannot bear the thought of humans and Silurians living together.  As UNIT soldiers enters the cave systems, and the Silurians unleash a deadly plague that could wipe out the human race, the battle for planet Earth begins.

This novel is based on ‘The Silurians’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 31 January – 14 March 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

All 6 titles will be published on 7th July at £4.99 each.

+  Compare Prices for these products on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: BBC Books]

Michael Gough, the actor best known to Doctor Who fans as The Celestial Toymaker, has died. As well as his fondly remembered portrayal of the Toymaker, opposite the first Doctor William Hartnell in 1965, Gough also appeared as the Doctor’s old friend Hedin, in the 1982 story ‘Arc of Infinity’.

Gough was born in Kuala Lumpa in either 1916 or 1915 – he never knew which. Despite the uncertainty about his year of birth, he holds the honour of being the longest-lived actor to have appeared in Doctor Who. His career was extraordinary. Between 1947 and 2000, he recorded at least one film per year, often more, in addition to a busy TV and stage career, which included tours with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

Michael Gough’s unstoppable film career began in the forties, with ‘Androcles and the Lion’, but it was his role as Nicholai in ‘Anna Karenina’ that set in motion a prolific and distinguished movie career. By the early sixties he was well-known to TV viewers through such series as ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’, ‘The Count of Monte Christo’, ‘The Saint’, ITV’s ‘Play of the Week’ and many more.

After appearing in the title role of the 1965 Doctor Who story  ‘The Celestial Toymaker’, Gough started to achieve a cult status among horror film fans, appearing in several notable productions from Hammer and Amicus, while continuing to be a regular face on British TV, with roles in ‘The Avengers’, ‘Orlando’, ‘The Champions’ and ‘Theatre 625’, to name just a few. Throughout the seventies, he continued making several movies and TV series each year. Among the many classic series he appeared in during that decade are ‘Colditz’, ‘The Protectors’, ‘Crown Court’ and ‘Blake’s 7’. His career continued into the eighties with ‘Brideshead Revisited’, ‘Smiley’s People’ and a second appearance in Doctor Who – this time with the fifth Doctor, Peter Davison.

After a further decade of TV and film appearances, Gough found new adoration among a new generation of film-goers as Batman’s butler, Alfred, in the new films in that franchise which began in 1989. His relentless work-rate continued during the 90s and into the 2000s, and he established a long friendship with director Tim Burton, appearing in ‘Sleepy Hollow’, ‘Corpse Bride’ and, in 2010, ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Even this however, was not his final appearance. Released in February 2011, ‘All Star Superman’ features one last outing for his legendary and unique voice. 

Gough was married three times – his third wife being Doctor Who actor Anneke Wills. Wills had encountered him at various times during her life – firstly during a theatre trip with her mother in 1952 – but they first met formally, on the set of ‘Candidate for Murder’ and the attraction was instant. Gough adopted Anneke’s daughter Polly, and in 1965, their son Jasper was born. 

Anneke says, “As his body was deteriorating this week, he said that he wanted to hang on for St Patrick’s Day. And he did, just. In the end... there is only love.” 

Michael Gough leaves his wife Henrietta, his daughter Emma and sons Simon and Jasper (Yogi).

[Source: Tim Hirst]

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the April DVD release of Planet of the Spiders.

What begins as innocuous research into ESP turns into a deadly mind battle, with the terrifying spiders from the planet Metebelis Three pitted against The Doctor, his friends and Time Lord K'Anpo. 

At a Tibetan-style spiritual retreat deep in rural England, a clandestine circle of chanting brethren unknowingly call upon the evil powers of the Metebelis Spiders, whose quest for the perfect blue crystal leads them straight to the Doctor. He must travel to the alien planet to meet the Great One, merciless ruler of her spiders and human slaves, who plans to take over Earth.

The future of the entire universe is in the Doctor's hands, but if he is to face the fear the Great One sees in his mind, then he must face the certainty of total destruction. Could this be the Time Lord's final death? 

Special Features:

Disc 1:

•  6 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio. 

•  Commentary - stereo. With actors Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks.

•  Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

•  Programme subtitles.

•  Subtitle Production Notes.

Disc 2:

•  The Final Curtain – five years after its re-invention in colour and its rise to massive popularity, it was time for Doctor Who’s charismatic lead actor Jon Pertwee to move on… and with him the production team that had guided the show throughout that period. This documentary looks at the background to the Third Doctor’s swansong. With actors Jon Pertwee and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, designer Rochelle Selwyn, visual effects assistant Mat Irvine and actor and author Mark Gatiss. Narrated by Glen Allen. 

•  John Kane Remembers… – actor John Kane memorably played the gentle, slow-witted Tommy, reborn through the power of the Metebelis crystal. An accomplished writer and series creator, Kane now lives in France, from where he looks back on his memories of the story. 

•  Directing Who with Barry Letts – Barry Letts is perhaps most famous as producer of Doctor Who, but he was also responsible for directing some of the show’s best-loved stories. Barry looks back on his career as a director in this documentary. 

•  Now & Then – the latest instalment in our ongoing series takes a trip back to some of the locations used during production of the story. 

•  ‘Planet of the Spiders’ Omnibus Edition – the full-length omnibus edit of the story, presented here totally unrestored.

•  Omnibus Trailer 

•  Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

•  Radio Times Listings in Adobe pdf format.

+  Planet of the Spiders is released on 18th April 2011, priced £20.42.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

Doctor Who spin off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures has scooped an award at this year's Royal Television Society Awards.

The show picked up the award in the Children's Drama category. Also winning at the awards was Steven Moffat, who picked up the Judge's Award.

[Source: Royal Television Society]

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Big Finish Productions have issued a press release confirming Tom Baker's involvement in future Doctor Who audio adventures:

We’re delighted to announce that Tom Baker will be playing the Fourth Doctor in a number of audio adventures for Big Finish, to be released from the beginning of 2012. Storylines and scripts are already at an advanced stage, and we plan to start recording early in the summer.

The first season of six single-disc releases will begin in January 2012, with a second season of seven single-disc releases to follow at a date to be confirmed. There will also be a five-disc box set entitled Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The Fourth Doctor Box Set... The producers across the Fourth Doctor adventures are Nicholas Briggs and David Richardson.

“As many of you will know, we've been talking to Tom for a long time,” says Big Finish executive producer Nick Briggs. “David Richardson and I went to visit Tom at his home not long ago to chat about it all. We had a really great time. At that point, I sincerely felt that had we taken a microphone with us, Tom would have started there and then - but, of course, there are always finer details to sort out. Now that our plans are in place, and Tom has enthusiastically told the world that we're going ahead, we thought it best to follow-up with our own announcement. Rest assured that in the coming months we will be releasing news on this as soon as we are able.”

Executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery says: "I am delighted that Tom will be joining the Big Finish audio adventures of Doctor Who. As a small child, I remember how charismatic and engaging his performance was each Saturday tea time - and we are all looking forward to recreating that era again."

We can confirm that the companions in these productions will be Louise Jameson as Leela and Mary Tamm as Romana, and some familiar monstrous faces from the past will be popping up too.

In early 2010, DWO interviewed Tom Baker, who expressed interest in possibly working with Big Finish. Listen to the Big Finish portion of our 90-Minute interview with Tom Baker below:

[Source: Big Finish]

DWO WhoCast host Cameron K McEwan, also known as Blogtor Who, is presenting a two-hour online radio show in aid of Comic Relief.

The Big Mix Grill Radio Show is a sizzling blend of puns, succulent news stories and vibrant quizzes all served up on a bed of listening perfection. Tickle your taste buds with a wide variety of music and stories from the show which brings you everything from your five a day to your evening hot chocolate.

Join hosts Cameron K McEwan and Sandy McKinnon as they mix and mash all the best bits in to this amazing two hour comic relief special radio show, raising as much money as possible for Comic Relief along the way. 

The show airs Tuesday 15th March 5pm – 7pm only on ASR.

Listen live, around the world, on: http://aberdeenstudentradio.com/

Request a song and donate to Comic Relief: http://www.justgiving.com/bigmixgrill

[Source: Cameron K. McEwan]

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine has announced the likely airdate for Series 6 of Doctor Who.

As expected, the show is set to return on Easter Weekend, with Episode One airing on Saturday 23rd April, and Episode Two airing as soon as Sunday 24th April - although that point is nothing more than a rumour at this moment in time.

The magazine also confirms the title of Episode 11 as The God Complex. The story is written by Toby Whithouse and features David Walliams as Gibbis.

+ Buy / Subscribe to Doctor Who Magazine at CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine - Issue #432]

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Mike Maddox

RRP: £14.99

Release Date: 28th February 2011

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 6th March 2011

Bringing back an old foe in Doctor Who is always risky, especially if that villain is as iconic as Axos.  With characters like this, simply rehashing old storylines is an easy trap to fall into and one that this adventure seems at times perilously close to.

The sentient parasite is brought back in the latest Sixth Doctor audio and one of the most exciting things about this release is the return of Bernard Holley to the role of Axos, 40 years after playing the role in The Claws of Axos.

The story picks up immediately after the cliff-hanger from The Crimes of Thomas Brewster, where Brewster has hijacked the TARDIS demanding the Doctor take him back to his own time. Of course things don’t go according to plan when they land in the time loop where The Doctor originally trapped Axos many ages ago. Inside the parasite they find a group of astronauts working for Space Tourism billionaire Campbell Irons, intending to revive Axos and use its energy to solve the world’s energy crisis. But of course the newly awakened Axos has other ideas.

What follows is, to put it simply, a slight inversion of The Claws of Axos.

In that story, Axos intended to feed off of Earth’s energy and now the Earth intends to return the favour. Despite an interesting current event twist, it becomes somewhat lost as Axos’ intentions are essentially the same as before though I suppose one can’t ask much more of a space parasite with a large appetite.

What seems to be the focus here are the characters, with the focus shifted onto Brewster yet it all seems a bit of a retread. At end of the previous audio there was potential for a sparky team relationship with The Doctor, Evelyn and Brewster however once again the characters are separated, leaving Brewster to get up to his old tricks. The potential for these characters with such differing personalities working together more is tantalising but to have them separated yet again is somewhat of a let down.

In The Crimes of Thomas Brewster, Thomas was in cahoots with a sentient planet to try and save it from destruction by emulating the heroic nature of the Doctor. Now Brewster, angry and hurt turns his services over to a sentient parasite to punish the Doctor but of course with his own gains in mind. For once I’d like to see Brewster in a non-scheming mode. I know it is a driving force of his character, but it is becoming a little tiresome.

The supporting characters, although serving their parts well, tend to get lost in much of the noise and Campbell Irons, a potentially great villain, seems in the end to be a bit wasted.

Despite this, there are some lovely moments with the Doctor and Evelyn and a rather distressing cliff-hanger to Episode Three however the stand out of this audio is Bernard Holley.  Sounding every bit like he did in 1971, his rich voice really serves well on audio and the impact of Axos, a very strong visual presence in the original television serial, loses none of its impact here, although the same cannot be said of the Axonites. He is so good that he almost dominates the whole adventure.

Despite some flaws there is a lot to like in The Feast of Axos, but like Axos himself, you end up wanting a little bit more.

Gaming website; Big Download have informed DWO of a brand new interview they conducted recently with the BBC regarding the forthcoming online Doctor Who Multiplayer game; Worlds in Time.

Speaking to The Executive Vice President of Digital Entertainment at BBC Worldwide; Richard Nashak, the interview sheds some more light on what to expect with the hotly anticipated MMO.

What sorts of quests will players have to go on in the MMO?

In general, players will be able to help the Doctor stave off the forces of evil by thwarting the plots of classic villains from throughout the show's history. There will be a variety of quest types requiring different skills to keep the game constantly fresh and exciting.

Will there be any support for multiplayer quests in the game?

You bet. The game will allow for collaboration on quests and encourage social play at every turn.

The Doctor doesn't normally use violence. How will this attitude affect the gameplay in terms of how the player deals with challenges?

The acronym in the name "Worlds in Time" says it all. The game embraces the Doctor's philosophy of using cleverness and wit above violence whenever possible. This allows us to create an innovative and interesting gameplay experience where players have to work together and be creative to solve problems, battle the forces of evil, and help save time and space. They also get to have a laugh.

What sort of social features will there be in the MMO?

As an online social game, Doctor Who: Worlds in Time has social gameplay at its core. The game will not only foster collaboration and cooperation inside the game, but integrate with social platforms. We can't reveal too much right now about how these mechanics will unfold.

+ Click Here to read Big Download's full interview with BBC Worldwide.

[Source: Big Download]

BBC Children's Books have been in touch with a last minute offer for fans to attend the 2in1 Book Signing tomorrow in London.

The event will take place between 11am-1pm in The Doctor Who Experience at Olympia 2, Hammersmith Road, London.

Don't miss this fantastic chance to meet the masterminds behind the exciting new Doctor Who adventure series from BBC Children's Books. Justin Richards, Oli Smith and other Doctor Who experts will be ready to be grilled on all things intergalactic.

For the book signing, no ticket purchase in necessary, but tickets for the Doctor Who Experience are selling fast so advanced booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

For more information check out: www.doctorwhochildrensbooks.co.uk & www.doctorwhoexperience.com.

[Source: BBC Children's Books]

In a recent press release at the BBC Press Office website, Matt Smith has been interviewed regarding his role in upcoming drama; Christopher And His Kind.

Christopher And His Kind, by acclaimed British playwright Kevin Elyot (My Night With Reg), explores Christopher Isherwood's formative years in Thirties Berlin in the run-up to the Second World War. Here, Matt Smith reveals why he wanted to play one of the 20th century's finest writers.

"First and foremost as always it was the script that attracted me to the role," explains Matt Smith, who is best known for playing The Doctor in Doctor Who. "The story is such a fascinating one. I loved the idea of playing someone so extreme to me, that different kind of vocalisation and physical shape.

"Christopher Isherwood is such an interesting man. There's something very romantic about Christopher and Auden going off as young men to Berlin. At the heart of the piece is Christopher's acceptance of his own identity and self-discovery – I think we learn about a man exploring his sexuality and the arena in which he can do that freely."

The popular actor explains why visiting the home Isherwood shared with his partner proved to be an invaluable experience.

"For research I went to see Don Bachardy [Isherwood's partner before he died] in the States at the house they shared. Don helped me understand his character – he said Christopher was very polite. Just seeing the love Don had for him, and to be in the space where Christopher had lived and written was very informative.

"I also read Christopher's novels, and then spent a lot of time trawling through video footage, watching, listening and repeating his voice. I had a wonderful voice coach called Patsy Rodenburg who said: 'Look, just go for it. Don't worry about trying to imitate him. What's more interesting is trying to capture the essence of the man and then be yourself.'

"I don't know whether I've managed to capture his voice exactly because I think that has to remain the invention of the actor; however, I hope there's an element of him in there."

Playing Isherwood has given Matt a fresh perspective on the magnitude of the work involved in trying to characterise a real person on screen.

"This has given me a great respect for people like Michael Sheen," continues Matt. "But I hope I've captured a moment – that little glimpse of glee in Christopher's eye you know he had; that mischief."

Having to make mental adjustments away from his Doctor Who persona was a hurdle the 28-year-old was able to master.

"Just thinking in a different way physically to The Doctor was also a very interesting challenge for me because one is based on movement and madness and the other on stillness and stiffness really. I hope that you look at this and quickly forget that you're watching The Doctor."

Another challenge for Matt was taking part in the nude scenes ... and experiencing stubble rash for the first time!

"Well, you've just got to commit to it, gung ho. It's different from when you're doing nude scenes with a boy than doing them with a girl, as you can imagine," explains Matt. "But I tried to commit to it and wholeheartedly go for it. Having to kiss boys, and finally understanding the nature of stubble rash, was interesting," he laughs.

Filming took place in Ireland where sets were constructed to resemble Berlin in the Thirties, but Matt had no difficulties visualising the real Berlin because he'd spent some time there shooting another project prior to filming.

"I did a film in Berlin last year before doing Christopher And His Kind; I was there for three months. It's one of my favourite cities in the world. I would have loved to have seen it at that time in the Thirties because even now it has such a liberal sort of atmosphere, that's one of its great virtues. That's one of the things that drew Christopher there, I think."

The Northampton-born actor, whose credits include Moses Jones, Party Animals and The Street, was a huge fan of his period costumes.

"The costume designer has done a wonderful job; the costumes really fly off the screen. I think she captured the Thirties to Fifties brilliantly. It made me want to buy a three-piece suit from the Thirties!" laughs Matt.

Having old friends on set made the experience even more enjoyable, he continues.

"Working with Lindsay Duncan again, who's a great friend of mine, was wonderful. I could work with her on everything I do, every hour of the day. She makes me laugh, she's so much fun. Pip Carter [who also starred alongside Matt in Party Animals] is wonderful as Auden; he's a fabulous actor who really makes it all look very effortless."

Matt, who studied drama with creative writing for a time at the University of East Anglia, has aspirations of his own to be a writer.

"Christopher was such a wonderful writer of prose. The other thing I learnt from Don is Christopher would always write in the morning, he'd get something done every day.

"When I was playing Christopher I would write as much as I could every day. Being around Steven Moffat [Doctor Who writer and creative head] and working with writers like Kevin Elyot has been really interesting. I'm just trying to learn about structure at the moment."

With Christopher Isherwood under his belt, would Matt consider playing another real person on the small screen if the role was right?

"Well I'd quite like to play Ted Hughes. That would be cool."

[Source: BBC Press Office]

DWO can exclusively reveal that The 6th Doctor adventure; Vengeance on Varos will be released on DVD in 2012.

2|Entertain Classic Doctor Who Commissioning Editor, Dan Hall spoke to DWO regarding the release and had the following to say:

"We have been surprised and delighted by the fan campaigns that have championed for a Special Edition release of Vengeance on Varos, and due to the good old fashioned display of fan power that Doctor Who is famous for, 2|Entertain have listened and can confirm a fast commission for the release in 2012."

The Vengeance on Varos Special Edition DVD was originally slated to be part of the Revisitations 2 box-set, but was later replaced in favour of The Seeds of Death. 2|Entertain have kindly supplied us with a draft copy of the original proposed box-art that would have included the story (pictured).

Earlier today, 2|Entertain also confirmed the Late 2012 release of The 1st Doctor adventure; The Reign of Terror via their Twitter feed.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

After many weeks of hard work, the DWO iWho App is now live on the Apple App Store.

Developed by DWO's Sebastian J. Brook and James Kelly, iWho is your #1 app for the latest Doctor Who News and Reviews, together with episodes of the DWO WhoCast podcast, as well as the DWO Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Blog Streams - right in the app itself!

Don't forget to Rate & Review iWho on the App Store, and as always, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

+ Click Here to buy iWho for just £1.19 ($1.99).

+ Read More about iWho in the DWO Apps section.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]