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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
31 March 2011

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 9th August 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of Paradise Towers.

Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary

• Horror on the High Rise

• Casting Sylvester

• Deleted and Extended Scenes 

• Continuity

• Girls! Girls! Girls! - The Eighties 

• Photo Gallery 

• PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

• Production Note Subtitles 

• Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

+  Paradise Towers is released on 9th August 2011, priced $24.98 (USA) / $26.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

30 March 2011

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the 9th May Doctor Who DVD Box-set release of Mannequin Mania.

Spearhead from Space

The Doctor is exiled to Earth in the late 20th Century by his own people - the Time Lords. The newly regenerated Doctor finds himself in Oxley Woods alongside a shower of mysterious meteorites.

Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskfoce led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. UNIT are soon called into action when people and meteorites start going missing but puzzling of all is the attempted kidnapping of a strange hospital patient - a man with two hearts, who insists that he knows the Brigadier... The new Doctor soon joins forces with his old friends, UNIT and the recently recruited Dr Liz Shaw, but time is running out.

Special Features:

•  Two Commentaries – One with actors Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney and another with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks.

•  Down to Earth – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story and how a strike at the BBC studios inadvertently created the only classic series story to be made entirely on film. With actor Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor (and inadvertent Auton actor) Robin Squire. Narrated by Carl Kennedy.

•  Regenerations - From Black and White to Colour – ‘Spearhead from Space’ marked not only the arrival of a new Doctor but also the transition from black and white to colour. This documentary looks at the challenges faced by programme makers during this period. With actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, producer Derrick Sherwin, script editor Terrance Dicks, directors Timothy Combe, Christopher Barry and Michael Ferguson, designer Roger Cheveley and graphic designer Bernard Lodge.

•  UNIT Recruitment Film (dur. 4’ 48”) – a spoof army recruitment film put together for BBC transmission during Doctor Who’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 1993.

•  Trailers – two trailers for the 1999 BBC2 transmission of the story and for ‘Doctor Who Night’from the same year.
•  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.

Terror of the Autons

Earth is in terrible danger. The Master has arrived with an evil scheme to destroy humanity and silence the Doctor forever by awakening the awesome power of the Nestene - a ruthlessly aggressive alien life form. With their control over all types of plastic, they form into faceless automatons, a willing army of destruction easily controlled by the evil Time Lord himself.

Aided by the Brigadier and his enthusiastic new assistant, Jo Grant, only the Doctor can combat their evil power, but this is easier said than done when every plastic doll, phone flex, or chair can be turned against him. First, however, he must defeat the Master.

Special Features:

•  Commentary - With actors Katy Manning and Nicolas Courtney, producer Barry Letts.

•  Life on Earth – In this documentary, cast and crew look back at the making of the story and the differences in the way Doctor Who was made in the seventies compared to now. With actors Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and new series producer Phil Collinson.

•  The Doctor’s Moriarty– with the introduction of the Master, the Doctor now had his very own Moriarty, who would be the dark figure behind every story in season eight, and many more beyond that. This featurette discusses the enduring appeal of the character. With actor Katy Manning, producer Barry Letts, script editors Terrance Dicks and Christopher H Bidmead and writers Robert Shearman and Joe Lidster.

•  Plastic Fantastic – how did the writers of Doctor Who and other programmes take something as everyday as plastic and turn it against us? With writers Francesca Gavin, Robert Shearman and new series designer Matthew Savage.

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

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

•  Radio Times Listings and promotional material for Sugar Smacks and Nestle products in Adobe PDF format.

+  Mannequin Mania is released on 9th May 2011, priced £30.63.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

28 March 2011

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 12th July 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of The Gunfighters.

Tombstone, Arizona, 1881. The air is filled with the sounds of shooting, cussing, and toe-tapping tunes knocked out on the battered piano at the Last Chance Saloon. And then there is something less familiar: the wheezing, groaning sound of a Police Box materializing.

The Doctor and his companions aren't the only newcomers in town. The Clanton brothers have ridden in to settle a grudge with Doc Holliday, the notorious gambler, drinker, and dentist. In the Wild West, tempers are short, guns are swift, and a moment's hesitation on the draw can mean death.

Special Features:

•  Audio Commentary

•  The End of the Line

•  Tomorrow's Times

•  Photo Gallery

•  PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

•  Production Notes Subtitle Option

+  The Gunfighters is released on 12th July 2011, priced $24.98 (USA) / $26.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

28 March 2011

BBC America have sent DWO the cover and details for the 12th July 2011, Region 1 Doctor Who DVD release of The Awakening.

Little Hodcombe, 1984. The Doctor, Tegan and Turlough arrive in a small English village, looking forward to spending some time with Tegan .js" type="text/javascript"> 's grandfather. They soon discover that all is not well - Tegan's grandfather is missing and the locals are reenacting dangerous war games from 1643.

With the past mixed up with the present, can the Doctor stop the games before an evil entity hidden in the village church awakens?

Special Features:

•  Audio Commentary 

•  Return to Little Hodcombe 

•  Making the Malus 

•  Now and Then

•  Extended and deleted scene s

•  The Golden Egg Awards

•  Photo Gallery (8 mins)

•  PDF materials: Radio Times Listings

•  Production Note Subtitles 

•  Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

+  The Awakening is released on 12th July 2011, priced $14.98 (USA) / $15.98 (Canada).

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: BBC America]

22 March 2011

BBC Books are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a novelisation of the great ‘lost’ Doctor Who serial Shada.

Shada retells an adventure that never made it to the screen. Production of the planned finale to the 1979-1980 season of Doctor Who was halted part-way through due to industrial action at the BBC, and the story was never completed.

Now, drawing on drafts of the script and production notes as well as original designs and the material that was completed, prolific Doctor Who TV script writer Gareth Roberts tells this unique story, featuring Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, in full for the first time.

Published with the full support of the Estate of Douglas Adams and Adams' agent Ed Victor at Ed Victor Ltd, Shada will be the first ever novelisation of Douglas Adams's work on Doctor Who.   

+  Shada will be released in March 2012 as a hardback, priced £16.99.

[Source: BBC Books]

17 March 2011

BBC Books are very pleased to announce the republication of 6 Classic Doctor Who novels with Chris Achilleos’s stunning classic artwork and a series of new introductions by Neil Gaiman, Charlie Higson, Gareth Roberts, Stephen Baxter, Russell T Davies and Terrance Dicks.

Doctor Who and the Daleks

Written by: David Whitaker - Introduction by: Neil Gaiman

The mysterious Doctor and his granddaughter Susan are joined by unwilling adventurers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright in an epic struggle for survival on an alien planet 

In a vast metal city they disc over the survivors of a terrible nuclear war – the Daleks.  Held captive in the deepest levels of the city, can the Doctor and his new companions stop the Daleks’ plan to totally exterminate their mortal enemies, the peace-loving Thals?  More importantly, even if they can escape from the Daleks, will Ian and Barbara ever see their home planet Earth again?

This novel is based on the second Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 21 December 1963 – 1 February 1964. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Susan, Ian and Barbara.

Doctor Who and the Crusaders

Written by: David Whitaker - Introduction by: Charlie Higson

Arriving in the Holy Land in the middle of the Third Crusade, the Doctor and his companions run straight into trouble.  The Doctor and Vicki befriend Richard the Lionheart, but must survive the cut-throat politics of the English court. Even with the king on their side, they find they have made powerful enemies.

Looking for Barbara, Ian is ambushed – staked out in the sand and daubed with honey so that the ants will eat him.  With Ian unable to help, Barbara is captured by the cruel warlord El Akir. Even if Ian escapes and rescues her, will they ever see the Doctor, Vicki and the TARDIS again?

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 27 March – 17 April 1965. Featuring the First Doctor as played by William Hartnell, and his companions Ian, Barbara, and Vicki.

Doctor Who and the Cybermen

Written by: Gerry Davis - Introduction by: Gareth Roberts 

In 2070, the Earth’s weather is controlled from a base on the moon. But when the Doctor and his friends arrive, all is not well. They discover unexplained drops of air pressure, minor problems with the weather control systems, and an outbreak of a mysterious plague.

With Jamie injured, and members of the crew going missing, the Doctor realises that the moonbase is under attack. Some malevolent force is infecting the crew and sabotaging the systems as a prelude to an invasion of Earth. And the Doctor thinks he knows who is behind it: the Cybermen.

This novel is based on ‘The Moonbase’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 11 February–4 March 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Polly, Ben and Jamie.

Doctor Who and the Abominable Snowmen

Written by: Terrance Dicks - Introduction by: Stephen Baxter

The Doctor has been to Det-Sen Monastery before, and expects the welcome of a life time.  But the monastery is a very different place from when the Doctor last came.  Fearing at attack at any moment by the legendary Yeti, the monks are prepared to defend themselves, and see the Doctor as a threat.

The Doctor and his friends join forces with Travers, an English explorer out to prove the existence of the elusive abominable snowmen.  But they soon discover that these Yeti are not the timid animals that Travers seeks.  They are the unstoppable servants of an alien Intelligence.

This novel is based on a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 30 September – 4 November 1967. Featuring the Second Doctor as played by Patrick Troughton, and his companions Jamie and Victoria.

Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion

Written by: Terrance Dicks - Introduction by: Russell T Davies

Put on trial by the Time Lords, and found guilty of interfering in the affairs of other worlds, the Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century, his appearance once again changed. His arrival coincides with a meteorite shower.  But t hese are no ordinary meteorites.

The Nestene Consciousness has begun its first attempt to invade Earth using killer Autons and deadly shop window dummies. Only the Doctor and UNIT can stop the attack.  But the Doctor is recovering in hospital, and his old friend the Brigadier doesn’t even recognise him.  Can the Doctor recover and win UNIT’s trust before the invasion begins? 

This novel is based on ‘Spearhead from Space’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 3 – 24 January 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters

Written by Malcolm Hulke - Introduction by: Terrance Dicks

UNIT are called in to investigate security at a secret research centre buried under Wenley Moor.  Unknown to the Doctor and his colleagues, the work at the centre has woken a group of Silurians – intelligent reptiles that used to be the dominant life form on Earth in prehistoric times.

Now they have woken, the Silurians are appalled to find ‘their’ planet populated by upstart apes.  The Doctor hopes to negotiate a peace deal, but there are those on both sides who cannot bear the thought of humans and Silurians living together.  As UNIT soldiers enters the cave systems, and the Silurians unleash a deadly plague that could wipe out the human race, the battle for planet Earth begins.

This novel is based on ‘The Silurians’, a Doctor Who story which was originally broadcast from 31 January – 14 March 1970. Featuring the Third Doctor as played by Jon Pertwee, and his companion Liz Shaw and the UNIT organisation commanded by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

All 6 titles will be published on 7th July at £4.99 each.

+  Compare Prices for these products on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: BBC Books]

16 March 2011

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the April DVD release of Planet of the Spiders.

What begins as innocuous research into ESP turns into a deadly mind battle, with the terrifying spiders from the planet Metebelis Three pitted against The Doctor, his friends and Time Lord K'Anpo. 

At a Tibetan-style spiritual retreat deep in rural England, a clandestine circle of chanting brethren unknowingly call upon the evil powers of the Metebelis Spiders, whose quest for the perfect blue crystal leads them straight to the Doctor. He must travel to the alien planet to meet the Great One, merciless ruler of her spiders and human slaves, who plans to take over Earth.

The future of the entire universe is in the Doctor's hands, but if he is to face the fear the Great One sees in his mind, then he must face the certainty of total destruction. Could this be the Time Lord's final death? 

Special Features:

Disc 1:

•  6 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio. 

•  Commentary - stereo. With actors Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks.

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

•  Programme subtitles.

•  Subtitle Production Notes.

Disc 2:

•  The Final Curtain – five years after its re-invention in colour and its rise to massive popularity, it was time for Doctor Who’s charismatic lead actor Jon Pertwee to move on… and with him the production team that had guided the show throughout that period. This documentary looks at the background to the Third Doctor’s swansong. With actors Jon Pertwee and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, designer Rochelle Selwyn, visual effects assistant Mat Irvine and actor and author Mark Gatiss. Narrated by Glen Allen. 

•  John Kane Remembers… – actor John Kane memorably played the gentle, slow-witted Tommy, reborn through the power of the Metebelis crystal. An accomplished writer and series creator, Kane now lives in France, from where he looks back on his memories of the story. 

•  Directing Who with Barry Letts – Barry Letts is perhaps most famous as producer of Doctor Who, but he was also responsible for directing some of the show’s best-loved stories. Barry looks back on his career as a director in this documentary. 

•  Now & Then – the latest instalment in our ongoing series takes a trip back to some of the locations used during production of the story. 

•  ‘Planet of the Spiders’ Omnibus Edition – the full-length omnibus edit of the story, presented here totally unrestored.

•  Omnibus Trailer 

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

•  Radio Times Listings in Adobe pdf format.

+  Planet of the Spiders is released on 18th April 2011, priced £20.42.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

16 March 2011
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Big Finish Productions have issued a press release confirming Tom Baker's involvement in future Doctor Who audio adventures:

We’re delighted to announce that Tom Baker will be playing the Fourth Doctor in a number of audio adventures for Big Finish, to be released from the beginning of 2012. Storylines and scripts are already at an advanced stage, and we plan to start recording early in the summer.

The first season of six single-disc releases will begin in January 2012, with a second season of seven single-disc releases to follow at a date to be confirmed. There will also be a five-disc box set entitled Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The Fourth Doctor Box Set... The producers across the Fourth Doctor adventures are Nicholas Briggs and David Richardson.

“As many of you will know, we've been talking to Tom for a long time,” says Big Finish executive producer Nick Briggs. “David Richardson and I went to visit Tom at his home not long ago to chat about it all. We had a really great time. At that point, I sincerely felt that had we taken a microphone with us, Tom would have started there and then - but, of course, there are always finer details to sort out. Now that our plans are in place, and Tom has enthusiastically told the world that we're going ahead, we thought it best to follow-up with our own announcement. Rest assured that in the coming months we will be releasing news on this as soon as we are able.”

Executive producer Jason Haigh-Ellery says: "I am delighted that Tom will be joining the Big Finish audio adventures of Doctor Who. As a small child, I remember how charismatic and engaging his performance was each Saturday tea time - and we are all looking forward to recreating that era again."

We can confirm that the companions in these productions will be Louise Jameson as Leela and Mary Tamm as Romana, and some familiar monstrous faces from the past will be popping up too.

In early 2010, DWO interviewed Tom Baker, who expressed interest in possibly working with Big Finish. Listen to the Big Finish portion of our 90-Minute interview with Tom Baker below:

[Source: Big Finish]

3 March 2011

DWO can exclusively reveal that The 6th Doctor adventure; Vengeance on Varos will be released on DVD in 2012.

2|Entertain Classic Doctor Who Commissioning Editor, Dan Hall spoke to DWO regarding the release and had the following to say:

"We have been surprised and delighted by the fan campaigns that have championed for a Special Edition release of Vengeance on Varos, and due to the good old fashioned display of fan power that Doctor Who is famous for, 2|Entertain have listened and can confirm a fast commission for the release in 2012."

The Vengeance on Varos Special Edition DVD was originally slated to be part of the Revisitations 2 box-set, but was later replaced in favour of The Seeds of Death. 2|Entertain have kindly supplied us with a draft copy of the original proposed box-art that would have included the story (pictured).

Earlier today, 2|Entertain also confirmed the Late 2012 release of The 1st Doctor adventure; The Reign of Terror via their Twitter feed.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

28 February 2011

AudioGO have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming CD release of Doctor Who: The BBC Radio Episodes.

A special slipcase containing each of the Doctor's full-cast BBC radio adventures: "The Paradise of Death"; "The Ghosts of N-Space"; "Exploration Earth - The Time Machine" & "Slipback".

Also included is the 1975 made-for-LP audio adventure 'Doctor Who and the Pescatons' and the 1994 spoof 'Whatever Happened To...Susan?'.

Jon Pertwee, Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney, Tom Baker, Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Jane Asher are amongst the cast.

+  Doctor Who: The BBC Radio Episodes is released on 7th April 2011, priced £60.00.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: AudioGO]

28 February 2011

AudioGO have sent DWO the cover and details for the forthcoming CD release of Inferno.

In this exciting reading of a Doctor Who novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1984, the Doctor is trapped in a parallel world, unable to act as the Earth is threatened by a poisonous liquid leaking from top-secret drilling project Inferno.

This title is read by Caroline John.

+  Inferno is released on 7th April 2011, priced £13.25.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com!

[Source: AudioGO]

23 February 2011

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover & details for the upcoming DVD release of the Revisitations 2 Box-set.

The Seeds of Death

It is the 21st Century and Earth is totally dependent on T-Mat, a revolutionary form of instant travel. When the system breaks down the Doctor and friends make a hazardous journey to the relay station on the moon only to find that it has fallen into the hands of the Ice Warriors who plan to invade Earth. Can the Doctor outwit the evil Ice Warriors and destroy the fungus in time to save a dying world?

Special Features:

Disc 1:

• 6 x 25 min monochrome episodes with mono audio.

• Commentary – with actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, director Michael Ferguson and script editor Terrance Dicks.

• Audio Trailer (dur. 0’ 45”) – an off-air amateur recording of the original BBC1 trailer for the story. Suggest using this in the ‘Episode Selection’ menu, either as a background audio loop on the menu screen or as a selectable item.

• Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.

• Programme Subtitles

• Subtitle Production Notes

Disc 2:

• Lords of the Red Planet (dur. 28’ 31”) – a look back at the creation of the Ice Warriors and their re-appearance in the ‘The Seeds of Death’. With actors Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines, director Michael Ferguson, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Bobi Bartlett and TV historian Richard Bignell. Narrated by Katherine Mount.

• Sssowing the Ssseedsss – (dur. 24’ 05”) – Ice Warrior Sonny Caldinez, Ice Lord Alan Bennion and make-up designer Sylvia James recall their experiences of bringing the Martian warriors to life.

• Monster Masterclass (dur. 3’ 44”) – director Michael Ferguson talks about his experiences directing some of Doctor Who’s most famous monster stories.

• Monsters Who Came Back For More! (dur. 16’ 26”) – Nick ‘Voice of the Daleks’ Briggs and Doctor Who Magazine’s assistant editor Peter Ware take a look at the reasons why monsters often return for further adventures.

• Photo Gallery (dur. 4’ 30”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story.

• TARDIS Cam no.6 (dur. 0’ 57”) – a model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.

• PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.

Carnival of Monsters

The Doctor and Jo take the TARDIS on a test flight and arrive on a cargo ship, the SS Bernice, that appears to be crossing the Indian Ocean in 1926 but is in fact trapped inside a miniscope — a banned peepshow of miniaturised life-forms — on the planet Inter Minor.

Special Features:

Disc 1:

• 4 x 25 min episodes with mono audio.

• Commentary 1 – with actress Katy Manning and director Barry Letts.

• Commentary 2 – with actors Peter Halliday, Cheryl Hall and Jenny McCracken, script editor Terrance Dicks, sound effects designer Brian Hodgson. Moderated by Toby Hadoke.

• Episode Two – Early Edit (dur. 29’ 44”) – a longer early edit of the second episode, featuring the subsequently rejected ‘Delaware’ version of the theme music. It is presented here completely un-restored.

• Behind the Scenes (dur 1’ 48”) – on the studio floor and inside the gallery during production of the story, courtesy of a film crew from the BBC’s ‘Looking In’ documentary.

• Visual Effects Models (dur. 8’ 41”) – an expanded version of this feature, including unused model shots, trims and tests.

• ‘Five Faces of Doctor Who’ Trailer (dur. 4’ 10”) – a trail for the 1981’s repeat season, which saw many of Doctor Who’s classic stories – including ‘Carnival of Monsters’ - repeated for the first time in many years.

• Director’s Amended Ending (dur. 1’ 18”) – for the ‘Five Faces’ repeat of the story, director Barry Lett’s took the opportunity to re-edit the ending to remove a shot of a very obvious ‘bald cap’ which he had always felt spoiled the show.

• CSO Demo (dur. 3’ 07”) – director Barry Letts was very keen on the possibilities offered by the use of Colour Separation Overlay to place actors into fantastical model sets. In this BBC training film, he demonstrates the technique for fellow directors.

• TARDIS Cam no.2 (dur. 0’ 45”) – a CGI model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.

• Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.

• PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.

• Programme Subtitles

Disc 2:

• Destroy All Monsters! (dur. 23’ 11”) – cast and crew look back at the making of the story. With actors Katy Manning, Cheryl Hall and Peter Halliday, director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, assistant floor manager Karilyn Collier and visual effects assistant Colin Mapson. Narrated by Marc Silk.

• On Target with Ian Marter (dur. 16’ 08”) – actor Ian Marter played Andrews in this story before more famously playing companion Harry Sullivan in Tom Baker’s first stories. He was also a writer and novelised many previous Doctor Who adventures for the Target book range. With actors Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Nigel Plaskitt, script editors Terrance Dicks and Gary Russell.

• The A-Z of Gadgets and Gizmos (dur. 11’ 22”) – a tongue-in-cheek look at gadgets and gizmos in Doctor Who over the years. Narrated by Paul Jones.

• Mary Celeste (dur. 18’ 01”) – just as the SS Bernice disappeared from the Indian Ocean in the story, many real-life ships have mysteriously disappeared too. A trio of maritime experts discuss some of these events, including perhaps the most famous maritime mystery of all time, the strange case of the Mary Celeste. With the University of London’s Prof. Roger Luckhurst, Merseyside Maritime Museum’s Ian Murphy and the National Maritime Museum’s John McAleer.

• Photo Gallery (dur. 2’ 55”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story, plus photos from the commentary session and Frank Bellamay’s Radio Times artwork.

Resurrection of the Daleks

The Doctor and his companions are captured in a Time Corridor, and are forced to land on 20th Century Earth, diverted by the Doctor's oldest enemy - the Daleks.

It is here that the true purpose of the Time Corridor becomes apparent: after 90 years of imprisonment, Davros, the ruthless creator of the Daleks, is to be liberated to assist in the resurrection of his army. But not even the Daleks forsee the poisonous threat presented by their creator. Indeed, who would suspect Davros of wanting to destroy his own Daleks - and why?

Only the Doctor knows the truth. But will he be capable of descending to Davros' level of evil in order to stop him?

Special Features:

Disc 1:

• 2 x 45 min colour episodes with original mono audio and optional Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

• Commentary with actor Terry Molloy, writer Eric Saward and visual effects designer Peter Wragg, moderated by Nick Pegg.

• Casting Far and Wide (dur. 32’ 16”) – Actor and comedian Toby Hadoke interviews five of the jobbing actors who worked on the story about their careers and their experiences on the show. With Roger Davenport, Del Henney, Leslie Grantham, Jim Findlay and William Sleigh.

• On Location (dur. 18’ 32”) – producer John Nathan-Turner, director Matthew Robinson and writer Eric Saward return to London’s Shad Thames to reminisce about the story in its major filming location .

• Extended and Deleted Scenes (dur. 7’ 03”) – extra material from early edits of the episodes.

• Breakfast Time (dur. 7’ 56”) – Janet Fielding and John Nathan-Turner interviewed on the BBC’s breakfast show, including an item about the show’s music and sound effects featuring Malcolm Clarke and Brian Hodgson.

• Trailer (dur. 0’ 31”) – a BBC1 trailer for the original transmission.

• The Last Dalek (dur. 8’ 33”) – a behind-the-scenes look at the Ealing studios filming for 1967’s epic Dalek story, ‘The Evil of the Daleks’, courtesy of an 8mm film shot by BBC designer Tony Cornell. With narration by BBC visual effects designers Michealjohn Harris and Peter Day.

• TARDIS Cam no.4 (dur. 0’ 41”) – a model vignette created for the BBC’s Doctor Who website.

• Isolated Music - option to view the episodes with isolated music scores.

• Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.

• PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.

• Programme Subtitles

• Subtitle Production Notes

Disc 2:

• 4 x 25 min colour episodes with original mono audio and optional Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

• Commentary with actors Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, director Matthew Robinson.

• Come In Number Five (dur. 56’ 27”) – a retrospective of Peter Davison’s tenure as the fifth Doctor. With actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, producer John Nathan-Turner, executive producer Barry Letts, director Fiona Cumming, script editors Christopher H Bidmead, Eric Saward and Antony Root, BBC Head of Series and Serials David Reid and new series head writer Steven Moffat. Presented by David Tennant

• Tomorrow’s Times – The Fifth Doctor (dur. 12’ 17”) – the ongoing series looking at the press reaction to Doctor Who through the years reaches the fifth Doctor’s era. Presented by Frazer Hines

• Walrus (dur. 1’ 21”) – an oddity from the BBC’s archives. A Welsh woman comes face to face with a Dalek, who is determined to make her speak in a monotone…

• Photo Gallery (dur. 5’ 16”) - a selection of design and production photographs from the story.

• Coming Soon (dur. approx 1' 00") - a trail for a forthcoming DVD release.

• PDF material - Radio Times listings in PDF format.

• Programme Subtitles

• Subtitle Production Notes

[Source: 2|Entertain]

14 February 2011

To mark the 50th Anniversary of the charter of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Mail is issuing a set of 6 stamps and a miniature sheet, one of which features David Tennant.

Working with the Company Royal Mail selected six iconic Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Shakespeare’s plays to illustrate the issue.

1st class - Hamlet - The stamp shows former Doctor Who David Tennant as Hamlet in 2008.

66p - The Tempest Antony Sher plays Prospero in the 2009 production.

68p - Henry VIChuk Iwuji plays Henry VI in the 2006 production.

76p - King Lear - A classic shot of Paul Schofield as Lear from 1962.

£1.00 - A Midsummer Night’s DreamSara Kestelman plays the fairy queen Titania from 1970.

£1.10 - Romeo and JulietIan McKellen and Francesca Annis play the doomed lovers from 1976.

+  The stamps will be released on 12th April 2011.

[Sources: Royal MailNorvic Philatelics]

10 February 2011

UK costume manufacturer, Cesar UK, have produced a neat little range of Doctor Who outfits to buy.

For those of you who felt cheated by the recent 'Ride-In' Dalek range for kids only, fear not, as these outfits are aimed at adults!

Currently available in the range are:

The Fourth Doctor

(medium 38/40" and large 42/46")

Follow in the footsteps of fashion icon Tom Baker with this natty Doctor Who costume designed to meet all your time travelling need!

The Fifth Doctor

(medium 38/40" and large 42/46")

Follow in the footsteps of fashion icon Peter Davison with this natty Doctor Who costume designed to meet all your time travelling need!

Leela

(small UK size 6-8, medium UK size 10/12 and large UK size 14-16)

Every Doctor needs an assistant and who better than the very sexy Leela? This fab costume arrives all ready to pop into the TARDIS and go off adventuring!

Tegan

(Temporarily unavailable to preorder)

Further details Coming Soon...

Depending on the success of the range, further outfits may be released in the future.

+  The Doctor Who costumes will be available from July 2011, priced £49.99 each.

+  Preorder the Doctor Who costumes from Forbidden Planet for just £39.99 each.

[Source: Cesar UK]

5 February 2011

Panini reveal more details for their upcoming Doctor Who Magazine for North America; Doctor Who Insider - or DWI as DWO are affectionately calling it!

The new North American magazine, Doctor Who Insider, is officially licensed by BBC Worldwide and will feature 100% original material, celebrating all eras of Doctor Who.

Each issue will explore the fantastic Doctor Who universe with star interviews, behind-the-scenes features, character and monster guides, news and pictures from the world of Doctor Who fandom, and an in-depth look at the latest Doctor Who releases. Plus, every issue will include a double-sided fold-out poster.

“We are absolutely delighted to be launching Doctor Who Insider in North America,” says Mike Riddell, Managing Director of Panini UK. “Doctor Who has always been a strong performer for Panini UK and we are very excited to be able to collaborate with BBC Worldwide and BBC AMERICA and build on its increasing popularity in the United States and Canada.”

Panini will launch the first monthly issue of Doctor Who Insider on 7th April 2011, priced $6.99. It will be available alongside the established Doctor Who Magazine, offering Doctor Who enthusiasts more than ever before.

** Please note that the cover is a draft and may not necessarily be the cover used in the final version.

[Source: John Ainsworth]

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