DWA examines the biggest scares in the series

Sunday, 22 June 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
The new edition of Doctor Who Adventures takes a look at the biggest and scariest scares in Doctor Who.

For issue 348, the team have uncovered the grossest and yuckiest things from the series - and they want to see if readers agree with their Top 10 choices.

The magazine also comes with a free stationery set featuring the Alien Babies, plus:
  • A guide to the Eleventh Doctor's episodes
  • A fact file about the Alien Babies
  • Cut-out-and-keep Dalek information
  • Make a vortex manipulator
  • Strax's guide to the Ood
  • Win a bike, Pokémon goodies and an iPad
  • Danger and surprises for the Doctor and Clara in the comic strip - and watch the story come alive with the free Blippar app
  • Puzzles, posters and monster fun
Issue 348 of DWA is available until Tuesday 1st July.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot - The Sequel

Thursday, 19 June 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann in the Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. Photo: BBCPaul McGann has reported that a sequel to last year's online/red-button anniversary special, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot has entered production. The actor, who appeared briefly in the original, was speaking at an event for Cambridge Union Society, which also saw "Reboot" co-star Sylvester McCoy speak back in May.

Photos and more details on the talk, including McGann's thoughts on a female Doctor, can be found through Cambridge News.


The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot is still available to watch online in the UK.

(with thanks to Paul Kirkley/Cambridge News)




FILTER: - Specials - Paul McGann

Australian writers reflect on Doctor Who

Monday, 16 June 2014 - Reported by Adam Kirk
In Whose Doctor? Reflections on a Time Lord, a new independently released ebook, nine Australia writers examine their relationship to Doctor Who from all angles. From letters begging to be allowed to write for the show and poems about step-families bonding over mutual love of the Doctor, to examinations of how New Who subverts the male gaze and introductory lectures to aspiring companions, this collection presents a range of unique and personal takes on Britain's favourite and longest-running science fiction TV show.

Authors in this collection include:
• Screenwriter/podcaster/playwright John Richards (Outland, Splendid Chaps, Songs for Europe)
• Feminist commentator/founder of Cherchez La Femme live talk show Karen Pickering (the Guardian, the Age, Crikey, New Matilda)
• Comedian/podcaster Ben McKenzie (Dungeon Crawl, Ben McKenzie is Uncool, Splendid Chaps)
• Author/playwright/poet Emilie Collyer (The Good Girl
• YA Author George Ivanoff (You Choose, the Gamers trilogy).

According to the publisher:
These writers are poets, comedians, scriptwriters, academics and authors, but above all they are each, in their own way, fans. As someone once said, "There's no wrong way to be a fan of Doctor Who." This collection proves that point beyond a doubt.
The pieces in this collection were originally performed live on stage in Melbourne at the Lithuanian Club on 13 November 2013 as part of the City of Melbourne Library's "Not Quite the Big Finish: An Evening of Doctor Who Spoken Word", a 50th Anniversary celebration of Doctor Who.

Whose Doctor? Reflections of a Time Lord is available now for $US5 as an ebook from SmashWords and Tomely. For more information check out #WhoseDoctor on Twitter.




FILTER: - Fan Productions - Books - Australia

John Barrowman and Julie Gardner made MBEs

Saturday, 14 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
John Barrowman, who played Captain Jack and Julie Gardner, Doctor Who's former Executive Producer, have both been made a MBE in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Julie Gardner was a key member of the team responsible for bringing back Doctor Who in 2005 and relaunching the series for a whole new generation. She was brought into the project in 2003 to work with Russell T Davies on developing the show. Together they were responsible for turning Doctor Who into one of the biggest BBC's most succesful shows, responsible for 60 episodes. She was involved in casting two Doctors, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, and creating two spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. She now works in California as Senior vice president Scripted Projects for BBC Worldwide America.

Gardner, who was born in Neath, near Swansea, has been awarded the honour for "services to the Economic Development of the Television Industry in Wales." She said: she was honored to accept the award.
I have filmed all over the world. But the talent, stamina and sheer fun of the writers, cast and crews I’ve worked with in Wales is beyond compare. I am lucky; I get to keep this award. But I am accepting it for all those brilliant people who have made my job such an absolute joy, and for my dad who will be the talk of Glynneath. My proudest achievement has been to successfully bring Doctor Who to Wales. From there, through Torchwood, Casualty and Da Vinci's Demon's, Wales' position in the global television industry goes from strength to strength. I am hugely proud to have been a part of that journey and will work hard so that this is just the beginning.


John Barrowman joined Doctor Who in 2005, playing Captain Jack Harkness in eleven episodes of the series. His success was such that he was given his own spin off series Torchwood, which ran from 2006-2011. The honour was given for his services to entertainment as well as his contribution to charity.

Barrowman, who is currently in Australia , promoting his drama series Arrow, said receiving the award was the proudest day in his life. The actor posted a video expressing his reaction to the news.



The honour makes both a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The award is given by Queen Elizabeth on the advice of the British Government.




FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Julie Gardner - John Barrowman

Doctor Who Experience to be revamped

Friday, 13 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff is to be rebranded to bring it up to date with the arrival of the Twelfth Doctor this Autumn.

The exhibition will close its doors for six weeks from the 1st September, for the exhibits to be updated to reflect the new Doctor. The current walk through experience, where you step through a crack in time and help the Eleventh Doctor will be replaced by a brand new sequence starring Peter Capaldi.

The current exhibition opened at its current home, next door to the Doctor Who studios, on 20 July 2012, following a successful run in London




FILTER: - Exhibitions

Peter Capaldi wins RTS Scotland Award

Thursday, 12 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Peter Capaldi has won the first ever RTS Scotland Award.

The Royal Television Society (RTS), is Britain's leading forum for television and related media. Its Scotland awards cover all forms of production in the nation, recognising excellence and innovation across a range of genres and crafts. April Chamberlain, co-founder of Glasgow-based production company, The Comedy Unit, chaired the Awards juries which met for the first time this year. She said:
With 2014 being such a culturally significant year for Scotland, the RTS felt the time was right to launch the RTS Scotland Awards. The aim of these awards is to recognise the extraordinary talent working across the wide range of programmes now being produced in Scotland and also reflect the current broadcasting landscape, breadth of programming, craft and production skills that make up today’s television schedules and beyond.
The RTS Scotland Award, which is given at the discretion of the RTS Scotland Awards committee, was presented to Peter Capaldi, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to television. The citation reads
The RTS Scotland Award is for the outstanding contribution to television in Scotland and beyond. RTS Scotland is delighted to announce that the recipient of this year’s award is Peter Capaldi. An acclaimed writer, performer and director, Peter has achieved phenomenal success at home and abroad. Original, memorable, engaging and definitive – his contribution to television has been exceptional, and the committee feel he is a worthy and much deserved winner of this inaugural award.
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony at the Oran Mor, Glasgow.




FILTER: - Peter Capaldi - Awards/Nominations

Doctor Who wins at Banff

Thursday, 12 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who has won two awards at the 35th Banff World Media Festival which took place in Canada over the last three days.

The series was awarded the Rockie Award for Best Science Fiction, Action, and Fantasy as well as getting the prize for Best Scripted Programme, just beating The Big Bang Theory.

The awards jury comprises a large number of media and television executives from around the world.




FILTER: - Doctor Who - Canada - Awards/Nominations

The Essential Doctor Who - The TARDIS

Thursday, 12 June 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The latest in Doctor Who Magazine's special releases, The Essential Doctor Who, is published today, and this time focuses on the Doctor's 'wife', the TARDIS.

The Essential Doctor Who - The TARDIS (Credit: DWM)The Essential Doctor Who: The TARDIS is a lavish 116-page guide featuring details of every major TARDIS story. There are exclusive new interviews with scriptwriters Steve Thompson (Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS) and Christopher H Bidmead (Logopolis, Castrovalva, Frontios), guest star Suranne Jones (Idris in The Doctor’s Wife), the show’s current production designer Michael Pickwoad and the Radiophonic Workshop’s Brian Hodgson, Dick Mills and Mark Ayres.

The publication also includes articles on TARDIS collectables, a history of the original police boxes by a retired superintendent, maps of the ship’s interior and a three-part guide on how to operate the console.

"The TARDIS is an essential part of Doctor Who, so we had to feature it in this series of bookazines," says editor Marcus Hearn. "We’ve taken a fresh look at one of the show’s most familiar icons, and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to include so much previously unpublished material."




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Tour update, USA/Australia transmissions confirmed for August

Wednesday, 11 June 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Following on from the World Tour announcement yesterday, both BBC America and ABC have reported via their press releases that Doctor Who will air in the United States and Australia respectively in August, with the former confirming that it will broadcast on the same air date (to be announced) as the United Kingdom.

Speaking of the tour, BBC America's SVP for Programming Richard De Croce said:
It’s a new beginning for one of the most popular series in the world and we couldn’t be more excited to have the Twelfth Doctor live in New York to promote the long awaited return of Doctor Who on BBC AMERICA. It’s going to be epic.
ABC's Head of Programming Brendan Dahill said:
ABC TV has always been the Australian home for The Doctor. Our audiences love him and embrace the series which was evident with the success of the recent 50th anniversary celebrations, which broadcast on ABC TV and iview. We look forward to welcoming Peter and Jenna down under.
Amanda Hill, Chief Brands Officer at BBC Worldwide said:
We were so bowled over by the global reaction to the 50th episode last year that we thought what better way to introduce the new Doctor than to take the team around the globe. Doctor Who encompasses British creativity at its best and we’re passionate about it being on the world stage. This tour is something normally reserved for Hollywood blockbusters but with Doctor Who it appears you can do anything you dream of and continue to challenge what’s perceived as the norm in TV.








FILTER: - Special Events - USA - Series 8/34 - Australia

Doctor Who - The World Tour

Tuesday, 10 June 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are to embark on a World Tour, promoting the upcoming series of Doctor Who, which hits screens this August.

Fans in the UK will have a chance to see the couple at exclusive events in Cardiff and London on 7 August before they jet off, alongside showrunner Steven Moffat, visiting seven cities across five continents in 12 days to take part in a series of media and fan engagements

Peter Capaldi, speaking ahead of the tour, said:
It’s fantastic that so many people across the world love Doctor Who. After eight months solid filming deep in the world of monsters, Jenna and I are thrilled to be heading for the Planet of Fans.
Executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat added:
I've always thought we'd all be a lot safer if the Doctor conquered the world, instead of the Daleks. Now with Jenna and Peter leading the charge, it looks like it's going to happen. I'll be bringing up the rear to handle the exposition scenes, and maybe carry some bags.
The tour marks the largest ever promotional undertaking in Doctor Who’s 50-year history and will take in Seoul (South Korea), Sydney (Australia) before hitting New York (US) on August 14. It continues to Mexico City (Mexico) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) where the tour ends on August 19th.

More details of the itinerary will be available soon at www.doctorwho.tv/worldtour as well as reports from the tour as it happens, which fans everywhere will be able to enjoy across social and digital platforms.

BBC Worldwide’s ambition for the brand has grown considerably since the global success of the 50th Anniversary which saw the special episode The Day Of The Doctor broadcast simultaneously in 98 countries and in over 1500 cinemas across the world, setting a new record for event cinema in its first three days on general release.




FILTER: - Special Events - USA - Australia - USA - UK - South Korea - Mexico - Brazil