It began when her mom taught her to sew at age six. Now, Lauren Bregman of Castle Corsetry has been an award-winning designer for the past decade. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and training at Farthingales Corsets, Lauren broke through as a designer for the famous Trashy Lingerie. There, she designed custom corsets and costume orders for superstars such as Kim Kardashian, Julianne Hough, Holly Madison, and Rose McGowan, as well as some pieces for major award shows.

Since launching Castle Corsetry in 2009, Lauren has designed and built hundreds of corsets ranging from compact waist cinchers to full fledged waist-trainers in all materials from silk to leather and everything in between. Though she does create classic corsets, Lauren’s most popular designs are her pop-culture corsets featuring Star Wars, comic book characters, Harry Potter houses and, of course, Doctor Who.

In addition to her corsetry work, Lauren has designed and manufactured many custom costume orders. Executing dozens of orders for every major convention across the country, she has now made a name for herself in the cosplay community. You can see some of her designs on Geek-culture celebrities like Team Unicorn, Ivy Doomkitty, and Adrianne Curry!

Some of her noteworthy and award-winning costumes include Dark Phoenix, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Captain America, Mortal Kombat's Mileena, Monster High's Frankie & Lagoona and Spaceballs’ Dark Helmet. There's no project beyond her skill and no design beyond her imagination. As a geeky girl herself, Lauren's enthusiasm for her work is what sets her apart. Her dedication and attention to detail makes her designs truly exceptional. There isn't a finer, quirkier costumer around.

+  Check Out the range of products available on the Castle Corsetry Etsy Store.

+  'Like' Castle Corsetry on Facebook!

[Source: Castle Corsetry]

Matt Smith has recorded a Thank You video to the Doctor Who team and the fans, whilst on location in Detroit.

Watch the video in the player below:

Smith can be seen in the upcoming Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special on 23rd November, before bowing out in the, as-yet untitled, 2013 Doctor Who Christmas Special.

[Sources: BBC Doctor Who Website]

Confirmation on who will play the role of The 12th Doctor will be confirmed this Autumn, RadioTimes.com reports.

BBC insiders have told RadioTimes.com that filming on the Christmas special – to be followed by the full series – will not take place until the autumn – probably August, or even September.

According to sources the identity of The 12th Doctor is almost certain to be announced just prior to filming, which means that it is very likely that the new incarnation of the Time Lord will not be unveiled until late summer.

Initially the BBC had hoped to begin filming the Christmas special earlier, with some sources suggesting July as a potential date.

“Suffice to say we are completely on track” said a spokeswoman.

[Sources: RadioTimes.com]

DWO's upcoming, one-hour, full cast audio drama celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who started post production today.

One Fine Time Lord - a special project for Children in Need, tells the story of the early days of Gallifrey and how one senior Time Lord, Lord Archeron has a plan to change the planet forever - with no Doctor to come to the rescue...

The production of the story took place from 3rd-5th June at Anglia Ruskin Studios in Cambridge and saw a whole host of professional actors gather together to tell the story and Colin Baker even popped up to give the guys some encouragement!

The show will be in post production over the coming months and will be free to download right here on DWO. Further details of the full story are being kept under wraps for now but Writer / Director, Brendan Sheppard said:

"There will be some surprising revelations about Time Lord culture as an old relic from the past is about to cause a serious amount of damage to the people of Gallifrey"

He also commented that:

"The cast and crew were simply wonderful and they worked extremely hard, at their own expense, to bring you this extremely special story, we hope you will enjoy it and donate whatever you can, directly to Children in Need. Who knows where this story might end up and there is the strong possibility that this might be the first of many..."

We shall keep you updated with more on this exciting project!

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

Torchwood star, Eve Myles, who played Gwen Cooper in the series, recently spoke to BBC Breakfast regarding the future of the show.

Watch the Torchwood segment of the interview in the video below:

[youtube:DDZwwhhEAuA]

[Sources: BBC Breakfast]

Jenna-Lousie Coleman has been added to the cast of BBC One's new adaptation of PD James's Pride And Prejudice sequel, Death Comes To Pemberley.

Coleman will be taking a leading role as Lizzie's sister (and Wickham's wife – Lydia), who arrives at Pemberley one night, six years after the conclusion of Austen's novel, screaming that her husband has been murdered. In fact, he hasn't – but he is found with the dead body of his travelling companion, prompting a murder investigation that casts a shadow over Pemberley and its residents. 

Also joining the all-star cast is Rebecca Front (The Thick of It), who will appear as Lizzie's vociferous mother, Mrs Bennet, with The Vicar of Dibley's James Fleet playing her resigned spouse, Mr Bennet. Penelope Keith will star as haughty aristocrat, Lady Catherine de Burgh, while Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead) will portray local magistrate, Sir Selwyn Hardcastle.

Front's The Thick of It co-star Joanna Scanlan will appear as Pemberley's housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds, while The White Queen's Eleanor Tomlinson is to play Darcy's niece, Georgiana. She is being courted by dishy attorney, Henry Alveston (James Norton) and her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, played by Silent Witness's Tom Ward. 

Filming on the production is to begin this month on location in Yorkshire, with Chatsworth estate rumoured to be the chosen location for Pemberley. The production will be directed by BAFTA-winning Daniel Percival (Dirty War, Place of Execution) and produced by Origin Pictures. 

[Source: Radio Times]

Actor Jennifer Lusk wants to know why she can’t play The Doctor in the BBC science fiction series, Doctor Who. 

“The Doctor is an alien with two hearts. Why can’t she be an alien with two hearts and two breasts“ she said. Lusk will star in a rom com set at a science fiction convention called Who Are You Supposed To Be? at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

Co-star Cameron K McEwan, better known in Doctor Who fan circles as the owner of Blogtor Who agrees. “Don’t we all want to be the Doctor? Maybe it’s time for a woman to take the mantle. That’s part of what the play addresses.”

Originally conceived as a tribute to fans in the 50th Anniversary year of Doctor Who, the play’s themes became more relevant on the announcement of Matt Smith’s departure earlier in the month.

“Once Matt Smith and the BBC had made their official announcement, the first thing declared by the tabloids is that he would be replaced by a woman,” said Who Are You Supposed To Be? writer, Keith Gow. “And the online discussions quickly mirrored the conflict in the play. Jen’s character likes to dress up as the Doctor. Cameron’s character doesn’t want a woman, because of tradition.”

The show isn’t just about a woman playing the Doctor, though. It is, at its core, a love story where the characters initially bond over pop culture references. As well as love, the show also tackles the issue of anxiety – and how we cope outside our comfort zones.

“It was important to us that the show wasn’t just about Doctor Who jokes or Batman references. We’ve all got different sides and I wanted to make sure the show captured that,” said Gow. “It would be easy to make a show that relies on in-jokes, but we definitely want to appeal to everyone. So it’s for people who fall in love, people who have awkward moments. All of us.”

Lusk and McEwan are about to begin rehearsals on the play, which they hope to tour after the thirteen-show run at Edinburgh Fringe. Two months out from the premiere, they are also trying to raise a little bit more money for costumes and publicity, for which you can donate here.

“My character, Ash, is dressed up as Peter Davison’s Doctor throughout the show. We need money to get that costume right. That’s her character – she likes to dress up! She spends hours making these costumes. The show needs to get that right,” Lusk explains.

“I get to dress up late in the show as well,” said McEwan. “But I can’t tell you who I dress as. As River Song is so fond of saying, ‘Spoilers!’”

With a decision on who will replace Matt Smith still pending, are the creators of this World Premiere romantic comedy about fans and fandom worried that the BBC might be bold and actually cast a woman in the role? Would that change the show?

“Writing is re-writing,” joked Lusk. “If we have to make a change, we’ll be fine. But I think the argument might go on well after an announcement is made. Besides, if the BBC is so bold as to cast a woman as the Doctor, the most important thing is that little girls watching the show can look up and start to believe they could be the Doctor, too.”

Event Information:

Binka Boo Productions presents... Who Are You Supposed To Be? by Keith Gow. 

Starring: Jennifer Lusk and Cameron McEwan.
Directed by: Emrys Matthews.

C Venues – C Aquila, 14th-26th August 2013, 15:40pm.

Link: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/who-are-you-supposed-to-be

[Source: Cameron K McEwan]

Four stars who have appeared in Doctor Who have been awarded honours in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Julian Glover who appeared in The Crusade as Richard The Lionheart, and in City Of Death as Scaroth, has been awarded a CBE.
Claire Bloom who appeared in The End Of Time as The Woman has been awarded a CBE.
David Haig who appeared in The Leisure Hive as Pangol has been awarded an MBE.
Rowan Atkinson who appeared in the Comic Relief spinoff The Curse Of Fatal Death as The Doctor, has been awarded a CBE. 

+  For a full list of the honours, visit the Gov.UK website.

[Sources: Neil Marsh; Gov.UK]

As a Doctor Who website, posting a news item relating to missing Doctor Who episodes is a particularly conflictive task. On one hand you want to hold off on posting news due to the possible reaction you might get from smaller circles of fandom, whereas on the other hand, it's surely our duty to report it - after all, news is news, right?

Some of our readers may remember a news item we posted a few years ago about the possibility that The Web Of Fear may have been found - note the words 'possibility' and 'may'. While we also added that our source was reliable in the past and had no reason to disbelieve them, this particular news item turned out to hit a dead end and despite the majority of our readers who were grateful for the reporting of the story, we did face a backlash from some smaller circles of fandom on online forums.

A couple of days ago, Rich Johnston of Bleeding Cool News, posted a news item relating to some of the rumours that have been doing the rounds for the past few months - rumours that, up until now, we have avoided reporting on.

The rumour is that a considerable number of lost Doctor Who episodes have been found by "an eccentric engineer who worked for broadcasters across Africa with a taste for science fiction and a habit of taking things for safe keeping".

DWO can confirm that we have been approached with news from several high-profile sources, some of which confirm these rumours and some that conflict with them and the actual figure of the number of episodes rumoured to have been found.

Whilst it would be easy to blurt out everything we have been told, we retain the caution from previous rumours and hoaxes, and will simply hold out for official confirmation - when and if it comes. What we will say is that *should* the rumours be true, despite the initial excitement at the possibility, it would be wise to sit back and let the BBC do what they need to do to secure these episodes *if* in fact they have been found.

We of course encourage debate and discussion which you can take part in on the dedicated DWO Forums Missing Episodes thread using the 'Discuss' button below.

[Sources: Bleeding Cool News; Doctor Who Online]

Doctor Who Writer, Neil Gaiman, was recently interviewed on BBC current affairs programme, Newsnight, regarding his career and current projects.

Our friends over at Blogtor Who have embedded the video, which you can view below:

[youtube:p1xC2bbQ_Ns]

Neil Gaiman's Doctor Who credits include 6.4: The Doctor's Wife and 7.12: Nightmare In Silver.

[Sources: Newsnight; Blogtor Who]

They’re back! Actor David Banks, known for his portrayal of the CyberLeader in the Classic Series of Doctor Who, presents The ArcHive Tapes: Cybermen - an audio book series originally released in 4 parts in 1989.

This new 4 CD set is a high definition re-mastering of that audiobook series, the hypothesised history of the Cyber Race, written, narrated and entirely reconstructed by the CyberLeader himself.

A gripping retelling of their origins and history, fully dramatised with vivid effects, and original music heard here for the first time, it includes exclusive video interviews with Andrew Skilleter and David Banks.

Just when you thought the Cybermen would never return, here they are again – large as life and ten times as scary! The ArcHive Tapes: Cybermen. This is one small purchase for a human, one huge cyber leap for humankind.

View the YouTube Trailer below:

[youtube:dB_rAFf4JT8]

+  Available on CD at: www.thearchivetapescybermen.com

+  Available on iTunes here.

[Sources: Explore Multimedia]

There are some cool new Doctor Who Tees and accessories now available from our friends (and big Doctor Who fans) over at TV Store Online. 

Have you ever wanted a Dalek bath towel, or a TARDIS bath robe to slide on after your morning shower? Or what about a Doctor Who t-shirt that shows off your love for The Doctor and the show itself to other fans out there but still looks fashion friendly? Have no fear, because TV Store Online is here and if you're looking for the best place to grab a Doctor Who Tee, your search is over.

It takes one to know one, doesn't it? So why not find the other Doctor Who fans in your life by showing your admiration for The Doctor with a cool T-shirt? TV Store Online offers a fantastic selection of Doctor Who Tees for adults and juniors that will have everyone staring at you because of your impeccable taste in all things geek culture and Science Fiction.

From The Big Bang Theory to My Little Pony, TV Store Online.com have thousands of officially licensed Tees available on the store's website and fans of The Doctor need not worry about shipping from the States to the UK either - they ship worldwide! Looking for something a bit more dressy or something for your girlfriend? TV Store Online also has Doctor Who Polo Shirts too. Are you looking for a Wibbly Wobbly Quote Doctor Who Tee or a High Council of the Time Lords Tee? TV Store Online has all of your Doctor Who T-shirt and merchandise needs covered.   

Here are some samples of TV Store Online's selection of Doctor Who T-shirts:

Doctor Who Robot Exterminate Splatter Charcoal Gray T-shirt

Beware the Daleks...Exterminate! Exterminate! Doctor Who doesn't get any more stylish or cooler than with this Doctor Who Dalek Exterminate Splatter Charcoal Gray T-Shirt. It's an officially licensed item and is made of 100% cotton. Everyone loves a Dalek, so why not wear it to your next convention that will have everyone that walks by you saying, "Exterminate!" It's also incredibly fashionable!

Doctor Who Tardis Time Vortex Phone Booth Ice Grey Adult T-shirt

The Doctor is cool and stylish and so is this fashion friendly Doctor Who T-Shirt. This distressed print in Ice Grey features The TARDIS hurtling through time. Where will The Doctor stop next? We never thought we'd call The TARDIS sexy, but look at this shirt! For a Doctor Who fan who wants to have that certain something with the ladies. 

Doctor Who Space Vortex Black Adult T-shirt

Hurry and grab up one of these Matt Smith Doctor Who Tees! With the 11th Doctor leaving the show these shirts are certain to become a collectors item in no time. Don't you wish you still had all of the cool T-Shirts that you had when you were a kid? Can you imagine how much one of these Matt Smith Doctor Who Tees will be going for on Ebay in three or four years? Reveal yourself to other Doctor Who fans at the next convention when you wear this super cool Matt Smith 11th Doctor, Black Doctor Who Tee. If you don't grab one now you'll need The TARDIS when you want one next season. Get 'em before they are gone!

+  For all these and more, check out TVStoreOnline.com.

[Sources: TV Store Online]

The BBC have quashed the recent rumours circulating online that an announcement on the casting of the 12th Doctor is due imminently.

The rumours, which began via Science Fiction magazine; Starburst, stated:

"Sources have indicated that a Sunday newspaper is intending to scoop the BBC by announcing the name of the new Doctor this weekend. And in order to pre-empt the scoop, the BBC look set to announce the name tomorrow evening, just a single short week since the announcement of Matt Smith’s departure, and hardly time enough for that bombshell of a news story to sink in.

[UPDATE]

Starburst's sources have now come up with three names, apparently the front-runners in the bidding to be the new Doctor. Whether it's one of these three that has in fact been chosen to play the part, we cannot be sure. We can't really be sure that these three are in the running at all - but that's what we've been told! One thing that's guaranteed, however, is that this new "information" will get people talking!

The three names are: Domhnall Gleeson, Daniel Kaluuya, and Dominic Cooper."

BBC Publicist, Jenni Pain, tweeted the following this morning denying the rumours:

"For all those wondering, there is no #doctorwho announcement planned today"

This was then further echoed by the @BBCOne Twitter channel:

"@bbcdoctorwho fans, contrary to rumours there is no #DoctorWho casting announcement today."

Also via Twitter, Doctor Who DVD Director, Ed Stradling appeared to have official word from Steven Moffat on the rumours:

"Steven Moffat says this morning "I haven't a clue who it is, we've barely started." So no #doctorwho announcement this evening I fear!"

The DWO View:

The BBC will keep the casting of the 12th Doctor as close to their chests for as long as possible. Over the next few days, weeks and possibly months, you will no doubt hear a multitude of names - male and female - thrown into the ring, but as with Matt Smith, the BBC are likely to cast someone who possibly hasn't even been mentioned yet. Watch this space!

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Sources: Twitter; Starburst]

Character Options have sent DWO full details of the new 3.75" Doctor Who toy range.

Doctor Who 3.75-inch action figures (Series 7)

Regenerate your collection with the Doctor Who 3.75-inch scale action figures. A great gift for fans of any age, these highly detailed, realistic and poseable action figures include characters from Doctor Who Series 7. Re-enact scenes from the hit series or create your own adventures; help the Eleventh Doctor and Clara as they travel across space and time battling some famous foes like the supreme beings that are the Daleks, the terrifying Weeping Angels, vast Cybermen armies, and one of his oldest and coldest enemies…the Ice Warriors! Each character also has its own Doctor Who display base (Dalek action figures do not include display base) One supplied. For ages 5 years and over.

Assortment:

·  The Doctor
·  Clara Oswald
·  Dalek 
·  Cyberman
·  Ice Warrior
·  Weeping Angel

Character Options have provided DWO with the following product packshots:

Character Options have also sent DWO the following promotional videos:

[youtube:FYVuNipdg8c]
[youtube:P3yBwa4qJXg] 
+  The 3.75" Doctor Who Action Figures are Out Now, priced £6.99 each.
+  Buy Now from Forbidden Planet International. 

[Source: Character Options]

Doctor Who Online were interviewed on BBC News this morning regarding Matt Smith's departure from Doctor Who.

DWO reporter, Hayden Gribble was asked a series of questions about the recent news that Matt Smith would be leaving the role this Christmas, as well as who could take over the role.

Watch the BBC News Interview with DWO, below:

[youtube:yDSnGQh-hLA]

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

The BBC has today announced that Matt Smith is to leave Doctor Who after four incredible years on the hit BBC One show.

Matt first stepped into the TARDIS in 2010 and will leave the role at the end of this year after starring in the unmissable 50th Anniversary Special in November and regenerating in the Christmas Special.

During his time as The Doctor, Matt has reached over 30 million unique UK viewers and his incarnation has seen the show go truly global. He was also the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA in the role.

Matt quickly won over fans to be voted Best Actor by readers of Doctor Who Magazine for the 2010 season. He also received a nod for his first series at the National Television Awards, before winning the Most Popular Male Drama Performance award in 2012.

Matt has played one of the biggest roles in TV with over 77 million fans in the UK, USA and Australia alone!

Matt Smith says:

"Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.

Having Steven Moffat as show runner write such varied, funny, mind-bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.

The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!

It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys. Matt."

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, says:

"Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he'd turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next. The Doctor can be clown and hero, often at the same time, and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently.

And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him - sometimes literally - his behaviour was always worthy of the Doctor.

But great actors always know when it's time for the curtain call, so this Christmas prepare for your hearts to break, as we say goodbye to number Eleven. Thank you Matt - bow ties were never cooler.

Of course, this isn't the end of the story, because now the search begins. Somewhere out there right now - all unknowing, just going about their business - is someone who's about to become the Doctor. A life is going to change, and Doctor Who will be born all over again! After 50 years, that's still so exciting!"

Jenna Louise Coleman, adds:

"I could not have imagined coming into the show without Matt as my Doctor, holding my hand, really, quite literally. I totally lucked-out in having a creative, generous, clever, and lovely fella to work alongside day after day.

I feel so privileged to have been part of Matt's reign, to have to been companion to what is and what I think always will be one of our greatest Doctors.

He is so in love with the show, he works tirelessly hard, surprises me every day, always creating and discovering something new about the Doctor. A true gent, a leading man and a very special friend.

I know it will be a very difficult goodbye for me, but I for one can't wait to see where his career takes him next.  And of course with the same welcome I was brought in with, I look forward to welcoming the next Doctor. BUT it's not over till it's over. See ya at the big 5-0!"

Having starred alongside three different companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) and most recently Clara Oswald (Jenna Louise Coleman), Matt's Doctor has fought Daleks and Cybermen, as well as Weeping Angels in New York. Regularly heard shouting 'run' and 'Geronimo', through Matt's Doctor fans have been introduced to a new culinary combination - fish fingers and custard!

Matt's spectacular exit is yet to be revealed and will be kept tightly under wraps. He will return to BBC One screens in the unmissable 50th anniversary episode on Saturday 23 November 2013 - TUNE IN!

[Source: BBC Press Office]

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Eddie Robson

RRP: £8.99 (CD) / £7.99 (Download)

Release Date: May 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 30th May 2013

The TARDIS lands in the city of Tromesis on Earth – but it’s a world far from the one that the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe recognize.

The buildings are ruined, the streets deserted. And against the devastation they see a ghostly mirror image of another place – the city as it was before disaster hit.

People vanish here, and huge metal birds attack from the sky.

Can the Doctor find the future, in a place that doesn’t have one?

* * *

In the latest Companion Chronicle from Big Finish, Frazer Hines once again plays both Jamie and The Second Doctor. This is an impersonation he has become famous for and with good reason as it is rather uncanny. At the beginning of the play, it feels more like a full cast audio drama in parts as Hines plays The Second Doctor as if Patrick Troughton is playing directly opposite Jamie. In fact the recent Companion Chronicles that Hines has been a part of seems to be specifically tailored to allow him to do this impression. It is always fun to hear but I wouldn’t like to see the impersonation overshadow the brilliant work he does as Jamie McCrimmon.

Despite some nice input from Wendy Padbury this is very much Hines’ show. He carries not only the narrative duties but the whole story is told from Jamie’s point of view. You feel somewhat sorry for Padbury because as wonderful it is to hear her once again as a younger Zoe, you begin to get the feeling she was called in simply so Hines didn’t get a sore throat playing two main characters and some supporting roles.

The Apocalypse Mirror has, at its heart, a very interesting and rather conceptual idea, but to reveal too much would be to spoil the revelations. This is a particularly idea-driven story and it is a refreshing change to the standard good versus evil-driven plot.

Eddie Robson has written an interesting story which is an excellent showcase for Frazer Hines, but it suffers somewhat from the lack of material for his co-star. Fortunately Hines’ energetic performance makes for an enjoyable listen.

Manufacturer: WhoSounds Ltd

RRP: £150.00

Release Date: Out Now!

Reviewed by: Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 30th May 2013

The new TARDIS Speaker System by WhoSounds is now available to buy, and DWO have had the pleasure of receiving a review unit.

It's no secret that the speaker has been in the works for a while now, and it is clear from the finished design that a painstaking amount of detail and love has gone into it.

The unit is a scale model of the 11th edition TARDIS, and features a Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 speaker system, complete with remote control, USB charger and AUX cable. Bluetooth v2.0 is supported and is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices including Smartphone's and Tablets using Blackberry, Apple, Android and more.

The magic really begins when you sync your mobile device with the speaker - the TARDIS landing sound plays and the light on top of the TARDIS begins to flash! Sure it may not be a necessary addition, but its little things like this that make the unit stand out and feel like it's more than just a speaker.

The sound quality produced is simply awesome, and to shamelessly use a well-known Doctor Who related reference, it really does sound like it's bigger on the inside. There's a depth of sound and crispness that we can only compare to the top of the range BOSE speaker range - which would cost up to double the price of the TARDIS speaker!

We, rather aptly, tested out the speaker with a selection of songs from the Doctor Who: Series 6 Soundtrack - all of which sounded fantastic. The remote control allows you to play around with the bass, which the unit kicks out impressively. We also tested out one of the Doctor Who audiobooks from Big Finish, which, again sounded fantastically clear.

Picture the setting…it's a Sunday afternoon, you've just brewed yourself a nice cup of tea, and you're sitting in your favourite comfy chair. You get your [insert mobile device here] and hit the play button for your desired audiobook, and sitting patiently in the corner of the room, your TARDIS Speaker System springs into action. If you close your eyes (remembering to hold your hot cup of tea up correctly, first), you actually feel like you are right there - the sound literally brings the audiobook story to you. 

If, like us, all your USB ports are occupied on your computer system, you can charge your mobile device using the speaker itself, thanks to the handy USB port.

The RRP for the product is £150.00, which we think is actually quite good, considering the quality and usability of the unit. We cannot really fault the TARDIS Speaker System. WhoSounds have produced something very special here and it most definitely gets the DWO seal of approval.

(Just don't give it a name…not that we did…honest!)

Check out an official unboxing video of the TARDIS Speaker System below:

[youtube:Yx3FedY_bxo]

You can buy the TARDIS Speaker System from the following outlets:

+  WhoSounds: http://www.whosounds.com/
+  Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Jonathan Morris

RRP: £10.99 (CD) / £8.99 (Download)

Release Date: May 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 30th May 2013

On their mission to explore the Mariana Trench at the very bottom of the ocean, the deepest and most inhospitable place on Earth, the crew of the deep sea vehicle Erebus make an unusual and startling discovery.

A battered blue police box.

As the Doctor, Romana and K9 join them on their journey, the submariners soon discover that the TARDIS is not the only unusual find lurking on the sea floor.

Super-intelligent squid, long-lost submarines and their miraculous occupants are only the start of their troubles. The Goblins are coming. And they won't let anyone out alive.

* * *

In sharp contrast to his season opening story, The Auntie Matter, Jonathan Morris takes us into the depths as The Fourth Doctor, Romana and K-9 descend to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Phantoms of the Deep is a thoroughly creepy play dripping with both atmosphere and tension. At its core this is a base under siege story, which Doctor Who has done many times before. The uniqueness of the location gives the story strong appeal and Morris doesn’t disappoint as he utilises the deep ocean floor and all its weirdness to pepper the play with memorable moments.

The main cast really are excellent here - especially Tom Baker who is his usual witty and mad self, but with that edge of seriousness when events take a dramatically dangerous turn.

Once again Mary Tamm is wonderful as Romana but if I had to pick the real star in this story, it is K-9. Since this season began K-9 has been stuck on the sidelines but now finally gets to do something important. I don’t think enough credit is given to John Leeson as an actor, because even though he may just be voicing a robot dog, it is very difficult to get an audience to invest in a character that could quite easily become cartoonish. Leeson’s performance is a master class in subtly and understatement. He generates real warmth with his portrayal of K-9 and when the robot dog is taken over by a murderous outside intelligence in this story, Leeson’s execution is genuinely unnerving. 

The play is an excellent showcase for the leads but not so much for the supporting characters. Given a four part adventure, there would have been more time for Morris to develop them, but the constraints of a two part story does affect the plot. It is difficult for me to believe one character’s willingness to sacrifice their life, especially when their reason for doing so comes completely out of nowhere.

Having said that, the cast do brilliantly with the material and the strongest of which is Alice Krige as Dr Patricia Sawyer. Her performance is rather understated but within lies an unspoken strength, which, given more time to breathe would have been very interesting to develop.

The other star of Phantoms of the Deep is the superb sound design of Jamie Robertson. One of the greatest additions to recent Big Finish releases, his work on this play’s underwater atmosphere really is a highlight of an already excellent production.

Phantoms of the Deep is a very fine play, and despite some weaknesses in supporting characterisation, the whole product makes for a highly entertaining Fourth Doctor Adventure.

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Paul Magrs

RRP: £14.99 (CD) / £12.99 (Download)

Release Date: May 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 30th May 2013

The TARDIS brings the Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Nyssa to the University of Frodsham, close to where the warrior queen Æthelfrid fought a desperate and bloody rearguard action against the savage Danes. Over a thousand years later, in 1983, battle is still being raged, with student activists taking on savage funding cuts… and disrupting a conference about Æthelfrid convened by history professor John Bleak.

Meanwhile, over in the Physics Department, Dr Philippa Stone is working night and day on a top-secret project – but can her theoretical time machine really be the solution to the university's problems?

Present and past are about to collide – and the results, as the TARDIS crew is about to discover, will be far from academic!

* * *

This season of Fifth Doctor adventures has put the companion at centre stage of the story. Last month’s Eldrad Must Die concentrated on Turlough and in The Lady of Mercia we have a very Tegan-centric story.

I must admit that I am not Tegan’s biggest fan. On television I found the character to be rather annoying, but recently in the audio adventures I have warmed to her a lot more. This, I think, is down to the writing which has done the character more justice. Paul Magrs has written a tale which plays both to the character’s strengths and weaknesses. 

The Lady of Mercia is essentially a historical story framed within a science fiction context. The time machine built in the University laboratory is merely a device to propel some of our characters into the main story in the dark ages whilst sending another back to the future. Despite the implausibility (he says reviewing a Doctor Who story) that a university scientist could invent a time machine in 1983, it acts as a neat little device to move the story along. 

Magrs has taken what we know of the Dark Age Queen Æthelfrid and created an intriguing story that adds a few twists to the facts. He plays upon a familiar trope with the classic series’ historical stories where a member of the TARDIS crew ends up impersonating a figure from history. In this case it is central to Tegan’s progression through the story. How she reacts to being cajoled by Æthelfrid into impersonating her daughter to help her keep face with the people of Mercia is great fun.

It is rather touching to see Tegan get so into her role that she starts looking upon Æthelfrid as a mother figure and dangerously adopts the Queen’s battles as her own. Janet Fielding’s performance is fantastic throughout and we see how Tegan’s impatient nature gets her into very serious trouble especially in the climactic scene in York Minster. The scene is one of impending disaster and the main cast do an excellent job of making us feel that it could all go horribly wrong at any second.

The supporting cast is tremendous, the highlight being Rachel Atkins who’s no-nonsense portrayal as Æthelfrid is both witty and incredibly powerful. The other members of the cast do have some fun sub plots to play with, such as student protests and illicit student / lecturer affairs - one of which Turlough is amusedly caught in the middle of. They are lovely moments of comedy in amongst the grand and tense historical drama being played out.

The Lady of Mercia is a very entertaining adventure and a great chapter in this latest trilogy for The Fifth Doctor.

Celebrate Peter Cushing's centenary with the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine!

"I only saw one episode of Doctor Who on TV, but I felt the character was unnecessarily harsh. I see him as a jolly old fellow – not sour at all!"

To mark the centenary of the legendary PETER CUSHING’s birth, as well as the release on DVD and Blu-ray of Dr Who and the Daleks and Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD in which he starred, DWM takes a look at the life of the man who was the big screen Dr Who…

Also in this issue:

THE CYBER-PLANNER
“I thought the coolest thing in the world would be writing Batman, and it absolutely was… until the point that I wrote Doctor Who.” NEIL GAIMAN tells us about writing the recent episode NIGHTMARE IN SILVER!

AND THE WINNER IS…
The votes are in for the 2012 Season Survey and the winners are revealed, including: Favourite Story, Best Director, Best Writer, and what was top of your wish list for the forthcoming 50th anniversary – as well as a chance to vote in our 2013 poll.

COUNTDOWN TO DESTRUCTION!
The TARDIS takes the First Doctor, Vicki and Steven to a doomed alien world where a conflict rages between the survivors of two crashed spaceships, the Drahvins and the Rills in GALAXY 4. This overlooked serial from 1965 is the subject of this issue’s FACT OF FICTION, which reveals new and fascinating facts about the production.

GOOD TIMING
Doctor Who’s top man STEVEN MOFFAT answers questions from DWM readers, including how he times the length of episodes, and how would he feel about an American version of Doctor Who?

NOBLE COMPANION
DWM’s journey through the history of Doctor Who reaches 2008 and the show's thirtieth series in COUNTDOWN TO 50. Donna Noble becomes the Doctor’s travelling companion and together they encounter Sontarans, crazed Ood, Davros and Agatha Christie, and visit ancient Rome, parallel worlds, and the Shadow Proclamation.

YOUTH TODAY!
Chris, Emma, Michael and Will roll back the years when they sit down to watch THE LAZARUS EXPERIMENT from 2007. What will our trusty Time Team make of Professor Lazarus’ quest for eternal youth?

FINAL RECKONING…
The Promethians have won, mankind has been reduced to a state of barbarism and the Doctor and his friends Ian and Barbara are at the mercy of the Tribe of Gum. All hope is lost. Or is it? The Doctor has a plan, but is it already too late? Events reach a staggering climax in the sixth and final instalment of the epic comic strip adventure HUNTERS OF THE BURNING STONE, written by SCOTT GRAY, with pencils by MARTIN GERAGHTY.

IT’S THE END…
Columnist Jac Rayner recalls how she helped her children face the reality of death – both fictional and in reality in this issue’s RELATIVE DIMENSIONS.

THE REASON WE'RE WRITIN'…
The Watcher tackles the thorny subject of Doctor Who mispronunciations in A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects; presents a Grecian themed challenge to readers with The Six Faces of Delusion; outs another hapless Supporting Artist of the Month; and goes Wild with a list of Top Ten Westerns. All this and more in this issue’s hilarious WOTCHA!

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

+  Doctor Who Magazine Issue #461 is out Thursday 30th May 2013, priced £4.75.

+  Subscribe Worldwide to DWM from just £29.99 via CompareTheDalek!

+  Check Out The DWO Guide to Doctor Who Magazine!

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

Gaming is a subject we regularly get a lot of enquiries about from our visitors, and as we haven't covered the area for a while, we thought we would refresh you with some of the Doctor Who and Science Fiction related games available online.

A good place to begin would be the BBC's very own 'Adventure Games' series which offer some fantastic gameplay with state-of-the-art graphics, bringing Doctor Who into a whole new gaming arena.

If you're a fan of the Doctor Who: Monster Invasion Magazine and Card Game, roll on over to their website, where you will find a selection of FREE Doctor Who games including; 'Dalek Supremacy', 'Vortex Run' and 'Escape The Silence'.

For the MMO fans among you, you will love the Doctor Who: Worlds In Time game which catapults you into the many worlds of Doctor Who: http://www.doctorwhowit.com.

Our friends over at The Doctor Who Site also offer some great Doctor Who related games which they have put together themselves.

A quick search online reveals many other popular TV Series and Movie related games to enjoy. A number of these games are developed by online casino companies that integrate them mainly into their selection of online slots games. Many of them can be found quickly via online casino comparison sites. Top casino websites offer a wide range of Science Fiction themed games which visitors of our site might be interested in too. You can check out the fantastic selection of games on their online casino which include TV and Film favourites such as: Star Trek, Superman, The Incredible Hulk, Captain Scarlet and Transformers.

Check out action and adventure with superheroes and reality TV with X-Factor and its ilk; games shows from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on down; mingling with the oil-grubbing rich in Dallas; and just the flat-out weirdness of Japan-based Banzai. All in all, these games are a must-play for online casino players doubling as TV aficionados.

If you know of any other great Doctor Who related online games, leave your suggestions in the comments section below!

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

The BBC have released a behind-the-scenes interview with Matt Smith and David Tennant.

The video, which teases some of the fantastic chemistry we can expect between the two of them, can be viewed below:

[youtube:2Em8lmmTNkA]

+  The 50th Anniversary Special airs on Saturday 23rd November on BBC One.

[Source: BBC]

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

Aubrey was perhaps best known to Doctor Who fans for appearing in the Classic Series, 3rd Doctor adventure; Day Of The Daleks as The Controller.

Aubrey's other career highlights include; Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, The Old Curiosity Shop and Blakes 7.

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

[Source: Neil Marsh]

It has just been confirmed that Billie Piper will be attending Collectormania Milton Keynes on Sunday 26th May! 

This brings the total number of Doctor Who guests appearing at the event to fifteen, including current companion Jenna Louise Coleman (Clara), Dan Starkey (Strax), Carole Ann Ford (Susan) and John Leeson (K-9).

Although the online shop is closed for all other photo shoot ticket sales, the Showmasters team will be keeping it open until Wednesday 15th at 4.30pm for Billie Piper photo shoot tickets. More information can be found on our forum showmastersonline.com/forums/.

As well as Doctor Who guests there are nearly 75 stars from the world of film and tv appearing over the weekend. You can meet movie stars and sports legends at Collectormania Milton Keynes on Saturday 25th to Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2013, the region’s biggest movie collectors event held at the Dons stadium:mk. And best of all… entry is still free!

DWO will have tables at the event, offering a wide range of Doctor Who merchandise - stop by and say hi!

For more details on the event check out the website collectormania.com/miltonkeynes/ or the forum showmastersonline.com/forums/.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday 25th-Monday 27th May 2013 (Bank Holiday)
Venue: thestadium:mk, Stadium Way West, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST
Entry: FREE!
Website: http://www.collectormania.com/miltonkeynes/
Contact: info@showmastersonline.com / 01908 671138

Media guests confirmed so far include:

Billie Piper – Doctor Who, The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Mansfield Park

Jenna Louise Coleman – Doctor Who, Captain America

Bernard Cribbins – Doctor Who, The Wombles, Carry On films

Sylvester McCoy – Doctor Who, The Hobbit

Richard Franklin, Sheila Steafel, Bonnie Langford, Carole Ann Ford, Nabil Shaban, Rachel Bell, John Leeson – Classic Doctor Who

Jean Marsh – Doctor Who, Upstairs Downstairs, Willow, Return to Oz

Dan Starkey, Neil McDermott – New Doctor Who

Gillian Anderson – X-Files, Bleak House

Charles Dance – Game of Thrones, Alien 3, The Golden Child

Alfie Allen – Game of Thrones, Equus

Malcolm McDowell – Clockwork Orange, Star Trek, Heroes

Torri Higginson – Stargate Atlantis

Ariana Richards – Jurassic Park

Lou Ferrigno – The Hulk

John Rhys Davies – Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, James Bond

Steven Robertson, Colin Hoult, Ben Greaves-Neil – Being Human

Denis Lawson – Star Wars, New Tricks

Henry Ian Cusick – Lost

Dave Legeno – Harry Potter

Gethin Anthony – Game of Thrones

Richard Poe – Star Trek

Julian Sands – Stargate, Smallville

Duncan Regehr – Star Trek, Zorro, Monster Squad

Ken Kirzinger – Freddy vs Jason

Sonita Henry – Star Trek, Chuck

Spice Williams – Star Trek, Stuntwoman

Mary Ellen Trainor – Lethal Weapon, Back to the Future

Oliver Ford Davies – Star Wars, Hamlet

Kenny Baker – Star Wars

Christopher Judge – Stargate SG-1

Eric Milligan – Bones

Mark Stanley, Luke Barnes, Ellie Kendrick – Game of Thrones

Amy ‘Lita’ Dumas, Tara, Kid Cash, Doug Williams, Shelton Benjamin – TNA/WWE wrestlers

Rupert Young, Eoin Macken – Merlin

Anjli Mohindra, Paul Marc Davis – Sarah Jane Adventures

Nick Shirm, Ryan Nelson – Harry Potter

[Sources: DWO; Showmasters]

Radio Times have launched another issue of their popular magazine, sporting a Doctor Who cover, this time to promote The Name Of The Doctor.

In this week’s Radio Times – on sale today – Jenna Louise Coleman talks about what it's like being in the public spotlight:

“Matt warned me that there’s nothing that can prepare you for it. All I can do is enjoy it. I’ve noticed some changes – nothing huge. I have a really cool job and get to do these crazy things and you do have so many ‘pinch me’ moments. I’ve just been sent emails with pics of the Clara doll, which is kind of… That isn’t completely normal, is it? People do come up to me, but so far they’ve really engaged with the show and the character and just want to chat. Yesterday a little boy walked past and said, “You all right, Soufflé Girl?” Which put a smile on my face. So it’s not obtrusive.”

She hints at the finale of the mystery of the impossible girl :

“In the beginning we see a Clara in the 60s, 70s and the 80s so there are a lot of costume changes, which I love. Always one for a bit of dressing up, me. Love a red carpet. Richard E Grant is back with his evil Great Intelligence, The Doctor’s greatest secret is revealed, all of his friends rally round to protect him and we finally understand why the Doctor has met Clara so many different times.”

On working with Matt Smith:

“His first advice was never Google yourself and, now that I’ve got a three-month break, he said take your time and choose your next role carefully. I’ve read loads of scripts but nothing I’m really in love with.”

+  Radio Times is out Today, priced £1.60.

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

[Source: Radio Times]

Owing to a BBC America Distribution error, some American customers are reporting that their copies of the Series 7 Part 2 Blu-ray box-set has turned up early - before the finale has even been televised.

The news has prompted Twitter statements by the BBC, rightfully urging fans to keep the secrets of the finale until after broadcast:

The tweets promise a treat for fans if they remain vigilant, in the form of a special video featuring Matt Smith and David Tennant.

There is a chance that the episode could leak onto torrent sites, and DWO would just like to echo the BBC's words of helping to keep the spoilers off the internet.

If you are given any information regarding torrents or sharing of details from 'The Name Of The Doctor', please contact the BBC at: thedoctor@bbc.co.uk. 

[Source: BBC]

Speaking to RedCarpetNewsTV at this year's BAFTA awards event, Steven Moffat talked about the tribute and refused to be drawn on specifics about the 50th Anniversary Doctor Who special.

Moffat, who can be seen in the interview view below, also added:

"Oh, I love you all, Doctor Who fans, but honestly, now and then, don't believe everything you hear or don't hear." 

[youtube:20pd6JqdyVI]

[Source: RedCarpetNewsTV]

The overnight viewing figures are in for 7.12: Nightmare In Silver.

The episode achieved a figure of 4.7m viewers, with an audience share of 21.4%, and Doctor Who was the fourth most-watched programme for Saturday, once again Doctor Who won its time slot for the evening.

it is worth noting that Doctor Who was up against the FA Cup Final on ITV1, so the 4.7m figure is a respectable one.

Top Overnights - Saturday 11th May:

1 - 10.9m - Britain's Got Talent - ITV1 (Includes +1)
2 - 7.4m - The Voice - BBC One 
3 - 4.7m - Doctor Who - BBC One 

Final BARB ratings will be available within the next 10 days.

Series 7 Part 2 Final BARB Ratings roundup:

7.6: The Bells Of Saint John = 8.44m
7.7: The Rings Of Akhaten = 7.45m
7.8: Cold War = 7.37m 
7.9: Hide = 6.61m
7.10: Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS = 6.50m
+  What did you think of the episode? Rate / Discuss in the DWO Forums!

[Source: Paul Clough]

DWO interviews Doctor Who Actor, Calvin Dean, regarding his role as 'Ha-Ha' in the Neil Gaiman-penned, Doctor Who episode; 'Nightmare In Silver', as well as his career as an actor.

'Nightmare In Silver' sees your Doctor Who acting debut, but you've previously had an appearance in the Doctor Who spin off 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' as a Slitheen as well. What was it like working with the SJA team, and how do the two productions vary?

My SJA experience was very brief. Unfortunately I didn't actually get to be the Slitheen as that was performed by Jimmy Vee. I had one scene as the “human” Slitheen and the rest was Jimmy with my voice. It was a great experience though and to work with the great Liz Sladen was a joy. I also got to meet David Tennant and K-9...not sure which was more exciting!

SJA and DW are very similar in lots of ways. Some of the crew were the same and of course both produced in Cardiff. The big difference is the new Roath Lock studios which are huge and very impressive! The size of the studios is vast and I nearly wandered onto the Casualty set one day by mistake. Watch out for Ha-Ha in next weeks Casualty!

You play the curiously titled 'Ha-Ha' in 'Nightmare In Silver'. Without giving too much away, could you tell us a bit more about your character and what it was like working with Neil Gaiman's script?

Ha-Ha has been one of my most favourite characters to play in my career so far. Neil writes such great roles for character actors and it was so much fun. Neil's scripts all read like massive movies and you can never quite believe that it was shot in only 13 days. 

Each member of the platoon have totally different characteristics and we had to be told on a few occasions to rain it in slightly as we would get carried away. I wanted Ha-Ha to have a slight Action Man feel to him which made it even funnier as my physical physique clearly isn't very Action Man like! Although I can see a new line of chubby Action Men figures being released soon!

Were you a fan of Doctor Who before you got a part, and if so, what is your earliest memory and do you have a particular favourite Story and Doctor?

To be honest, I wasn't a die hard fan. I've known Matt Smith for over 10 years so when he took over I watched his first series, then I missed all of Series 6. When I got the job I watched all of Series 7 Part 1 whilst traveling to and from Cardiff. Of course, I'm now a big fan. My earliest memories of Doctor Who must have been re-runs during the 90's. I remember Tom Baker a lot. The Cybermen really freaked me out. Even now I find them a bit creepy (especially with their new powers!).

Are there any other TV shows you would like to be a part of and do you have any other projects coming up?

I'll take whatever comes along! I love jobs which involve a little bit of comedy, but I would also like to be in more serious drama like Broadchurch. I seem to have a face for horror though. I think some of the best TV is being made in America at the minute so giving it a go over there is on my to-do list. I filmed a movie called Passengers recently which will hopefully be out later this year.

Finally, if you could take a round trip in the TARDIS anywhere in time and space, where would you go and why?

Wow. Hard question. Part of me would love to see dinosaurs, but only if Richard Attenborough was with me (obsessed with Jurassic Park as a child). I would also want to go and watch Laurel and Hardy filming some of their classics and go to Hollywood back in the heyday. I get travel sickness though, so I don't think time travel would be for me... unless Matt Smith was there to comfort me.

+ Follow Calvin Dean on Twitter!

[Source: DWO]