The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (#488) has officially confirmed that Series 9 of Doctor Who will comprise of 12 episodes, following the same number as Series 8.

Unlike last year, it is widely believed that Series 9 will comprise of mostly two-part adventures, with Episodes 9 and 10 the only ones not to be written and directed by the same pairing.

As with previous years, there will be a Christmas Special which will air on Christmas Day.

Doctor Who Online's Series 9 Episode Guide:

9.1: The Magician’s Apprentice (Part One) - [w.Steven Moffat / d. Paul Wilmshurst]
9.2: The Witch’s Familiar (Part Two) - [w.Steven Moffat / d. Paul Wilmshurst]
9.3: TBC - [w.Toby Whithouse / d. Daniel O' Hara]
9.4: TBC - [w.Toby Whithouse / d. Daniel O' Hara]
9.5: The Girl Who Died (Part One) - [w.Jamie Mathieson & Steven Moffat / d. Ed Bazalgette]
9.6: The Woman Who Lived (Part Two) - [w.Catherine Tregenna / d. Ed Bazalgette]
9.7: TBC (Part One) - [w.Peter Harness / d. Daniel Nettheim]
9.8: TBC (Part Two) - [w.Peter Harness / d. Daniel Nettheim]
9.9: TBC - [w.Mark Gatiss / d. TBA]
9.10: TBC - [w.Sarah Dolalrd / d. Justin Molotnikov]
9.11: TBC (Part One) - [w.Steven Moffat / d. TBA]
9.12: TBC (Part Two) - [w.Steven Moffat / d. TBA]
10.X: 2015 Christmas Special (Title TBC) - [w.TBA / d. TBA]

Key: w = Written By, d = Directed by 

+  Series 9 of Doctor Who will air this Autumn (likely September).

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

A teaser trailer for Series 9 of Doctor Who recently aired on BBC America.

The trailer, which aired on Saturday after Orphan Black, only lasts 10 seconds and shows no footage from Series 9, and instead focuses on the exterior of the TARDIS.

You can watch the trailer in the player, below:

+  Series 9 of Doctor Who will air this Autumn (likely September).

[Source: BBC America]

The BAFTA award-winning Rebecca Front joins the guest cast of the new series of Doctor Who.

Rebecca will guest in an adventure that sees the return of the Zygons, although her role in the show is currently closely guarded - possibly by UNIT who also appear in the action-packed two-parter.

Rebecca is well-known for regular roles in The Thick of It, Inspector Lewis and more recently, the BBC Four sitcom, Up the Women. In the BBC’s acclaimed drama, Death Comes To Pemberley, she took the role of Mrs Bennet, mother of Lydia Wickham, played by Jenna Coleman. 

It’s Rebecca’s first appearance in Doctor Who and she’ll be seen alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman who return later this year as the Doctor and Clara. She’ll also be joining Ingrid Oliver (Osgood) and Jemma Redgrave (Kate) who return in the two-parter written by Peter Harness.

Other members of the guest cast for Series 9 include Maisie Williams, Michelle Gomez, Rufus Hound, Paul Kaye and Jaye Griffiths.

The BBC Cymru Wales produced drama will return to BBC One this Autumn with further casting to be announced in due course.

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

BBC Worldwide have unveiled a new promo picture [pictured-right] featuring our first glimpse at a new monster for Series 9 of Doctor Who.

Very little is known so far as to the monster's identity, but it will feature as part of the third block of filming. Accompanying the image was the following text:

"What’s that in the shadows? New monster about to meet Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in Doctor Who Series 9"

+  Series 9 of Doctor Who airs Late August / Early September 2015. 

[Source: BBC Worldwide]

Speaking on yesterday's edition of the Loose Ends show on BBC Radio 4, Christopher Eccleston (The 9th Doctor) discussed his reasons for joining and leaving Doctor Who.

DWO have transcribed the Doctor Who segment of the interview, below:

When you accepted the role of Doctor Who were you talked into that decision?

CE: "No I wasn’t talked into that decision, that was my decision, I approached Russell T. Davies, I emailed him and said I know you’re gonna do this, I think you should think about me. Because, I’d acted a lot for adults, and I wanted to do something for children. I wanted to try and learn a lighter way of being."

Did you achieve it?

CE: "I think I over-pitched the comedy. If I had my time again I would do the comedy very differently but I think obviously where I did possibly succeed was in the tortured stuff - surprise, surprise!"

So why did you go - you were so good!

CE: "Thank you very much! What’s interesting in this country is whenever a story like this emerges, they concentrate on the negative. I don’t think it’s important that I left, I think it’s important that I did it in the first place."

OK, it may not be important, but to fans it was a bit of a shock because you could have stayed for 4, 5 or 6… you could still be there now! So that was a big decision not to do any more after the first series.

CE: "Im still there! I was in David Tennant, I was in Matt Smith (are we gonna edit this?) I was in Peter Capaldi. Nobody knows this about the Time Lords. I’m always there in spirit."

OK, but talk me through the decision to leave. Was it because you didn’t work within that structure of a rigorous show running show?

CE: "Myself and three individuals at the very top of the pyramid clashed - so off I went. But they’re not here to say their side of it so I’m not going to go into detail."

[Source: BBC Radio 4]

Doctor Who has become part of the leaked Sony email saga, as revelations of a planned movie are leaked.

The emails, which were published by Wikileaks, show internal discussions at Sony, as well as emails from Sony to the BBC Director of Television, Danny Cohen.

Cohen claimed that the popular TV series will become a film under an eight-year plan to keep the franchise alive. But the show’s team are "very hot under the collar" because they feel "their position on it is not being listened to or accepted." They want to wait until the time is right and have made their feelings "very clear" on the matter, one Sony email reveals.

Mr Cohen claims there is "tremendous interest" in a Doctor Who film and says there has been "pressure" to make it from BBC Worldwide.

The plans for Doctor Who were put in an email sent in January last year from Andrea Wong, president of International Production for Sony, to the company’s chief executive Michael Lynton.

A Hollywood version of Doctor Who could be extremely profitable for the BBC - but risks ruining the brand if it is done badly.

The email says:

"He (Cohen) said that while there has been tremendous interest (and pressure from BBCWW) (BBC Worldwide) to do a Dr Who film, the show runners feel very clear that they don’t want to do one at this moment. That said, over the course of the coming months, the show running team is coming up with an 8 year timeline for the brand – laying out all that will happen with it. He says that a film will certainly be a part of that timeline. So the answer is that a film won’t happen in the next year to 18 months, but it is expected that it will happen after that within the 8 year horizon."

Lynton’s response was:

"Sounds like we need to meet with the show runners."

A follow up email from Wong reads:

"Spoke to Danny and he doesn’t think it makes sense right now and actually might hurt our cause. He said that the creative team on the show have been having the movie conversation with BBC Worldwide in recent weeks and are very hot under the collar that their position on it is not being listened to or accepted."

The tranche of emails were stolen last year by group calling itself Guardians of Peace. 

[Source: The Telegraph]

Speaking in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (485), Steven Moffat has discussed the future of Doctor Who.

In the 'Ten Years At The Top' feature, which celebrates the past 10 years, Moffat confirmed that the show will continue for at least another 5 years:

"I thought it would last ten years. I didn't think it would last ten years with Worldwide trying to get me in a room to talk about their plan for the next five years! So it's going to do a minimum of 15. I mean, it could do 26!"

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

Michelle Gomez arrives in Cardiff this week to re-join the Doctor Who cast and reclaim the role of ‘Missy’ for series 9. She joins Peter Capaldi (The Doctor) and Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) for the opening episode of the series.  

Speaking in Cardiff, Michelle Gomez said:

 

“Things have been a little beige since I left Missy behind, so I'm delighted to be putting my Lippie back on. I'm positively dying to see the Doctor again!”

 

The second two-part adventure to be filmed, ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ and ‘The Witch’s Familiar’, is written by the show’s lead writer Steven Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald (Blink, the Hugo Award-winning Doctor Who episode).

 

Steven Moffat, lead writer and Executive Producer, said:

 

“Everybody hide - Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she’s straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener. But what brings her back into their lives is the last thing they’d expect.”

 

Having filmed ‘The Day of the Doctor’ in the series’ 50^th anniversary special and ‘Dark Water’ and ‘Death in Heaven’ in series 8, Jemma Redgrave returns to the guest cast for series 9, alongside the Laurence Olivier Award nominee and film, television, radio and stage actress Kelly Hunter.   

 

A familiar theatre and television actress and one of the UK’s most proficient performers, Clare Higgins also joins the guest cast for the opening of the series. Jaye Griffiths has been gracing our screens in some of the nation’s favourite TV programmes such as Silent Witness and Casualty and also takes up a guest role in the opening episode.

 

Other guest stars confirmed for the new series include Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Aaron Neil, India Ria Amarteifio, Joey Price, Dasharn Anderson, Harki Bhambra & Demi Papaminas.

+  Series 9 of Doctor Who airs Autumn 2015 on BBC One. 

[Source: BBC]

Filming has begun for Block 2 of Series 9 of Doctor Who, the BBC confirmed today.

An image [pictured-right] featuring a clapperboard for the next block, with Hettie MacDonald (Blink) directing, was posted to the BBC Picture Publicity website.

More news as we get it...

+  Series 9 of Doctor Who airs Autumn 2015 on BBC One. 

[Source: BBC]

Filming has begun in Cardiff for series 9 of Doctor Who and includes a star-studded guest cast. The new series will be back on BBC One in Autumn 2015.

The episodes currently being filmed are written by Toby Whithouse (The Game, Being Human), produced by Derek Ritchie and directed by Daniel O’Hara (Silent Witness 2015, The Game, Being Human).

Steven Moffat, lead writer and Executive Producer, said:

“An amazing guest cast for a brilliantly creepy two-parter by Toby Whithouse. Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are back in Cardiff, back in the box, and back in action - for one of our scariest adventures yet!” 

On set filming for the new series, Peter Capaldi added:

“The adventures begin again for myself and Jenna and I’m delighted to be back filming my second series of Doctor Who.”

Paul Kaye who played Thoros of Myr in the third series of Game of Thrones joins the Doctor Who cast for the two-part episode. A comedian and actor, Paul is also well-known for being the voice of Vincent the fox on the puppet-based BBC comedy Mongrels.

Commenting on his role, Paul Kaye, said: 

“As a kid of the 1970’s, the two shows you always watched were Top of the Pops and Doctor Who, they were unmissable. I actually wrote a song called ‘Looking for Davros’ in my first punk band and I sang it like a demented Dalek. I got to present TOTP back in the mid ‘90’s and landing this role in Doctor Who completes the dream double. Peter is a perfect Doctor and I’m loving every minute of the experience, even the five hours in make-up. What a treat, best 50th birthday present ever!”

Also starring in the episodes will be Morven Christie who recently played the role of Amanda in the crime drama Grantchester and featured in Death in Paradise (2014) and Twenty Twelve.

Arsher Ali who played the part of Malik Suri in the critically acclaimed The Missing (BBC One) takes up a role in the guest cast alongside Colin McFarlane who appeared in Eastenders as part of the Who Killed Lucy Beale? storyline.

Recognised for her theatre and TV performances, actress Sophie Stone appears in the show for the first time. Sophie was the lead actress in the play Woman of Flowers and has appeared in Midsummer Murders and Casualty.

Also joining Peter Capaldi (The Doctor) and Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) and confirmed for roles in the double episode are Zaqi Ismail, Steven Robertson and Neil Fingleton.

Further guest cast for series 9 will be released over the coming months.

[Source: BBC]

Speaking in a recent interview with Radio Times, ex-Doctor Who show runner and head writer, Russell T. Davies, discussed his reasons for ruling out a return to writing for the show anytime soon, as well as why there shouldn't be a 10th anniversary this year.

When asked if he would like to write for Series 9, Davies replied with a polite 'thanks but no thanks' when approached by the BBC:

“Someone from the branding team sent me a very lovely email saying do you want to do something. I don’t know what they imagined - a talk or a convention perhaps. I just said no, to be honest. A programme can’t have its fiftieth and then it’s tenth. I think that’s just confusing. It's marvellous and glorious; let it carry on.”

When asked if he would ever write another episode of the hit show, Davies replied:

“Wouldn’t that be nice? The lovely Steven invites me every year to come and write one. And I love him and I love them and I love watching it, but here I am, moving on. I love Doctor Who with all my heart but nothing is more important to me than my own stuff.”

Davies’ latest project is Cucumber, Tofu, Banana, a three-pronged project examining gay life in modern Britain.

+  Cucumber, Tofu, Banana will be shown on Channel 4, E4 and 4oD in January 2015.

[Source: Radio Times]

DWO’s spoiler-free of the Doctor Who Christmas Special, Last Christmas:

 

Make your list and check it twice, it’s that time of year again where Doctor Who goes a bit festive.

 

It feels both very strange and incredibly brilliant to be diving into a Doctor Who Christmas special so soon after the end of a full season, but it also helps to tie the story closer to the events of Peter Capaldi’s first set of adventures in the TARDIS, dealing in particular with the fallout from the explosive finale last month. While fans waiting to see how the Doctor and Clara will resolve their sad breakup won’t be disappointed with the truth finally coming out - in scenes where Capaldi and Jenna Coleman show just how perfectly they play opposite each other - there’s plenty else to keep you entertained here.

 

Last Christmas is perhaps the scariest Christmas special that the programme has ever given us. It’s certainly in keeping with the tone of Series Eight on the whole, and there’s one or two moments in here which will make you jump - even if you know they’re coming. It’s not just about the scares, though: there’s a great mystery to solve at the heart of the episode, and while there’s plenty of Doctor Who stories that serve to make children too scared to go to bed, Last Christmas is the one that’ll make them scared to wake up again.

 

People have speculated that a special starring Santa and his elves, with reindeer and the North Pole - the actual North Pole, it’s stripy - is a sign of the programme becoming more child-friendly than some episodes of the latest run have been, but that’s not necessarily the case. There’s still plenty of humour and fun to be found in the sometimes dark situations that play out in this North Pole base, but the arrival of Father Christmas doesn’t exactly herald songs and lightness. Last Christmas feels more like a great Doctor Who idea that just happens to have some Christmas trappings attached (the use of Santa, especially, is very well woven into the narrative) than a story that’s been specifically designed to go out at Christmas. That said, it’s perfect viewing for after dark on a lazy Christmas Day.

 

We’ve already mentioned Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, but it’s worth repeating just how wonderful they are here. They’re certainly up there with the very best Doctor/Companion pairings that the show has ever seen, and you can’t help but realise how lucky we are to have two of the best performers in Britain devoting their talent to our little show. But then there’s the rest of the guest cast, too! Michael Troughton - son of Second Doctor Patrick - finally chalks up a Doctor Who appearance, alongside Faye Marsay, Natalie Gumede, and Maureen Beattie, as the main players for our adventure. They’re each given their chance to shine, and as the realities of their situation become clearer you can’t help but feel your heart break for each of them in turn.

 

Then there’s Nathan McMullen and Dan Starkey in the roles of Santa’s elves, providing some much needed comic interjections. Can we have them back next Christmas, too? Of course at the top of the tree we’ve got Nick Frost as Santa. We get the opportunity to see him being the traditional Jolly Saint Nick, all ‘ho-ho-ho’ and greetings-card ready, but for much of the special, Frost delves deeper than that, to find the real (or otherwise) person hidden beneath the traditional hat.

 

And as for those of you wondering wether we’ll be seeing more of Clara, or if this really is her last Christmas… it’s a long story.

 

 

Five things to look out for:

 

1) “It’s all a bit dreamy-weamy”

2) “I’ve got three little words. Don’t make me use them…”

3) Happy Easter!

4) The Doctor has never seen the movie Alien.

5) “That noise! I never realised how much I loved it…”

[Sources: DWO; Will Brooks]

Speaking at yesterday's press screening at the BFI for the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas Special; Last Christmas, Steven Moffat confirmed the title for Episode 1 of Season 9 of Doctor Who.

The episode is titled 'The Magician's Apprentice' and will begin filming, together with the rest of Series 9, in January 2015, for an expected airdate of Autumn 2015.

[Source: BFI]

The BBC have announced the title of the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas Special; Last Christmas.

The special is rumoured to be at least an hour in length and is written by Steven Moffat and directed by Paul Wilmhurst.

Along with the announcement, two new promo pictures were released (pictured-right), which depict The Doctor (Peter Capaldi), Clara (Jenna Coleman), Santa Claus (Nick Frost) and two Elves; Wolf (Nathan McMullen) and Ian (Dan Starkey).

During the BBC's Children In Need television appeal, a special clip from Last Christmas was aired, which you can watch in the player below:

Check out the teaser trailer in the player, below:

+  Last Christmas will air on Christmas Day, Time TBC, on BBC One.
+  Donate to Children In Need, here. 

[Source: BBC]

The BBC have been in touch with DWO with the first official promo image for the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas Special.

The image, which you can see in the right-hand-column, features The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Santa Claus (Nick Frost).

They also gave us some information about a special preview for the special, which will form part of this Friday's Children In Need TV programming on BBC One.

Viewers will be able to tune in from 7:30pm to watch the preview.

Check out the trailer out in the player, below:

+  The Doctor Who Christmas Special will air on Christmas Day, Time TBC, on BBC One.
+  Donate to Children In Need, here. 

[Source: BBC]