Doctor Who Magazine 414

Monday, 19 October 2009 - Reported by Marcus
This month's DWM features an exclusive behind-the-scenes report on The Sarah Jane Adventures, and talks to the cast and crew of The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, which guest stars David Tennant as the Doctor. Elisabeth Sladen says "Some of it's quite sad. I can't read these scripts too often because they absolutely make me cry. If I do that too much, there won't be any emotion left for on set. Gareth Roberts has written something beautiful"

Also in the issue:
  • Previews of the forthcoming animated adventure, Dreamland, and interviews with the cast, including David Tennant, Georgia Moffett and David Warner
  • She's travelled in the TARDIS for nearly ten years with both the Eighth and Sixth Doctors. And she was the first of the Doctor’s companions to fall in love with the Time Lord! Charley Pollard, aka actress India Fisher, talks DWM about her adventures.
  • The Eighth Doctor is famous for snogging Doctor Grace Holloway in the 1996 TV Movie. But what else should we remember him for? Find out as the Watcher presents the latest guide to the Doctor
  • Doctor Who's executive producer Russell T Davies shares reminiscences of being a fan in his youth and discovers that, for some, the memory cheats
  • Neil Harris looks at the stories that made up the bottom 10 places of DWM's Mighty 200 poll and discovers that, despite popular opinion, there's a great deal to enjoy in these adventures
  • DWM talks to Sarah Jane's husband-to-be, played by actor Nigel Havers, just before the wedding, with a few interruptions from David Tennant!
  • The Time Team gather together to watch Survival, the last full adventure for the Seventh Doctor.
  • The Fact of Fiction travels back to the earliest days of Doctor Who and finds the four time travellers trapped aboard the TARDIS and fighting among themselves. Could they be on the edge of destruction as they hurtle beyond the sun? Find out as Inside the Spaceship is put under the microscope
  • The Doctor and Majenta discover that the London Underground holds a terrible secret. A new comic strip begins, Ghosts of the Northern Line, written by Dan McDaid with art by Paul Grist.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Message from the Letts Family

Sunday, 18 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
"Barry always had a warm respect for the fans of Dr Who. As Barry’s family, we would like to thank everyone for their good wishes on the websites and forums following the news that Barry had died. We have been very touched that the many messages and tributes show such an appreciation and understanding, both of his work and of the very kind and wise man that Barry was."
The Letts Family
October 2009




FILTER: - People - Obituary - Classic Series

Myths, Legends, Mandragora, Rani and Specials

Saturday, 17 October 2009 - Reported by Marcus
According to several on-line retail sites, the early part of 2010 will see a bumper number of Doctor Who DVD releases. The schedule looks very crowded and it is possible one of the listed releases has been delayed until later in the year, but retailers have yet to catch up.

According to the sites January 4th will see the previously announced Peladon box set on sale, to be followed on 1st Feburary by a Myths and Legends box set. No details are available for this set, but it has long rumoured to consist of the Third Doctor story The Time Monster, and the Fourth Doctor stories Underworld and The Horns of Nimon. The Time Monster was first shown in 1972 and features Katy Manning and Roger Delgado. Underworld was shown in 1978 and features Louise Jameson and John Leeson, as well as Alan Lake, while Horns of Nimon was shown over the New Year period of 1979/1980 and features Lalla Ward and David Brierly as K9, with an appearance by Janet Ellis.

One week later, the Fourth Doctor story The Masque of Mandragora is scheduled for release on 8th February. This story was first shown in 1976 and features Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith.

The Seventh Doctor's first story, Time and the Rani, is due for release on 1st March. As well as being Sylvester McCoy's first story, this 1987 adventure features Bonnie Langford as Mel and Kate O'Mara as The Rani.

Finally, fans of the new series will see a release of final episodes of David Tennant's reign as the Doctor when The Specials are released on both DVD and BluRay on 11th January.

All dates are subject to conformation by 2-entertain and are subject to change.




FILTER: - Specials - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Sarah Jane Ratings - Friday

Saturday, 17 October 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Episode Two of Prisoner of the Judoon was watched by 0.7 million viewers on BBC One yesterday, according to unofficial overnight figures. The audience share was 7.2%, an increase over the share for part one.

Ratings increased during the programme with a slight drop off after it finished. The programme got more than double that achieved in the same slot the previous week when Hotel Trubble gained 0.3 million.

Final figures will include those who record the programme and watch it within seven days, and will be released by BARB in two weeks time.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane Ratings

Friday, 16 October 2009 - Reported by Marcus

Unofficial overnight figures show that episode one of Prisoner of the Judoon was watched by 0.6 million viewers. The audience share was 5.9%. An extra 40,000 people watched in high definition on the BBC HD channel.

The rating is similar to that which The Sarah Jane Adventures received in the same slot last year. It is around 50% higher than the average for the timeslot on BBC One. Last week's edition of SMart achieved 0.4 million.

Final figures will include those who record the programme and watch it within seven days, and will be released by BARB in two weeks time.




FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Sarah Jane

Doctor Who Adventures 137

Friday, 16 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The new issue of Doctor Who Adventures celebrates the return of The Sarah Jane Adventures to television with an exclusive 12 page pull-out guide to the new series, with details on monsters, facts, and interviews with the cast.

The magazine also includes features on time travel and the sonic screwdriver, plus a template for those entering the Blue Peter Doctor Who console competition; free gifts this issue are a Master's pen and notepad set, and two free packs of trading cards.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWA

Hamlet for Christmas

Friday, 16 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
As reported back in May, the Royal Shakespeare Company have produced a television version of the popular version of Hamlet starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. In an article from the Oxford Times, artistic director of the RSC Michael Boyd has announced that the special programme will be broadcast (on BBC2) on Christmas Day.

The play will be available on DVD from 4th January 2010.
(with thanks to Helen Paling)




FILTER: - David Tennant

Tom Baker reads Barry Letts obituary

Friday, 16 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Tom Baker - cast as the Doctor by Barry Letts - will be reading the obituary of the producer/director on BBC Radio Four's The Last Word from 4:00pm this afternoon; it should then be available on the BBC's iplayer service for the next seven days.
(with thanks to Simon Watkins)




FILTER: - Obituary - Online - Radio

Blackpool Exhibition to close

Tuesday, 13 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Doctor Who Museum in Blackpool is to close on the 8th November; there has been a permanent exhibition based at the seaside resort for some five years. The museum will remain open for visitors between 10:30am and 8:00pm every day until the 8th.

The large collection of props, monsters and costumes will be distributed to other exhibitions around the country.

For more information visit the Doctor Who Exhibitions website.




FILTER: - Exhibitions

SJA Series Three Trailer

Monday, 12 October 2009 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The BBC have published a trailer for the forthcoming Series Three of the Sarah Jane Adventures. The 2m37s video preview features many of the cast and monsters due to be seen during the next six weeks on BBC1/BBCHD.

Note: video may not play outside of the United Kingdom.




FILTER: - Sarah Jane - Press