Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: William Gallagher

RRP: £14.99 (CD) / £12.99 (Download)

Release Date: February 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 12th March 2013

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where the tribes of Business and Economy have been at war for all of four hundred years...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where a terrible creature called the Wailer prowls the corridors around the Control Tower, looking to eat the unwary...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there is one Arrival: a battered blue Police Box containing the time-travelling Doctor and his companion, Mel...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there are no Departures. Ever.

* * *

Spaceport Fear has an intriguing premise and its opening episode does generate a certain amount of atmosphere, but unfortunately the whole play doesn’t really come together at the end.

In the behind the scenes interviews, we are told that Spaceport Fear was a quick replacement for a story that fell through. Unfortunately it shows, as elements of this play either plod along or feel very rushed. For instance, the peculiar speech of the inhabitants of the Spaceport, such as airport terminology becoming part of everyday slang is never picked up by The Doctor or Mel. They just seem to accept that these two tribes are called Economy and Business without as much as an audible raised eyebrow. This is a shame as it is this rather fun language that provides many of the play’s laughs and it would have been nice for The Doctor to have made some comment on it.

Overall once the central villain of the piece is revealed, a lot of the tension so marvellously set up in the first episode loses some of its momentum. I for one wanted to know how this civilisation and its warring factions came to be and how they existed for over 500 years rather than what was lurking outside the spaceport.

One thing that cannot be faulted is the cast, as Bonnie Langford continues to impress as Mel and guest star Ronald Pickup brings a delightful sinister glee as Elder Bones. The supporting cast is fantastic with Big Finish regular Beth Chalmers doing an excellent job of playing two completely different roles so well you don’t even notice.

Colin Baker’s Doctor is “in a state of transition” as the actor himself chooses to describe the character in the behind the scenes extras. He is not as mellow but not as rude, but one cannot feel, and to which Baker makes very clear, that we are all tired of a brash Sixth Doctor. Yes he does have some withering put downs but the development of the character of the Big Finish team and Baker’s performance has redefined this Doctor and the occasional glimpse of what came before is fine, but I prefer to move on.

Spaceport Fear is a very good idea and with more time to develop, this could have been a very strong play. Sadly it is just an average one.

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Nicholas Briggs

RRP: £10.99 (CD) / £8.99 (Download)

Release Date: February 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 12th March 2013

Sheridan Moorkurk has just been elected president of Earth... but the harsh realities of who really runs the planet are just beginning to dawn on her. And what's more, she's starting to hear voices.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Romana encounter a mass of aliens heading to Earth... Aliens who have already made the mistake of upsetting the infamous Cuthbert, all-powerful CEO of The Conglomerate, by destroying one of his space platforms.

Will the Doctor and Romana be able to avert inter-species war that will destroy all life on Earth?

* * *

After last month’s The Auntie Matter, The Fourth Doctor and Romana are back in a story which promises to have dire consequences for the rest of this season.

Unusually for this series, The Sands Of Life is three-part release of a story that will be continued in March’s War Against The Laan. The Fourth Doctor Adventures have until this point been two part stories but The Sands Of Life has so much to set up that the third part is very welcome. It also allows some breathing room for the characters as the disadvantage with a two part story is that things can get a little rushed.

The story is intriguing and the cast is fantastic too. Tom Baker is firing on all cylinders now and seems so comfortable back in the role of The Fourth Doctor that you know if someone tries to take it away from him, he will go down fighting. Suitably mad and serious at the same time, and his reaction to a comment about badgers is priceless.

After the last story, it is lovely to hear Mary Tamm’s Romana working more closely with Baker’s Doctor. Even though they do get separated by circumstances, it is nice to hear the two characters working together and even teasing one another. It is yet another sad reminder that this is one of the last times we will hear the pairing on audio due to Mary Tamm’s recent passing, but it is something to be treasured.

It is really lovely to hear John Leeson back as K9, and this time alongside his first master. Baker seems to relish the reunion too and their conversations flow as if they never were apart.

Baker has found another sparring partner in the character of Cuthbert wonderfully played by Big Finish regular David Warner. The character is a wonderful play on a tycoon that has power over and beyond government and to see him pout in his place somewhat by Baker’s Doctor is a joy.

An excellent supporting cast compromises Toby Hadoke and Hayley Atwell as Mr Dorrick and President Moorkurk.

If there can be any criticism about this release it is some of the sound design, especially in the temporal effects created by the Laan. Some of the warping sounds used to create this effect can go on for quite a while and drag a little when you’re really anxious to hear just what is going to happen next in the story.

Nicholas Briggs has put together a very mysterious little tale with more intrigue to come in the next story. The problem with a story in two parts is that it is difficult to judge the whole story until you hear the complete product. If this release is anything to go by, I am looking forward to the next release already.

 Day Seventy: The Lion (The Crusade, Episode One)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Seventy: The Lion (The Crusade, Episode One)

Dear diary,

being from the Lost in Time box set, this episode hasn't received the same kind of restoration work that I've become accustomed to over the course of this marathon so far. The print of this episode is grainy and not in the best of conditions at all. And you know what? That gives it even more atmosphere.

From early on in the episode, all I could think of was The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, an ITC series starring William Russell and produced in the 1950s. I've mentioned it a few times already throughout this marathon, having watched most of it late last year, but this really is the closest that we've ever come to that series in Doctor Who.

The main things that put me in mind of the series are the medieval knights that we've got, in a forest, and the fact that William Russell has a sword fight. You tend to get all three of these things in your average episode of Sir Lancelot. Add to that the fact that the DVD version of the series hasn't had the same kind of restoration applied to it that Doctor Who gets, and I might as well have been watching that show instead.

After all the running around on Vortis, it's nice to be back down on Earth and back into history again. Though The Romans wasn't to my taste, this story feels like it's going to be more in the mould of Marco Polo or The Aztecs, both of which have been surprise hits with me.

It helps that already we've got plenty of atmosphere in the story. The sets look fantastic, and the fight scenes early on have far more of an impact than any of the stuff we saw at the end of The Web Planet. Here, it feels as though the actors can really go for it, whereas there they were trying not to break any of the expensive costumes.

It has too be mentioned - especially as there's plenty of rumours about it flying around at the moment in regards to any possible animated release of this story on DVD - but here we have got examples of actors being 'blacked-up' to fulfil certain roles in the story. For all that we might look at it now and see how offensive this might be, it's an insight into the way that television was made and seen in this era.

It's also interesting to note that, I believe, this is the first time we've seen actors of colour in the series full stop. It seems strange, seventy episodes in, that we only now have parts for these actors, and in such minor roles, too. It's one of the things that fascinates me about Doctor Who - it's run for so long that we can see tastes and attitudes change over the years.

Tomorrow, I'm back into 'recon' country, for the first time since Marco Polo. It seems a pity that once again it's a story with such fantastic visuals that gets the unfortunate distinction of missing some of its running time. It's great, therefore, to think of The Lion as bang one of the more recent missing episode recoveries, being returned to the BBC in 1999.

If anything it - and the episode of Galaxy 4 which I'll be reaching in just a few weeks - gives hope that more of Doctor Who's lost heritage might still be out there, somewhere, waiting to be discovered…

Next Episode: The Knight of Jaffa

I've set up a Facebook page for the 50 Year Diary. If you enjoy reading the blog, please do pop over an give it a like! I'm sure I'll be using it to ask questions etc in relation to the marathon! 

Richard Bacon is live in Cardiff from 2:00pm Today on BBC Radio 5 Live - going behind of scenes of some of TV's biggest dramas.

He's at the BBC's new Roath Lock studios which are used to film Doctor Who, Casualty and Holby City, to name a few.

Bacon will also be talking to The Doctor's new assistant - the actress Jenna Louise Coleman... And he'll get onto the wards of Holby General Hospital to meet the cast of Casualty.

+  Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live on BBC iPlayer.

[Source: BBC Radio 5 Live]

Doctor Who Writer and creator of Being Human, Toby Whithouse, has spoken about the recent rumours that he might take over as Doctor Who showrunner when Steven Moffat steps down.

Speaking to SFX Magazine in a recent interview, Whithouse had the following to say:

“I have heard the rumours. I’ve been hearing them for years now. In terms of what Matt and Steven are planning after the anniversary, I do know the answers to those things, but there is absolutely no way I can tell anyone.

In terms of my future on Doctor Who, this kind of speculation only takes place in the heads of the fans. I’m going to be busy doing The Game for however long that lasts and I think Steven is doing incredible work on Doctor Who and I’d much rather he stay there.

No-one from the BBC has said anything to me. Whether or not it’s something the BBC is considering, I genuinely have no idea. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued by the idea, but also it would be terrifying. It’s definitely something I’d be really tempted by but I’m genuinely not in any hurry to do it. And why do people assume the BBC would want me? I’m sure there are much stronger contenders than me!”

+  Issue 233 of SFX Magazine is Out Now, priced £4.50.

+  Subscribe to SFX Magazine from as little as £11.99 via Unique Magazines.

[Sources: SFX]

 Day Sixty-Nine: The Centre (The Web Planet, Episode Six)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Nine: The Centre (The Web Planet, Episode Six)

Dear diary,

Oh, my patience had to run out sometime, I guess. There's a few elements of this episode that I've still quite liked, but I think the goodwill that I'd been building up over the last few episodes was just dissipated. In short: I think I got tired of forgiving The Web Planet.

The thing is, on the whole, I've rather liked it. It's been a good seven or eight years since the last time I saw it, and I could't really remember my thoughts on it. Over those years, though, I've seen it slagged off so many times that I was dreading reaching this point. Added to the fact that I just didn't enjoy The Romans, I thought I was in for a rough week.

And there's plenty of reasons to not like this story, it's true. It was always going to be a bold choice to have a tale with no other recognisably human faces for six full weeks, and to begin with it pulls it off quite well. In the end though, it just pushes its luck a bit too far.

On the whole, I've really liked the design of the story - I think Vortis itself is quite well done (even if the vaseline is a bit too heavy from time to time: it's still very strong in this episode, for those of you keeping track), and the effort that has gone into designing the Zarbi and the Menoptera is evident, even if it doesn't quite work all the time. The Optera, on the other hand, I'll refrain from saying too much about!

I can't help but feel that this story might be much better regarded had it been made as a four parter. Keep Episode One much as it is, and then just have three instalments of the bug people waging war on each other. After building up to it for six weeks, the fight between the Menoptera and their ant enemies in this episode is a woeful let down. Zaaaaaarrrrbiiiiiii!

The same is true of the Animus itself. For several episodes, it's been no more than a creepy disembodied voice, but here it's revealed to be an odd thing hung from the ceiling. Upon first glance I thought it looked quite passable, but the more you see of it, the less keen I was. I recall the first time that I saw this story: there's a point when Vicki describes it as a 'dirty great spider'. I was dreading it. I hate spiders at the best of times, so I didn't really want to see one.

This, though, poses no threat to me whatsoever. Doesn't seem to pose much of a threat to its enemies, either. A few minutes in the Centre with it, and they've gone and destroyed it. Everyone is happy, off we go.

The one thing that I do like about this story episode is that we stay behind on Vortis for a bit after the TARDIS leaves. It's happened a few times in the series, but this is by far the longest example we've had off seeing people get on with their lives once the Doctor and his friends have left. I'd quite like to see a return to Vortis, made on a modern budget. I think the prosthetics and CGI that could be used to realise the world and its inhabitants these days would be rather spectacular.

As it is though, and for all I've enjoyed bits of the tale, I'm not too sorry to be leaving The Web Planet behind.

Next Episode: The Lion

 Day Sixty-Eight: Invasion (The Web Planet, Episode Five)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Eight: Invasion (The Web Planet, Episode Five)

Dear diary,

A wise man once said of this story “This is the kind of Doctor Who episode that I wouldn't want to get caught watching. I remember the first time I dared to show a non-fan friend an episode of The Tomb of the Cybermen, and they thought it looked awful! Imagine sitting them down to watch this!”. Ok, it wasn't a wise man - it was me. Yesterday.

The Web Planet has become something of a guilty pleasure. I know that I shouldn't like it. Trust me, I know that it's a bit rubbish. But you know what? I'm still really enjoying it! But then… I hit a stumbling block. You see, the problem with the six-parters is that unless they do something new and different in each episode to give me plenty to focus on, I very quickly run out of things to say!

You've just read four days of me praising the designs, keeping track of how much vaseline is being smeared on the camera lenses (we're still on a high use in this instalment), and commenting on the creepy Animus voice. You'd all be bored if I just rambled on about it again today.

So I decided to do something different. I decided to take my comments from yesterday, and put them to the test.

My better-half hasn't had the best week. She's not felt very well, and the car has been playing up. Tonight I was out of work earlier than usual, so she decided to come see me and get out of the house. As the boyfriend, it's my job to make her feel better during a week like this. So what's the right thing for a caring boyfriend to do? That's right! It's getting her to sit down and watch an episode of The Web Planet with me. Obviously. Men, I hope you're taking notes.

I think my friend Tom summed it up best: “Probably not the best episode to show from the last two months…”. But maybe he'd be wrong! Maybe I was wrong yesterday? Maybe I'm not the only one who can see the charm in The Web Planet?

I started by briefing Ellie on the story so far. I summed it up as simply as I could (The TARDIS has been dragged to a barren world. There's something evil at the heart of it that's controlling an army of giant ants. The butterfly people who used to live on this planet are coming to take it back. It's remarkable how easily the four episodes boil down.), and tentatively hit play.

The first thing she asked was wether the Menoptera are actually meant to be butterflies at all. Now she's brought it up, I'm not sure if they are. I've always assumed they're butterflies, but actually they're also a bit like bees in their colouring, aren't they? No stings, though, so I'm guessing more butterfly than bee. I won't even go in to the look on her face when a Zarbi appeared. I think she was assessing how easily she could make an excuse to leave.

She couldn't even look at the screen while we were on the planet's surface, because the vaseline-smeared camera lens was actually making her eyes ache. I'm still not sure she believed me when I told her how they'd achieved the look. Unfortunately, she wasn't much keen on the design of the Animus' lair, either. She just thought it looked like a studio set. And not a particularly great one, either.

Only one moment raised a smile from her, and that's when the Doctor goes back to his ring-controlled Zarbi and tells him that he had 'nearly ended up as lost property!'. I have to admit I'm glad she liked that bit at least, as it's the kind of fun I've been enjoying from the Doctor more and more this series.

At the end of the twenty-five minutes, Ellie only had one thing to say when summing it up. She thought it was long-winded, and I don't think she could quite believe I was sitting through six days of it. Unfortunately, I think Tom was right - perhaps not the best example of a sixties Who episode for a non-fan (Incidentally, Ellie's rather fond of the new series, but she's never really gotten into the classic stuff. Ah well!).

Something I did notice, though, is that I spent more time this episode keeping an eye on El's reaction than I did watching the story - but I don't feel like I've really missed anything. Menoptera are planning a slightly different attack. Hartnell and Vicki have been webbed. Etc. Etc. I'm still looking forward to the climax of the tale, though.

(Ellie gave it a 4/10 - it could have been worse!)

Next Episode: The Centre

 Day Sixty-Seven: Crater of Needles (The Web Planet, Episode Four)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Seven: Crater of Needles (The Web Planet, Episode Four)

Dear diary,

Here's the thing: I don't know what to make of The Web Planet. I'm really enjoying it… but it's rubbish!

I mean, if I'm being perfectly honest, this is the kind of Doctor Who episode that I wouldn't want to get caught watching. I remember the first time I dared to show a non-fan friend an episode of The Tomb of the Cybermen, and they thought it looked awful! Imagine sitting them down to watch this!

And yet, as I say, I'm enjoying it! I can't quite put my finger on what it is about the story, but I'm just caught up in it. I think that when I suspended my belief back at the start of Episode One, I might have suspended a bit too much of it - because I'm watching this and I'm still finding it quite impressive visually. I'm fairly sure that's not a commonly-held view.

The effects of the Menoptera flying in to land are good enough, if you ask me, especially some of the more impressive ones. I'll admit that there's more than a few instances where wires are pretty visible, but again - I'm watching this with a cleaned up picture on a big screen! The biggest downside to that scene, for me, is that they re-use shots several times - and in quick succession. That takes away somewhat from the impressiveness of it all.

Though, it has to be said, all the creatures look pretty interesting on film! There's a few shots close up of the Zarbi that have been shot on film and they look quite good! The Menoptera are less impressive in this style, but they do have to look of a real 1950s sci-fi.

Actually - that's it! Yes! That's what this reminds me of! It looks like an early sci-fi film, with effects and styles on about the same level. It's not as visually impressive as The Dalek Invasion of Earth, or Planet of Giants, but it's still pretty solid. The effect of it looking like early sci-fi extends to the - frankly just plain odd - scenes with the Optera down inside the planet. It's just all a bit amateur dramatics, isn't it.

On the plus side, a friend and colleague recently watched this story before Christmas (it's ok, he's a Doctor Who fan, and was watching the series through as a marathon - it's safe for him to watch!), and we spent much of January communicating only in the styles of the various inhabitants of Vortis. If we weren't jumping about and snarling like an Optera, then we were making sure to do plenty of hand gestures and copy Roslyn De Winter's insect movements.

Something that does stick out in this episode is that again they've smeared a bit too much vaseline on the lans… but only on some shots! We cut from the Menoptera invasion force (with vaseline) to a reaction shot of Barbara (sans vaseline!). Once you've noticed it, it becomes a bit distracting. Did they forget? Had they just used up most of the supply in yesterday's episode?

Oh - and I notice there's a shot early on in the Crater, where a Zarbi starts heading to camera before we abruptly cut away. Trying to avoid another collision?

Next Episode: Invasion

 Day Sixty-Six: Escape to Danger (The Web Planet, Episode Three)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Six: Escape to Danger (The Web Planet, Episode Three)

Dear diary,

They've gone a bit overboard with the vaseline on this episode, haven't they? There's a couple of shots of Ian and his Menoptera friend that are more blur than they are anything else!

On the whole, as much as it gets laughed about in fandom, I quite like the idea of them smearing vaseline on the camera lenses. Sure, when it's done like this then it seems a bit bizarre, but in the first couple of episodes it really did create an unusual and quite effective look.

You certainly can't claim that this story isn't trying to be unique. It's a bold choice to try and do an entire story with only our regulars as recognisably human, and at least so far it's not doing too badly. What is unusual is that it's only really here that we start to see an ally for the TARDIS crew - the Menoptera are played in Episode Two as kind, but still possibly a threat.

It's nice to see - well, what you can see, through the vaseline - the make-up a bit more here. It's an odd design, but it's another one of those things that I think actually works quite well. It looks pretty cuddly, too, for that matter. It has to be said that I thought the flying effect was quite well done. Maybe it's because I wasn't expecting it, so didn't have time to study it all that much?

Something I was expecting, but I didn't know exactly when it was coming; the infamous shot of the Zarbi running into a camera. Confession time - I've been a Doctor Who fan for a decade, but I've never seen that shot before. I know! I've even watched The Web Planet twice before (which means, I believe, that upon completion of this viewing, I get some kind of medal? Yes? Who do I write to for that?), but I always seem to have missed it!

Somewhat telling is that in my head, the Zarbi runs into a camera outside the TARDIS, and it isn't with as much of a bump as we actually get. I don't really know where my memory of that comes from. Must have made it up after years of hearing about the Zarbi and the camera.

Incidentally, I understand that they've recreated bits of The Web Planet for this year's An Adventure in Space and Time. If they don't include a shot of a Zarbi hitting a camera, I'm going to be sorely disappointed. Also, hopefully it'll show just how gorgeous this set can look. You know, without the stuff smeared all over the camera.

I didn't mention it during yesterday's episode, but how creepy is the voice in the tube? Yes, yes, I know it's the Animus, but at this stage I'm not supposed to. It's a whopping good cliffhanger, as the tube lowers and a mysterious voice speaks out to the Doctor, and it doesn't lose any of it's inherent spookiness here. It's a little undermined by having to use those tones to negotiate with the Doctor (at one stage, it basically boils down to 'I will kill you!' / 'Ok. But then this information dies with me!' / 'Fine! …What do you mean 'information'…?')

Next Episode: The Crater of Needles

(EDITED TO ADD: Oh! There you go! I've spent so long throughout this blog monitoring how well they handle the regular cast going on holiday - but it wasn't until almost an hour after writing today's post that I suddenly realised Barbara wasn't in this episode!)

BBC Worldwide announces The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Celebration at London's ExCel in November.

The corporation’s commercial arm will bring thousands of the Time Lord’s fans together from across the universe for a very special 3-day indoor event on his birthday weekend 

BBC Worldwide is delighted to announce that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who – one of popular culture’s most iconic fictional heroes – with a spectacular three day event at ExCeL London, bringing together over 15,000 fans for the ultimate Doctor Who anniversary celebration beginning on Friday 22nd November.

Amanda Hill, Chief Brands Officer at BBC Worldwide said:

“We cannot wait to welcome Doctor Who fans from around the world to London in November. It’s going to be a spectacular weekend! Generations of fans young and old have been captivated by The Doctor and we’ve seen the show go from strength to strength, enjoying something of a global march over the past few years attracting new followers from Turkey to Brazil to South Korea.

2013 is an opportunity for fans around the world to come together and celebrate the glorious past, present and future of Doctor Who.”  

More details about the Doctor Who 50th Celebration Weekend at ExCeL London, including guests, intinerary, ticket prices and booking information will be revealed soon, alongside a host of other surprises.

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

Manufacturer: BBC Worldwide Consumer Products

Written By: John Lucarotti

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 11th March 2013

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 7th March 2013

The TARDIS arrives in fifteenth century Mexico inside the tomb of Aztec High Priest Yetaxa. The travellers become cut off from the ship after the tomb door closes behind them and Barbara is proclaimed as Yetaxa's divine reincarnation.

However, she incurs the enmity of the High Priest of Sacrifice, when - against the Doctor's advice - she attempts to use her new-found authority to put an end to the Aztec practice of human sacrifice.

* * *

It's time for a history lesson, courtesy of a time travelling Police Box and her crew. However, you may also get a strong feeling of "deja-Who"; that strange feeling that you've seen this DVD before. This is another of the BBC's 'Special Edition' releases, aka the same release with an extra disc of new stuff tacked onto the end. In the case of The Aztecs: Special Edition, it's that second disc that provides the excitement... However, here's a rundown of the extras on Disc One - the original release:

Disc One

Commentary - William Russell (Ian), Carole Ann Ford (Susan) and original series showrunner Verity Lambert (now sadly in the great hereafter) come together to discuss their memories of the story, with many anecdotes and stories along the way.

Arabic Soundtrack - Episode Four only features an alternate audio experience that can be selected via the Audio Options section, with the soundtrack dubbed into Arabic.  An interesting curio!

Remembering The Aztecs - The making of the story, with Ian Cullen, John Ringham and Walter Randall (all Aztecs in the serial itself) discuss the early days of television, and changing from theatre to television. William Hartnell's moods are discussed in somewhat less than glowing terms by Ringham and Randall.  Mostly it seems to be a somewhat vitriolic wander down memory lane for them, but thankfully Ian Cullen keeps the featurette light.

Designing The Aztecs - Barry Newbery (who's name is now ever associated with the second TARDIS prop, called "The Newbery Box") talks about how he designed the story; with a glorious wealth of production drawings and photographs - most of which have never been seen as they're from Barry's personal collection.  Newbery is very interesting to listen to, and it's obvious frm the outset that this man knows his craft inside out.  An informative and gentle look back, and suitably entertaining.

Cortez and Montezuma - It's Blue Peter! A wonderfully vintage and aged piece of BBC educational children's programming. Valerie Singleton narrates the story of the fall of the Aztec Empire. It's actually really rather good, and explained very nicely for kids - although Singleton mentioning on more than one occasion about cannons "blowing people to bits" is perhaps more gruesomely amusing than it should be!

Restoring The Aztecs - A regeneration that a Time Lord would be proud of. The restoration and cleaning up of the original film, shown in several before and after examples, that makes the antique material suitable for release onto DVD.  Short, and with no voiceover or real explanations, but still fascinating. It's not just The Aztecs on display here, Jo Grant and the Third Doctor put in a brief cameo appearance too, from 'Terror of the Autons', and The Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe turn up in a clip from The Krotons. Oh, and there's a web address for more information in the end titles!

Making Cocoa - A woeful sub-par South Park rip-off on how to make cocoa the Aztec way. Simply dire.

TARDIS Cam 3 - Another brief look at the TARDIS, this time sitting in the middle of a sandstorm on an alien planet.  Again, from the 2002 BBC Fictionlab team. Short, but pretty.

Intro Sequences - A random selection of introductions to the story via the three actors playing the main Aztec roles in the story. There are six in total, and it plays a random message when "Play All" is selected from the main menu. Fairly pointless.

Adding on the Photo Gallery, Subtitles, Audio Description and new Info Text rounds off the original release - and that's just disc one!

Disc Two

Galaxy Four - Or to be more accurate: Galaxy Four the telesnap archive and episode three. Using a little CGI, remaining video footage, lots of telesnaps and the audio recordings of the original transmissions, here's a rather fabulous tale from later on in the Hartnell era. We've got Steven Taylor (Peter Purves), Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) and the wonderful William Hartnell as The Doctor.

Episode Three was recently discovered and recovered, and that's the main reason for this condensed version of the story. It is, however, completely wonderful to see any part of this Classic adventure. It's a very strong and well told story, and a complete joy to watch. Worth the re-release by itself!

Chronicle - The BBC Radiophonic Workshop lends its expertise to this 1969 telling of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. It's rather dated, and to be completely honest, the Blue Peter version was much more interesting and accessible. It's very pretty to look at, the filming is really rather exquisite, but it's very old school BBC. It is amusing however that the presenter, John Julius Norwich bears more than a passing resemblance to George Reeves' portrayal of Clark Kent in the 1950s Adventures of Suprerman TV series in the US. Norwich's voice though is pure 1950s BBC, with perfect ennunciation and a very plummy tone.

Doctor Forever: The Celestial Toyroom - The series continues with a look at Doctor Who toys over the last 50 years. From the birth of BBC Licensing. From Daleks in the 1960s to Tom Baker dollies to Dapol and onwards into the present day. Presented in a very flippant and jokey manner, this really doesn't take itself seriously, but is presented with enough love and affection to keep it funny and the right side of ridicule. Rather brilliant, very silly indeed, and insane fun.

It's A Square World - A very brief glimpse of the first ever Doctor Who skit during the farewell to BBC TV Centre programme in 2012, gave the world a clue that this little gem still existed. Clive Dunn is Doctor Fortheringown (Doctor Who?) in a full Hartnell outfit, talking to Michael Bentine here. With cameos from Patrick Moore and er... Albert Steptoe... The Doctor's newest invention goes a tad wrong and takes the BBC TV Centre for a spin in space.

A Whole Scene Going - An excerpt from the 1960s magazine show featuring some cranky dustbins from the second movie, and a brief interview with the director of Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD, Gordon Flemyng. Short and very dated, but Gordon's an interesting man, and certainly knew his stuff.

Coming Soon Trailer - SPOILER WARNING!!! In a release that's not at all an obvious tie in to a forthcoming reappearance, Patrick Troughton's Doctor faces off with some reptilian Martians. Also features the *other* instance of the Police Box TARDIS doors opening outwards. The Ice Warriors are coming soon to DVD.

As with disc one, all the features come with Subtitles and Audio Description, and Disc Two features the Radio Times cuttings in the usual PDF format for viewing on a computer.

This is all about disc two, really. The first release of The Aztecs (and a fine Hartnell story it is) was fairly packed with extras already, so I'm not sure we needed another release of it with one or two additional references, to justify the inclusion of Galaxy Four.

However it's that condensed story that's now the undeniable star of this special edition. It's such a rare treat to see a rediscovered Classic episode of the show, especially from the Hartnell era, that it completely negates any misgivings about most of the release being money for stuff we've already seen. Therefore this very special Special Edition can only really have one rating, even if it is almost entirely for Galaxy Four.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

Writer, Steven Moffat talks exclusively about the New Series in Doctor Who Maagazine #458.

The Doctor finally meets Clara and returns for a season of eight brand new adventures, later this month! DWM gets a sneak peek of some of the upcoming stories, while showrunner STEVEN MOFFAT reveals the horrors that await the Doctor and Clara in the first episode, THE BELLS OF ST JOHN…

“It’s the traditional Doctor Who thing of taking something omnipresent in your life and making it sinister," Steven tells DWM. "If something did get in the Wi-Fi, we’d be kind of screwed. Nobody had really done it before, so I thought, ‘It’s time to get kids frightened of Wi-Fi!’”

ALSO THIS ISSUE…

HE WAS THE DOCTOR!
In the second part of DWM’s previously unpublished interview with JON PERTWEE, conducted a year before his death in 1996, the actor who played the Third Doctor reveals his thoughts on his departure from Doctor Who, the untimely death of Master actor Roger Delgado, and his relationship with the show and its fans in later years.

CRAIG A TUR!
FRAZER HINES recalls his adventures in time and space in the 60s series as kilt-wearing companion to the Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon – and why he wants to come back…

COMPLETELY POINTLESS!
DWM goes behind the scenes on the forthcoming Doctor Who edition of the BBC quiz show, Pointless Celebrities and talks to contestants SYLVESTER McCOY, LOUISE JAMESON, NICOLA BRYANT, BERNARD CRIBBINS, FRAZER HINES, SOPHIE ALDRED, JOHN LEESON and ANDREW HAYDEN-SMITH!

SETTING SAIL IN SPACE…
There’s trouble aboard ship as the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough take part in a race through space, and encounter a race of Eternals! Discover a wealth of fascinating facts about the last story in 1983's 'Black Guardian trilogy' as Enlightenment is put under the spotlight in THE FACT OF FICTION. 

THE MAN WHO KNOWS…
The big boss answers some of your most pressing Doctor Who questions in this issue’s ASK STEVEN MOFFAT – including one from one of his predecessors… 

THE GOOD, THE BARD, AND THE UGLY…
Hey nonny nonny! The Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones go back to Elizabethan England  and meet the most famous writer in history, as THE TIME TEAM watch The Shakespeare Code.

MASTERS OF THE HUNT!
The Doctor is reunited with his old friends, Ian and Barbara, while flaming-skulled warriors cause havoc on the world of Cornucopia? The action heats up in Part Three of our epic comic-strip adventure HUNTERS OF THE BURNING STONE, written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
DWM turns back the clock to 2005 when Doctor Who made its momentous return to our TV screens, with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion, Rose Tyler. The voyage through five decades of Doctor Who with the twenty-seventh series of the show in COUNTDOWN TO 50! 

DVD DILEMMAS!
JACQUELINE RAYNER shares the ups and downs of a family in love with Doctor Who and tackles the controversial topic of how to order your DVDs on your shelf, in this issue’s RELATIVE DIMENSIONS.

A BURNING QUESTION
WOTCHA! ponders just which planets in the Doctor Who universe have seas of acid in The History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects, challenges you to spot the false fact in a Shakesperian-themed Six Faces of Delusion, and consults The Stockbridge English Dictionary for some more unusual definitions. 

PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, a prize-winning competitions and crossword and much, much more!

+  Doctor Who Magazine Issue #458 is out Out Now, priced £4.75.

+  Subscribe Worldwide to DWM from just £17.99 via Unique Magazines!

+  Check Out The DWO Guide to Doctor Who Magazine!

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

Forbidden Planet have teamed up with Character Options for another Exclusive Doctor Who Toy.

'The Claws OF Axos' Collector's Set features Jo Grant, The Brigadier and an Axon Man, as featured in the 3rd Doctor adventure; The Claws Of Axos.

A In this Third Doctor adventure an approaching alien spaceship lands in England and the UNIT team meet its occupants: Beautiful golden-skinned humanoids called Axons. The Axons claim that their ship, Axos, is damaged and that they need time in which to repair it. In return, they offer Axonite, a substance that can cause animals to grow to enormous sizes and thus end Earth’s food shortages. The Doctor is suspicious, and rightly so: Axos, Axonite and the Axons - whose true form is that of hideous tentacle monsters - are all part of a single parasitic entity brought to Earth by the Master to feed on the planet's energy.

The Doctor links his and the Master’s TARDIS's together to make one giant time machine in order to help Axos - but on condition that they assist him in taking revenge on the Time Lords for exiling him to Earth. But, this is merely a trick, and Axos is locked in a time loop from which it can never escape.

Contents:

1 x Brigadier action figure in jersey with U.N.I.T. beret and pistol.
1 x Jo Grant action figure.
1 x Axon in Humanoid form action figure.

+  'The Claws Of Axos' Collector's Set is released in July 2013, priced £29.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet for just £27.99!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

 Day Sixty-Five: The Zarbi (The Web Planet, Episode Two)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Five: The Zarbi (The Web Planet, Episode Two)

Dear Diary,

I hate litter. Genuinely, I can't stand it when people wilfully drop litter. I've been known to get quite shirty with people when I see them dropping litter out and about. If I can't find a bin, then I'll hold on to whatever litter I've got until I can find a bin. It's the obvious thing to do!

Imagine, then, how it irked me yesterday when Ian has witnessed his Coal Hill School tie being dissolved in the acid, and then throws it away on the ground as he walks away from the pool! I mean, yes, I know the tie is useless to him now (even as a belt!), but still! And then today, having removed his oxygen jacket, and carried it for a bit, he throws that away behind him, too! Vortis may not be the prettiest world he's visited in the TARDIS, but there's no need to leave half his wardrobe scattered about its surface!

Actually, I say Vortis isn't the prettiest world, but as I said yesterday, I really like the design. There's something about the jagged rocks that really works for me, and always has. I've often praised in this marathon the use of the backcloths to give a sense of depth to a set - most prominently in The Aztecs, but in a few other places too. The ones in The Web Planet have always looked quite good to me, and it's always been easy enough to suspend my belief enough for them to really work.

For this reason it's a shame that a few scenes in this episode are spent stood only a couple of feet away from the backcloth, which don't help the illusion much. Nor does the massive great join running up the middle of it!

Yesterday, I complained that as much as I was liking the story, it was a fairly good example of that common conception of 1960s TV - creaky, wobbly, and all together a bit naff. There's plenty in this episode which helps to uphold that, I'm sorry to say. That aforementioned join is one of them, but also the way the Zarbi hobble about (I'd never noticed before how one of them trips over a pair of wings from a recently deceased Menoptera!).

Then we've got the shot of the TARDIS being dragged away across the surface of the planet. In some of the shots it really works, and it looks somewhat unnerving. The TARDIS has always been the 'safe' place - it's usually the place that our regulars spend four-to-six episodes trying to get back to. Here, though, from the spinning console in yesterday's episode to the way that it's being dragged away by some sinister unseen force, it's lost all pretense of being a 'safe' place to be.

It's a shame, then, that some of the 'dragging' shots really don't work as well as the others, and the cuts to Maureen O'Brien playing what appears to be a game of 'Stuck in the Mud' in the console room by herself aren't particularly great. She's been flawless until now, but this isn't her finest moment.

I was also very impressed to see a Zarbi attempting to enter the TARDIS. Having taken away the element of safety that we've always had with it, the ultimate final blow is to show one of the 'evil' monsters inside the ship. It doesn't make it past the doorway, though, and the whole thing is over and done with very quickly. It's a pity, as that could have been a really striking image.

I think that's quite a good theme for the story as a whole, actually; 'could have been'. There's a lot of potential here, but it's not really hitting it.

Next Episode: Escape to Danger

 Day Sixty-Four: The Web Planet (The Web Planet, Episode One)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Four: The Web Planet (The Web Planet, Episode One)

Dear diary,

Something I've noticed more and more through this second season, but never quite so much as here, if how much Hartnell's 'giddy' performance reminds me of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor. I've never noticed it before, but there's something in the tone, and in the way things are said that feel very common between both incarnations. The cliffhanger close-up on Hartnell here sees his sporting an expression that I'm sure I've seen on Baker's face, too, at some point. It's strange, but I rather like it, I think.

While I'm on the subject of the First Doctor being a bit giddy… is there something in the air on Vortis? While we're inside the ship, and there's a mystery to be solved about the lack of power, the Doctor is his usual reserved self. Once we're outside, however… It's been happening more and more as the show goes on. The Doctor has taken to giggling far more than he used to. Looking at the First Doctor as a whole, the giggles have always been a part of the character for me - I've just never realised how suddenly they come about, or how strong.

We saw it in The Romans, when he tittered his way through a fight early on, and it's back with a vengeance here. He's almost like a hyperactive child when he's realised there's something real to explore on this planet, rushing off, giggling, while telling Ian to 'Come along! Come along!'.

It is nice to see him back into the explorer mode that we saw way back during the second episode of An Unearthly Child. When we join him outside the TARDIS, he's examining some rocks and taking mental notes about them. I still think it suits this Doctor to be one who travels to learn, as opposed to just because that's what the Doctor does.

I made a note during that scene to mention the slight echo effect on the voice, and then they went and made a big point about the echoes in the air. It really works for me, and I think it helps to make this planet seem a bit different and a bit alien. Following on from some very plush sets for the last story, with lots of drapes and pillows, it's nice to see Vortis as a cold, harsh landscape.

I've seen the look of this story come under fire more times than I can count over the years, but actually I think it works rather well. The design of the world is certainly striking and different to anything we've had before, and despite what people keep telling me, I think it looks good. Even the Zarbi are quite a nice idea, even if the initial shots of them creeping out from behind rocks gives the impression of that old favourite stereotype of classic Doctor Who being a bit creaky…

A constant surprise to me is just how late into the programme's run we're still getting episodes that are entirely carried by the four regulars. Sure, we've got a handful of Zarbi on hand to menace them from behind the rocks, but they don't actually interact with each other - there's just the odd glimpse here and there. It's another chance for our regulars to shine, and for this still comparatively new team to shine.

Next Episode: The Zarbi

The third instalment in a sensational series of stories celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who is written by Marcus Sedgwick, multi award-winning author of Floodland, My Sword Hand is Singing and Midwinterblood.

Speaking to DWO Marcus, had the following to say on his upcoming title:

"Doctor Who is such an iconic part of British popular culture that any writer would jump at the chance to add something to the universe. Being the age I am there are really two Doctors that I love the most: Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee, and I was thrilled to write this new story about the Third Doctor. I hope fans recognise Jon in the pages of my story."

Synopsis:

The Third Doctor and Jo Grant are trying to track down the magical spear of Odin when they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle between two Viking tribes.

But one of the Vikings is even more dangerous than he appears to be.

Can the Doctor stop the spear getting into the wrong hands before it’s too late?

Eleven Doctors, eleven months, eleven stories: a year-long celebration of Doctor Who! The most exciting names in children's fiction each create their own unique adventure about the time-travelling Time Lord.

+  The Spear Of Detiny is released on 23rd March 2013, Priced £1.99.

+  Preorder this eBook on Amazon for £1.99.
+  Preorder this eBook from iTunes for £1.99.

[Source: Puffin Books]

Our friends over at SFX Magazine have unveiled the first full promo shot of the New Series Ice Warriors.

The Classic Series villains will return in Series 7B, Episode Three (7.8), which is rumoured to be titled; 'The Cold War'.

Check Out DWO's Guide to Series 7B, below:

W = Written By / D = Directed By:

7.6: The Bells Of St.John - [W: Steven Moffat / D: Colm McCarthy]
7.7: The Rings of Akhaten - [W: Neil Cross / D: Farren Blackburn] - Rumoured Title
7.8: The Cold War - [W: Mark Gatiss / D: Douglas Mackinnon] - Rumoured Title
7.9: Phantoms Of The Hex - [W: Neil Cross / D: Jamie Payne] - Rumoured Title
7.10: Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS - [W: Stephen Thompson / D: Mat King]
7.11: The Crimson Horror - [W: Mark Gatiss / D: Saul Metzstein] - Rumoured Title
7.12: The Last Cyberman - [W: Neil Gaiman / D: Stephen Wolfenden]
7.13: Untitled - [W: Steven Moffat / D: Saul Metzstein]

Watch the preview for Series 7B, below:

[youtube:0q7xbDpym0Q]

[Source: SFX Magazine]

 Day Sixty-Three: Inferno (The Romans, Episode Four)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Three: Inferno (The Romans, Episode Four)

Dear Diary,

I've mused on this before (most notably under my posts about Farewell Great Macedon), but when you watch through these early historical adventures in order, you really do get the sense of an emerging narrative - the kind of thing that we'd call a story arc these days.

To recap; in The Aztecs, the Doctor is quite adamant with Barbara - 'You can't change history! Not one line!' - when she even dares to suggest putting her own stamp on the Aztecs and trying to change the course of history. The Reign of Terror sees Ian and Barbara muse on the futility of fighting for a side that history tells them will lose.

They then go on, in the same story, to wonder what will happen if they try to change history, and it's suggested that history will find a way to persevere. This is seen to be true in Farewell Great Macedon (even though it's not technically part of the 'canon' of this arc, if we're dealing exclusively with the early years of the programme).

Here, though, we enter a new territory, when the Doctor becomes actively responsible for giving Nero the idea to burn down Rome. The great fire, which Vicki describes as being read about in history books for 'thousands and thousands of years' all stems from the Doctor's actions in the court.

He refutes this thoroughly to begin with, pointing out again that history would have found a way to give the emperor the same idea. And then there's a wonderful moment;

                THE DOCTOR

Now look here, young lady, let's settle this! Insinuating that all this is my fault!

[He stops. Thinks. The penny drops, and he bursts into a wide smile as he begins to laugh]

My fault! Haha!

This is surely the moment that the Doctor realises that history is a little more flexible than he thought. He's well aware that the fire had to start somehow, but now he's realised that he can have an actual impact on historical events - even if it's just to ensure that they run the way that they're supposed to.

A couple of stories time from now (and following a trip back to the Crusades), the idea of the historical story will be well and truly shaken up. I'll examine the 'arc' more when we reach that point, but it's genuinely fascinating to see the way that things are building up as I make my way through.

Elsewhere in this episode… well, the good news is that I've enjoyed it more than I have the last couple. I'm not sure quite why that is - perhaps venting yesterday has helped to clear my mind somewhat? I've found everything about this episode much more enjoyable than I have so far, right up to Derek Francis' performance as Nero.

He seems to have decided that if this is to be his last episode, then he's going to really just go for it. His scene early on, when he takes a soldier's sword, only to cut the man down with it, while dryly declaring 'He didn't fight hard enough' is possibly my favourite Nero moment (is that a thing? Does everyone have a favourite 'Nero Moment'?).

And then we're back to the villa, the TARDIS team reunited and ready to head off on another adventure. I can't decide whether Ian and Barbara not running into the Doctor and Vicki during their simultaneous trips back is a great end to the repetitive 'not-quite-meetings' that we've had over the last couple of days or a really annoying one. I'm not going to dwell on it much, as I'm not sure I'll like the answer.

What I am sure I like is the last five minutes or so. It's great to have all four of the regulars back together again, and I love how well Maureen O'Brien has slotted into the group. In many ways, she seems to have found a comfortable nook that I'm not sure Carole Ann Ford ever had.

Oh, and returning to my musings on Ian and Barbara's status during Episode One; yes, they're definitely more than friends by now. Just look at the way they resort to a play fight mere minutes after they get back to the villa and find it deserted. It's quite sweet, in its own way…

Next Episode: The Web Planet

 Day Sixty-Two: Conspiracy (The Romans, Episode Three)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-Two: Conspiracy (The Romans, Episode Three)

Dear diary,

I'd been banking on this episode to turn things around for me. The last two have been alright, but I was hoping that Episode Three and it's fabled farcical style would be the one which raised this story up in my estimation. I'm quite keen on a good comedy historical (The Unicorn and the Wasp remains, five years on, my favourite 'new series' adventure, for example). Unfortunately, that's not happened.

…

You can't tell, but that ellipsis says a lot about this story so far. The way I'm doing this marathon is that I'm sitting down to watch each episode, then once it's over, I take a glance at any notes I might have made and then write up my thoughts, before posting them to Doctor Who Online. Then I carry on with my day. Nice and simple. I'm used to the routine, now, having down it for over two months.

Sometimes there's plenty to say, sometimes there's not so much, but either way I tend to find something to write about. Today's been a bit different, though. I typed that first paragraph, then just sort of… stared at the screen a bit. I even tried staring at the keyboard for a while, just in case that had some inspirational effect. It didn't. It never does, really.

In the end, I gave up. Went to Asda (other supermarkets are available) to do the shopping. I've got kitchen roll again, now, so the misses can stop pointing out that I'd run out. Got some new bin bags, too. I even bought an easter-egg-sized Kinder Egg, just to see if it had an extra large Kinder Egg tub inside it (It did. It was awesome.).

Then I came home, sat here and stared at the screen some more. Frankly, I've just not got anything much to say about this episode. I don't know what it is that's stopping me, it's just… not there today.

The best that I can figure is that this is almost a bit like the season stalling a little. Planet of Giants wasn't the most thrilling story, but visually, it was very impressive. If nothing else, I was kept interested by the design of the piece. The Dalek Invasion of Earth had an epic scale that hadn't been attempted in the series yet, and every episode was better than I could remember. Even The Rescue had a great (if bizarre) looking monster to keep me amused.

The Romans, though…

I did wonder if it might have been because I've grown to love the serious historicals that I've been through so far, more than I have before. Had that style of story ruined my enjoyment of this more light-hearted take on history? The more I thought about it, though, the more I remembered that I've tried to watch The Romans before, and I don't think I made it as far as this. So it must just be the story that's not connecting with me.

It's a real shame, because there's some good performances being put in, and the humour is well judged at times. Even the perspective effect used on the corridors is very good.

But then we've got 25 minutes of the Doctor and Barbara just missing each other. Over and over. And over. And then, over again! I praised it yesterday when it happened twice, but now the joke has kind of worn off. I spent a while wondering if I liked how it had been choreographed with their movements in and out of scenes, before deciding that if I'd been reduced to considering that, then something really wasn't right with my interest in the story itself…

Next episode: Inferno

 Day Sixty-One: All Roads Lead to Rome (The Romans, Episode Two)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty-One: All Roads Lead to Rome (The Romans, Episode Two)

Dear diary,

Some stories are easy. There's been more than a few episodes since the start of this marathon where I've had so much to say that I actively need to hold things back to talk about on another day, because there's a real danger that I'll just waffle on for ages.

This isn't one of those days.

Honestly, I really don't know what I'm going to talk about with this episode. There's nothing wrong with it, I've enjoyed it well enough, and it has all the elements that have been very strong in the series of late but it's just all a bit par for the course.

I think it must be telling when the thing that impresses me the most about a story is the fact that Ian has a bit of stubble! Yeah, yeah, I know this sounds like a minor thing, but actually, it was fairly impressive. Because of the way modern TV is made - with things shot so much out-of-sequence, and across a different period of time (modern telly Doctor Who takes about 18 days, for example, for an episode. Give-or-take.), it's often quite fun when you see a character with a bit of real stubble. It usually means that they've had to film those scenes early on in production, before they can have a good shave.

Here, though, with the production process meaning that they have to shoot one episode a week in order, we're able to see the time passing for the characters in almost real time. It's been about six days since Ian was captured, and it would have been seven for the audience watching at home. The stubble just helps to sell that idea. As I say - it's a tiny thing, but it interested me at least!

Something else that I couldn't help but muse on here is the way that the TARDIS crew seem to often end up separated so much. In The Dalek Invasion of Earth, they're all over the place, and they manage to work their way to meet up again in Bedfordshire (though Barbara tells Jenny this is a good plan because that's 'surely' what the Doctor would do), and in The Rescue, Ian suggests they return to the ship, as that's likely to be the best place to meet.

The same is true for many of the other stories (Planet of Giants sees Barbara and Ian transported to the lab, while The Reign of Terror sees them, and Susan, carted off to Paris), and it's fun to see this idea being played with here. Twice, the Doctor and Vicki nearly encounter Barbara - first in the market at the slave auction, then again at Nero's palace. It probably shouldn't be as amusing as it is, but considering how much I love the same trick being pulled with the Doctor and Donna in Partners in Crime, it's hard not to smile.

Oh, and speaking of which, it's just downright weird to see the Doctor declaring to a man 'Oh! So you want to fight, do you?' before giggling his way through the battle. Down. Right. Weird.

Next Episode: Conspiracy

 Day Sixty: The Slave Traders (The Romans, Episode One)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Sixty: The Slave Traders (The Romans, Episode One)

Dear diary,

I've always had one default thought when it comes to the start of The Romans - 'poor Vicki'! At the end of The Rescue, the Doctor assures her 'If you like adventure, my dear, then I can promise you an abundance of it!', and then they spend a month lounging around in a Roman villa and doing very little else! She even draws attention to it with Barbara - 'the way you spoke, I thought we were going to have adventures and see things!'.

What's nice is that I'm already really taking to Vicki. She is very much there to fill the Susan-shaped hole in the TARDIS crew (the way she gets excited over the possibility of the dress put me in mind of Susan's similar reaction to a new dress in The Keys of Marinus), but her enthusiasm is infectious. She's so happy when the Doctor agrees to take her to Rome that she does a little jump up and down that can't fail to make you smile.

Then when they're on the way to Rome, and the Doctor decides to impersonate the musician as it's a great way to meet Nero, we've got the Doctor right back in his old mode of doing anything that will help to satisfy his curiosity. That Vicki warns him no good will come of it seems to suggest she knows the way his adventures work better than he does! Maybe they could pick up BBC 1 on Dido?

Something I've not discussed yet during this marathon, but which is perhaps most prominent during this episode; are Ian and Barbara a couple? Or, at least, very close friends? In my mind (without having seen all their stories together) I've always assumed that, yes, they are. Of course they are! It's Ian and Barbara! Surely once they returned to London they ended up tying the knot?

Here, having been left alone in the vill without the Doctor and Susan, it's not long before they're laughing and joking, Barbara is telling Ian what a 'spendid-looking' Roman he makes and she's doing his hair. A few minutes later, and we find them sprawled out in the living room looking perfectly blissful while they drink wine. Of course this pair are together by this point!

Question is; when did the relationship start? Any ideas? Feel free to Twitter them at me - I'd be interested to know your thoughts! Maybe I'll pick my favourite answers and discuss them later in the story?

For me, I don't think that they were together before they encountered the Doctor and the TARDIS. The way they act with each other in An Unearthly Child is friendly, but really it's more a kind of colleague relationship than one where they're spending lots of extra curricular time with each other. So I'm guessing it will have come about during their adventures somewhere…

Next Episode: All Roads Lead to Rome

The BBC have released a new promo image and some further information regarding Series 7B of Doctor Who.

The series is set to return to BBC One on Saturday 30th March 2013 in a modern day urban thriller, finally confirmed today as 'The Bells of St John', as the first official image is revealed (pictured-right), giving fans a sneak peak at what to expect from the epic new series. Eagle-eyed fans will also spot a sneak peek at the revamped Ice Warriors, in the promo image. For the less eagle-eyed out there, DWO have put together an image (also pictured-right) featuring all the Ice Warrior portions of the promo image.

Written by Steven Moffat, 'The Bells of St John' will mark the official introduction of the Doctor's newest companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.  Having already made two appearances last year, the opening episode will be the first time fans get to see the Clara that will accompany The Doctor across the series' eight adventures.

Set in London against the backdrop of new and old iconic landmarks, The Shard and Westminster Bridge, 'The Bells of St John' will also establish a new nemesis, the Spoonheads, who will battle The Doctor as he discovers something sinister is lurking in the Wi-Fi.

Steven Moffat, executive producer and lead writer, said:

"It's the 50th year of Doctor Who and look what's going on! We're up in the sky and under the sea! We're running round the rings of an alien world and then a haunted house. There's new Cybermen, new Ice Warriors and a never before attempted journey to the centre of the TARDIS. And in the finale, the Doctor's greatest secret will at last be revealed!  If this wasn't already our most exciting year it would be anyway!"

Featuring a movie a week from a ghost story to an underwater siege to a period drama, the new series will also introduce new monsters, as well as bringing back fan favourites The Ice Warriors and The Cybermen.

Meanwhile the series' stellar list of guest stars include: Celia Imrie; Warwick Davis, Jessica Raine, Dougray Scott and Tamzin Outhwaite, as well as for the first time on screen together, mother and daughter Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling.

Check Out DWO's Guide to Series 7B, below:

W = Written By / D = Directed By:

7.6: The Bells Of St.John - [W: Steven Moffat / D: Colm McCarthy]
7.7: The Rings of Akhaten - [W: Neil Cross / D: Farren Blackburn] - Rumoured Title
7.8: The Cold War - [W: Mark Gatiss / D: Douglas Mackinnon] - Rumoured Title
7.9: Phantoms Of The Hex - [W: Neil Cross / D: Jamie Payne] - Rumoured Title
7.10: Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS - [W: Stephen Thompson / D: Mat King]
7.11: The Crimson Horror - [W: Mark Gatiss / D: Saul Metzstein] - Rumoured Title
7.12: The Last Cyberman - [W: Neil Gaiman / D: Stephen Wolfenden]
7.13: Untitled - [W: Steven Moffat / D: Saul Metzstein]

Watch the preview for Series 7B, below:

[youtube:0q7xbDpym0Q]

+  The Bells Of St John will air on 30th March on BBC One at Time TBC in the UK.
+  The Bells Of St John will air on 30th March on BBC America at Time TBC in the USA.
+  The Bells Of St John will air on 30th March on Space at Time TBC in Canada.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

 Day Fifty-Nine: Desperate Measures (The Rescue, Episode Two)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Fifty-Nine: Desperate Measures (The Rescue, Episode Two)

Dear diary,

I wonder if I'd have seen the twist with Bennett coming if I didn't already know that he was Koquillion? I'm tempted to say that I probably wouldn't… because it kind of comes from nowhere.

The problem with a two-part story is that there's no time for this plot to be built up and resolved in time, while still aiming for the mid-way cliffhanger. While the last episode was fairly well done in terms of the pacing, this one feels almost as though they've realised that the rest of the story needs to be done and dusted pretty quick, so that they can ask Vicki to join them in the TARDIS and be on their way.

To be quite truthful, I'm not even 100% sure what happened at the end there. Were they ghosts of the Dido people? Had some survived? The Doctor seems to imply that they can now take their world back… where have they been hiding for the last year or so? So many questions, so little time!

All that said, though, there's still plenty to like in this episode. Chiefly among them, the Doctor's confrontation with Koquillion. We've never really had a scene quite like this before, where the Doctor stands face-to-face with the story's 'bad guy' and has a cool, calm discussion with him, during which he basically tells them to stop what they're doing. This is a scene in the same key as the Tenth Doctor's poolside chat with Mr Finch in School Reunion, or the Eleventh Doctor's face-off with Madame Kovarian during A Good Man Goes to War.

What's nice about it is that I've never known it was here! Buried away towards the end of s strange little two-parter from Season Two. Hartnell plays it with perfection. The way he turns to face Koquillion, having already revealed him as Bennett and remaining fairly dignified throughout is fantastic, as is their entire discussion, ending with a fight. It's just a shame that the fight is ended by the appearance of the ghosts. Or survivors. Or… well, whatever they are.

Also good fun is the amount of humour still in the series. It's been having a larger impact on the stories as we move along (and it'll somewhat explode everywhere in the next story), but here it's Ian and Barbara having most of the laughs. I love the way they react when Vicki announces that they must be about 550 - both reactions are priceless and entirely in character.

Less 'in character', though, is Barbara's reaction to seeing Sandy for the first time. Yes, yes, I'm willing to accept that she was looking out for Vicki's safety and trying to make sure that the creature didn't attack. Yes, I'm willing to admit that the creature could look rather terrifying from a distance (In the long-shots early on, even I was prepared to admit it looked quite good. In close up… not so much), but still, it's not the kind of thing I'd expect from Barbara to grab a (flare) gun and shoot the creature dead!

Perhaps the most obvious thing to say about this story is that it really feels like a fresh start. Susan has gone, so now we've got these two episodes to introduce the new companion and to set out the scope of the series once more. Ian and Barbara explain that they got 'mixed up' with the Doctor in 1963, and that they now travel anywhere in time and space - 'Anywhere and everywhere in that old box', as the Doctor puts it. We even get to see Vicki doing the whole 'Bigger on the inside' thing (though not with those exact words). In many ways, this really does feel like the programme brushing itself down after the big Dalek epic, and getting ready to move on again, refreshed and renewed.

And what better way to do that than with a great cliffhanger of the TARDIS falling off a cliff?!

Next Episode: The Slave Traders

Lost episodes of Second Doctor adventure The Ice Warriors are being animated for DVD release, doctorwho.tv has confirmed.

Animation studio Qurios have been commissioned to recreate the missing episodes two and three, which see Ice Warrior leader Varga revive, kidnap Victoria and defrost his glacier-bound army.

“We’ve been discussing the various ways Qurios could reconstruct these episodes for over three years” said Dan Hall, Managing Director of Pup Ltd Media Consultancy, producer of the DVD. “So it’s really, really satisfying to finally see them animated. Qurios have a great track record in excellent and innovative animations”.

When asked about using a different animation studio to previous releases, Hall replied:

“Doctor Who has had many different visual styles thanks to changing directors, designers and production methods. We wanted to mirror this in our choice of animation partners”.

Qurios Entertainment’s previous work includes visual effects for sci-fi sitcom Hyperdrive, puppet comedy Mongrels and titles for Doctor Who DVD extra series Who Peter. Veteran producer of the classic Who range, Chris Chapman has overseen the animation, Niel Bushnell is the producer for Qurios and the animation director is Chris Chatterton.

See an exclusive “work in progress” clip, below, where the Doctor tries to convince Leader Clent that temperamental humans - even the recently fired scientist Penley - are still far better than machines:

+  The Ice Warriors will be released on DVD on 26th August 2013, priced £20.42.

[Source: doctorwho.tv]

 Day Fifty-Eight: The Powerful Enemy (The Rescue, Episode One)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Fifty-Eight: The Powerful Enemy (The Rescue, Episode One)

Dear diary,

Oh, this feels strange and new and exciting! It's possible that it's because I've just come from six days of the decade-old Dalek Invasion of Earth DVD, and it's great to be back to a vidFIREd episode. Things look so crisp!

After the huge scale of the last story, this feels like things are swinging in the complete opposite direction. We're entirely studio-bound again, with a tiny cast and a minimal number of sets. That's not a criticism, though: it all works quite well for the most part, and in some ways it's nice to have a story like this again.

The biggest issue that I have with it is that I've been a Doctor Who fan for about ten years, now, so I know how this story ends. I know the secrets about Koquillion (which I'll come to tomorrow), so it's hard to watch this story without having that in mind. For now though, it's worth pointing out that the Koquillion design is actually really good.

I mean, yes, it's a bit bizarre, but that's the kind of thing that Doctor Who is very very good at. That first shot of him, in close-up outside the TARDIS is really very striking, and it's no wonder Barbara is scared away from him. I'm less keen on the jewelled spanner he's using as a weapon, though. That's a bit naff.

One of the things that's impressed me the most about the story so far, though, is the continuity with the end of the last serial. The departure of Susan is a big moment in the history of the show, and it's really nice to see it being talked about rather than just moving on. Barbara tells Ian that it's not the kind of thing that the Doctor will just move on from - which is exactly the way he deals with a fair few companion departures later in the show's run.

Something else that works well in this regard is that the Doctor has yet to meet Vicki. Barbara has encountered her, and that's allowed us into her world and to fill in her backstory, but for the Doctor, there's no one in sight to replace Susan. As the programme goes on, it almost feels like a revolving door, with one companion leaving in story A and the next arriving in story B. Here is feels real and continues to sell the idea of the show as a continuing serial.

Also, is this the first story since An Unearthly Child that doesn't feature a scene inside the TARDIS before we catch up with the TARDIS crew? The Dalek Invasion of Earth had the Roboman walking into the river, but I think we usually get a chat with the crew before we meet any actual guest cast, don't we?

There's little else to add for this one (though I'm tempted to highlight the Doctor's sense of humour in this episode. His exchange with Barbara - 'Doctor! The trembling's stopped!' / 'Oh, my dear, I'm so glad you're feeling better!' - as being a particular highlight!), save to say that it's an interesting introduction to Vicki as a character, and a good starting performance from Maureen O'Brien. I look forward to seeing more!

Next Episode: Desperate Measures

 Day Fifty-Seven: Flashpoint (The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Episode Six)

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Day Fifty-Seven: Flashpoint (The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Episode Six)

Dear diary,

When I started on this experiment, I was looking forward to today. Susan had long been, in my mind, a bit of a useless companion, and not one that I really was relishing the thought of spending almost two months with as I worked my way through the series. Actually, though, I'm genuinely left a little sad now.

It's really nice to reach this point in the programme's run and realise that my opinion of Susan thus far has been coloured somewhat by a few extreme examples (Reign of Terror, I'm looking at you…). On the whole, she's been quite a fantastic character, and it certainly feels strange to see the TARDIS fading away with Susan left behind.

What's also nice, coming to it having spent every day since New Year's with Susan in tow, is just how affecting this final scene is. I'd argue that it's one of the most famous scenes in Doctor Who's long history (or, at least, Hartnell's speech is), but that's all it's ever been to me; a scene at the end of Susan's time on the show. It's never really been that full of emotion before, or anything all that special - it's just something that happened in Doctor Who way-back-when.

In many ways, then, today has proved to me that all my reasons for wanting to undertake this marathon, to shut myself away from other areas of Doctor Who and focus on watching it in order - in context - from the start at a set pace have been valid. The way I described it to another fan back in December, just before I started on the project was that companions - and Doctors - come and go, but they always feel sort of ephemeral. I can watch a Susan story on DVD one day, then a Tegan story the next, before skipping back to a Sarah Jane, then purchase a Big Finish audio with a brand new adventure starring the Seventh Doctor and Ace.

Watching in this way is akin to watching the show as it goes out now - you form a bond with the companion and with the Doctor, and it's genuinely moving when their time in the TARDIS comes to an end. The point of what I'm trying to say here is, yes, watching Susan leave was actually a bit emotional. Sure, she overplays it a bit when telling David that she can't stay behind on Earth with him, no matter how she feels, but it's all very real, and far more real than we often see in the show.

I'm also pleased to see Hartnell at his best here, too. The Doctor knows that this is the time he'll have to make a difficult decision, and he almost falls to tears when he takes Susan's shoe and realises that this is the end for the pair of them. Watching him let her go is simply wonderful, and I'm genuinely going to miss her.

I'm still desperate to hear a West Wing-styled series from Big Finish, though, featuring her and David as they try to start re-building the Earth!

Elsewhere in the episode, it's nice to see the defeat of the Daleks given the scale that it so sorely missed in their first story. The shot of the Robomen and the slaves turning on the Daleks and charging at them from out of the mine is fantastic, and it really does feel like a fitting finale. It's a shame that it's over with s quickly, but it's a definite improvement from the last time around.

I've little else to add, really, about The Dalek Invasion of Earth, except to say that it really has surprised me. For a long time, I've always just thought of it as just another story from the Hartnell era, which was ok but nothing special, but actually, I've loved it from start to finish. One of the best stories we've had so far.

It's a shame that the story is likely to be tainted to me somewhat by the sad association of Raymond Cusick's death, but I'm pleased that I've been so impressed by a story featuring his - frankly wonderful - designs.

I'll be rating this episode,

Next Episode: The Powerful Enemy

(NB; you may have noticed, from Planet of Giants onwards, I've not been rating the store has a whole at the end. I've found that I'm usually summing the story up in the last episode as I go, leaving little to say for a summary at the end. I'll be putting all the average scores together at the end of each Doctor's era for a bit of a retrospective, so I can summarise the eras as a whole).

Classic Series Doctor Who Makeup Designer, Lisa Westcott, has won an Oscar for her work on Les Miserables.

Lisa won the Oscar, together with colleague Julie Dartnell, in the 'Makeup and Hairstyling' category for their work on Les Miserables, beating off competition from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Hitchcock.

Lisa worked on the Classic Series, 5th Doctor adventure; 'Black Orchid'.

[Source: Neil Marsh]

Will Brooks’ 50 Year Diary - watching Doctor Who one episode a day from the very start...

Doctor Who celebrates its 50th anniversary with plans of some specially commissioned dramas, one off episodes and a few other treats along the way, but what about the fans?

Doctor Who’s older enthusiasts that have risen through the ranks of the BBC have been bringing the show to life on television. Other fans have been looking after the production of Doctor Who Magazine, the Big Finish Productions and all sorts of other Doctor Who related things! Then there’s you – the fans who have been keeping the passion of the show alive by watching it, buying it and talking about it until your face literally turns a TARDIS shade of blue!

Independent production company FTS Media are getting involved in the celebrations, with their film ‘Doctor Who: Celebrating 50 Years Of Fandom’. They say on their website:

‘Doctor Who fans are like no other, devoted to the Time Lord and his companions, but vilified for their passion. We want to know why. Why so much enthusiasm, and why do people think it’s so different to any other hobby? Where other documentaries have lingered on the negative side of fandom, we want to celebrate the passion that lies within fans of Doctor Who, and how their passion managed to keep the’ show alive. We’ll explore how Doctor Who fans have incorporated their devotion into everyday life, from writing blogs and books, to those who make it their mission to collect every TARDIS Teapot, Dalek Duvet and Cyberman Clock!’

FTS Media will be speaking to Who fans from all over the world as well as well-known Doctor Who faces, such as Robert Shearman, and the most recently announced Louise Jameson who played Leela, companion to Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor. They’re also planning on speaking to Adventures with the Wife in Space creator Neil Perryman and also ‘The Wife’ herself! 

They launched a funding campaign on Kickstarter, which has been a great success – but they are still looking for a little bit more! With just 4 days left at the time of writing this, they still have some fantastic rewards available in return for your support, ranging from key chains and pin badges to signed books and beautifully hand crafted items! They also have a range of specially commissioned art prints titled the ‘Doctor in the Dark’ series, and these are definitely worth getting your hands on!

If you want to find out more about the contributors, or to pledge your support to this fantastic project, just visit http://bit.ly/FTS-DW50.

+  Follow FTS Media on Twitter.
+  Like FTS Media on Facebook. 

[Source: FTS Media]