BBC Cymru Wales confirms that Caroline Skinner has decided to step down as Executive Producer of Doctor Who. Caroline joined the show in 2011 as the Executive Producer alongside Steven Moffat and is now set to join BBC Drama Production in London.
Caroline Skinner says:
"It has been an honour to have been a part of Doctor Who, and a privilege to have worked with Steven Moffat and Matt Smith on this extraordinary show. I have hugely enjoyed my time in BBC Wales and would like to thank Faith Penhale, and our wonderful production team for their unending commitment and brilliance. I will miss them all enormously, but I'm leaving Doctor Who in fine form, with the new series starting at Easter and the fantastic plans for the 50th Anniversary already underway. I am delighted to be now returning to BBC Drama Production in London as an executive producer, and the new opportunities and projects that will bring."
Faith Penhale, Head of Drama BBC Wales adds:
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Caroline for her contribution to Doctor Who since taking on the role in 2011, on behalf of both the BBC and the show. She leaves the show in good shape - there's a brilliant new series starting on Easter Saturday that will see the official arrival of the Doctor's new companion! And the 50th Anniversary plans are on track to deliver audiences an unmissable event! I wish her all the very best for the future."
Faith Penhale will take over as the executive producer on the 50th Anniversary with immediate effect.
Caroline will continue working on BBC Two's one-off drama An Adventure In Space and Time which forms part of the BBC's celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary.
The recruitment process for a new executive producer for the next series will start shortly.
[Source: BBC Press Office]
The BBC Press Office has confirmed that the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special will be shown in 3D.
Below is the release that BBC Controller, Ben Stephenson issued today:
“As part of the BBC's blockbuster celebrations to mark the Doctor turning 50, fans will be able to see the Time Lord and his adventures like never before - in 3D! To be broadcast using some of the BBC’s HD capacity.
It's a nationwide celebration of both Doctor Who and the BBC because I think they are so synonymous. We will be doing a big Doctor Who special in 3D which is very exciting and feels very innovative.
We will be doing it on cinema screens as well. We are working out the logistics of that at the moment because we need to make sure the main BBC1 experience remains absolute value for money for the audience.
There will be lots of aliens and daleks and things like that – or maybe there won't. There are many different things to take into account and we will also have a Christmas special after that and it all connects. Or maybe it doesn't. There's lots to work out."
Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, said:
“It's about time. Technology has finally caught up with Doctor Who and your television is now bigger on the inside. A whole new dimension of adventure for the Doctor to explore."
Steven Moffat is still working on the script for the show which will be filmed, like most of the series, in south Wales, and will follow an eight-part run of Doctor Who.
The BBC have also uploaded a showreel for their upcoming drama, which features a couple of new clips from Doctor Who:
+ Are you looking forward to seeing Doctor Who in 3D? Vote Now in the DWO Forums!
[Sources: BBC Press Office; The Guardian]
The BBC have released details on the BBC iPlayer performance for December 2010.
The Doctor Who Christmas special (A Christmas Carol) faired particularly well, landing in 8th place with over 700,000+ downloads.
1) Top Gear USA Road Trip – 1,294,000
2) Top Gear Middle East Special – 1,260,000
3) The Apprentice Series 6 Episode 12 – 892,000
4) The Apprentice Series 6 Episode 9 – 849,000
5) Come Fly With Me Episode 1 – 783,000
6) The Apprentice Series 6 Episode 10 – 718,000
7) The Apprentice Series 6 Episode 11 – 718,000
8) Doctor Who A Christmas Carol 25/12/2010 – 716,000
9) The Apprentice Series 6 The Final Episode 14 – 624,000
10) EastEnders 25/12/10 – 610,000
In total the service saw over 145 Million requests for TV and Radio programming during December 2010.
[Source: BBC Press Office]
The BBC Press Office has released the synopsis and a promo image for this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special; 5.14: A Christmas Carol.
Amy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way The Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser, in a festive edition of the time-travelling adventure, written by Steven Moffat. But is Kazran Sardick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve?
Amy Pond is played by Karen Gillan, Rory Williams by Arthur Darvill, The Doctor by Matt Smith and Kazran Sardick by Michael Gambon.
Doctor Who is simulcast in HD on BBC One HD on Freesat channel 108, Freeview channel 50, Sky channel 143 and Virgin Media channel 108.
[Source: BBC Press Office]
