Counter Measures: Birds of Prey

Saturday, 8 July 2023 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books ihave announce details of the second of its Counter Measures:

Birds of Prey

If the people of Britain thought the energy crisis was over, they were very wrong. Power cuts are returning, spreading from London and focusing on particularly vulnerable targets, almost as if by intention.

The Association has risen again and is stepping up its campaign to take power and enact its supremist ideology. Ian Gilmore, Rachel Jensen and even their son Dillon become embroiled in a plan to survive a plot for revenge. They must stand against old enemies as the spectres of past conflicts are raised and a new battle starts to spread through the streets of the capital.

For there are others who stand ready to face the Association too. But how far will they go and what weapons will they deploy? Gilmore, Jensen and their allies find that the monsters of the human race may be far more terrifying than anything from beyond it, and that this time, humanity will need saving from its own worst instincts.

Birds of Prey is the second book in a two-novel event, following up book one Birds of Passage.

Counter Measures, featuring characters Group Captain Gilmore, Professor Rachel Jensen and Dr Allison Williams, was created by Ben Aaronovitch for Doctor Who back in 1988. The characters were expanded on in Aaronovitch’s later novelisation of their debut story, Remembrance of the Daleks, and made the odd appearance in Doctor Who prose fiction throughout the 1990s. The team has enjoyed a long life in audio dramas from Big Finish Productions since 2012, and Gilmore made a cameo in one of Candy Jar’s Lethbridge-Stewart short stories. They even appeared in a comic written by Andrew Cartmel.

Birds of Passage was written by Robert Mammone, who had hoped to write the follow up too. Alas, life intervened, as range editor Andy Frankham-Allen explained:

Due to a change in circumstances, Robert felt he would be unable to commit the time needed. However, we agreed to look at it again a few months later, and sadly little had changed by time it came to move forward. Robert allowed me to use his outline and ideas for book two as a jumping on point for his replacement, but in the event I decided it was better to let whoever that was to just read the first book and take it in their own direction.

The chosen author was James Middleditch, who has written a couple of Lethbridge-Stewart novels, plus short stories for the UNIT series:

The prospect of writing for the Counter Measures series felt quite different to my prior work on the Lethbridge-Stewart range. I would say the tone is a bit darker and more morally complex, with the threats emerging from the behaviour of humans as much as anything from elsewhere, although influences of past invasions continue to play a big role in awakening our own worst instincts. Like Robert before me, the thought of following the narrative threads and themes of Remembrance of the Daleks was a jaw-dropping one. Robert produced such a thrilling follow-up in Birds of Passage, which itself left some intriguing strands dangling, that I had not one but two great stories to do justice to. The Remembrance novelisation, rightly heralded as a late highpoint for the Target range, contains such depth in its depiction of ’60s Britain and its racial landscape. I also revisited Andrew Cartmel’s Cat’s Cradle: Warhead and found a shockingly prescient and familiar dystopia in what had been his speculation about the early twenty-first century. Without wanting to be too negative, it’s worth remembering how close we all are to such breakdowns in order and certainty, so I tried to channel both of their concerns and the reflective moods of their novels in writing Birds of Prey.

Andy continued:

James jumped at the chance before any sense of trepidation could set in, and once he’d finished his reading and research, he soon had an outline to me. There were only a few changes I wanted, in keeping with the goals Andrew Cartmel and I had set out for the series.

James concluded:

Storyline guidance from Andy was invaluable as always, in particular in providing the geographical focus of London and a core group of characters there. Real history and locations have been interwoven into this dark parallel past, and may change the way you see the parts of the capital on your next visit; a Birds of Prey Walking Tour is certainly possible! To move further into the London-based thriller genre, I also took inspiration from the original television version of Edge of Darkness with its rain-soaked pavements and its uncanny way of suggesting an impending apocalypse in otherwise very small scale events and moments. I hope all these ingredients have come together to be a testament to some of the best writers, their characters and themes. None of us really write in isolation, and to have been in their literary company for a while has been a privilege.

Ordering details can be found on the Candy Jar website.

FILTER: - books - Candy Jar

The Grandfather Infestation - illustrated edition

Saturday, 1 July 2023 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books has announced a very special book for 2023, the hardback illustrated edition of The Grandfather Infestation by John Peel.

Like the illustrated edition of Beast of Fang Rock, this book has been inspired by the illustrated Doctor Who Target books from the early 1970s, combined with the popularity of the Lethbridge-Stewart Colouring Book, which was made available via Amazon and good retailers last month with four brand new images.

In 2016 Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen compared The Grandfather Infestation with the work of John Wyndham in 2016. He said:

I’ve always been a huge fan of his work, and I knew I wanted something in a similar vein. I asked John to give us something Triffid-esque and he did exactly that. He’s created a nice blend of genres, mixing the best elements of storytelling that you’d find in the works of Robert Banks Stewart and Wyndham, giving it Peel’s own distinctive twist. And John is no stranger to twisting tales, make no mistake. He’s been writing prose fiction beyond Doctor Who continuously for over twenty-five years, and you don’t do that without being good.

The book has a brand new cover, but the actual look of the Grandfathers has not been changed. Martin Baines opted to keep Colin Howard’s original design:

Colin is a Doctor Who demi-god and I wouldn’t have felt comfortable changing his work. His realisation of the Grandfathers was perfect. Like all his Doctor Who artwork, Colin really understand what makes a good monster.

Martin has also provided internal illustrations for the book. He continued:

Like the Beast of Fang Rock, I read the book and choose my favourite scenes. I was excited to discover that The Grandfather Infestation is a jam-packed full of action, so it made illustrating it very fun indeed.

This release comes with a free postcard, as well as a brand new Lucy Wilson Mysteries book The Grandfather Club written by John Peel. Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, felt that the time was right return to the Grandfathers. He said:

John’s first ever Lethbridge-Stewart book was The Grandfather Infestation. And what a book it is! And, over the years we’ve always tremendous feedback about it, receiving so many requests to release a new edition. But instead of doing a paperback with a new cover, we decided to do something a little more special. Like Beast of Fang Rock, Martin’s artwork really helps to bring this exciting book alive. And the Lucy story is the cherry on the cake, allowing us to introduce the alien Grandfathers to a new audience.

The Grandfather Infestation is now available for pre-order directly from Candy Jar Books..

All of the school clubs have been cancelled, effective immediately. All except one…

Lucy and Hobo can’t understand why everyone at school has joined the gardening club. They also can’t understand why no one is doing any gardening!

Why are the students constructing a gigantic greenhouse? And why does it need such a powerful heating system? But, more to the point, what sort of plants will this greenhouse be the home to?

Will Lucy and Hobo be able to solve this mystery or have the seeds of destruction already been sown?

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar - Lethbridge-Stewart - Lucy Wilson Mysteries

Pull To Open

Friday, 23 June 2023 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Ten Acre Films have announced a new Doctor Who non-fiction book to be published next month. Called Pull to Open, it tells the story of the creation of Doctor Who in 1963 and is written by Paul Hayes, a regular contributor to Doctor Who Magazine whose previous Doctor Who book from Ten Acre, 2021’s The Long Game, told the story of how the programme came to be recommissioned in 2003 and was described by Starburst as an “astonishingly interesting and page-turning... an essential book for anyone interested in the arcane world of British television production.”

Speaking to Doctor Who News about the new book, Paul said:

I very much wanted to try and bring the same approach to the creation of the show in 1963 as The Long Game did for the 1996-2003 period, The idea is to try and provide the same wider background and context to the events – so not just what happened, but why it happened. To give an idea of how BBC television drama worked at that time, the world into which Doctor Who was born, and also to flesh out some of the lives of people we normally only see as names on a list – the likes of Eric Maschwitz and Alice Frick, for example. Pull to Open tells the story from Maschwitz first asking the Script Department about science-fiction in the spring of 1962, to the Daleks first appearing at the end of 1963 – so it’s a book which pretty much entirely concentrates on the creation of the show. That is the story in this book, rather than simply being the start of the story as it sometimes is when told elsewhere. It’s a period which has long fascinated me, and I hope people enjoy reading about it as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing it!

Pull to Open is due for publication on 24 July from Ten Acre Films, the company which has previously published new editions of popular Doctor Who books such as Richard Marson’s biographies of Verity Lambert and John Nathan-Turner and Andrew Cartmel’s diaries. They have also provided documentary features for the Doctor Who classic series Blu-ray range. The foreword is written by actor, comedian and Doctor Who historian Toby Hadoke, who describes Pull to Open as “fresh and compelling… as definitive an account of those early years as I have read.”

The book is available to pre-order now via Ten Acre's website.

FILTER: - Books - Non-Fiction

Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 592

Thursday, 22 June 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 592 - Supplement (Credit: Panini)

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 592 is now available.

Highlights of the new issue include:

A 20-page supplement featuring Four Hours of Doom’s Day – a new comic-strip adventure including Autons, Cybermen and lots of surprises!
A giant double-sided poster.
Voice of Doom – Sooz Kempner, aka Doom the assassin, discusses playing the lead character in the new cross-media adventure Doom’s Day.
Day of Reckoning – the complete guide to Doom’s Day, with insights from the people who have created the stories.
Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies looks forwards to the new episodes of Doctor Who, and recalls the revived series’ launch back in 2005.
The Doctor’s Wife – actor and author Elizabeth Morton on being the wife of the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison, and the mother-in-law of the Fourteenth, David Tennant!
Working Wonders – colleagues and family recall the pioneering visual effects created by the late Peter Day.
The DWM 60th Anniversary Poll – the analysis of the results continues, with this issue looking at the rankings of the Seventh and Ninth Doctor’s adventures.
Memory Worm – Dalek writer Robert Shearman puts his knowledge of his Doctor Who career to the test.
Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock files his latest report, direct from Doctor Who’s HQ.
Quick Draw – John Erasmus reveals what it’s like to work as a storyboard artist on the new series of Doctor Who.
Liberation of the Daleks Part Nine – the adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor continue in the epic comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan.
60 Objects, 60 Years – the latest instalment of the series that tells the story of one object from every year of Doctor Who’s history.
The Fact of Fiction concludes it exploration of the Second Doctor’s encounter with the Cybermen aboard The Wheel in Space.
Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news, including cast announcements.
Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 592 is on sale Thursday 22 June from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

FILTER: - DWM

Lenny Rush Joins Doctor Who

Thursday, 15 June 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Award winning actor Lenny Rush is to appear in the next series of Doctor Who.

Having just won a BAFTA at the age of fourteen, Rush takes on the role of Morris in the 2024 series of Doctor Who, starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa.

Lenny Rush has starred in numerous shows including ‘Dodger’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ but it was his starring role in Daisy May Cooper’s ‘Am I Being Unreasonable’ that won him the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme this year.

Now Rush is about to join the team travelling time and space as he takes on his new role as Morris.

Speaking about joining Doctor Who, Rush said:

It’s an absolute honour to be part of Doctor Who, one of the most iconic shows on television and wow what a dream come true!

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said:

This is what Doctor Who's all about, brand new talent from the next generation, and no one’s more talented than Lenny! He joins the TARDIS team just in time for the Doctor’s greatest nightmare, so hold on tight!

FILTER: - Production - Series 13/39

Doctor Who: Chronicles: 1963-64

Sunday, 11 June 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The latest issue of Doctor Who Chronicles has been published by Panini, covering the first season of the show.

This lavish 116-page publication from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine looks at the stories, people, events, and news of this formative period – a time when William Hartnell played the Doctor, and the world was introduced to the Daleks, the TARDIS, and an incredible adventure in space and time.

The bookazine covers all the stories from 1963-64: 100,000 BC (aka An Unearthly Child), The Mutants (aka The Daleks), Inside the Spaceship (aka The Edge of Destruction), Marco Polo, The Keys of Marinus, The Aztecs, The Sensorites, The Reign of Terror, Planet of Giants and The Dalek Invasion of Earth. It also includes exclusive articles and rare behind-the-scenes images.

Contents include articles on:

The year’s most significant events in the Doctor Who universe (both on and off screen)
Profiles of stars William Hartnell, William Russell, Jacqueline Hill and Carole Ann Ford
Doctor Who in the popular press
Special effects and production techniques
The very first items of Doctor Who merchandise
… and much more!

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1963-64 is on sale now, RRP £11.99 from panini.co.uk and selected branches of WH Smith while stocks last.

It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £10.99.

FILTER: - DWM - Season 1

Mel Returns to Doctor Who

Wednesday, 7 June 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Star of stage and screen Bonnie Langford will once again reprise her role as Melanie Bush as she returns to Doctor Who, this time starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa who plays the Fifteenth Doctor in the new series.

Bonnie first entered the world of Doctor Who in 1986 as the companion to the Sixth and Seventh Doctors played by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, before returning in a cameo role in Jodie Whittaker’s final episode as the Thirteenth Doctor.

Making her West End debut at just seven years old in ‘Gone with the Wind’ at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Bonnie has since gone on to lead an outstanding career. From her countless performances on both Broadway and West End, such as ‘Chicago’, ‘9 to 5’ and ‘Cats’, to her award-winning role as Carmel Kazemi on EastEnders.

Now Bonnie is back, as Melanie returns for another epic adventure.

Bonnie Langford said:

I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back. To be part of the exceptional cast, crew and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T Davies is a career highlight. I’m so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said:

“Open those TARDIS doors wide, because Bonnie’s back! What an honour, delight and hoot to welcome back the character of Melanie, after too long away. And this isn’t just a cameo, Bonnie is right in the thick of the action, battling monsters and chaos and cliffhangers, right at the Doctor's side, just like the old days.”

FILTER: - Production

Candy Jar Books update

Wednesday, 31 May 2023 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Candy Jar Books has announced the second book in its final series of Lethbridge-Stewart novels.

It Came from the Isle of Man

Written by John Peel

Artwork by Paul Cooke

It was possibly the kindest, most humane invasion ever. Nobody was killed; nobody was even bruised by it. At least, not at first.

Three landings, three countries. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart soon realises this is too big for the Fifth Operational Corps, and so plans are put into place for an international operation, with Bill Bishop and Anne Travers sent to the US to work alongside Colonel Hickenlooper, Colonel Douglas goes to the USSR to liaise with Major Bugayev, and Lethbridge-Stewart is joined in the UK by an old American ally from his National Service Days.

Just what is going on, who are the Engineers, and why do they insist they have an agreement with the King of Earth?

Lethbridge-Stewart finds himself having to deal with international politics and inter-galactic agreements, while Anne has to cope with a Russian spy, and a trip to an alien world…

Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen said:

It’s always nice to have John Peel back. He’s an old hand at novel writing, and without fail always delivers a strong first draft. More often than not, in fact, it requires little or no rewrites, usually a few touch-up edits. With the end in sight, we knew we had to prepare the way for Lethbridge-Stewart to become the Brigadier, and for his transfer from the Fifth to UNIT. To the end I worked alongside the authors of the final series to develop stories that would see the transition take place, show the fans why it was necessary for UNIT to be set-up to protect not just the UK, but the world itself. This book, like the previous Spheres of Influence, is a step towards that end…

We’d planned these final books some time ago, and I’d forgotten some of the smaller details, since obviously I had worked on many titles in the meantime. So it was a nice surprise when characters from bdw titleoth John's The Grandfather Infestation and On His Majesty’s National Service made an appearance. I hope it will be equally surprising and exciting for the long-time readers of the range, to see things coming full circle. It’s apt, I feel, that these characters in particular should return, tying John Peel’s contributions to the series in nice little bow.

John Peel said:

I had tremendous fun while writing On His Majesty's National Service and introducing some new characters to the world of Lethbridge-Stewart, so when I was asked to write another entry in the series, I couldn't resist bringing some of them back again to help him out. Or are they helping him?”

I wanted to write something a bit different this time around, though, so I decided to avoid the customary alien invasion theme. This time around, the aliens aren't determined to conquer the Earth – but what they have in mind might be a greater disaster than a simple invasion. It was also fun working with Jonathan Blum (with a bit of assistance from Simon Forward) to find ways to link these final books together, to walk the path to UNIT…

As with many Lethbridge-Stewart books the title underwent something of a change. Andy explained:

The title often changes between first announcement and eventual release, and this one was no exception. Originally it was called United Nations, which would be followed up by Jonathan Blum’s Intelligence Taskforce. However, due to the need to turn Jon’s novel into two books (more on that when Jon’s book is due), I decided it made sense to assign both titles to Jon’s novels. Thus, John Peel’s needed a new title. It took a while, but I eventually suggested It Came from the Isle of Man to fit in with the B-movie influence behind the chapter titles contained within the book. John approved it immediately.

Rgular contributor Paul Cooke provided the art.

This cover was slightly different to my earlier ones in that rather than an idea of what the story elements were, I was given a passage of the novel to illustrate. The description of the sea monster is vivid and when I sat down to design it, I was influenced by one artist in particular. Way back when, when I was at school, a favourite artist of mine was Rowena Morrill, who sadly died a couple of years ago. She painted strange, fantasy hybrid creatures that had an otherworldly colour palette perfect for this subject, I felt. The scale of the creature is helped with the poor Minke victim, though I did move the ship closer than in the story for visual impact. Lethbridge-Stewart was always a hands-on sort and Andy asked for him to be in action mode. What better than showing him running into battle, urging his men forward? The breaking ice behind him hints at a location for the story, and there is a clue to another location for the keen Doctor Who fan.

I do like the Scots Guard hat (glengarry) so am pleased I was able to paint it. I find it can be quite tricky to get right in the way it sits on the head as the angles look wrong. Fortunately, I have one (too small for me, unfortunately) but it fits a polystyrene bust I have (don’t ask!). This allowed me to get it just right. I’m a big believer in reference material; you can guarantee that if you get something wrong someone will always notice. This caused quite the headache when trying to draw Lethbridge-Stewart’s service revolver, as I’d chosen an angle that I couldn’t find any reference of, so had to piece it together as best I could. I hope I’ve got it right!

I’ve been really fortunate with my association with the Lethbridge-Stewart books. I bought the first one and loved it; so much so that I felt the urge to create some fan art. Andy saw it and later offered me a try-out. So not only am I a fan, Andy give me the opportunity to become a part of it. It is sad for me to know this is my last cover as the series draws to a close, but what a ride it’s been! Massive thanks to Andy for creating such an enjoyable series of books, and for taking a chance on me. (I know he will want to edit this out, but I hope it stays)

It Came from the Isle of Man is available to order fromt the Candy Jar website, and is included in a subscriptiomn to their books.

After a successful launch last year, a new quick read novel has been published this year:

The Analysis Bureau: Roseblood

Written by Tom Dexter

Artwork by Lee Sullivan

The Analysis Bureau does not exist. Ask any questions about it, and the same answers always greet you. There's no trace of any department matching that name in any branch of Government, only speculation and wild rumours.

May 1967, Puppet on a String is high in the charts, and people are wearing flowers in their hair as the 'Summer of Love' begins. However, in the backstreets of Whitechapel, near one of the last variety theatres to survive the Blitz, a ghost has been spotted. A ghost who seems to be screaming in terror.

At the Analysis Bureau, in the aftermath of Incident Three, Mr Quebec is ordered to investigate. He sends Flower on a solo mission, but how does this lead her to encounter the legendary movie star, Orson Welles? And what does the word Roseblood mean to him?

When Professor Travers tries to save a figure who seems to have fallen through a breach between dimensions, Flower ends up underground in the worst way imaginable...

Author Tom Dexter said:

The reaction we’ve had about the first book centred on the fact that it featured a strong female lead character, who our readers seem to have wholeheartedly embraced, working alongside classic Doctor Who characters such as Professor Travers and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The latest short story takes a new twist, and brings the iconic film actor and director, Orson Welles into the mix.

There’s a famous Spitting Image sketch from years ago,” Tom adds, “where they basically said that Orson Welles lived his career in reverse, starting with the remarkable success of Citizen Kane and ending with financing being more than scarce for anything he wanted to direct.

Set immediately after the climactic end of the first volume, this new book sees Welles heading for England to stop production of a horror parody of Citizen Kane being filmed, only to find that his past starts to haunt him in a very startling way. The Analysis Bureau step in to not only try to save his live, but also figure out what the connection is to the planet Mars.

Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar said:

The Analysis Bureau did exactly what we wanted, launching a spin-off title from our Lethbridge-Stewart books, and has created a team of characters who not only exists in their own universe, but also embrace characters, both human and otherwise from the worlds of Doctor Who, who we have under license. It was only natural to bring them back as soon as we could.

The book can be ordered via the Candy Jar website.

An updated paperback version of Kklak: The Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos has been published, featuring an unpublished Peter Capaldi illustration by the artist, plus contributions from his daughters, Esther and Anna, his nephew Thomas, and his wife, Natasha.

Natasha said:

Chris painted the image of Capaldi in time for the LFCC when he was invited to be a guest at the Heavy Metal stand as he knew Peter was attending. Capaldi was one of my favourite doctors and we both liked his gruffness and welcomed a return to an older representation of the Doctor. Chris remarked how much he enjoyed painting his characteristics – the eyes being particularly a feature as Capaldi’s look is quite striking. Chris liked to draw interesting, older faces as ‘they were a more interesting subject’ to paint.

Shaun Russell said:

Before Chris sadly passed away, we had been discussing doing something else, but this never came to pass. Since then, knowing that we had one more piece of artwork, I wanted to showcase this. We are now releasing this version of the book to celebrate his life.

You can read more about the book in our original news article on its release. It can be purchased from Candy Jar Books from their website.

FILTER: - Books - Candy Jar Books - Lethbridge-Stewart

TARDIS Volume 17 - Issue 5

Saturday, 27 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society, DWAS, has published the 5th issue in the current run of TARDIS magazine.

TARDIS was one of the original Doctor fanzines, having been first published in 1975. A year later it became the primary journal of the newly formed Doctor Who Appreciation Society and continued as a fan favourite for many years.

This issue will support Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood, a charity chosen by former Doctor Who companion Carole Ann Ford.

The magazine was relaunched by DWAS under its current editor, Robbie Dunlop in 2021. The latest issue runs to 64 colour A4 pages and its contents include:

Interviews with Carole Ann Ford and John Gorrie
The story of The Mind Robber’s Unicorn – specifically the horse!
Peter Purves on his personal favourite story ‘The Massacre’
Family members recall William Hartnell and Charles Parnall
Martin Gower recalls the Timelash
David J Howe unearths correspondence from John Lucarotti to Target Books
Egyptologist John J Johnston on Pyramids of Mars
Alex Moore on the career of director Frank Cox
Laura Venegas charts Doctor Who broadcasts in Mexico
Connections between Doctor Who and James Bond and Gary Russell on his starring role in ‘Octopussy’
Christopher Hill examines merchandise from the 1960s
A look at Terrance Dicks: A Celebration
Gavin French charts the ins and outs of that Doctor Who fan institution – The Tavern
Archive interviews with Michael Craze, William Emms and John Lucarotti
Our new adventurers take on Paul Cornell’s Timewrym: Revelation
Neil Cole takes us to the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi
Ian Bresman remembers editing Celestial Toyroom
Jez Strickley on seasonal exits and arrivals
Mark Campbell takes a look at Philip Hinchcliffe’s novelisation of ‘The Keys of Marinus’
Colin Howard discusses his new book ‘Timeslides’
Nigel Robinson takes us with his latest Doctor Who quiz.

The magazine costs £9.99 inc UK delivery at the DWAS website and £10.49 at the DWAS eBay store.

FILTER: - DWAS

BBC Studios take Doctor Who to the Metaverse

Friday, 26 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus

BBC Studios has teamed up with Reality+ to launch a collection of immersive experiences in the metaverse based on the BBC’s world-famous brands including Doctor Who.

BBC Studios has partnered with Web3 specialist Reality+ to create a metaverse experience in The Sandbox where fans will be able to interact with immersive content from their favourite brands, including Top Gear and Doctor Who, and enjoy a BBC events space.

The joint venture between BBC Studios and Reality+ marks the first time the BBC will have a home in the metaverse, following a handful of brand activation experiments with metaverse platforms. Part virtual real estate, part amusement park, The Sandbox fully embraces the idea of the metaverse as a continuous shared digital space, in which players and brands can build, own, and monetise their experiences on blockchain.

BBC Studios joins over 400 other entertainment brands who have entered The Sandbox to date, including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, and Adidas.

Nicki Sheard, President Brands & Licensing, BBC Studios, said,

I’m delighted that BBC Studios is partnering with Reality+ and The Sandbox on this exciting venture. While the metaverse is still in its infancy, it may shape how we consume and experience entertainment in the future and I’m looking forward to seeing how fans interact with our brands in this space. This project forms part of BBC Studios broader ambitious plans to grow our brands into new categories, with innovative technology and platforms forming an integral part of this.

Tony Pearce, Co-Founder, Reality+ said,

We're excited to have extended our partnership with BBC Studios, not only to help them push the boundaries of what’s possible in the metaverse, but for the opportunity to deliver exciting new experiences for the fans of these world-renowned TV shows. We've already achieved so much with digital trading card game Doctor Who: Worlds Apart, and now with a fantastic platform like The Sandbox, there’s much more to come.

Sebastien Borget, COO and Co-Founder at The Sandbox, added,

We’re proud that BBC Studios chose Reality+, a certified metaverse agency partner working on The Sandbox platform, to enter the metaverse with top global brands like Doctor Who and Top Gear. The BBC has a history of pioneering content that leverages the latest technology and putting it into mainstream households. We think this venture is an important step to bringing British culture and fans into virtual worlds.

BBC Studios’ metaverse space in The Sandbox will launch later this year and further details will be released in due course.

Reality+ helps worldwide brands transition to Web3 with bespoke product, community and development strategies, backed by an award-winning technology platform. It has previously partnered with BBC Studios to develop the Doctor Who: Worlds Apart digital trading card game.

FILTER: - BBC - Digital

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