BBC Worldwide and Skype have today announced the launch of the first ever Doctor Who Bot. The Doctor will open the TARDIS doors and invite players to help him save the Universe in an exciting interactive digital experience titled The Saviour Of Time. The brand new bot uses the latest technology to deliver a unique experience between the Doctor and the player. 

In a world first, users get the thrilling opportunity to be the Doctor's companion as the bot immerses them in a specially-written six-part Doctor Who adventure.  Players will experience the Doctor communicating with them directly and setting them challenges that can only be solved by the best companions. 

Launching across multiple territories* today, May 3^rd, the bot includes challenges, logic puzzles, and quizzes, revolving around the search for a mysterious artefact known as the Key To Time. Scattered throughout time and space, users must locate all six segments of the Key and restore it, in order to save the Universe.

Following the launch today, a new Chapter will be released every Sunday at 6 PM (BST) , shortly after episodes of Doctor Who series 10 air on BBC One, BBC AMERICA (USA), Space (Canada), ABC (Australia) and in other key international markets. [Click here for territory information]

Jaclyn Lee-Joe, Chief Marketing Officer at BBC Worldwide said:

“It’s hugely exciting to be launching a Doctor Who Bot on Skype - which gives us the opportunity to deliver a new form of digital story-telling with our cutting-edge brand. Through this new innovation we get to experience first-hand how bots can help deliver digital first content, and immerse audiences, old and new, in the Doctor Who universe like never before.”

Steven Abrahams, Group Product Manager, Studios and Strategic Partnerships for Skype said:

“Our goal is for everyone in the world to experience the best Skype has to offer and the Doctor Who bot with BBC Worldwide brings a range of new features and functionality. We’re excited to see the bot bring users and fans one step closer to meeting the iconic Doctor.”

The bot will feature exclusive voice-over from Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi, and is creatively developed by writing talent Joe Lidster (The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood).

The Doctor Who Bot builds upon existing relationships between BBC Worldwide and Skype, working together to uncover exciting new ways to reach audiences. In 2015 Skype launched the shareable, movie and TV clips initiative, Skype Mojis – featuring exhilarating short-form content from Top Gear, Doctor Who, and Sherlock.

To add the Doctor Who Bot manually, users need to search for “Doctor Who Bot” in the Skype Bot Directory, read the bot’s profile and terms, and then click “Add to Contacts”.  To see new updates as they begin to roll out, users need to be on the latest Skype app for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Web.

*The Doctor Who Bot will be available from the Skype Bot Directory in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic, Estonia, Portugal, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil. 

Click here to add the Doctor Who bot to Skype and start saving the universe! Visit the Skype blog for more information on the bot and click here for a step-to-step guide on how to use the bot.
 

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

FTS Media have announced that their fan-funded documentary, ‘Doctor Who: Celebrating 50 Years of Fandom’, is available now on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as Video On Demand! This celebratory film explores what makes Doctor Who fans so special, and how not only has the show influenced them, but how they have influenced the show in return!

Featuring interviews with actress Louise Jameson, and members of the production team like Robert Shearman and prop builder Nick Robatto, this documentary is sure to “strike a chord with any Doctor Who Fan” (Who-News.com). They also take a trip across the globe to meet Michelle Osorio, a filmmaker from California who just so happens to have a Dalek named Gary in her garage! Most importantly though they speak to the fans, as without them, Doctor Who wouldn’t have been back on our screens for a 50th anniversary episode and this film would never have been made! “A thought-provoking and affectionate look at how fandom has evolved in 50 years” (The Gallifrey Times), this is one documentary you really can’t afford to miss!

With a string of 5 star reviews under their belt, ‘Doctor Who: Celebrating 50 Years of Fandom’ really is a must for any fan! Joe Lidster, writer for Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and a string of Big Finish stories called it a “fantastic and insightful documentary that shows the fun fandom can bring!”, while Lisa Bowerman (Karra in ‘Survival’ and Bernice Summerfield for Big Finish) commented that 50 Years of fandom “reflects absolutely, and with huge affection the impact Doctor Who has had on peoples' lives. It plots the progress of fandom in all its diversity - talks to the people who know, and treats its subject with great respect. Brilliant.” 

‘Doctor Who: Celebrating 50 Years of Fandom’ is available to purchase from their official website at www.ftsmedia.co.uk, priced at £9.99 for the DVD (here) or £13.99 for the Blu-ray (here) 

There’s also a whopping 70 minutes of Special Features on the Blu-ray version of the film, including full-length interviews with Louise Jameson & Robert Shearman, and an EXCLUSIVE 10 Questions with Louise, where she answers YOUR questions. Want to know if she’s worn her Leela costume since leaving the show? Then you’ll have to buy the Blu-ray to find out!

+  Celebrating 50 Years Of Fandom is Out Now, priced £9.99 (DVD) / £13.99 (Blu-ray).

[Source: FTS Media]