Doctor Who Adventures - Faulty Badge

Saturday, 24 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Magazines have asked us to alert readers of Doctor Who Adventures of a faulty pin mechanism on the plastic badge cover-mounted on the current issue of the magazine.

While they don't believe the badges pose any serious hazard, they are placing adverts in the national press to alert readers to the problem with this badge, and suggest readers dispose of it, and to offer them an alternative free gift.

In a statement BBC Worldwide said it prides itself on the quality of its cover mounts and all cover mounts are required to pass the relevant EU safety regulation tests before going on sale. They added "The relevant safety and quality tests were carried out on this particular item, so we are obviously taking this matter extremely seriously and are investigating it further with our supplier."

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Mid Series Trail

Saturday, 24 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

The BBC has released a mid series trail for Doctor Who. The promo, which was first shown on BBC One, is available online via the official Doctor Who Website and on the BBC's YouTube Channel.

For copyright reasons some material may not be available outside the United Kingdom.

The Series returns to BBC One next Saturday at 7pm, with the Steven Moffat episode, Silence In The Library.

Forum discussion may contain spoilers.

FILTER: - Series 4/30 - Press

DVD Series 4 - Volume 2

Friday, 23 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

DoctorWhoNews.com has received a draft version of cover of the forthcoming DVD release of Series 4 Volume 2.

The disc will contain the four stories The Sontaran Stratagem, The Poison Sky, The Doctor's Daughter andThe Unicorn and the Wasp.

The disc is due for release in the United Kingdom on 7th July 2008.

FILTER: - Series 4/30 - Blu-ray/DVD

Moffat reaction round-up

Friday, 23 May 2008 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The news that Steven Moffat is to replace Russell T Davies as the lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who has garnered a large amount of media reaction, particularly in the UK. On Tuesday after the news broke the story was even featured on the BBC News television channel, as well as in the hourly bulletin on BBC Radio 2, the most listened to radio station in Britain. The BBC News website also ran an article, which was the main front page feature in their Entertainment section after the news broke on Tuesday.

The story ran in British national daily newspapers, such as The Mirror and The Times, and today The Independentpublished an opinion piece by Thomas Sutcliffe, bemoaning the fact that Moffat's talents were, like Davies's, to be wasted on a children's programme such as Doctor Who. Industry newspapers such as The Stage, Broadcast and even the Hollywood Reporter in the United States ran articles on the news.

Reaction has not been limited to news sources - blogs have been particularly active in relaying and commenting upon the news. Doctor Who scriptwriter Paul Cornell, celebrated comics writer and novelist Neil Gaiman, writer Warren Ellisand musical comedian Mitch Benn are all amongst the many hundreds to have passed comment on the news in their online journals.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Russell T Davies - Press

Brain of Morbius Missing Music Restored

Thursday, 22 May 2008 - Reported by DWNP Archive

Posted By John Bowman

The forthcoming DVD release of The Brain of Morbius in the UK will see the story presented as originally transmitted for the first time in more than 30 years, thanks to work by the Restoration Team and, in particular,Mark Ayres.

In an update to the team's website, Steve Roberts tells how they solved the mystery of a short section of incidental music that was there in episode one when the story was broadcast in January 1976 but never made it to subsequent releases, transmissions and even the BBC transmission masters.

The four-part Tom Baker story is due to be released on July 21.

Extras will include:

A commentary by Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen and Philip Madoc, producer Philip Hinchcliffe and directorChristopher Barry.

A 32-minute feature entitled Getting A Head, in which the making of the story is recalled by the production team and cast.

A six-minute feature called Designs on Karn that sees Barry Newbery talk about how he created the planet on which the story is set.

A 3D CGI tour of the BBC Television Centre studio in which the adventure was taped, showing how the sets were arranged and built.

(With thanks to Tony Clark.)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who Adventures 65

Thursday, 22 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Adventures issue 65, is out now across the United Kingdom.

Press Release

Freema Agyeman talks about goo and Who!

There’s an interview with Doctor Who star Freema Agyeman in the next issue of Doctor Who Adventures. She talks about what it’s like to be back, new companion Donna, and about all the goo she was covered in for the part of the Martha clone!

What was it like seeing the Doctor with a new companion? "One of the main factors of the show is change so it didn’t feel that strange. I knew I was never going to do it forever and ever. I was just grateful Martha was given a chance. Now it’s Donna’s turn!"

How about her relationship with the Doctor? "She’s slightly outgrown the Doctor, in the sense of that wide-eyedness that she had the first time round! She’s qualified as a doctor now and is working with UNIT. Plus, she’s engaged, so there’s a slightly different dynamic."

Are Sontarans as scary as Daleks? "I think Daleks are really menacing. Maybe because you can’t see their faces. But as soon as the Sontarans take their helmets off, some kids will giggle, as they look a bit like a potato!”

On being covered in goo. "I have to say being out in a freezing quarry and getting in that muddy bog in episode six was easier than doing the gloop scene in episode five! It was definitely my yuckiest ever moment in Doctor Who!

This issue of Doctor Who Adventures comes with a free set of Doctor Who monster rollers plus an Ood dress-up kit – which includes yucky Ood fronds! Perfect for an instant Ood appeal.

Other highlights include:
Win: Design a Dalek and win a fantastic Dalek voice changer helmet!
Three cool posters: The Doctor, Donna and Agatha Christie from The Unicorn and the Wasp, Martha, and the buzzing Vespiform.
Tales from the TARDIS: Trouble with Mr Halpen in Planet of the Ood.
Activity: Make an Ood orb to go with your Ood fronds! Plus a creepy Hath mask!
Doctor Who Confidential: How a car splashes into the water in The Sontaran Stratagem.
Doctor's Data: Fourth Doctor facts.
Comic strip: Something strange is happening on a farm in a new comic strip adventure called Windswept.
ALL THIS AND LOADS MORE!

FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Doctor's Daughter - Final Ratings

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Final figures released by BARB give episode Six of Series Four, The Doctor's Daughter, an official rating of 7.33 million viewers. The programme was the 10th most watched for the week on British Television and the 4th most watched on BBC1. The only programmes to beat it in the ratings were the two big soaps, EastEnders and Coronation Street, and Saturdays Britain's Got Talent.

On multi-channel television, the Sunday BBC3 repeat was watched by 0.95 million viewers and was the 10th most watched programme on multichannel for the week.

Full ratings data, including data for iPlayer downloads can be found in the Doctor Who Forum.

Top Programmes w/e 11 May 2008

1 CORONATION STREET (MON 2031) - 10.73 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 10.07 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029) - 8.99 - ITV1
4 EASTENDERS (MON 1959) - 8.92 - BBC1
5 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1934) - 8.75 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (THU 1931) - 8.62 - BBC1
7 CORONATION STREET (WED 1930) - 8.57 - ITV1
8 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (SAT 2000) - 8.17 - ITV1
9 EASTENDERS (FRI 1959) - 8.16 - BBC1
10 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1844) - 7.33 - BBC1
11 THE APPRENTICE (WED 2100) - 7.17 - BBC1
12 MIDSOMER MURDERS (SUN 2005) - 6.88 - ITV1
13 EMMERDALE (MON 1903) - 6.88 - ITV1
14 FLOOD (MON 2104) - 6.79 - ITV1
15 EMMERDALE (FRI 1902) - 6.53 - ITV1
16 EASTENDERS (TUE 1931) - 6.50 - BBC1
17 WAKING THE DEAD (TUE 2100) - 6.46 - BBC1
18 WAKING THE DEAD (MON 2100) - 6.42 - BBC1
19 THE BRITISH SOAP AWARDS 2008 (WED 1958) - 6.32 - ITV1
20 EMMERDALE (WED 1859) - 6.25 - ITV1

Top Multi Channel Programmes w/e 11 May 2008

1 GLADIATORS (Sun 1759) - 1,564,000 - Sky One
2 EASTENDERS (Tue 2202) - 1,449,000 - BBC3
3 FORD SUPER SUNDAY (Sun 1402) - 1,226,000 - Sky Sports
4 LIVE FORD FOOTBALL SPECIAL-MATCH (Mon 1530) - 1,177,000 - Sky Sports
5 BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT (Sun 2004) - 1,122,000 - ITV2
6 HEROES (Thu 2233) - 1,105,000 - BBC3
7 DONT FORGET THE LYRICS (Sun 1902) - 1,039,000 - Sky One
8 EASTENDERS (Thu 2203) - 1,001,000 - BBC3
9 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sun 2105) - 960,000 - ITV2
10 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2001) - 946,000 - BBC3
11 LOST (Sun 2101) - 905,000 - Sky One
12 BRITAIN'S GOT MORE TALENT AUDITIONS (Sat 2159) - 868,000 - ITV2
13 EASTENDERS (Fri 2202) - 808,000 - BBC3
14 GAVIN AND STACEY (Mon 2132) - 786,000 - BBC3
15 60 SECONDS (Mon 2159) - 738,000 - BBC3
16 EASTENDERS (Mon 2202) - 736,000 - BBC3
17 HOME AND AWAY (Fri 1828) - 719,000 - Fiver
18 HOME AND AWAY (Wed 1829) - 707,000 - Fiver
19 DEC APPEAL (Thu 2200) - 678,000 - BBC3
20 60 SECONDS (Tue 2159) - 655,000 - BBC3

Source BARB

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Steven Moffat to succeed Davies as Executive Producer

Tuesday, 20 May 2008 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The BBC Press Office and various media sources (originally broken by MediaGuardian) have announced thatSteven Moffat is to succeed Russell T Davies as the chief writer and executive producer of Doctor Who when it returns for its fifth series.

The article states that Moffat will replace Davies in 2009, taking over as "showrunner" for the fifth series in 2010. Moffat has been responsible for several episodes of the revived Doctor Who to date, including the BAFTA Award-winning "Blink" and the forthcoming two-parter "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead".

Davies is quoted as saying: "It's been a delight and an honour working with Steven, and I can't wait to see where his extraordinary imagination takes the Doctor. Best of all, I get to be a viewer again, watching on a Saturday night!"

The BBC press release includes a comment from Moffat himself: "My entire career has been a Secret Plan to get this job. I applied before but I got knocked back 'cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven. Anyway, I'm glad the BBC has finally seen the light, and it's a huge honour to be following Russell into the best - and the toughest - job in television. I say toughest 'cos Russell's at my window right now, pointing and laughing."

Moffat will continue as a director on the board of Hartswood Films, which produced Coupling and Jekyll, where he is also working on a new comedy Adam & Eve with wife Sue Vertue.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - Russell T Davies - Production

Unicorn and the Wasp - AI and Digital Ratings

Monday, 19 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Episode seven of series four, The Unicorn and the Wasp, achieved an Appreciation Index of 86. It was the highest score for Saturday on the two main channels.

With overnights now available for the whole week, Doctor Who is currently the 8th most watched programme of the week. Final figures will be released by BARB in 9 days time.

Saturday's edition of Doctor Who Confidential was watched by 0.63 million viewers, according to unofficial overnights. The programme, which had a share of 3.2 %, was the 2nd most watched on multi channel television on Saturday.

Sunday's BBC3 repeat of The Unicorn and the Wasp got an overnight audience of 0.57 million, a 2.8% share and was the 8th most watched programme on multi channel TV for Sunday. Doctor Who Confidential got an audience of0.23 million for the repeat showing.

Meanwhile last Friday's repeat of The Doctor's Daughter got an audience of 0.45 million and was the 6th most watched multi channel programme for the day.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Unicorn and the Wasp - Overnight Ratings

Sunday, 18 May 2008 - Reported by Marcus

Unofficial figures show that episode seven of Series Four, The Unicorn and the Wasp, was watched by 7.7 million viewers, giving it a 36.1% share of the total television audience.

The programme was helped by a later start and wet weather across much of the United Kingdom and achieved an increase of over a million on last week's figures.

The top rated programme was still ITV1's Britain's Got Talent with 8.6 million. Doctor Who was the highest rated programme on BBC1 for the day, beating Casualty by 1.3 million.

The programme is currently the 8th most watched of the week, almost guaranteeing a final Top ten place. Final figures will be released by BARB in ten days time.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 4/30

Previous 10 Stories

Doctor Who Adventures - Faulty Badge

Mid Series Trail

DVD Series 4 - Volume 2

Moffat reaction round-up

Brain of Morbius Missing Music Restored

Doctor Who Adventures 65

Doctor's Daughter - Final Ratings

Steven Moffat to succeed Davies as Executive Producer

Unicorn and the Wasp - AI and Digital Ratings

Unicorn and the Wasp - Overnight Ratings

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