The BBC Doctor Who Website have uploaded the final part (Part 5) of the Pond Life mini-series which can be viewed below:

[youtube:SxXAY7LyjcM]

+  Asylum of the Daleks airs at 7:20pm on BBC One on Saturday 1st September.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]

The BBC Doctor Who Website have uploaded Part 4 of the Pond Life mini-series which can be viewed below:

[youtube:Ikv0QbubV7Y]

+  Part 5 will be available from Midday on Friday 31st August.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]

The BBC have released more promotional poster images for the first half of Series 7 of Doctor Who:

+  7.1: Asylum of the Daleks airs this Saturday at 7:20pm on BBC One.

[Source: BBC Pictures]

DWO have been sent the first glimpse of Sylvester McCoy (The 7th Doctor) as 'Radagast the Brown' in the upcoming The Hobbit movie.

The image (pictured-right), comes from The Hobbit 2013 Calendar, and features McCoy as the brown wizard.

Below is the official synopsis for the movie:

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

+  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is in cinemas from 14th December 2012.

[Source: Paul Lockwood]

The BBC Doctor Who Website have uploaded Part 3 of the Pond Life mini-series which can be viewed below:

[youtube:Pm0dqb7rKpk]

+  Part 4 will be available from Midday on Thursday 30th August.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]

The BBC Doctor Who Website have uploaded Part 2 of the Pond Life mini-series which can be viewed below:

[youtube:fQZc9DzneUI]

+  Part 3 will be available from Midday on Wednesday 29th August.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]

Radio Times have launched another issue of their popular magazine, sporting a Doctor Who cover, this time to promote Asylum of the Daleks.

In the new issue of Radio Times, on sale from today, there are interviews with Karen Gillan, Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill, plus an episode guide by Steven Moffat.

Talking about the new companion, Karen Gillan says:

“I’ve met Jenna and we get on really well. And I’ve been texting her bits and bobs about Matt, but what I wrote is a secret. That’s the code of the companion. I didn’t offer her any advice though because I want her to have the experience for herself. I didn’t want to plant any preconceptions in her head.”

On the Doctor’s 50th anniversary next year, Matt Smith says:

“We want to make it as big and bold and as brilliant as we can because, we hope, it can be one of the monumental bits of TV history. But I doubt there’ll be a regeneration…”

+  Radio Times is out Today, priced £1.40.

+  Buy this issue of Radio Times as well as past issues from CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: Radio Times]

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: James Goss

RRP: £8.99

Release Date: 31st July 2012

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 22nd August 2012

Zoe Herriot is still a prisoner. The mysterious Company are determined to break the conditioning that has been placed upon her by the Time Lords. Her integrator, Jen, has more evidence to prove that Zoe travelled in time with that strange man called The Doctor.

Through her questions, Zoe begins to recall a journey to Earth in the past. She remembers attending the funeral of a young woman called Meg, a physicist who died in an experiment gone wrong. The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe discover that her experiments have brought forth mysterious creatures into our reality.

As Zoe struggles to recall what happened, it will soon become clear that time is running out for her as The Company are growing impatient for results.

The Uncertainty Principle is a sequel to Simon Guerrier’s play The Memory Cheats, which was itself a sequel to Echoes of Grey. Both the central characters of Zoe and Jen return and it is the continuity that makes this release particularly interesting. The Company’s efforts to break through Zoe’s memory block are ramped up further with the knowledge that her life is now at stake. What made The Memory Cheats such an interesting play seems to be lacking in this release. It seems to be more because of the story that Zoe recalls as opposed to her interaction with Jen.

The main story itself is intriguing but is missing the darkness that the previous instalment had. There is some interesting development of Zoe’s character as her logical attitude is put to the test as she unwittingly falls for a young man called Archie, a character central to the main story. To hear Zoe struggling with emotion, which is almost an alien concept to her, is interesting, but I found the story, at times, to be a little pedestrian.

Where the play is really at its best is the interrogation scenes with Jen, played once again by Wendy Padbury’s daughter Charlie Hayes. Both actors give excellent performances and Guerrier drops some very intriguing character development for Jen as we discover more about her own life.

After the distrust which was central to the previous play, we begin to see these characters find some common ground as the situation with The Company begins to intensify. The conclusion promises more from this ongoing story and it will be fascinating to see where Guerrier takes these two characters next time.

The Uncertainty Principle is a not a strong audio play but it is intriguing enough to warrant a further release in this interesting story arc for Zoe.

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Matt Fitton

RRP: £14.99 (CD) / £12.99 (Download)

Release Date: 31st August 2012

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 27th August 2012

Ace and Hex have just suffered severe mental and psychical torture. Caught in one of The Doctor’s schemes they just barely survived the wrath of Elder Gods. Finally escaping into a now black coloured TARDIS they discover that they are not alone. Inside is former Forge operative Lysandra Astrides and soldier Sally Morgan. 

Both of these women have encountered The Doctor and now claim to have been travelling with him for some months. Confused and seemingly thrown together by design, all of them will have to get past their mutual distrust of one another in the search for The Doctor. By a twist of fate the travellers are separated, arriving in the past and future of one man whose story and name will pass into legend as will the name of the monster he vanquishes. Does the true story about Beowulf and Grendel have any clues to The Doctor’s whereabouts and will the missing Time Lord’s carefully laid plans fall apart at the seams?

Black and White is a story that requires prior knowledge of the last couple of years of Seventh Doctor stories. It is here that the various plot threads that have been littered throughout finally begin to come together. Through the use of flashbacks Matt Fitton does an admirable job of reminding us of all these little clues for anyone coming to this fresh. Your enjoyment of the play however will be increased with an awareness of what has gone on before. 

Black and White is a difficult story to review as a more in-depth examination would give away far too much. In keeping with Doctor Who Online’s spoiler-free policy I will not go into too much detail about what happens except to address some key points.

The Black and White TARDIS plot thread is finally given clarity which reveals some rather fascinating revelations about past adventures and the nature of the TARDIS is general. We get hints as to where this trilogy is heading and it is all strongly linked to adventures gone by. Listening to Black and White makes you want to re-listen to all of the last few Seventh Doctor plays just to see how long this whole plotline has been gestating. 

Not all the answers are given here though as I’m sure all will be fully revealed in the final play of the trilogy Gods and Monsters. Black and White certainly ramps up the excitement for that particular release.

In amongst the revelations is the story of Beowulf and the reality of the how the legend came to be. The difficulty with Black and White is to make room for the lead plot exposition but allow its other story to develop and breathe and it is a credit to Matt Fitton that it does. This story about the reality of the legend of Beowulf could easily have been an adventure in its own right, but as will become clear when you listen carefully; it is linked to the bigger plot going on. Black and White is very entertaining and moves along at a cracking pace thanks to excellent direction by Ken Bentley.

The performances from the main cast are fantastic. It is a real joy to hear Maggie O’Neill and Amy Pemberton as their characters from previous stories Project: Destiny and House of Blue Fire now interacting with our familiar TARDIS crew. Philip Olivier and Sophie Aldred work alongside these new team members really well and there is enough distrust and suspicion to keep the character dynamic always interesting. 

The supporting cast is very strong too - the highlight being Stuart Milligan as Garundel, a character who sounds like a camp and bitchy Billy Crystal. Milligan gives a very funny and memorable performance and it certainly does put a unique twist on the Beowulf legend. 

While not always perfect, Black and White is an entertaining and shocking second chapter which sets up a very promising conclusion to this already fascinating trilogy. 

The Radio Times have confirmed the airdate for Series 7 of Doctor Who, ending months of speculation and confusion.

The listings on the Radio Times website show that Doctor Who will indeed return with 7.1: Asylum of the Daleks on Saturday 1st September 2012, at 7:20pm.

DWO reported the possible airdate as far back as May 2012, but as always, nothing is confirmed until official word from the BBC, which we now have through the Radio Times.

Worldwide Airdates:

USA - BBC America - Saturday 1st September at 9:00pm
Canada - Space - Saturday 1st September at 9:00pm
Australia - ABC1 - Saturday 8th September at 7:30pm
New Zealand - Prime - TBC September at TBC 

A new trailer via BBC America is also available to view below:

[youtube:fNHEEZ_I74U]

[Source: Radio Times]

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: James Goss

RRP: £8.99

Release Date: 31st July 2012

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 22nd August 2012

Ian Chesterton once travelled with an extraordinary man. He travelled the universe far and wide and for all the amazing things he saw, he wanted nothing more but to get back home. But now the past is coming back to haunt him as Ian suddenly wakes up in The Chesterton Exhibition located within a mysterious Time Museum dedicated entirely to his past.

The Museum’s curator Pendolin is delighted to find him but he is scared. There is something lurking in the Museum and it wants them both. Whilst on the run Ian’s memories begin to fade and corrupt. Whatever is out there wants Ian’s past and it is very hungry, but can he escape this nightmare and is Pendolin to be trusted?

Ian Chesterton is about to discover just how important the past can mean to his future...

As the Fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who approaches we are incredibly lucky to still have William Russell amongst us. That he is still performing the character of Ian Chesterton after all this time is really quite extraordinary and The Time Museum is a wonderful showcase for his talents.

Presented more as a drama unlike the traditional formula of The Companion Chronicles, Russell gives a magnificent performance. His Ian, though much older, is still the same man that stepped into Totter’s Yard all those years ago.

His co-star Philip Pope who plays Pendolin proves to be an excellent foil to Ian, and Pope gives a very intriguing performance throughout.

The Time Museum is a wonderful examination of one of Doctor Who’s most celebrated and fondly thought of Companions, and continues the development that Big Finish has brought to the character in previous Companion Chronicles. 

In this story Ian Chesterton is a man searching for his identity amongst the painful confusion as his past is being eaten away. The disorientation Ian displays here is beautifully portrayed by Russell as the memories he recounts of adventures past is part of the appeal of this story. There is even a surprising little nod to the Doctor Who and the Daleks target novelisation by David Whittaker, that fans will enjoy picking up on.

This play is a wonderful celebration of the show’s past tinged with a sense of melancholy. Listening to The Time Museum reminds you just how important those early stories were in the development of the show as we know it today. Without Ian and Barbara I don’t think the show would have lasted longer than its allotted thirteen weeks. Nostalgia can sometimes be seen as being over indulgent, but here it never outstays its welcome. The kisses to the past are essential to the plot as Ian desperately tries to cling to his sense of self as he and Pendolin come under threat.

As the big anniversary looms around the corner it is certainly not too early to start celebrating and with The Time Museum, Big Finish has created a perfect birthday present to all devoted Whovians everywhere.

Quite simply this is an essential purchase.

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Jonathan Morris

RRP: £14.99 (CD) / £12.99 (Download)

Release Date: 31st July 2012

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 22nd August 2012

Albert and Peggy Marsden are certainly a very ordinary elderly couple. Living in the North of England in the late 1980s, they go about their day to day business as political upheaval in the East threatens to spill over into Nuclear War.

Albert, following the Government issued leaflet “Protect and Survive” is busy making the preparations to their countryside home should the very worst come to pass. Peggy is expecting their grown up son to be home at any minute, but they are about to get a visit from two very different people. A girl called Ace and a boy called Hex have arrived out of the blue in a strangely white coloured Police Box. 

Taken in by the couple, Ace and Hex begin to see things are very wrong. History is not following its proper course and if that wasn’t bad enough The Doctor has gone missing. Then as the bombs begin to drop on England both companions realise The Doctor will not be there to save them this time.

One of the greatest fears of the 1980s was the potential of any nation armed with nuclear weapons to launch them towards any country it declared an enemy. Nuclear attack was the ultimate in Cold War paranoia and even now it lingers in the memories of those who grew up in that era.

Protect and Survive, the first release in the new series for The Seventh Doctor addresses these fears in an incredibly disturbing way.

Jonathan Morris has clearly drawn on many sources of inspiration for Protect and Survive. Morris uses actual advice issued by the Government to the populace in the event of a nuclear attack. This is given out in a cold and clipped British dialect by the Marsden’s radio. This object not only creates a great deal of tension, but becomes a very important plot device later in the story. This littering of historical details gives the play a disturbing feel of authenticity and for anyone who has ever watched the BBC’s thoroughly bleak Threads it will certainly conjure up many frightening memories.

The first episode is incredibly well written and does an astounding job of balancing human drama amidst the science fiction and apocalyptic elements of the plot. Sophie Aldred and Philip Olivier are absolutely brilliant throughout this story but particularly so in this episode. Without The Doctor they are the ones we turn to for familiarity in this incredibly horrifying world. We really get to see what makes Ace and Hex work so well as companions.

The rest of the cast is superb with Peggy and Albert brilliantly played by Ian Hogg and Elizabeth Bennett. Their characterisation very strongly put you in mind of the Bloggses from Raymond Briggs' heartbreaking Where the Wind Blows, quite clearly another source of inspiration for this story. As the characters of Peggy and Albert dramatically change with the development of the plot, the impact is given great gravitas by both actors’ great performances.

These stories were mostly recorded whilst Sylvester McCoy was in New Zealand filming for The Hobbit but The Doctor’s slight absence does not lessen his impact on the story. The Doctor comes in at several key moments and McCoy is of course brilliant, but this is more of a story about Ace and Hex. For all The Doctor’s scheming and planning, this time they definitely do not have him around to explain what is going on. They are left in the frightening position of having to figure it all out for themselves.

There are plot threads here which have been developing throughout the last few Seventh Doctor releases. The most intriguing is appearances of the black and white TARDIS. In McCoy’s solo he has a black TARDIS adventures and a White one whilst travelling with Ace and Hex. With a very surprise ending to this story it looks like this trilogy certainly promises to answer these questions.

Protect and Survive does somewhat lose some of its momentum as the plot verges away from the Nuclear story into one that has hints of interplanetary consequences, but it cannot be denied that this is a very strong opening to what promises to be a new dramatic trilogy for The Seventh Doctor.

In Episode #257 of the DWO WhoCast Podcast, Dave and Siobhan bring you the second part of the two-part interview with Doctor Who Fan and Script Consultant; Ian Levine.

Over the years Ian has been a somewhat controversial character in Doctor Who fandom, and for the first time, we are able to hear his complete story, "warts and all", in this two-part DWO WhoCast Interview Special.

+ Listen to Episode #257 of the DWO WhoCast here!

[Source: DWO]

At long last, Character Options are finally releasing a Rory Williams Action Figure (for the fan who waited).

Amy Pond’s fiancée who, on his stag night found himself whisked away in the TARDIS. After defeating the Saturnynes and the Dream Lord, Rory was killed saving the Doctor’s life during a battle with the Silurians. However, his body was absorbed by the time energies leaking across time and space – resulting in him never having existed. However, his essence was placed into an Auton replica of himself in Roman times and after briefly reuniting with Amy, he accidentally killed her.

To restore her, the Doctor placed her in the Pandorica and for two thousand years Rory stood guard over her, the legendary Lone Centurion. When time was finally rebooted, Rory became human again, married Amy and once again joined her and the Doctor in the TARDIS.

Recreate scenes from Doctor Who with this incredibly detailed and fully articulated 5-inch Rory Williams action figure. One supplied. For ages 5 years and over.

+  The Rory Williams Action Figure is released this October, priced £9.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet for just £8.99!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

It is with deepest regret that DWO announces the passing of Classic Series Doctor Who Actor, Michael Turner.

Michael was perhaps best known to Doctor Who fans for his role as Jarvis Bennett on the 2nd Doctor adventure; The Wheel in Space.

DWO would like to extend our sympathies to Michael's family and friends.

[Source: Neil Marsh]

Manufacturer: BBC Worldwide Consumer Products

Written By: Louis Marks

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 20th August 2012

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 18th August 2012

When the TARDIS doors open as the Ship is landing, The Doctor (William Hartnell), with Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) and Ian (William Russell) find themselves reduced to an inch in size. Faced with a whole new world of dangers - from insects to cats, pesticides to homicides, there's a lot standing between the tiny travellers and a very, very small blue Police Box...

Planet Of Giants is a wonderfully imagined three part story featuring the original TARDIS crew. It's a very different idea for this early stage of Doctor Who (although Irwin Allen's Land Of The Giants made a much longer story of the same subject matter on US television a little later on) but works very well indeed, with some brilliant props on the show, some wonderful back projection shots set at Ealing Film Studios, and some stellar performances from both the main and supporting cast.

The audio and visual properties are top notch as usual in this single-disc release, with the restoration showing the vintage material in the best possible light. The release is also bolstered by some great extras... and a truly baffling one.

Special Features:

Episodes 3 & 4 Reconstruction - Back in the day, Sydney Newman ordered the editing and rejigging of episodes three and four into one instalment, as they dragged, lacked tension and took too long to resolve the story. It works very well as a result and the story moves along at a cracking pace. So why in the name of sanity would you now get the half-completed scenes and reusing existing footage and photographs undo that editing to provide two episodes where the story drags along, instead of the finished article? Frankly it's a mystery, however it's here if you want to put yourself through it. Not a bad extra per se, but certainly a puzzling one, as it's completely unnecessary.

Rediscovering The Urge To Live - Ian Levine, William Russell and Carole Ann Ford reminisce about Planet Of Giants almost 50 years on from the original story, whilst Ed Stradling talks about why they decided to remake the cut scenes for this release. Ford looks bored, although her coaching of the Hartnell "soundalike" is a moment of sheer wonder. A very short piece, but it amuses me no end that Ian Levine wants us to see if we can tell the difference between his scenes and the original filmed ones. Promoting an unnecessary extra with another unnecessary extra at the expense of a proper look back at the serial seems to verge on the ridiculous.

Suddenly Susan - Carole Ann Ford talks Susan Foreman and her role in Doctor Who; her clothes and hair, her co-stars, and shooting schedules. Ford seems to remember her time on the show very clearly, both the good and the bad of the series, and she's certainly honest about it all. There's a warmth and humour to Carole Ann Ford, and her views show this effortlessly. An often overlooked character in Doctor Who, Susan Foreman really did go through a great deal during her time in the TARDIS, and it's refreshing to hear Ford reminisce. The whole interview, as with so many on recent DVD releases, is culled from The Story Of Doctor Who.

The Lambert Tapes: The Doctor - The late, and exceptionally great Verity Lambert talks about the genesis of the characters from the very earliest days of Doctor Who and where the programme has gone since then. Lambert, who was never less than entertaining and informative in any interviews, covers many subjects in this archive footage and makes some perfectly valid points when it comes to things like whether children found the show too frightening. With some fantastic name checks and recognition for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop's finest (step forward Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson). Culled footage from 2003 (again) it may be, but this above any other recent DVD interview is required viewing. Verity Lambert was a genius, and her views hold as true today as they were back in 1963, or 2003. Simply wonderful.

Coming Soon Trailer - When the TARDIS suffers the failure of its transpower systems, The Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) make an emergency trip to Varos. With cannibals, public executions and the odious Sil (Nabil Shaban on amazing form), the Time Lord has to fight for his continued existence – all screened on public television to keep the populace entertained… Vengeance On Varos: Special Edition is next up for release!

As always with the Classic Series DVDs Audio Description is available, should it be wanted or needed, and there’s a Photo Gallery of stills from in front of, and behind the camera. There’s also the Radio Times segments from the story in PDF format, for which you’ll need to be viewing on a computer. There’s the obligatory Info Text to give you facts and figures on screen as you watch the unfolding story, and as already mentioned, the DVD has been remastered for optimal visual and audio quality.

Planet Of Giants is an odd tale in itself – the idea may not lend itself to Doctor Who mythos easily, but the execution and production of the story proves what a versatile format the show is. The tale itself entertains effortlessly, and most of the extras are great; with the exception of the main one. The reconstructed parts offer little value and the usual “making of” documentary could have been a lot better. Balancing this are the two interviews with Ford and Lambert, which are both wonderful, insightful and worth the price of the DVD on their own. A must have, certainly; but not for the reconstruction.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

The BBC Doctor Who Website have unveiled a new Teaser Trailer for 7.1: Asylum of the Daleks.

View the trailer below:

[youtube:iMKZYnkFwmw]

+  7.1: Asylum of the Daleks will air on BBC One on Saturday 1st September.

[Source: BBC]

In Episode #256 of the DWO WhoCast Podcast, Dave and Siobhan interview Doctor Who Fan and Script Consultant; Ian Levine.

Over the years Ian has been a somewhat controversial character in Doctor Who fandom, and for the first time, we are able to hear his complete story, "warts and all", in this two-part DWO WhoCast Interview Special.

Ian also recorded a short video promo for the episode which you can view below:

[youtube:-f8AYiB4V1g]

+ Listen to Episode #256 of the DWO WhoCast here!

[Source: DWO]

DWO are pleased to announce that Version 3.0 of the popular 'WhoFeed' Doctor Who News App, is now live in the Apple App Store.

The latest version is now also compatible across all iOS devices, incorporating iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Current WhoFeed Features:

-  The latest News from the top Doctor Who News sites.
-  The latest Blog entries from the top Doctor Who Blog sites.
-  Individual News stream option.
-  DWO WhoCast Podcast episodes (in-app streaming).
-  Doctor Who Websites links.
-  YouTube videos from the Official ClassicDW Channel. 
-  Comment Wall for fan interactivity.
-  WhoFeed Contacts page.
-  PLUS - in-App Social Interactivity. 

Don't forget to Rate & Review WhoFeed in the App Store - your feedback is greatly appreciated!

+ Click Here to buy WhoFeed for just £1.49 ($1.99).

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

In a departure from previous projects, Fantom Publishing is proud to reveal their first ever calendar!

The Who Girls 2013 Calendar is a glorious celebration of the most glamorous travellers in time and space. Twelve stellar images featuring ANNEKE WILLS, DEBORAH WATLING, KATY MANNING, MARY TAMM, SARAH SUTTON and NICOLA BRYANT.

All photographs have been fully endorsed and approved by the actresses featured. Each calendar ordered directly through their website will come signed by one of the ladies featured!

+  Who Girls 2013 Calendar is available Now priced £12.99 including P&P.

[Source: Fantom Publishing]

After last night's preview screening at the BFI, the BBC have released a number of pictures from 7.1: Asylum of the Daleks.

Asylum of the Daleks will air on Saturday 1st September on BBC One with the time to be confirmed. BBC America schedules are showing a 2 hour time-slot on Saturday 1st September between 8:00pm-10:00pm, with 7.X: The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe scheduled for 8:00pm. Therefore, it is strongly believed that Asylum of the Daleks will air at 9:00pm on the channel.

[Source: BBC America; BFI]

Manufacturer: The Wand Company Ltd

RRP: £59.99

Release Date: End of August 2012

Reviewed by: Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 14th August 2012

From the moment you open the packaging, it is clear that the Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote is a thing of beauty. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is unlike any other sonic replica out there and the fact that it has IR functionality only adds to the value for money.

Out of the box, the device sits neatly on its own stand with a perspex hood, which protects the sonic should you wish to have it on display. The sonic itself smacks of quality. From the weight, right down to the die-cast metal and hand-polished, copper-plated finish, you can't help feeling that you're holding something a little bit special.

Programming the IR codes is surprisingly easy - long gone are the days of scouring through user manuals, hoping to find the right code for your TV set. All you do is press the desired button on your old remote in front of the sonic remote, and a voice confirms the process with a reassuring 'ok'.

Gestures include, Up, Down, Left Right, Push, Pull, Tap Top, Tab Bottom, Tap Left and Tap Right - with no doubt more that we've yet to discover!

There's an FX mode which houses 13 different sound effects that will please new fans right down to the hardcore purists. There are also some Easter Egg functions, but without spoiling the fun, we'll let you discover those for yourself.

It's hard to fault this product, at times it can seem a little too responsive, but as the instruction manual points out, 'gestures are cool, but humans need to practise them'.

The RRP of £59.99 may seem a little high for a remote control, but what you get here is a loyal replica of the 11th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver with the added bonus of a remote control. Compared to other replicas that have gone before it, the Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote is miles cheaper in comparison, with heaps more functionality to boot.

+  Click Here to buy now from FireBox!

Last month DWO teamed up with Firebox to offer 3 lucky DWO Twitter followers, the chance to win a ticket to the press launch of the Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote. DWO WhoCast interviewer, Siobhan Gallichan was on-hand to interview the winners on the day which you can listen to below:

DWO are pleased to announce that Version 3.0 of our popular 'iWho' Doctor Who App, is now live in the Apple App Store.

The latest version is now also compatible across all iOS devices, incorporating iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Current iWho Features:

-  News & Reviews provided by DWO.
-  DWO WhoCast podcast episodes (in-app streaming).
-  Complete guide to the Region 2 DVD Guide (Region 1 coming soon).
-  DWO Twitter Timeline (with in-app interactivity).
-  DWO Facebook Timeline (with in-app interactivity). 
-  DWO YouTube Videos (in-app streaming). 
-  A LIVE Map of the DWO Minecraft Server.
-  Comment Wall for fan interactivity.
-  DWO Contacts page.
-  PLUS - in-App Social Interactivity. 

Don't forget to Rate & Review iWho on the App Store - your feedback is greatly appreciated!

+ Click Here to buy iWho for just £1.49 ($1.99).

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

The BBC today announced that a special BBC TWO drama has been commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who next year.

An Adventure In Space And Time will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who since its first broadcast on 23rd November 1963. Exploring all aspects of the longest running science fiction series to date, the special one-off 90-minute drama will also look at the many personalities involved in bringing the series to life.

Written by Mark Gatiss, it is executive produced by current Doctor Who showrunner, Steven Moffat, and Caroline Skinner. The single drama was commissioned by Ben Stephenson Controller, Drama, and Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two.

Mark Gatiss said: "This is the story of how an unlikely set of brilliant people created a true television original. And how an actor - William Hartnell - stereotyped in hard-man roles became a hero to millions of children. I've wanted to tell this story for more years than I can remember! To make it happen for Doctor Who's 50th birthday is quite simply a dream come true."

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer, said: “The story of Doctor Who is the story of television - so it's fitting in the anniversary year that we make our most important journey back in time to see how the TARDIS was launched.”

The production and transmission schedule will be confirmed next year, along with casting.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

The BBC Doctor Who Twitter account has confirmed that Richard E. Grant will star in the 2012 Doctor Who Christmas Special, which begins filming this week.

Richard has previously appeared in the Doctor Who Comic Relief sketch 'The Curse of Fatal Death' as well as the BBCi Doctor Who Webcast of 'Scream of the Shalka', in which he plays a separate and earlier character from the canonical Ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston on television).

The actor, author and director, has starred in over 80 film and television hits including Withnail And I, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jack & Sarah, Gosford Park and The Iron Lady.

On joining the show, Richard says: "I played Doctor Who in the digital animated Scream Of The Shalka and I'm honoured to be in the Christmas Special."

It is rumoured that Richard will play the villain in the Christmas Special.

Watch Richard E. Grant in 'The Curse of Fatal Death', below (from 13:10 onwards):

[youtube:Do-wDPoC6GM]

+  Series 7 of Doctor Who will air Saturday 1st September.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Twitter]

Manufacturer: BBC Worldwide Consumer Products

Written By: Stephen Wyatt

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 30th July 2012

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 3rd August 2012

When the TARDIS is invaded by the intergalactic equivalent of junk mail, The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) are drawn to the world of Segonax, and the Psychic Circus. With sinister clowns in hearses, intergalactic explorers and a very strange family who don't ever seem to be entertained, something's not right; and it's down to the Time Lord to set things back on course.

Coming towards the end of the Classic series, there's still some rather famous faces doing their star turn (Dame Peggy Mount, for example, and T P McKenna), and popular TV personalities of the time Jessica Martin and Gian Sammarco as Mags and Whizzkid respectively.

The story is not great. Most of the series is looking very tired at this stage, and although the main cast do a stellar job with what they're given, it all looks very cheap and lacklustre. The cliffhanger to episode one is non-existant and the other episodes don't fare much better; the story is fairly dismal and seems to drag along - although Sophie Aldred in particular shines as the rebellious teenager who's got a dislike of clowns with a valid reason.

The supporting cast - with the exception of Dame Peggy Mount and Jessica Martin - are mostly unlikable and stilted; Flowerchild and Bellboy are pleasant enough characters, (and Bellboy is very pretty to look at) but the clowns, Deadbeat, Nordand especially mickey-take-of-Whovians Whizzkid are lame pastiches of cliches that have no place in what should be a decent drama. The incidental music is too electronic and late 1980s synth, and is tinny and doesn't work at evoking moods; it's all just rather bland and boring, sadly - much like the majority of the story. After the brilliance of Dragonfire, and the masterpiece that was Remembrance of the Daleks, this story seems a real let down; albeit one with an explosive finale...

The Greatest Show In The Galaxy is a single disc release from the BBC Consumer Products label and as always with the DVD releases, the sound and vision are optimal, and there are a raft of extras on the disc to support thie story.

Special Feautres:

Commentary - This time we've got main cast member Sophie Aldred (Ace) and guest cast Jessica Martin (Mags) and Christopher Guard (Bellboy the eyecandy) along with crew members Stephen Wyatt (writer), Andrew Cartmel (script editor) and musical maestro Mark Ayres. Moderated as always by Toby Hadoke, there's some interesting snippets about the show's limitations and the problems the production went through.

The Show Must Go On - The expected behind the scenes documentary on the making of Greatest Show, which sheds a lot of new light on the serial. From the appalling title for the story, via clowns and their sinister aura, the story and the making of the show are deconstructed and examined, and it does let the viewer understand where a great many of the show's problems came from.  It's very interesting and fascinating to watch, and the information imparted really does give a very different view of the circus and the drama. There's a lot of love that comes across for the story from the cast and crew alike, and happily their enthusiasm is infectious. Ian Reddington looks like he really needs a decent shower, unfortunately, but the rest of the contributors are top notch.  First rate featurette.

Deleted And Extended Scenes - From model shots of the TARDIS and the junkbot to Captain Cook driving his little jeep, there's a plethora of things that were edited out of the aired show for timing or editorial reasons. It's about the same as the story though; a little dowdy and down at the heel, and the interest isn't held for too long when the main cast aren't on screen.

Lost In The Darkness - A short look at the unused model shots for The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. There's some lovely model shots of the TARDIS spinning away in space, with her lamp gently flashing away.  An amazing little sequence that never made it  air because it was "too dark".

The Psychic Circus - A music video. No, really. A horrible piece of tat made of stuttering visuals from the show, with the vocals provided by the guest cast. Would have suited the mid 1990s era Top of the Pops, in the era of dreadful noise masquerading as music tracks.  With inane lyrics such as "There is no escaping us / We are the Psychic Circus!", the one redeeming factor is it's mercifully short and eminently forgettable.

Remembrance "Demo" - More of Mark's Melodies, this time Ayres' demo work for the soundtrack of Remembrance of the Daleks. Whilst it still sounds very clunky and electronic, it's a whole load better than the Greatest Show soundtrack, and this brief set of clips from earlier in the season shows just how good some of the stories really are - to the current release's detriment. Mildly interesting rather than engrossing, and diverting enough because Remebrance of the Daleks was such a good story.

Tomorrow's Times: The Seventh Doctor - Anneke Wills hosts this episode of the series looking at the press reaction to the seventh Doctor Who, Sylvester McCoy, and his stories.  It's a dark piece, sadly, showing just how badly the show was being received and reviewed by both the press and the fans alike. Anneke is a breath of fresh air and always lovely to watch, and the Points Of View style voiceovers are wonderfully pointed and cliche, to great effect.  However the whole piece is painful to watch for the mauling Who receives constantly from the British Press of the age.

Victoria Wood Sketch - Jim Broadbent IS The Doctor!   The Doctor and Fiona run into old enemy Crayola in this witty and suprisingly accurate Doctor Who sketch from Victoroia Wood As Seen On TV.  The effects and the technobabble are spot on for the era, and Broadbent's Doctor has a costume comprising parts of Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Colin Baker's wardrobes. Short but very funny!

Coming Soon Trailer - Oh dear, the TARDIS is playing up and the doors open as the Ship lands, reducing the Police Box and it's occupants to around an inch tall. Join the first Doctor, Susan, Barbara and Ian as they make small steps in a very big world, where domestic cats can be lethal and everything looks very, very large... Planet Of Giants is the next DVD release.

With the usual audio navigation available, a photo gallery of still from both in front of and behnd the camera, four episodes worth of Info Text to give you factoid and figures onscreen during the main story, and the PDF versions of the Radio Times Listings - and possibly the most boring Easter Egg in history (repeated elsewhere in a major extra, so what was the point?), The Greatest Show In The Galaxy is very much divided in two as a disc.  Whilst the story is somewhat uninspiring, the thought and love behind the show liven up the extras to the degree where your view of the story is almost improved as a result. Almost. It doesn't quite work, but it's certainly a valiant attempt.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

Next month Massive Events is launching their new Doctor Who fan convention. And their first confirmed guest is non other than David Tennant!

This September fans have the chance to hang out with some of their favourite companions, villains, heroes and not forgetting The Doctor himself at The Lords Of Time.

As well as the multi-talented David Tennant they have just confirmed Lachelle Carl, who’s name might not be well known but who’s face is instantly recognisable as newsreader Trinity Wells of AMNN. As well as 9 episodes of Doctor Who she has also appeared in several episodes of Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. And keep watching the website for many more guest announcements coming over the next few weeks.

The weekend-long convention is the perfect place to meet up with other fans of Doctor Who in the safe and relaxed atmosphere of a convention, take part in intimate group meetings with the guests, collect personal keep-sakes to treasure at the autograph sessions and professional photo shoots, and listen to on-stage talks and even ask the actors a few questions yourself!

And in the evenings you can party the night away at one of the great themed parties or chill out in the bar. (Parties to be announced soon) So dig out your best costumes and get ready to join in the fun!

For more information and the latest announcements check out the website: http://massiveevents.co.uk/

Convention Details:

The Lords Of Time
7th – 9th Sept 2012
The Hilton Metropole hotel, Birmingham NEC

Weekend tickets from £88 (includes autographs and entry to all parties and talks, etc). Tickets available to buy online now.

[Source: Massive Events]

The BBC have unveiled a new Trailer for Series 7 of Doctor Who.

View the trailer below:

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The Trailer will be repeated on BBC One Tonight at 8pm.

+  Series 7 of Doctor Who will air on either Saturday 25th August or Saturday 1st September.

[Source: BBC]

The BBC Doctor Who Website has released a new promotional image for Series 7 of Doctor Who.

The image shows Amy Pond being carried by an injured, grim-faced Doctor. They’re both surrounded by Daleks that have been encountered during different eras of the Time Lord’s travels.

A Dalek on the right of the picture does not have any of the vertical grille-like slats that have become a familiar feature, indicating it’s a version the Doctor faced when he first met his oldest enemies on Skaro. And on the left there’s a Special Weapons Dalek, last seen in the 1988 story, Remembrance of the Daleks.

It’s a fiery and exciting sign of what’s to come in the new series!

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]