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Stuart Mascair

Welcome to the News & Reviews section here at Doctor Who Online! This is where you will find all the latest Doctor Who related news and reviews split up into easy to use sections - each section is colour coded for your convenience. The latest items can be found at the top, and older items follow down the page.

Archived news and reviews can be accessed by clicking on the relevant area on the News / Reviews Key panels to the right.

E-Mail NewsE-Mail Reviews
2 November 2011

BBC Books are delighted to announce the Doctor Who Encyclopedia iPad app, which has been developed by Brandwidth in partnership with BBC Books. Written by former Doctor Who script editor Gary Russell, the app is the ultimate guide to seven years of thrilling Doctor Who adventures, which includes up to date information on every episode since the show’s return to our screens in 2005.

It allows you to scroll your way through a complete A-Z of the show and explore and search thousands of entries by series or episode. You will discover the Doctor’s fiercest enemies, closest allies and key places and objects and have the opportunity to preview and buy those must-have episodes.

The app contains over 3000 entries and each entry includes links to episodes, people, places and objects that relate to it. Additionally, each entry has an episode reference, allowing you to search the Encyclopedia by episode or series – so you can find out all you ever need to know about the Doctor, his allies, enemies and everywhere he’s ever visited. You can also preview episodes and buy your favourites directly from iTunes.

The initial purchase of the app will be priced at £4.99 and will include all of the Eleventh Doctor’s content. Further downloads at £4.99 each include all Ninth and Tenth Doctor content.

The app also contains 11 unique portals - special interactive entries, for the Doctor, Amy, Rory, River and other major characters. The Doctors’ portal uses parallax technology which allows users to move their iPad to scroll through a 3D environment, featuring the Doctor’s closest companions and deadliest enemies.

+  Get the App from the Apple App Store for just £4.99!

[Source: BBC Books]

<mce:script

31 October 2011

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

The Peri & Sharaz Jek Set features companion, Peri Brown and Sharaz Jek (as seen in the Classic Series adventure The Caves of Androzani).

The Fifth Doctor and Peri arrive on Androzani Minor, the source of a life-prolonging drug called spectrox. Production of the drug is controlled by Sharaz Jek, a facially deformed madman in self imposed exile, who blames Morgus, a powerful industrialist on Androzani Major, for all his misfortunes. Jek is fighting Morgus’ troops on a daily basis using his android army. 

Jek’s android weapons are supplied by gun-runners employed by Morgus, who then receives payment in refined spectrox. But, Jek becomes infatuated with Peri and saves her and the Doctor from execution by Morgus’ troops only to hold them prisoner himself. They escape Jek but contract spectrox toxaemia, a fatal condition with only one antidote - milk from a giant queen bat.

In a climactic battle, Morgus, Jek and all the soldiers are killed. The Doctor now dying, carries Peri back to the TARDIS, where he gives her the antidote. She recovers, but the Doctor has to regenerate to save his own life.

Contents:

- Peri in Blouse

- Sharaz Jek with Alternate head (not shown)

- Android Head Accessory

+  The Peri & Sharaz Jek Set is released on 9th December 2011, priced £26.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

26 October 2011

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

The SIGNED City of Death Set features The Fourth Doctor and with Count Scarleoni (as seen in the Classic Series adventure City of Death), and is signed by Julian Glover.

The Fourth Doctor and Romana II are in Paris investigating a fracture in time. During a visit to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, the Doctor purloins from a stranger, Countess Scarlioni, a bracelet that is actually an alien scanner device. The trail leads to the home of Count Scarlioni, who is selling duplicate Mona Lisas to fund time experiments - all originals! 

The Count is revealed as an alien called Scaroth, last of the Jagaroth race. He was splintered in time when his ship exploded above primeval Earth. His intention is to go back in time to prevent the destruction of his ship. 

Realising that the Jagaroth spaceship exploding started life on Earth, the Doctor and Romana race back in time to stop the Count's plan. 

Contents:

-  Count Scarleoni Figure with Scaroth Head

-  Pistol Accessory (not shown)

-  Painting Accessory (not shown)

-  Fourth Doctor with Sonic Screwdriver Accessory

+  The SIGNED City of Death Set is Out Now, priced £34.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

14 October 2011

Doctor Who prop-maker Nick Robatto has launched a range of new, and sometimes outright deadly ray-guns to unleash on an unsuspecting world! Nick, or his alter-ego, Professor RubberToe, has spent the last three years (in between making the odd Sonic Screwdriver or two) creating the world of RubberToe, and a series of ray-guns that are as beautiful as they are dangerous.

RubberToe Rayguns was born from the fevered imaginings of Nick’s encounters with the weird and outright strange while working on Doctor Who, at the end of which he had a number of beautiful – although no less deadly – ray-guns cluttering up his office. An epiphany followed, and Nick set about sketching out the world in which Professor RubberToe lives and formed a back-story for the ray-guns.

Nick says of his new venture; “I've had a very busy six years working on Dr Who, with only a couple of weeks spare here and there. It’s taken me around three and a half years from my initial idea to the launching of the website. I wanted something that I could put my own design on, and so Rubbertoe Rayguns was born!”.

Now Nick’s amazing creations are available for purchase at www.rubbertoerayguns.com! All the ray-guns are handmade by Nick himself, with limited runs on each design. So to get yourself a beautiful and unique piece of classic sci-fi weaponry!

+  Enter Here to be in with a chance of winning a Rubbertoe Raygun on the DWO Competitions page!

[Source: Nick Robatto]

<mce:script

13 October 2011

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

The Enemies Of The Third Doctor Set features Omega, an Auton and a Drashing (as seen in Classic Series 3rd Doctor adventures).

From the adventures of the Third Doctor, the Drashig figure stands approximately 220mm high and doubles as a hand puppet for little hands, children can animate the mouth in classic FX fashion!

This set also includes the imposing Omega figure which features a removable head and fabric robes, lastly the classic Auton figure has a swappable gun hand and Nestene Sphere accessory.

Contents:

-  Drashig figure.

-  Omega action figure (with Detachable head).

-  Auton action figure with Nestene Sphere accessory and swappable gun hand.

+  The Enemies Of The Third Doctor Set is released on 16th December 2011, priced £44.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

8 October 2011

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

The Chase Set features a Mechanoid and two Daleks (as seen in the Classic Series 1st Doctor adventure, The Chase).

From the classic story: 'The Chase', the Mechonoid figure is approximately 130mm high (160mm with the antenna extended) x 130mm wide. It features a swappable flame arm, flip-out claw arms and wheels. It is faced by the Daleks ready to do battle!

Contents:

1 x Mechonoid action figure with swappable flame weapon

2 x Daleks (The Chase) action figures

+  The Chase Set is released on 16th December 2011, priced £39.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

8 October 2011

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the 2012 book release of Magic of the Angels by Jacqueline Rayner.

Magic of the Angels

Written by: Jacqueline Rayner

'No one from this time will ever see that girl again...'

The Doctor, Amy and Rory round off a sight-seeing tour round London with a trip to the theatre. That's when things start to go wrong.

The Doctor wonders why so many young girls are going missing from the area. When he sees Sammy Star's amazing magic act, he thinks he knows the answer. Sammy's glamorous assistant disappears at the climax of the act - but this is no stage trick.

The Doctor and his friends team up with residents of an old people's home to discover the truth. And together they find themselves face to face with a deadly Weeping Angel.

Whatever you do - don't blink!

A thrilling all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

+  Magic of the Angels is released on 2nd February 2012, priced £1.99.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: BBC Books]

<mce:script

8 October 2011

BBC Books recently confirmed that the latest revision of the Doctor Who Encyclopedia, compiled by Gary Russell and out on 13th October, will be released as both a book and an iPad app.

A website has been set up with a screenshot of what the app will look like, together with a form that fans can fill in to keep informed of this release and any future products and updates from BBC Books - http://www.doctorwhoencyclopedia.com/.

Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia

River Song still a riddle? Stumped by the stolen planets in the Medusa Cascade? Forgotten what happened in the Timelines That Never Happened? Look no further...

Completely revised and updated, this is the ultimate guide to everything and everyone that's ever happened, un-happened and happened again in the worlds and times of the Doctor. The Doctor Who Encyclopedia now covers the Eleventh Doctor's first two seasons, plus every Ninth and Tenth Doctor story, and is packed with photographs and artwork from seven stunning years of adventures - including the charity specials, animated adventures, online Adventure Games, TARDISodes and preludes. This is your complete tour of time and space - from Abaddon and Inspector Abberline to Melody Zucker and the Zygons.

+  Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia is released on 13th October 2011, priced £25.00.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: BBC Books]

<mce:script

4 October 2011

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

The Enemies of the First Doctor Set features a Dalek, a Cyberman and a Roboman (as seen in the Classic Series).

True classics from the First Doctor's era: A 'Daleks' Master Plan' Dalek figure with the rarely seen flame arm, the chilling Roboman figure and the historic Cyberman figure from their first appearance in 'The Tenth Planet'.

Contents:

-  Dalek (Master Plan) action figure with flame arm

-  Roboman action figure

-  10th Planet Cyberman action figure

+  The Enemies of the First Doctor Set is released on 12th December 2011, priced £34.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

4 October 2011

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

The Leela & Stor Set features The Fourth Doctor's companion Leela with Sontaran Commander Stor (as seen in the Classic Series adventure The Invsion of Time).

After a secret meeting in space with a group of mysterious aliens, the Fourth Doctor takes Leela to Gallifrey so he can claim the Presidency of the Time Lords. After his induction as Lord President, the Doctor inexplicably commands the force field around Gallifrey to be shut down. His alien coconspirators materialise revealing the Vardans, telepathic invaders that can travel on any wavelength.

The Doctor has been planning a double bluff, working alongside them until he can place a time loop around their home planet. But when he springs his trap the Vardans are banished, only to be immediately replaced by Sontarans! This fearsome clone race were also using the Vardans, but to conquer the Gallifrey. The invasion of the Time Lords has begun, led by Commander Stor. A fierce battle ensues across the Capitol and through the Doctor’s TARDIS. With casualties on both sides, Stor is the only surviving Sontaran left. The Doctor uses knowledge extracted from the Matrix by K-9 to construct a De-Mat gun, a very powerful weapon only to be used as a last resort. The gun is destroyed in an implosion with a Sontaran weapon... killing Stor. As they prepare to leave, Leela announces that she wishes to stay behind, and K-9 elects to remain with her.

Contents:

-  Leela with Dagger

-  Commander Stor with Weapon & Helmet

-  De-Mat Gun Accessory

+  The Leela & Stor Set is released on 24th November 2011, priced £26.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

9 September 2011

Several sources have now confirmed The Complete Sixth Series box-set, due for release on DVD and Blu-ray this November.

The set will contain 6 discs in total and has a running time of 645 minutes. As well as including all thirteen episodes from Series Six, the previously available Christmas special; A Christmas Carol will also be included, as well as the following Special Features:

- Meanwhile in the Tardis feature – Five newly filmed scenes for episodes 1, 3, 7, 8 & 13, telling what happens between the episodes. (Two of which, 'Bad Night' & 'Good Night' are directed by Richard Senior, as confirmed on his agencies website). Also included are the 'Space' & 'Time' mini episodes which formed part of Comic Relief 2011.

- Doctor Who Confidential featurettes: An inside look at each episode.

- Monster Files featurettes - Get under the skin and inside the minds of the new Doctor's most challenging opponents.

- Audio commentaries.

- Trailers and Trails feature.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Sources: BBFC; Curtis Brown; Blu-ray.com]

6 September 2011

Cosmic Hobo Productions have sent DWO the cover and details for their forthcoming Scarifyers adventure; The Magic Circle, which features Classic Series 'Davros' actor Terry Molloy.

The Scarifyers: The Magic Circle

Professor Dunning (Terry Molloy) is finding the business of single-handedly saving Great Britain from the forces of darkness rather taxing.

And Lionheart? Lionheart is missing.

When the only clue to his disappearance seems to lie in a twenty-year-old murder investigation, Dunning turns to the one man who might have the answers: Lionheart’s erstwhile colleague Harry ‘Thumper’ Crow (David Warner).

Harry doesn’t hold with supernaturalism, but over the next few days he’s going to see some very strange things indeed: a string of murdered magicians, a dead music-hall star come back to life, and a pensioner from the depths of hell.

Can Crow and Dunning find Lionheart? A terrible truth awaits, as they unearth the long-buried secrets of The Magic Circle.

This is the sixth adventure of The Scarifyers.

About The Scarifyers:

The Scarifyers began life in 2006 with The Nazad Conspiracy, uniting 1930s ghost story writer Professor Dunning (Terry Molloy) with Detective Inspector Lionheart (Nicholas Courtney), as they battled the vengeful spirit of Rasputin. In The Devil of Denge Marsh, Lionheart left the force to set up top-secret government department MI-13, and rescue Dunning from an evil cult and a giant squid. For King and Country saw our heroes save King George VI from an irate resurrected Oliver Cromwell; in The Curse of the Black Comet they travelled to Egypt in the company of Brian Blessed, and in The Secret Weapon of Doom they searched for the titular secret weapon, aided by Nigel Havers and Leslie Phillips.

BBC 7 (now Radio 4 Extra) picked up The Scarifyers in 2007, and has continued to broadcast the series ever since. The Radio Times called them ‘rollicking good fun.’

In 2011, Nicholas Courtney – Inspector Lionheart in The Scarifyers - passed away. The Magic Circle introduces a new lead character, played by David Warner, and serves as a farewell to both Lionheart and to the actor who played him. 

Available from www.cosmichobo.com or all good bookshops. For further information, e-mail simon@cosmichobo.com.

+  The Scarifyers: The Magic Circle is released on 1st November 2011, priced £11.99.

[Source: Cosmic Hobo Productions]

6 September 2011

Respected Doctor Who artist Alister Pearson has produced a piece of artwork based on the three books covers for ‘Day of the Daleks’, including Alister’s own.

This will be raffled at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's 'Time 5’ convention on 29th October 2011.

DWAS have also produced some high quality A4 prints of the picture, each of which will be individually signed by Alister. These can be bought either at Riverside Studios on 29th October or pre-ordered now via their website.

The price is just £5 and all proceeds from both print sales and the raffle will be given to ‘Help for Heroes’ which supports British servicemen and women who have been injured in service. 

To order online or by post please visit www.dwasonline.co.uk and click the ‘Day of the Daleks’ link.

[Source: DWAS]

<mce:script

1 September 2011

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the 10th October DVD release of Series 6: Part 2.

The Doctor, Amy and Rory return to face monsters, mysteries and adventures all across time and space in the second part of the action-packed sixth series. Billed as the biggest and best series yet, the final 6 thrilling episodes of arrive on DVD and Blu ray from 10th October, priced £25.52 and £30.63. Episodes are also available on download to own.

With Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory and Alex Kingston as River Song, these exciting new episodes also guest stars a wealth of British acting talent including David Walliams (Come Fly With Me), James Corden (Gavin and Stacey), Daniel Mays (Outcasts), Simon Callow (Rome) and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock).

The truth about River Song is out and the time has come for the Doctor to face his greatest demons. Venturing across centuries and galaxies, the Doctor, Amy and Rory will encounter the greatest war criminal in all of history - and Hitler. Together, they'll discover there's no scarier place in the universe than a child's bedroom and a visit to an alien quarantine facility will reveal to Rory a very different side to his wife. In a hotel where walls move, corridors twist and rooms vanish, death lies waiting. But the Doctor's time has yet to come. He has one last stop to make on his final journey - an old friend needs his help and an old foe must be defeated. But time catches up with us all and the Doctor can delay no more.

By the shores of Lake Silencio, in Utah, all of time and space hang in the balance and a NASA astronaut is waiting…

Doctor Who Series 6: Part 2 DVD and Blu-ray features two Monster Files extras.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

28 August 2011

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

The City of Death Set features The Fourth Doctor and with Count Scarleoni (as seen in the Classic Series adventure City of Death).

The Fourth Doctor and Romana II are in Paris investigating a fracture in time. During a visit to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, the Doctor purloins from a stranger, Countess Scarlioni, a bracelet that is actually an alien scanner device. The trail leads to the home of Count Scarlioni, who is selling duplicate Mona Lisas to fund time experiments - all originals! 

The Count is revealed as an alien called Scaroth, last of the Jagaroth race. He was splintered in time when his ship exploded above primeval Earth. His intention is to go back in time to prevent the destruction of his ship. 

Realising that the Jagaroth spaceship exploding started life on Earth, the Doctor and Romana race back in time to stop the Count's plan. 

Contents:

-  Count Scarleoni Figure with Scaroth Head

-  Pistol Accessory (not shown)

-  Painting Accessory (not shown)

-  Fourth Doctor with Sonic Screwdriver Accessory

+  The City of Death Set is released on 19th October 2011, priced £26.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

<mce:script

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