Merchandise Roundup

Issue #334 of Doctor Who Magazine reports that the BBC will be producing a special anniversary documentary on Doctor Who to mark the forty-year milestone. It is expected to air on BBC-1 around the anniversary itself (though hopefully will not be pushed to early 2004, a slight possibility.) (Thanks to DWM)

The Doctor Who 1996 TV movie starring Paul McGann airs this Friday, August 22, on the Sci-Fi Channel in North America; check your local listings for exact time (which varies dependent upon the Western or Eastern feed).

BBV Productions has announced two new audio stories based on the Faction Paradox mythos, the time-travelling voodoo cult originally introduced in the BBC Books' Doctor Who novels. Movers (Volume 5) and A Labyrinth of Histories (Volume 6) are written by Faction creator Lawrence Miles; both were recently recorded by BBV and again feature Suzanne Procter as Cousin Justine. Says the information sent to Outpost Gallifrey, "These two plays take the Faction story in an interestingly different direction; as well as discovering what it means to be a prisoner on the remote prison world of the Houses, we take a trip back into the late nineteenth century, where a bizarre hunt is taking place..." The audios also star Ellis Pike (Godfather Morlock), Emma Kilbey (Cousin Eliza), Keith Drinkel (Godfather Sabbath), Kate Dyson (Demetra Kine), Matt Kelly (First Ordinary Selvynkesh), Lena Rae (Emma), Scott Craig (Mr. Smith), Chris Manville (Second Ordinary Keeble), Linda Bartram (Shuncucker) and Nigel Fairs (the Reverend). They will be released this fall, date unspecified. (Thanks to David Elms and BBV)

Outpost Gallifrey has received the final cover illustration for the forthcoming UK DVD release of The Two Doctors; click on the thumbnail at right for a larger version, including the full wraparound. Details about the contents of this DVD can be found elsewhere on this News Page. (Thanks to Tenth Planet)

The third issue of the occasional audio CD Big Finish Magazine is due out soon, to be sent out with subscriptions in tandem with the next story, the Fifth Doctor tale "Omega". Among the items included on this third audio CD include interviews with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy (detailing their work together on "Project: Lazarus"), as well as interviews with the first three "Doctor Who Unbound" actors, Geoffrey Bayldon, David Warner and David Collings; plus stories about the anthology "Short Trips" volumes and Big Finish's other ranges ("The Tomorrow People" and "Bernice Summerfield" among them). Click on the cover at right for a larger version. Also, in anticipation for "Omega," BBCihas an interview with author Nev Fountain now online. (Thanks to Tenth Planet for the cover)

Galaxy 4 is reporting two audio releases from the BBC Radio Collection in early 2004. Fury from the Deep is said to have a February tentative release date; this is the audio soundtrack release of the Patrick Troughton story also starring Frazer Hines and, in her final story, Deborah Watling. Also noted on the site is Tales from the TARDIS, Volumes 1 & 2, which are noted as MP3 CD's (i.e. in computer MP3 format, not playable on regular CD players); while details of this haven't been confirmed, it's said to probably be stories previously released on cassette by the BBC including the Paul McGann readings of "Earth and Beyond," the first "Short Trips" audio read by Nicholas Courtney and Sophie Aldred, and "Out of the Darkness" read by Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. Details of these will be forthcoming when we have them. (Thanks to Galaxy 4)

At right is the final cover illustration for the forthcoming UK video release of Invasion of the Dinosaurs by BBC Worldwide. This replaces an earlier draft cover which showed only Jon Pertwee with a green background. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Galaxy 4)

As we announced in July, the forthcoming Reeltime Pictures video release Daemos Rising by David Howe will be out in October; it's a direct-to-video sequel to both the Doctor Who story "The Daemons" and the original video drama "Downtime" (which starred Nick Courtney, Elisabeth Sladen and Deborah Watling). At right is a draft version of the cover illustration for the forthcoming release; click on it for a larger version. (Thanks to David Howe)

At right is a thumbnail image (click on it for a larger version) of the box cover for The Web of Fear/The Faceless Ones, the second tape included in the UK release of The Reign of Terror Boxed Set that includes the extant episodes of these two Patrick Troughton serials, courtesy ofBlackstar. The cover for "Reign" itself has not yet been released (the version circulated around the Internet is the US/Canada version, part of the "End of the Universe" collection). (Thanks to Liam Copsey)

BBCi has released the August issue of their monthly Telepress column, focusing on the world of Doctor Who in print. Among the items in this month's installment: a look at Justin Richards' forthcoming hardcover Doctor Who: The Legend (including a final version of the cover; click at right for a larger version), an interview with author Jacqueline Rayner ("Wolfsbane") and excerpts from both November's BBC Books release Deadly Reunion by Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts and Telos Publishing's forthcoming novella Fallen Gods by Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum. (Thanks to BBCi)

Radio Times, the long running guide to UK television, is planning a special edition in November 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who, and has kicked off the festivities with a special poll. Click here to take part in the poll; the deadline is September 5, and entrants have the chance to receive DVDs, videos or books. (The poll is only open to UK residents, however.) (Thanks to Faiz Rehman)

While it's not the cover illustration, the forthcoming Derek Jacobi appearance inDeadline from Big Finish is memorialized in the now-familiar "title sequence" still included on the inside front cover. Here it is at right; a larger version can be found on the Big Finish site. "Deadline" by Rob Shearman, starring Jacobi as Martin, is out in October. (Thanks to Big Finish, and Duncan Rose for letting us know!)

The Stamp Centre has two new pieces of Doctor Who memorabilia available, as seen below. At left is a crystal Tom Baker visage, limited to 1500 pieces, supplied in a gift box and created through laser etching. At right, another First Day Cover stamp, featuring the sixth Doctor, Colin Baker; this is part of their continuing "Time After Time" series which shows the stars of Doctor Who and other TV series. (Thanks to Gallifrey 5 and the Stamp Centre)

   

BBC Worldwide has released Earthshock on DVD in the UK... or rather, re-released. As we previously noted in this column, the DVDs were originally due out August 4; several stores received their stocks and started sending them out early before Worldwide recalled them due to a lack of the interior booklet. We have been told that the BBC will not send out booklets for those missing them, as the copies distributed prior to August 4 were intended for this recall. You can find "Earthshock" at most major stockists in the UK.

Among the murmurs of special events for the upcoming 40th anniversary was an article in the "Sunday Stirrer" section of the UK's Daily Star late last week, which mentioned the following: "STIRRER has stumbled across evidence that the Conservative Party is willing to boldly go where no party has gone before in its desperate bid for voters. Shadow Transport Secretary and Star Trek nut Tim Collins has agreed to appear in a DVD tribute to Dr Who. Perhaps the next party manifesto will promise a police box on each street to further woo the geek vote." While some speculated early on that this was a special DVD coming out for the anniversary, it appears as though this is incorrect; in fact, it looks like this is one of the documentaries featured on the new DVD release of Earthshock. (Thanks to James Hadwen)

A new article has surfaced on the UK's website for the Guardian periodical, focusing on the audios and Richard E. Grant's forthcoming appearance as the Ninth Doctor. "Dr Who and others are appearing on the net, which is becoming a new medium for original productions," says the article, written by Guy Clapperton. To read the full article, click here. (Thanks to Stuart Ian Burns)

The next (sixth) installment of the Doctor Who Magazine Specials, which up to now have focused on the individual eras of each Doctor, is a special on the show's 40th anniversary. Says the advert, "Celebrating 40 years of Doctor in true style with this glossy, fact-packed special edition that looks at the history of the world's longest-running science fiction series from some astonishing new perspectives. Packed with rare photographs and features from some of the finest writers in fandom..." The 84-page issue will be out in November; the cover illustration at right is from Previews magazine and isn't the final cover. (Thanks to Galaxy 4)