Series 8 teaser trailer image released

Sunday, 8 June 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
BBC America has released a still from the teaser trailer heralding the return of Doctor Who this August.

The image shows the Doctor, as played by Peter Capaldi, silhouetted inside the TARDIS console room as explosions rage behind him.


Glimpses of the scene were shown in the teaser released on 23rd May, when the month of the show's return was announced.






FILTER: - BBC America - Peter Capaldi - Series 8/34

Farewell to Matt Smith on UK channel Watch this Easter

Sunday, 13 April 2014 - Reported by Melad Moshiri
Christmas Special 2013 - Promotional Image (Credit: BBC America) BBC America's A Farewell to Matt Smith special is to air on UK television on digital channel Watch this Easter.

The programme, initially broadcast on the US network celebrating the 11th Doctor actor's time on Doctor Who, will be shown in the UK on Good Friday at 5:00pm.

Narrated by Alex Kingston, it sees contributions from her, David Tennant, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Jenna Coleman and Steven Moffat alongside fans of Matt Smith and his incarnation of the Time Lord.

As part of the run-up, Radio Times have released a two-minute preview clip concerning the actor's relationship with his fans.

An audience of 1.54 million viewers watched the special on its original transmission before The Time of the Doctor's airing, more recently included as an extra on Time's DVD/Blu-rays.






FILTER: - BBC America - UK - Matt Smith

The Real History of Science Fiction

Tuesday, 11 March 2014 - Reported by Marcus
A new documentary series from BBC Two and BBC America will delve into the real history of science fiction with filmmakers, writers, actors and graphic artists looking back on their experiences and on how their obsession and imagination has taken them into the unknown.

The Real History of Science Fiction will cover programmes from Star Wars to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and from Jurassic Park to Doctor Who. Each program is packed with contributors behind these creations and traces the developments of Robots, Space, Invasion and Time. Narrated by Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who writer, actor and co-creator of the BBC’s Sherlock, the series determines why science fiction is not merely a genre... for its audience it’s a portal to a multi-verse – one that is all too easy to get lost in.

Among those taking part are: William Shatner (Star Trek), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek), Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), Richard Dreyfuss (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), Chris Carter (The X-Files), Ronald D Moore (Battlestar Galactica), John Landis (An American Werewolf in London, Schlock), David Tennant (Doctor Who), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner), John Carpenter (Dark Star, The Thing), Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Stardust), Kim Stanley Robinson (Mars Trilogy), Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise), Ursula K Le Guin (The Left Hand of Darkness), Syd Mead (Blade Runner), Kenny Baker (Star Wars), Anthony Daniels (Star Wars), Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek), Peter Weller (Robocop), Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica) and many more.

The four part series debuts in America on Saturday April 19 at 10pm ET. BBC Two has yet to confirm a transmission date.
EPISODE 1 – ROBOTS
What if our creations turn against us? The idea of creating life has fascinated society since the earliest days of science fiction. The first installment of the four-part series, Robots transports viewers from the first steps of Frankenstein’s monster to the threat provided by the Terminator and the world of Cyberspace. Find out how Rutger Hauer created one of the greatest speeches in all of science fiction for Blade Runner. Discover from Kenny Baker the challenge of acting in Star Wars while inside the body of R2D2, and learn how Anthony Daniels was drawn to the role of C-3PO by concept art modeled closely on the robot from the silent classic Metropolis. Douglas Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner) discusses how he managed to create a whole new approach to robot design. The creators of the original Robocop describe how its hidden depths have given it enduring appeal and William Gibson reveals the origins of his seminal novel Neuromancer. From HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey to the Cylons of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and the world of The Matrix, this is a journey that asks – what does it mean to be human?
EPISODE 2 – SPACE
What if we could explore the vastness of Space? Science fiction has always fed upon our need to explore – to wonder what is out there. Space journeys from Jules Verne’s earliest ideas about attempts to leave our planet, to the Star Wars far away galaxy through to Nichelle Nichols revealing how her groundbreaking role as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek led to her participation in the recruitment of NASA’s astronauts. It explores the deep sea inspiration for Avatar, finds out why Ursula K Le Guin wrote The Left Hand of Darkness and discovers how Stanley Kubrick was able to make 2001: A Space Odyssey seem so believable. In addition, the program looks at the way Dune and The Mars Trilogy embraced the challenge of world building and discusses the appeal of the beaten up ‘dirty space’ of Dark Star and Firefly. From the horrifying scenes of Alien, to the epic spectacle of Star Wars, this is a journey to the stars and the alien encounters that await us there.
EPISODE 3 – INVASION
What if aliens landed on Earth? Much of science fiction explores the moment of first contact – what will people do when the aliens land? From H. G. Wells’ pioneering The War of the Worlds to Independence Day, Men in Black and District 9, Invasion deals with our fears of alien invasions of earth. David Tennant explains the appeal of Doctor Who’s Daleks and Cybermen while John Carpenter and Chris Carter explore the rich appeal of the paranoia fuelled by hidden aliens with The Thing and The X-Files. It also asks, what if the monsters were our own creation? With the aid of rarely seen animation tests, Phil Tippett takes us behind the scenes in the creation of the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. But not all invasions are hostile. Peter Coyote and Richard Dreyfuss discuss the creation of Spielberg’s spellbinding classics E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. There is more than one kind of invasion.
EPISODE 4 – TIME
What if we could travel not just through space, but through time itself? If you could travel through time, would you change the past or the future? What if you found it couldn’t be changed? What price does the time traveller – and the people they are closest to – pay? This is a journey from H. G. Wells The Time Machine through ideas like The Grandfather Paradox and The Butterfly Effect to the professional time traveller that is the ever popular Doctor Who. Steven Moffat, David Tennant, Karen Gillan and Neil Gaiman offer a unique perspective on the Doctor. Edward James Olmos reveals the hidden meaning of the language he created for the vision of the future that is Blade Runner. Bob Gale and Christopher Lloyd take us behind the scenes of Back to the Future, while Ed Solomon describes the joy of solving a time travel conundrum for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. But what would be the physical and emotional cost to the time traveller? Audrey Niffenegger explains what inspired her novel The Time Traveller’s Wife. And what if someone from the future tried to travel back in time to warn us? Would we believe them? From the apocalyptic tones of 12 Monkeys to the drama of Quantum Leap and the comedy of Groundhog Day, time travel is a subject that has been irresistible to the creators of every type of science fiction.




FILTER: - USA - Documentary - BBC America - UK - Broadcasting

The Best of the Doctor: R4 DVD details

Thursday, 2 January 2014 - Reported by Connor Johnston
The Best Of The Doctor Specials DVD (R4 Cover)BBC Worldwide has announced Doctor Who: The Best of The Doctor is to get a 3 Disc Region 4 Release Date Early January. The DVD consists of all the BBC America Documentaries "The Best of ...." and according to some sources will also include an episode to accompany each documentary, though this has not been confirmed. The specials in the series, and are expected to be included on the set, are:
Each of the Specials duration time is around 45 minutes. The official details are below:
Discover whole new worlds behind three of your favourite Doctors: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith.

Immerse yourself in a total celebration of all that is Doctor Who! These unique documentaries explore Doctor Who through the ideas and moments that make the series such an unforgettable experience. Be awed by the artistry and imagination of the series' most iconic monsters, take an in-depth look at the Time Lord's trusty companions Amy, Rory and River Song, gather a new perspective on the perplexing and confounding paradoxes of time travel; and venture beyond the known universe for extra surprises, facts and theories that could fill the TARDIS.

A must-have for every fan, this collection will expand your knowledge and increase your appreciation for the universe of Doctor Who.
The DVD can be pre-orded online from JB-HI-FI




FILTER: - Merchandise - BBC America - Blu-ray/DVD - New Zealand - Australia

The Time of the Doctor wins BBC America and Twitter records

Saturday, 28 December 2013 - Reported by Melad Moshiri
Christmas Special 2013 - Promotional Image (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)The Time of the Doctor Christmas special has been named the most watched programme in BBC America's history.

The 800th episode in the show's run attracted 2.47 million viewers overnight, the highest ever audience achieved on the channel, beating The Day of the Doctor's record of 2.4 million viewers.

It was however beaten by showings of The Big Bang Theory (3.96m) and Duck Dynasty (2.69m), all broadcast in a 9:00pm slot on cable.

The Farewell to Matt Smith special, broadcast before the incumbent's final adventure however, drew in a respectable audience of 1.54 million.

In the UK, Time was the second most watched on Christmas Day while becoming the eighth highest rated show of the day in Australia.

On Twitter, 183,550 tweets were generated, becoming the most tweeted show of the day on the social network and beating previous Christmas special The Snowmen's 64,049 total. Peter Capaldi's entrance, meanwhile, brought in 18,844 tweets.

Figures thanks to: TV By the Numbers, Radio Times




FILTER: - BBC America - Time and the Doctor - Peter Capaldi - Matt Smith

The Time of The Doctor: extended trailer

Wednesday, 18 December 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC America have released an exclusive new one minute trailer for the forthcoming Christmas Special, The Time of The Doctor, due to premiere in the United States on Christmas Day at 9:00pm ET.





FILTER: - BBC America - Online - Time and the Doctor - Publicity

BBC America to show retrospective of Matt Smith's era

Friday, 13 December 2013 - Reported by Melad Moshiri
Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith (Credit: BBC America)BBC America are to air a specially commissioned programme celebrating Matt Smith's time on Doctor Who this Christmas for the US.

Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith will see members of cast and crew talk candidly about the 11th Doctor actor's departure from the show and the legacy that has been left. Contributors include Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Jenna Coleman, David Tennant, Steven Moffat and more.

The network have released Farewell's trailer on YouTube, confirming its broadcast before The Time of the Doctor on Christmas Day, alongside a synopsis.


Bid the eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, a fond farewell in this hour long retrospective documentary special about Doctor Who series five, six and seven – “the Matt Smith Years.” This compelling documentary, narrated by Alex Kingston (Doctor Who’s River Song), features highlights from Smith’s run with interview footage from the man himself, his cast-mates, writers, producers, guest stars and celebrity Whovians.

Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith premieres on BBC America in the US on Wednesday December 25th at 8pm.

(with additional thanks to Connor Johnston and Karim Zidan)




FILTER: - Specials - USA - BBC America - Matt Smith

The Time of The Doctor: latest images

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
A variety of new images have been released by BBC America to promote the forthcoming The Time of The Doctor, featuring Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman, Orla Brady as Tasha Lem, Rob Jarvis as Abramal, Tessa Peake-Jones as Marta and Jack Hollington as Barnable, plus a number of old enemies ...

The Doctor and Clara (played by Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersThe Doctor (played by Matt Smith). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersBarnable (played by Jack Hollington). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersVillagers. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersAbramal and Marta (played by Rob Jarvis and Tessa-Peake Jones). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersAbramal (played by Rob Jarvis). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersMarta (played by Tessa-Peake Jones). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersWeeping Angel. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersTasha Lem (played by Orla Brady). Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDaleks. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDaleks. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDaleks. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersCybermen. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersCybermen. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersSilent. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersSilent. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDoctor art. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDoctor art. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDoctor Puppet Show. Image: BBC/Adrian RogersDoctor Puppet Show. Image: BBC/Adrian Rogers




FILTER: - BBC America - Time and the Doctor - Publicity

The Time of The Doctor: posters

Thursday, 5 December 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC and BBC America have released some posters to promote The Time of the Doctor.

The Time of the Doctor (poster). Image: BBC/Ray BurmistonThe Time of the Doctor (poster). Image: BBC America/Ray Burmiston/Lee BindingThe Time of the Doctor (poster). Image: BBC America/Ray Burmiston/Lee BindingThe Time of the Doctor (poster). Image: BBC/Ray BurmistonThe Time of the Doctor (poster). Image: BBC America/Ray Burmiston/Lee Binding




FILTER: - Specials - BBC America - Time and the Doctor - Press - Publicity - BBC

The Time of The Doctor: BBC America confirms US broadcast time

Tuesday, 3 December 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Time of The Doctor - Promotional Image (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)BBC America have now confirmed that they too will be broadcasting The Time of The Doctor on Christmas Day, in the primetime evening slot of 9:00pm EST/8:00 CST.

SPACE in Canada have yet to confirm their time, but it is expected that they will also broadcast the episode during the evening of the 25th.





FILTER: - Specials - USA - BBC America - Season Specials - Peter Capaldi - Matt Smith - Broadcasting