The BBC have confirmed the new Adventure Game will be released this October and is called The Gunpowder Plot.

It's the most ambitious Adventure Game to date and stars Matt Smith as the Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy and for the first time, Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams. This new, dazzlingly epic story gives you the chance to battle aliens in London, 1605. But as well as extra-terrestrial monsters, you'll meet Guy Fawkes (visualisation above) and really get a feel for what was happening at this incendiary moment in Britain's history. It's your chance to virtually step back in time, chat to famous figures and participate in one of the most notorious plots the world has ever known.

The BBC Doctor Who website are delighted to say that The Gunpowder Plot also sees the return of two old enemies... more about them soon! Right now they can confirm that this, the fifth Adventure Game, was written by Phil Ford (Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, The Sarah Jane Adventures and co-writer of The Waters of Mars) and produced by Gary Russell. The executive producers are Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis, Anwen Aspden and Charles Cecil.

The Gunpowder Plot will be the most advanced of the Adventure Games so far. Gamers will be able to play as the Doctor, Amy and Rory, exploring the immersive environments of this historic period. The adventure will feature multi-linear gameplay, even more sophisticated puzzles, and a complex lighting system specifically designed to recreate the atmosphere of 17th Century London. And for the very first time, the introduction of portal technology will enable gamers to experience for themselves that the TARDIS really is bigger on the inside...

To accompany the game, BBC Learning will be offering teachers an online resource pack containing unique, downloadable assets to support History and Literacy in the classroom. And in the adventure itself you'll be meeting not just the main figures from the plot, but everyday Londoners who lived through an exciting, dangerous and fascinating era.

The Adventure Games have received over 2.6 million download requests since the launch of the first adventure, City of the Daleks, which SFX called 'the best Who game to date.' The series was a finalist at the Develop Awards and nominated at the Banff World Media Festival for Best Branded Entertainment.

As always, the Adventure Game will be free in the UK and we'll be giving you more information soon. The Gunpowder Plot explodes in approximately three months time. It may not rhyme, but remember, remember... October!

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

The BBC Doctor Who website has confirmed details via an interview with Steven Moffat, of the show's new Executive Producer, Caroline Skinner, who replaces Piers Wenger:

These are exciting times for fans of Doctor Who. We've recently had the very welcome announcement that 14 new episodes have been commissioned along with confirmation that Matt Smith will be onboard for them. Hurray! Now comes the news that a new executive producer has been appointed. We felt it was the perfect moment to catch up with lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, who revealed all about the new exec...

What can you tell us about Doctor Who's new executive producer?

Steven Moffat: The exec joining me on Doctor Who is Caroline Skinner - fresh from the wonderful Five Days, and still finishing up on a brand new show called The Fades (a fantasy horror series, written by Jack Thorne - I've seen episode 1, and it's BRILLIANT.) Somewhere between me laughing in a basement and choosing planets to invade, and Marcus Wilson raising armies, there has to be a Prime Minister actually running the whole thing. That's the job Piers Wenger and Beth Willis have been doing so wonderfully for the last few years. Now that Piers is off to movie land, that's the furnace Caroline will be walking into.

How did you meet her?

SM: It's a funny thing about this show: the people who work on it, get so attached and so passionate about it, they can't just leave - they have to make sure it's going to be okay after they're gone. Just as when Russell was leaving, he sounded me out about taking over, Piers had strong views on who should be his successor. And as soon as I met Caroline, I knew exactly why. It takes a particular kind of person to work on this show - you have to be prepared to work every day of the week, laugh in the face of holidays, and above all, understand that Doctor Who is completely impossible to make and then make it anyway. I could see all that in Caroline - so off we go!

When will she actually start on the show?

SM: This has been in the works for a very long while, and a smooth succession is vital on this show. Caroline starts work almost immediately on the Christmas Special, alongside Piers Wenger. They've worked together before so this will be the smoothest hand-over we've done - and since Piers is determined to go out with a bang, that means Caroline will arrive with one. Just as it should be!

What are you working on at the moment? Is there anything you can tell us about the Christmas Special?

SM: I think I spent the entire budget on the first page. A baptism of fire for Caroline Skinner. Literally fire. And aliens!

[Source: BBC Doctor Who website]

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

The Leela 'Face of Evil' Action Figure features the charactr from her Classic Series debut in The Face of Evil.

The TARDIS arrives on a planet where a savage tribe called the Sevateem worship a god called Xoanon. The Fourth Doctor discovers that Xoanon is in fact a spaceship computer that he tried to repair at some point in his past and inadvertently drove mad by giving it a multiple personality.

It is tended to by another tribe of humanoids, the ascetic Tesh. These are the descendants of the ship's original technicians, while the Sevateem are the descendants of the original survey team. The Doctor, with the help of a Sevateem girl called Leela, manages to gain access to the ship and wipe the additional personalities from the computer, leaving it sane and in proper control once more. 

Leela, deciding that she no longer wants to stay on her own planet, pushes her way on board the TARDIS. The Doctor has gained another companion.

+  The Leela 'Face of Evil' Action Figure is released on 12th August 2011, priced £16.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

It is with deepest regret that DWO announces the passing of Classic Doctor Who Actor, Derek Crewe.

Derek was perhaps best known to Doctor Who fans for his role as Synge in the 4th Doctor adventure; The Sun Makers.

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

[Source: Neil Marsh]

Manufacturer: BBC DVD / 2|Entertain

Written By: Robert Holmes

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 1st August 2011

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 16th July 2011

The Doctor (Tom Baker) lands the ever unreliable TARDIS on Pluto, a dwarf planet on the outermost reaches of our solar system, where he finds it isn't the cold, barren, lifeless rock he was expecting. Someone's been very busy; Pluto now has a breathable atmosphere, it's warm and very humid, and has six suns. It also has an overly efficient taxation system, oppressed work units who live underground, and public executions. Can the Time Lord, Leela (Louise Jameson), and a small robot dog free the people and bring down the sinister Collector and his Internal Retinue? This single disc release from the BBC and 2|Entertain will let you find out... all praise the Company!

The Sun Makers is an enjoyably daft romp; a satire on taxation and bureaucracy. Two characters steal the show from start to finish; Leela, as played by fan favourite Louise Jameson, and Henry Woolf's delightfully odious and fiscally-obsessed Collector. Leela has all the best heroic lines - including a beautifully withering put-down of the less than brave rebels - and The Collector has all the best villainous lines, backed up with a characterisation that's hard not to warm to. It's all small fry by Whoniverse standards, and isn't an especially memorable story for plot reasons, but it's diverting and fun. The K-9 prop is so noisy it's untrue, the TARDIS door doesn't want to lock, and The Doctor no longer knows what a jelly baby looks like.

Annoyingly, the DVD is let down by a lack of decent extras, with only a few things holding the interest for any length of time; mostly because the rest of the extras are very, very short.

Commentary - This time, the commentary boasts both main cast members sitting in as both Tom Baker and Louise Jameson join Michael Keating and The Sun Makers director Pennant Roberts to talk about the story, the production and life during and after Doctor Who. Tom is always great fun to listen to, and teamed up with Louise again, the commentary provided is both entertaining and informative.

Running From The Tax Man - Louise Jameson is one of those people you instantly adore. She's very gentle and calm, witty and warm. She's also honest - but in a nice way that doesn't tread on people's toes. She's easily the best reason to watch this retrospective of The Sun Makers, and she reveals why this story above any other is her particular favourite. Also in the mini-documentary discussing the story are Michael Keating, (best known as "Vila" from "Blake's 7"), director Pennant Roberts, and an astronomer and a historian have been drafted in as well, partially to explain about Pluto and it's new status as a dwarf planet rather than a planet. It's an odd extra as it seems to repeat the same information several times, especially when it comes to the astronomy parts; but it's entertaining enough for that.

Outtakes - Citizen Cordo's gun fails to go off twice...No, really, that's it. Hardly an interesting or justifiable extra in itself, but would have been better used hidden away as an Easter Egg on the DVD, perhaps.

Trailer - The original BBC1 trailer for The Sun Makers.  Again, nothing else, just the one trailer.

The Doctor's Composer: Part Two - The second and final part of the series on one of Doctor Who's most prolific composers, the fantastic Dudley Simpson. This segment concentrates on his Doctor Who work from the seventies with the man himself talking us through much of his work and utilising many examples of his famous compositions through a wealth of clips. It's a delight to watch, as you try and figure out which music came from what story. A nice piece, with a genuine affection for one of Doctor Who's often unsung but most deserving behind the scenes heroes. This brilliant featurette gives a warm nostalgic glow and it's hard not to be drawn down memory lane for an enjoyably exciting jaunt.

Coming Soon Trailer - This one will blow your socks off. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and his assistant Jo Grant (Katy Manning) team up with UNIT to help save a peace conference being hosted by Sir Reginald Styles. However, those tinpot terrors The Daleks have other ideas... With new Dalek voices, and a wealth of new special effects and CGI, the Day of the Daleks Special Edition is out in September.

With the usual Photo Gallery of production and publicity stills, the Radio Times Listings in PDF format, and Subtitles available for those who might need them, and the usual information text on hand with trivia and viewing figures, The Sun Makers is a worthy enough story, rather badly supported by the extras available on the disc, and it all feels a bit empty as a result.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

+  Want to rent The Sun Makers before you buy? Or even better watch online? head over to our friends at http://www.lovefilm.com and do either, also sign up today and receive a 2 week free trial, what are you waiting for!

Character Options have released details and an image for the Cyberman Conversion Chamber Mini Set by Character Building.

Cold, emotionless figures, encased in steel suits, their original insanity stripped away and replaced by machinery and computers. No sense of hot or cold, fear or pride, love or hate. The Cybermen just exist to convert everyone to their way.

Highly detailed Cyberman construction playset featuring swivelling cyber-conversion machine arm and moveable conversion bed with restraining arms. Set includes one Space Captain and one Cyberman micro-figure. For ages 5 years and over.

+  The Cyberman Conversion Chamber Mini Set is released on 12th August 2011, priced £19.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Character Options]

Character Options have released details and an image for the Dalek Factory Mini Set by Character Building.

The Daleks are building their armies ready to return to Earth to battle the Doctor and reign supreme!

Highly detailed Dalek construction playset featuring swivelling Dalek factory machine arm, moveable conveyor belt, control panels and rejected parts bin! Set includes one Dalek Drone and one Dalek Scientist micro-figure. For ages 6 years and over.

+  The Dalek Factory Mini Set is released on 12th August 2011, priced £29.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Character Options]

BBC Worldwide have published their Annual Review for 2011 which highlights Doctor Who as one of the 'most valuable' brands, largely responsible for the corporations commercial success.

The report showed pre-tax profits rose 59pc to £201.2m, or £188m following disposals, on revenues up 7.8pc to £1.16bn.

The Doctor Who franchise saw revenues climb 49pc, following significant growth in the US. It is now sold to more than 50 territories. Doctor Who was also the number-three TV series purchased globally on iTunes in 2010/11.

BBC's Worldwide's top five power brands include Top Gear, Doctor Who, Lonely Planet, Dancing with the Stars and BBC Earth. Headline sales from these brands were £308.1m, a rise of 12.6pc year-on-year.

The corporation also notes in the report how it has embraced the online social avenues. John Smith, the chief executive of BBC Worldwide, said Worldwide will increasingly use Facebook to both market and sell its content and events.

Doctor Who episodes will be available for Facebook users in Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and episodes will be available to view for 48 hours.

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

To celebrate the launch of our new Bublaa social network bubble, DWO are offering our visitors a chance to win the Doctor Who Series 6: Volume 1 DVD Box-set simply by following us!

To enter, follow these simple steps:

1) Sign up to Bublaa for FREE here.

2) Join the Doctor Who Online bubble here.

3) Reply to the Doctor Who Online DVD contest thread here.

That's it! The winner will be announced on August 1st 2011.

What is Bublaa?

Bublaa is a new type of social network that allows us all to share and collaborate around any community or topic called bubbles. Bubbles can be created and customised to suit our interests and desires.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

The BBC Press Office have issued a Press Pack for Torchwood: Miracle Day.

The pack kicks off with a 5-minute introduction interview with John Barrowman:

The highly anticipated series of Torchwood – Miracle Day, starring John Barrowman and Eve Myles, starts on Thursday 14 July on BBC One. The new series created by Russell T Davies welcomes Mekhi Phifer, Bill Pullman and Alexa Havins, plus recurring guest stars Arlene Tur and Lauren Ambrose.

One day, nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep aging – they get hurt and sick – but they never die. The result: a population boom, overnight.

With all the extra people, resources are finite. It's said that in four months' time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can't be a natural event – someone's got to be behind it. It's a race against time as CIA. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking "What is Torchwood?" he's drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.

+  Interview with Russell T Davies

+  Interview with Julie Gardner

+  Interview with John Barrowman

+  Interview with Eve Myles

+  Interview with Mekhi Phifer

+  Interview with Bill Pullman

+  Interview with Lauren Ambrose

+  Interview with Alexa Havins

+  Interview with Arlene Tur

[Source: BBC Press Office]

Media Guardian's Edinburgh International Television Festival will be holding a special screening for the next episode of Doctor Who (6.8: Let's Kill Hitler) on Friday 26th August 2011 at The Film House.

The festival website has also included the synopsis for the episode, which doesn't contain any spoilers:

In the desperate search for Melody Pond, the TARDIS crash lands in 1930s Berlin, bringing the Doctor face to face with the greatest war criminal in the Universe. And Hitler. The Doctor must teach his adversaries that time travel has responsibilities - and in so doing, learns a harsh lesson in the cruellest warfare of all.

+  Check Out Media Guardian's Edinburgh International Television Festival website.

[Source: Media Guardian]

The BBC have uploaded 3 clips for Torchwood: Miracle Day, which we have included below:

Clip 1 - Esther Meets Captain Jack:

Clip 2 - Captain Jack explains Torchwood:

Clip 3 - What future for Oswald Danes:

[Source: BBC]

The BBC have finally confirmed the aridate for Torchwood: Miracle Day as Thursday 14th July at 9:00pm on BBC One.

The official BBC Torchwood website have also uploaded a short teaser trailer, which we have included below:

[Source: BBC]

Manufacturer: BBC DVD / 2|Entertain

Written By: Stephen Wyatt

RRP: £20.42

Release Date: 18th July 2011

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 23rd June 2011

Mel, as played by Bonnie Langford, wants to go for a 453 appendix 1 subsection 6 swim. If this were everyday drama, she would, and that would be that. However this is Doctor Who and things rarely go according to any sort of plan the main characters have, in this 1987 story, remastered and released on this single disc DVD from the BBC / 2|Entertain team of Caretakers.

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) pilots the TARDIS to Paradise Towers - a "remarkable architectural achievment" promising a clean, lovely, comfortable living experience, and with a swimming pool on the roof.  Accordingly, Mel can paddle whilst the Time Lord can have a (512 appendix 2 subsection 9) look around and investigate things. However upon exiting the now materialised time machine they discover a much different world of uncared for spaces, unexplained disappearances, and unfriendly inhabitants in all shapes and sizes… and something truly horrific in the basement.

Paradise Towers is one of those stories that you may remember as being not terribly good; but happily it's not the case at all. Despite a few cases of acting so wooden it puts the section 9/41, subsection 12c props to shame, it's a clever tale of high-rise horror and society meltdown in a confined area. It manages to feel tight and claustrophobic, and the script and wordplay used are first rate. Cleaned up and remastered in a way the Towers never were, this first season McCoy story manages to succeed on many levels - probably due to the Kangs pressing the buttons for all the floors on the alleviator again..

The special features on this release are well thought out and worthy of a 178 appendix 13 subsection 7 round of applause:

Horror on the High Rise - Mark Ayres takes a look at the making of the story, with contributions from writer Stephen Wyatt, script editor Andrew Cartmel, incidental music composers Keff McCulloch and David Snell, and actors Richard Briers, Catherine Cusack, and Howard Cooke. Clever, insightful and revealing, it shows the story's roots, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the tale.  Entertaining and informative, with some accurate and amusing views on the way some of the actors chose to protray their characters.

Girls! Girls! Girls!: The Eighties - Presented by Doctor Who stalwart Peter Purves, this riotously funny and entertaining featurette has Sophie Aldred, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding discussing the highs and lows, the trials and tribulations, and the ins and outs of being a Doctor Who assistant. Fielding especially is brilliantly funny, her acidic humour never crossing the line into nastiness, but still demonstrating some of the slightly less eviable things the 80s female companions were expected to put up with, from high fabshion disasters to stereotyping after leaving the show. Defintely a winner, and a team that should be assembled again to discuss all things Who.

Deleted and Extended Scenes - From the first edit of the story, some trims and edited sequences that never made the transmitted version of the show; and there are some very good scenes in there too.

Audio Options - Not only does this DVD have the usual available 304 subsection 12 commentary, hosted by Mark Ayres again, with Judy Cornwell, Stephen Wyatt and Dick Mills, it also has something of a rarity - an entire second incidental music score.

The original score by David Snell was vetoed by showrunner John Nathan-Turner back in the day, and Keff McCulloch was commissioned to do a very quick replacement.  Both of these versions are available on the DVD, with Snell's score in particular giving a dark, more menacing feel to the story.  

Continuity - The linking announcements for the BBC1 transmission, together with plugs for some of the Doctor Who VHS tapes avaialbe at the time.  Notable for an announcer getting the name of one story wrong, and for one link cutting off a mere second before being exposed to the "hilarity" that was "Hi-De-Hi".

Casting Sylvester - A very short piece from Clive Doig explaining his working relationshop with Sylvester McCoy and how he helped with Sylvester being chosen to play the seventh incarnation of The Doctor.

Coming Soon Trailer - The Coming Soon section itself has had a 915 appendinx 8 subsection 2 makeover. Gone is the vworping TARDIS, and in it's place is a slick little end sequence after a great trailer for the next release.

The TARDIS arrives on Pluto, to find Citizen Cordo about to take a header off the roof as he can't pay the taxes levied by Gatherer Hade and a small venomous leech called "The Collector".  Can the Fourth Doctor, Leela and K-9 lead a work unit revolution, or has the Time Lord's life expectancy overdrawn? The Sunmakers DVD is out in August.

With the usual Photo Gallery, Radio Times listings, Subtitles for those who may need them and the Production Notes and Info Text giving you facts and trivia along the way, Paradise Towers is an enjoyable Doctor Who story well worth watching again, on pain of a 327 appendix 3 subsection 9 death.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

BBC Worldwide and Starz have announced the production of an i nteractive app tied to “Torchwood: Miracle Day.”

The app, titled “Torchwood: Web of Lies”, will feature 10, three-minute motion comic narratives providing clues to “Torchwood: Miracle Day.” The app and first motion comic narrative will be available for download on iTunes prior to the premiere of “Torchwood: Miracle Day” - produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, airing this summer in the UK on BBC One and in the U.S. on Starz.  Additional narratives and games will be available for download following each week’s broadcast transmission.

“Torchwood: Web of Lies” is an episodic interactive experience for iOS that fuses together motion comic and gameplay elements to tell an original and digitally exclusive Torchwood story.  Players will participate in a parallel storyline to “Torchwood: Miracle Day” that includes lead characters Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper – voiced by John Barrowman and Eve Myles. 

"Torchwood: Web of Lies" runs alongside weekly premieres of “Torchwood: Miracle Day”, providing fans with a way to engage in the world of Torchwood between episodes.  It reveals a past day in the lives of Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper - a day they’ve both forgotten.  The events of that day fuel a modern day conspiracy-laced treasure hunt, as Holly Mokri, voiced by Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse,” “Tru Calling,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer& ;rdquo;), labors to uncover the secrets of Miracle Day. Each week a new episode unlocks, allowing players to access another piece of original motion comic narrative and game which ties into and extends plot developments of the show, as well as providing new twists in its own narrative. 

The first narrative and game will be released promotionally and the remaining nine can be purchased inside the app in packs of three, each for 59p.  A special bundle for all 10 narratives and game can be purchased for £1.79.

Developed by BBC Worldwide Productions and BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games, “Torchw ood: Web of Lies” is written by “Torchwood: Miracle Day” writers Jane Espenson and Ryan Scott. The motion comic and app is published by BBC Worldwide, with Double Barrel (“Tron: Legacy,” “Repo Men,” “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”) producing the motion comic and Powerful Robot (“Star Wars,” “Green Lantern,” “Scooby Doo,” “Total Drama”) producing the app.

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

Manufacturer: BBC DVD / 2|Entertain

Written By: Donald Cotton & Eric Pringle

RRP: £30.63

Release Date: 20th June 2011

Reviewed By: Dale Who for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 16th June 2011

The Gunfighters

Disc One of the EarthStory double release from the BBC and 2|Entertain is this 1966 adventure, in which the TARDIS materialises in Tombstone, Arizona; so The Doctor can find a dentist.  Unfortunately, the dentist is one Doc Holliday and not far behind him are the Clanton brothers, Wyatt Earp, and Johnny Ringo.  It's time for the gunfight at the OK Corrall...

The Gunfighters is a very difficult story to judge. The series regulars all put in smashing performances - Hartnell in particular having some great moments and lines; his constant renaming of Wyatt Earp to "Mr Werp" is guaranteed to raise a smile, and his reaction to his introduction to the Clanton brothers is simply priceless. The rest of the story is actually fairly enjoyable if a little pedestrian; and boasts some nifty camerawork and ideas, and, for a 1960s television serial, a great set with a great cast inhabiting it. Marred only by the incessant caterwauling of "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloo n" at every given opportunity. It's a very different view of how historical events played out, with large portions of the show seemingly lifted from a number of Western films, but it's no less enjoyable for that.

As usual, the DVD version has been cleaned up considerably, and the qual ity of the presented material is top rate.  The DVD also has some great extras, although it is sadly lacking a mute function to save you from the constant high pitched wailing of Lynda Baron singing that wretched ballad.

The End of the Line - An honest, truthful and sometimes uncomfortable documentary about the end of William Hartnell's time as the First Doctor.  Fascinating to watch, it's a tale of constantly changing writers and editors, forced cast changes and Bill Hartnell's deteriorating health as ateriosclerosis took a toll.  With contributions from Donald Tosh, Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves and Anneke Wills, "End of the Line" shows just how much of a complete slog it was getting Doctor Who out every week on an almost impossibly long production run.  

If you're a strong fan of William Hartnell it can be a tad unsettling to listen to the less than glowing remarks made of his irascibilty due to illness, but happily Maureen O'Brien and Peter Purves share the other side of the original Time Lord, a deeply passionate and caring man who was very protective of the show itself.  It also sheds a somewhat harsh, if truthful, light on Vicki and Dodo's departures from Doctor Who and just how much of an impact The Daleks had on the production of the show.

Tomorrow's Times - Mary Tamm adds a great deal of effortless glamour to the First Doctor edition of "Tomorrow's Times", which shows the the brief flirtation the British Press (notably the Daily Mail) had with Daleks and the earlier days of Doctor Who.  Very reminiscent of an episode of Points of View in styling, this fun little extra begins the story - already continued on other DVDs for other eras of the show - of the love-hate relationship between journalists and The Doctor and his trusty TARDIS.

Commentary - Toby Hadoke sits in the captain's chair once more; as Peter Purves, Shane Rimmer, David Graham, Richard Beale, and production assistant at the time Tristan de Vere Cole talk us through The Gunfighters.  Always fascinating to listen to anecdotes and gems from a production made forty five years ago, this entertaining and useful extra on the DVD serves double duty; as switching on the commentary drowns out a great deal of the Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon.

Photo Gallery - An amazing selection of vintage photographs of the set, cast, and production of The Gunfighters.  The photo's have been cleaned up amazingly and there's some glorious views of the whole, from the TARDIS sans lamp to the camera tower erected in the middle of the studio to give some innovative camera angles to the production.  Set to the full length version of The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon.  Brilliant if you know where the mute button is.

Coming Soon Trailer - The death of Caretaker 345/12 Subsection B informs us that the TARDIS will soon be arriving at Paradise Towers, home of the Kangs, the Rezzies, and Pex (who puts the world of Paradise Towers to rights...).  There's something nasty and very hungry in the basement... and on most other floors of the high rise building as well. Can The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Mel (Bonnie Langford) find their way to the swimming pool without being put to a 327 appendix 3 subsection 9 death?

The Gunfighters DVD also has the listings from the Radio Times in PDF format, subtitles available, and the usual production notes are also included.  

A great package and well worth watching for some excellent performances and moments of genuinely funny comedy in a competent and well made Who story; if you can get past the singing.

The Awakening

In the second of the 2|Entertain / BBC two disc DVD release EarthStory, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough arrive in Little Hodcombe to visit Andrew Verney the local historian - also Tegan's grandfather. However something's affecting the locals and their re-enactment of the local War Games is getting rather too realistic...

The Awakening is a short, punchy story that's a deserved fan favourite in the history of Classic Who. The cast are superb, the locations and sets stunning, and The Malus is one of the most memorable Doctor Who monsters for several reasons; notably because it works so well and it really does look creepy. Everything from the incidental music to the costumes seem to fit together seamlessly, and make a thoroughly enjoyable two part adventure.

Stealing the show are Polly James as Jane, and Keith Jayne as Will Chandler, both of whom work so well in the story. Jane is the single voice of reason before The Doctor arrives, and Will is simply one of the most endearing and innocent supporting characters in Who's long history. And of course, The Awakening does have one of the most iconic monsters on hand in the shape of the Malus - even more remarkable when you consider it was only onscreen for a couple of minutes in total.

The DVD release also has a number of very well thought out and produced extras that seem to exude a warm, happy glow about the story; and as always, sound and vision throughout the DVD are crisp and bright.

Return to Little Hodcombe - A twenty minute look at the area, as Little Hodcombe was a gestalt of three villages, with the director Michael Owen Morris, script editor Eric Saward, and Janet Fielding (Tegan) and Keith Jayne (Will). From the outset of this piece, Morris brings senses of warmth and fondness to proceedings that are hard to ignore. He obviously enjoys his work - both on Doctor Who and his other projects - and it clearly shows.  

There's some fun snippets of locals talking about when Doctor Who came to their village, an event that still seems to be a subject of local pride, and Janet Fielding remembers the cast being quite protective of the new director on his first TV work. Keith Jayne discusses Will Chandler, and Eric Saward chimes in on how the story was re-written and whether Will would have made a good addition to the TARDIS crew. A nice sweet old lady tells us about lame horses on set, and her husband tells us how to spot Doctor Who fans on location...

Making the Malus - A fun look at the giant face in the wall, with designer Tony Harding and model-maker Richard Gregory.  A short piece on how the Malus was conceived and built, with a rare look behind the face to see how the different parts of the monster were controlled.  To finish, there's a short interview with Paul Burrows who bought the Malus at auction and what happens when utilites workmen find giant stone monsters mounted on your living room wall...  Another fun and entertaining short, and again, with some warmth and affection for the subject matter leaving you with a very positive feeling.

Commentary - Toby Hadoke once again chairs the commentary team, this time with director Michael Owen Morris and Eric Saward as their share knowledge and opinions of the serial as an audio option on the DVD. Again, Morris' obvious fondness for his work shows through easily and keeps the mood light.

Now & Then - The three villages used as locations in The Awakening are revisited to find that not a lot has changed. There's still thatched cottages and farm buildings, and there's still a ford across the road, even if it is now somewhat waterless...  clips and photographs are used effectively, and the linking narration fills in any blanks nicely.  

From the Cutting Room Floor - Some extended and deleted scenes from the story, including an appearance by Kamelion. There's also some of the film rushes from the location shoots, and some timecoded VHS sequences that were trimmed.

The Golden Egg Awards - Taken from another BBC1 staple of the time, this excerpt from The Late Late Breakfast Show hosted by Noel Edmonds shows the now infamous outtake featuring a horse, a cart, and a prop lychgate being unexpectedly demolished.  Peter Davison is on hand to collect the trophy from Noel Edmonds.

Isolated Music - The Awakening has some excellent incidental music, and this option of the DVD gives you a chance to view the story with the isolated music score. Well worth a listen if you're a fan of the somewhat under-appreciated composers on Classic Doctor Who.

As usual, the DVD also features a photo gallery of production and publicity shots, the Radio Times listings from the story in PDF format, subtitles for those that may need them, and the Production Notes Info Text available to have onscreen as the story plays out.

The Awakening is a great addition to Classic Doctor Who on DVD, and if you're a fan then the EarthStory DVD set is a must-have for your collection.

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Danny Cohen (BBC1 Controller) recently confirmed at the Church and Media Conference that Doctor Who will not be returning for a full series until 2013.

The comments come after weeks of speculation over the scheduling for the series in 2012. Last week the BBC confirmed that 14 episodes of Doctor Who had been commissioned but that the schedule was yet to be announced. We do know that one of the confirmed 14 episodes will be the 2012 Christmas Special.

It is unknown yet as to the exact reason behind the decision, but it is likely due to the reports of big plans for the show's 50th anniversary in 2012.

What could we expect to see in 2013?

- Possible American-style dual season (26 x Episodes) throughout the year.

- A mixture of standard episodes and specials.

- 14 x 1-hour specials aired throughout the year.

- A 13 x Episode series (plus Christmas Special) beginning in the Autumn.

[Source: Danny Cohen]

Character Options have released details and an image for a rather fun Doctor Who Toy product; The Flesh Goo Pod.

Have lots of gooey fun with the fantastically slimy TARDIS shaped Doctor Who Goo Pod. Filled with lots of slimy goo you will also find random ‘The Flesh’ parts hidden inside for double the fun! 5+.

+  The Flesh Goo Pod is released July 2011, priced £6.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Character Options]

On Tuesday 7th June 2011, DWO had the pleasure of interviewing  Tom B aker (The 4th Doctor), in the English seaside town of Rye, for the upcoming 200th episode of our DWO WhoCast podcast.

To tie-in with the interview, DWO have a specially recorded promo video titled 'To Catch Tom in the Rye'.

Featuring DWO WhoCast hosts Tony Gallichan and Dave Keep, the pair roam the streets of Rye looking for the elusive Tom Baker. Along the way they discover several clues, a couple of red herrings, and a terribly disinterested cat. The video has been included for your viewing pleasure below:

[youtube:P2iCgVrXu6k]

+  Like / Leave Comments for this video!

Tom also very kindly recorded a video greeting to DWO below:

[youtube:tlDY49cfHQ0]

+  Subscribe to the DWO YouTube Channel.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

It is with deepest regret that DWO announces the passing of Classic Doctor Who Actor, Roy Skelton.

Roy is best known to Doctor Who fans for providing the voices of The Daleks in the Classic Series, as well as supporting roles:

The Ark (Monoid voices), The Tenth Planet (Cybermen voices), The Evil of the Daleks (Dalek voices), The Ice Warriors (Computer voice), The Wheel in Space (Cybermen voices), The Krotons (Kroton voices), Colony in Space (as Norton), Planet of the Daleks (Dalek voices and as Wester), The Green Death (as James), Genesis of the Daleks (Dalek voices), The Android Invasion (as Chedaki), The Hand of Fear (as King Rokon), Destiny of the Daleks (Dalek voices), The Five Doctors (Dalek voice), Revelation of the Daleks (Dalek voices), Remembrance of the Daleks (Dalek voices), The Curse of Fatal Death (Dalek voices).

Roy died after suffering a stroke and was 79 years of age.

DWO would like to extend our wishes to Roy's family and friends.

[Source: BBC News; TARDIS Wiki]

Sam Hodges, the Head of Communications for BBC One and Fiction has confirmed that Doctor Who and Matt Smith will return for 14 more stories (2011 Christmas Special + 13 x Episodes).

Confirmation came via Hodges' Twitter account today:

"#DoctorWho is returning. Fourteen new episodes have been commissioned with Matt Smith as The Doctor #bbc1"

Doctor Who Showrunner, Steven Moffat retweeted adding the following twees:

"14 eps + Matt DEFINITELY. I've got a plan and I'm NOT TELLING YOU WHAT IT IS. Now hush or River shoots you with her Spoiler Gun.#formaqueue"

DWO's own Twitter account has been innundated with messages from fans wanting to know what will happen to The Doctor during this season, with Moffat responding to one of the followers:

"@EuroboiSteve @DrWhoOnline What, you don't think he's got time, in those 200 years, to have LOTS of adventures. He DIED - you saw him."

Further confirmation is expected from the BBC shortly, and more details are coming up in the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine.

[Sources: Sam Hodges; Steven Moffat]

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the Doctor Who DVD release of Paradise Towers.

Paradise Towers

Featuring: Sylvester McCoy as The 7th Doctor

Mel wants to go swimming and, as the TARDIS pool has been jettisoned due to a leak, Paradise Towers seems to fit the bill. However, when she and the Doctor arrive, instead of the bright squares and charming cloisters the brochure promised, they find dark, rat-infested corridors full of uncontrollable cleaning machines, undisciplined street gangs and over-worked and belligerent caretakers. Some of the residents seem to be disappearing in mysterious circumstances, too.

What has caused such terrible decay? How could such perfect accommodation have become so rundown and dangerous? And why do the street-wise Kangs, apathetic caretakers, sinister Rezzies and Pex – the self-appointed warrior who puts the world of Paradise Towers to rights – all fear whatever terrible force dwells in the basement? Only the unpredictable Chief Caretaker knows what is down there – and the real secret behind the disappearances…

Special Features:

• Commentary – with actress Judy Cornwell, writer Stephen Wyatt, special sounds supervisor Dick Mills and moderated by Mark Ayres.

• Horror on the High Rise – Doctor Who composer Mark Ayres presents a look at the making of Paradise Towers. With actors Richard Briers, Howard Cooke and Catherine Cusack, writer Stephen Wyatt, script editor Andrew Cartmel, original score composer David Snell and replacement score composer Keff McCulloch.

• Deleted and Extended Scenes – deleted and extended scenes from the first edit of the story.

• Continuity – continuity announcements from the story’s original transmission.

• Girls! Girls! Girls! – The Eighties – three actresses who played companions in the 1980s – Sophie Aldred, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton – discuss the trials and tribulations of being a Doctor Who girl. Introduced by Peter Purves.

• Casting Sylvester – Jigsaw producer Clive Doig explains his relationship with Sylvester McCoy and his role in the actor’s casting as the Seventh Doctor.

• Photo Gallery – production, design and publicity photos from the story.

• Coming Soon – a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

• Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.

• Programme subtitles.

• Subtitle Production Notes.

+  Paradise Towers is released on 18th July 2011, priced £20.42.

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+  Rent out Paradise Towers and a whole host of other Doctor Who stories at LOVEFiLM. Sign up today and get a completley free 2 week trial too, visit the site now at www.lovefilm.com to start renting dvds from comfort of your own home.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

The overnight viewing figures are in for 6.7: A Good Man Goes To War.

The episode achieved a figure of 5.5m viewers, with an audience share of 25.4%, and Doctor Who was the sixth most-watched programme for Saturday:

Top Overnights - Saturday 4th June:

01 …. 12.5m (49.3%) …. Britain's Got Talent Final Results 21:30 ITV 1

02 …. 11.4m (47.0%) …. Britain's Got Talent Final 19:00 ITV 1 

03 …. 6.5m (27.5%) …. Popstar to Operastar: The Curtain Raiser 21:00 

04 …. 6.1m (26.6%) …. ITV News & Weather 22:00 ITV 1 

05 …. 5.6m (36.8%) …. Euro 2012 Qualifier Live: England v Switzerland 16:15 ITV 1 

06 …. 5.5m (25.4%) …. Doctor Who 18:45 BBC One 

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

+  What did you think of the episode? Rate / Discuss in the DWO Forums!

[Source: Andy Parish]

DWO caught up with New Series Actor, Simon Fisher-Becker, to discuss his character, Dorium Maldovar, his early Doctor Who memories, Doctor Who fandom and bringing the universe together!

6.7: A Good Man Goes To War isn't the first time we have seen Dorium Maldavar. Did you know at the time of filming 5.12: The Pandorica Opens, that your character would return in Series 6?

No, complete surprise. I was very happy with my scene opposite the delicious Alex Kingston. Yes I hoped there would be more - thanks to Steven Moffat's imagination Dorium Lives...! 

Without giving too much away, tell us a bit about Dorium. What kind of a man is he and can we expect to see more of him in future Doctor Who episodes?

As episode 7 has revealed, there is a decent moral fibre hidden deep inside Dorium. He lives and thrives on the murky side of society where he survives on his wits. His temperament is somewhat murcurial which adds a little danger - others can be nervous around him, but Dorium is multi layered. Very few really 'know' Dorium but when push comes to shove he is loyal, reliable and teflon coated.

How aware of the Doctor Who universe were you before you got the part? Were you a fan, and if so, what is your first memory of the show?

I was born in 1961 and was 2 when William Hartnell first appeared. I do remember him. In particular the change to Patrick Troughton. I refer to myself as a 'follower' of Doctor Who rather than a Fan. I take great pleasure in having been bullied in the past for supporting Dr Who I can laugh and gloat that I am now part of the huge BBC flagship phenomenon that IS Doctor Who. 

How have you found the fan reactions to your character, and how does the impending prospect of convention appearances appeal to you?

The Fan reaction is very exciting and humbling at the same time. What really surprised is the immediate response to Dorium. Having only one scene with six lines initially, it is amazing how he caught everyone's imagination. Thankfully Steven Moffat loves Dorium too. 

The conventions have been frightening and thrilling. Those who know me will tell you I'm a bit of a gas bag, there is nothing more I enjoy than mixing with people having a good chin wag. I have broad interests and am happy to pontificate on anything for hours.....! The only practical downside of the conventions is fatigue. The hands can start to ache with all the handshaking but I am delighted to help fans enjoy their day.

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

Rather than a Place or Time I would go on a mission. I would collect all the Deities from ALL Faiths, Galaxies and the known Universe, sit them down and say '...We Need To Talk.....!!!!'

+  Post a Question to Simon Fisher-Becker in the DWO Forums Ask & Answer section.

+  To read more DWO Interviews, check out the DWO Features section.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

2|Entertain have confirmed via their @classicdw Twitter feed, that the missing episodes for the upcoming The Reign of Terror DVD release will be animated.

The news will be hugely welcomed from fans who have petitioned and indeed championed for further animated, missing episodes, since the popular release of The Invasion DVD in 2006. Big Finish's Thetamation have been confirmed as the animation parters.

2|Entertain's Commissioning Editor, Dan Hall, also uploaded an early test graphic [pictured right], representing how the animation will look.

It is yet to be confirmed whether any more missing episodes will be animated for other forthcoming releases.

+  Post 2|Entertain's Commissioning Editor, Dan Hall, a question in the DWO Forums.

+ Find all your favourite Doctor Who titles today at LOVEFiLM. LOVEFiLM is the home of home dvd rental and streaming movies. Sign up today and recieve a 2 week free trial.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

Planning permission has been sought by Cardiff Council for the construction of a 3000 sq metre building in Porth Teigr that will become the long-term home of the Doctor Who Experience when it relocates from London’s Olympia to Cardiff in 2012. 

Working closely in partnership with BBC Worldwide, the Council is progressing the feasibility of a commercial agreement that could bring this international attraction to the capital city of Wales in Spring 2012. In addition to submitting a planning application the council is carrying out ground investigations to establish substructure costs as part of the feasibility.

The Doctor Who Experience allows visitors to join the Doctor on a journey through time and space, combining a walk-through immersive adventure with the largest exhibition ever assembled of sets, props and memorabilia from the series.  It has been described by reviewers as “exhilarating”, “awe-inspiring” and “the hottest ticket in the Universe”.

BBC Worldwide announced in September 2010 that it intended to relocate the attraction in Cardiff during 2012, following consolidation of its previous Doctor Who exhibitions, including the closure of the former Doctor Who Exhibition in Cardiff’s Red Dragon Centre in March 2011.

The Experience boasts an array of incredible special effects, brand new filmed footage of Matt Smith as the Doctor, a recreation of the modern TARDIS and a breathtaking 3D finale.  The exhibition element includes items never publicly displayed before including original costumes, a full scale recreation of two iconic TARDIS sets from the eras of David Tennant and Peter Davison, and numerous monsters including several generations of The Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians, Ice Warriors, Zygons and the gigantic K-I robot.  The Doctor’s latest sinister adversaries from the current season – The Silence – are also on view.

Philip Murphy, Managing Director for Live Events at BBC Worldwide commented: “The Doctor Who Experience opened to tremendous critical and customer reviews.  Having a long-term home in a purpose-built facility in Cardiff will enable us to develop the Experience even further as the premier fan destination for Doctor Who.  We’ve worked very closely with Cardiff Council to bring the Experience to Cardiff, and we believe that it will draw fans to the Welsh capital from around the world”. 

Keith Jones, Director of BBC Cymru Wales, says: “Wales is the home of Doctor Who – our original made-in-Wales drama success story – so locating this fantastic experience in Cardiff Bay is a great development.  The show will have moved into its brand new production home at Roath Lock Studios by this time next year.  It’s therefore very exciting that around the same time audiences will be able to come and enjoy such a thrilling experience, within a stone’s throw of where the magic is made”.

Councillor Rodney Berman, Leader of Cardiff Council, said: “Cardiff is proud of being the home of Doctor Who which has undoubtedly helped raise the profile of the city. The new Doctor Who Experience coming to Cardiff Bay is a very exciting proposition and one that fans of the show are greatly looking forward to. This promises to be a great new attraction for the city with the added bonus of people being able to visit the Doctor Who Experience right next door to where the series is filmed.”

The Doctor Who Experience remains open at Olympia Two in London and tickets are currently available to book there through to 20th November 2011.  Further information about the closing date of the London run and the launch of The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff will be released after planning permission has been obtained.

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Andrew Cartmel

RRP: £14.99

Release Date: 31st May 2011

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 2nd June 2011

The Seventh Doctor is regarded as the most manipulative or Machiavellian of all the Doctor’s incarnations and that was the responsibility of Andrew Cartmel, who was script editor during Doctor Who’s last three seasons before it went off the air in 1989. So with the unproduced season 27 forming the basis of this latest series of Lost Stories, it is only right that Cartmel should be involved. Unfortunately, Crime of the Century isn’t as strong a story as you would hope from the man credited with laying down the legendary “Cartmel Masterplan”.

Our story begins in 1989 with Raine Creevy, daughter of cheeky chappie Marcus Creevy from the previous story Thin Ice. Raine is not only charming but an expert safecracker and Cat burglar. One night while trying to rob from a safe at a very fashionable house party in London, she finds something or rather someone inside it she hadn’t counted on; a strange little man from her distant past.

Meanwhile Ace has found herself in the remote Soviet republic of Kafiristan, where the local tribesmen are engaged in a rebellion against the Russian army. There she finds an old enemy and stories of demons hiding in the mountains.

It isn’t long before Raine and Ace find themselves knee deep in the Doctor’s mysterious plans which seem to have something to do with a high security vault on the Scottish border.

One of the strongest elements of this audio is the performances, particularly from Beth Chalmers as Raine. She is sassy, confident and a wonderful contrast to Ace, played superbly as always by Sophie Aldred. Sylvester McCoy, in an at times reduced role for the Doctor is particularly mysterious and the supporting cast all excel.

What lets this audio down somewhat is that it is not sure what tone it should be. The first three episodes contain some incredibly bleak and dark moments and then shifts rather suddenly into a baffling mix of absurd comedy, mostly from the story’s alien menace the Metatraxi. The questionably comic scene where the Doctor fixes their translators seems ill placed in a story which is laced with death.

The Doctor is once again back to his Machiavellian ways, effortlessly moving the people around him to achieve his aim, but throughout I found myself asking why? There doesn’t seem to be any real sense of peril in this story, more a series of often infuriatingly cryptic events which lead us to the climactic scene in the high security vault where the Doctor finally gets what he is after. There are some great moments. Raine’s introduction as a character is brilliantly achieved. Her first meeting with Ace and their subsequent sizing up of one another promises that sparks will fly in future stories.

Crime of the Century suffers by trying to be a loose sequel to Thin Ice, mostly in a couple of recurring characters and the Soviet connection.

Although the continuity is nice, I would’ve preferred a cleaner break from the previous story. Possessing a really good musical score and sound design, there are moments to enjoy in Crime of the Century and Cartmel does succeed in creating a believable and strong new companion for the Seventh Doctor, but overall I was hoping for just a little bit more.

This weekend sees the Doctor Who mid-season finale, featuring Olivier Award-winning Actress, Frances Barber as the mysterious eye-patch lady. DWO caught up with Frances for a quick interview to discuss her character, her love for Doctor Who and saving President Kennedy:

We've seen you quite a bit in Doctor Who this season (albeit with fleeting appearances behind sliding panels in walls) but in this week's episode we will finally get to see a bit more of your mysterious character. How easy was it to get your head round the script when you first received it, and were you aware at the time that your character would be placed throughout the series?

I wasn't aware at the time that my character would be placed throughout the first part of Series 6. I knew I had some mysterious appearances from behind an equally mysterious hatch, but I didn't realise the ongoing arc of the storyline. As you know, its all very top secret at Doctor Who headquarters, which actually meant that I had the luxury of creating a character from the script and my own imagination.

How aware were you of Doctor Who growing up as a child? Did you watch it and were you a fan?

I have always loved Doctor Who...Tom Baker was my first very strong memory of a Doctor and Sylvester McCoy is a friend of mine. I have always wanted to be a part of it in any way, and I am absolutely delighted to be in this particular season.

You have had a long and varied career working in TV, Film and Theatre. Do you have a preference, and what do you hope for most when your agent gets in touch?

I don't have a preference with any of the various forms of acting in either film or theatre. I just choose whatever I think is the most interesting project.

You have great chemistry and indeed a great relationship with fellow Actor, Ian McKellen. Is it true he bought you a library? What is your favourite book of all time?

Ian gave some money to a charity in which he paid for a library in India to be built in my name. This often gets misrepresented. I don't live in a mansion! My favourite book of all time is The Grapes Of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

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

If I had one round trip in the TARDIS, I would like to be in the car when President Kennedy was shot, with a perfect view of who pulled the trigger! Then The Doctor could prevent it!

+  To read more DWO Interviews, check out the DWO Features section.

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

Radio Times have launched another issue of their popular magazine, sporting a Doctor Who cover, this time to promote the 2011 Mid-season finale.

In this week’s Radio Times – on sale today – when asked if the Doctor will face his most dastardly opponents again, Steven Moffat says:

“Oh yes, the Daleks. Actually, they aren’t going to make an appearance for a while.” What? “Yes, we thought it was about time to give them a rest. There’s a problem with the Daleks.” How come? I thought they were invincible. “They are the most famous of the Doctor’s adversaries and the most frequent,” explains Moffat. “Which means they are the most reliably defeatable enemies in the universe. They have been defeated by the Doctor about 400 times. Surely they should just see the Tardis approaching, say, ‘Oh. It’s him again’, and trudge away.”

+  Radio Times is out Today, priced £1.20.

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

[Source: Radio Times]

The Daleks are to be given "a rest" from battling Doctor Who, writer Steven Moffat has told the Radio Times.

Moffat, who is also the BBC television show's executive producer, said: "They aren't going to make an appearance for a while. We thought it was about time to give them a rest."

The Daleks were voted the scariest villains in the history of Doctor Who in a poll of fans in 2007.

Moffat said they had been defeated by the Doctor "about 400 times".

Created by Terry Nation, the Daleks are the Doctor's hugely popular enemies who have made regular appearances in the long-running science fiction show since first appearing in 1963.

Moffat said: "There's a problem with the Daleks. They are the most famous of the Doctor's adversaries and the most frequent, which means they are the most reliably defeatable enemies in the universe."

Recent episodes of the show, which stars Matt Smith as the timelord, have been criticised for being "too scary for children".

But Moffat said: "It is horror, but horror for children. It's scary in the way that a fairy story can be scary."

[Source: BBC News]