Australian overnight ratings for Thin Ice & final ratings for The Pilot

Monday, 1 May 2017 - Reported by Adam Kirk
Thin Ice has debuted in Australia, averaging 473,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the second highest rating ABC drama of the day and the eleventh highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers.

Meanwhile, including time-shifted viewers, The Pilot averaged 594,000 consolidated viewers in the five major capital cities. With 99,000 extra viewers it was the second highest time-shifted program of the day (the highest time-shifted program had 116,000 extra viewers) and the seventh highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview or regional viewers.




FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Ratings - Series 10/36

Overnight Australian ratings for Smile

Monday, 24 April 2017 - Reported by Adam Kirk
Smile has debuted in Australia, averaging 464,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the highest rating ABC drama of the day and the eleventh highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers.
Media Links: TV Tonight




FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Ratings - Series 10/36

Overnight Australian ratings for The Pilot

Monday, 17 April 2017 - Reported by Adam Kirk
The Pilot has debuted in Australia, averaging 495,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The story was the second highest rating ABC drama of the day and the eighth highest rating program of the day overallThese ratings do not include iview, regional or time-shifted viewers.
Media Links: TV Tonight




FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Ratings - Series 10/36

ABC to present "Whovians" panel show

Friday, 24 March 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Australian broadcaster ABC have announced a new half-hour panel show to tie in with the forthcoming tenth series of Doctor Who. Based around fans of the show, Whovians will be shown on Sunday evenings from 16th April at around 8:30pm on ABC2/iview, straight after the latest episode has been broadcast on ABC.

Whovians, with Rove McManus (Credit: ABC)Sunday nights are about to get a whole lot more galactic as Rove McManus and his team of superfans present a brand new half hour panel show to dissect, delve into and delight in the world of Doctor Who. Airing straight after the weekly premiere of the much anticipated Doctor Who series 10 on ABC, Whovians will be filmed in front of a live studio audience, and air on Sundays at 8.30pm on ABC2 and iview.

As well as unpacking the most recent episode, Rove and the team will open the doors of the TARDIS and go back through the annals of time to lovingly analyze, critique, and unravel the mysteries of this much loved globally renowned series.

Rove is a long time Doctor Who enthusiast and will be joined by other self-confessed Doctor Who superfans, Tegan Higginbotham, Adam Richard and Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell, as well as a roster of celebrity guests.

This is a show by Whovians but one that won’t exclude the rest of humanity.

Rove McManus said:
I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who for as long as I can remember so you can imagine how pleased I am to be hosting a show about it. Whether it be the classic era that dates back over fifty years or the modern series that has created its own decade-long legacy, it’ll be nice to have the opportunity to talk about my favourite TV show with like-minded individuals and be paid to completely geek out. You might say I’m so excited that I too feel like I have two hearts beating in my chest - and yes, it’s references like that which prove I’m the right guy for the job.
Brian Minchin, Executive Producer of Doctor Who added:
Whovians will be the perfect companion piece for the thrilling new series of Doctor Who on ABC. It’s fantastic to have this exciting new program to delight Australian fans.
Rebecca Heap, ABC Head of Programming and Digital, said:
As the home of Doctor Who in Australia we are thrilled to offer our audiences another way to engage with the popular program, as well as welcoming Rove back to our screens.

So get ready to get on board. #WhoviansAU

Fans who wish to be part of the audience are invited to register their interest via drwho.audience@abc.net.au.




FILTER: - Australia - International Broadcasting - Series 10/36

Australian cinema outing for The Pilot

Wednesday, 15 March 2017 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Pilot in Australian Cinemas (Credit: BBC Worldwide/Sharmill Films)BBC Worldwide ANZ and Sharmill Films have announced that they will be presenting a special event screening of the first episode of the new series, The Pilot over Easter Sunday and Monday.

The episode sees the introduction of new sidekick Bill, as played by Pearl Mackie: Louise Hill, Live Entertainment Executive for BBC Worldwide ANZ, said:
With Bill, the new companion, making her on-screen debut we’re happy to give audiences the chance to experience the new duo on the big-screen for the first time.
Natalie Miller AO, Sharmill Films Executive Director, added:
The introduction of a new companion is a time(lord)-honoured event in the Doctor Who universe, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with the BBC once again to present this very special cinema event to Australian fans.

Full details on the event can be found on the Sharmill Films website, including cinema venues and ticket information once available.


The Pilot will premiere in Australia on ABC iview immediately after the UK broadcast on 16th April, and will air simultaneously on ABC (in HD) and ABC ME at 7.40pm.







FILTER: - Australia - BBC Worldwide - Cinema - Premiere Events

Forty Years of Doctor Who Fandom in Australia

Friday, 3 March 2017 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Club of Australia has published a book marking forty years since the formation of the club.

Zerinza celebrates 40 years of the club and features articles by every President, past and present, from across the club’s entire history plus a number of articles and interviews about specific club activities and events.

It also celebrates text Who, 2016 having been a year with less content on TV and more on book shelves. This includes an exclusive interview with Doctor Who actor and Second Doctor son Michael Troughton, who discusses writing his father’s biography. David J Howe talks about co-writing Jon Pertwee’s final memoir, Colin West remembers illustrating Tom Baker’s poetry and Peter Davison describes writing the script for the Five(ish) Doctor’s Reboot.

There is also a rare interview transcript of Nicholas Courtney and Katy Manning from the first Whovention back in 1990, plus comics, art, articles, and fiction!

You can purchase a bound edition in either paperback or hardcover format from the DWCA Publishing online shop

The book was edited for the DWCA by its Publication Manager, Darran Jordan, who has previously written the books Whovian and Green Lantern History.




FILTER: - Australia - Books

The Return of Doctor Mysterio to be shown in Australian cinemas

Tuesday, 22 November 2016 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Return of Doctor Mysterio in Australian Cinemas (Credit: BBC Worldwide/Sharmill Films)BBC Worldwide ANZ and Sharmill Films have announced that this year's Christmas Special, The Return of Doctor Mysterio, will be shown in selected cinemas on Boxing Day, the same day as it hits television screens acrosss the country.

As with the previously-announced USA cinema showings, the event will also include the two features A New Kind of Superhero and Doctor Who Extra.

Louise Hill, Live Entertainment Executive for BBC Worldwide ANZ, said:
Superheroes are a cinema staple so we’re doubly delighted to give Doctor Who fans the opportunity to see this spectacular adventure on the big screen.
Natalie Miller AO, Sharmill Films Executive Director, said:
This special Boxing Day event will mark a new tradition in the Australian calendar! We’re thrilled that Australian cinema audiences will have the opportunity to celebrate this time(lord)-honoured Christmas tradition, which is perfect family viewing for old and young superheroes alike.

Tickets for the theatrical release of Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio go on sale nationally on Wednesday, 23rd November; full details of where it will be shown can be found via the Sharmill Films website.





FILTER: - Australia - Cinema - Series Specials - Special Events

Doctor Mysterio and Power of the Daleks Coming to iview Australia

Monday, 21 November 2016 - Reported by Marcus
The Return of Doctor Mysterio (Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston)ABC Australia has announced that both the Doctor Who Christmas special The Return of Doctor Mysterio and the animated series Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks will be fast-tracked to ABC iview early on Boxing Day morning, immediately after the BBC’s broadcast of the Christmas special.

The Return of Doctor Mysterio will then screen on ABC and ABC ME at 7.30pm on Boxing Day evening.

Written by Steven Moffat, The Return of Doctor Mysterio sees the Doctor team up with an investigative journalist, played by Charity Wakefield (Wolf Hall, The Player) and a superhero to save New York from a deadly alien threat.

The one-hour special also features Matt Lucas as Nardole, Justin Chatwin as Grant (the superhero), Adetomiwa Edun (Lucifer), Aleksandar Jovanovic and Logan Hoffman.

Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks animated series is one of the most celebrated Doctor Who adventures, and yet no complete film recordings are known to have survived. The master negatives were destroyed in an archive purge in 1974. This brand new animation, being released 50 years after its only UK broadcast, is based on the program’s original audio recordings, surviving photographs, and film clips. The six-part adventure features the regeneration – or as it was then called “renewal” – of First Doctor, William Hartnell, into Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and follows the Time Lord and his companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) as they do battle with the Daleks on the planet Vulcan.

Power of the Daleks was brought to life using modern animation techniques and was produced and directed by Charles Norton, with character designs from acclaimed comic book artists Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon.




FILTER: - Australia - Second Doctor - Series Specials - Twelfth Doctor

The Power of the Daleks to get Australia Cinema Showing

Tuesday, 25 October 2016 - Reported by Marcus
The Power of the Daleks (animated) - The Daleks (Credit: BBC Worldwide)BBC Worldwide ANZ and Sharmill Films have today announced a limited-run theatrical screening of the new animation of The Power of the Daleks from Saturday 12 November for one week only, ahead of its release on DVD. The cinema event will also feature exclusive bonus content including interviews with members of the original cast.

Screenings of the story have already been announced in cinemas in the US and at the BFI in London. The lost story has been animated to mark the 50th Anniversary of the original transmission of the story, the first full adventure for the Second Doctor.

Tickets for Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks can be purchased by visiting sharmillfilms.com.au for information on participating cinemas, or at the cinema box offices.

The Power of the Daleks is one of the most celebrated Doctor Who adventures, and yet no complete film recordings are known to have survived. The master negatives were destroyed in an archive purge in 1974. This brand new animation, being released 50 years after its only UK broadcast, is based on the programme’s original audio recordings, surviving photographs, and film clips. The six-part adventure features the regeneration - or as it was then called “renewal” - of First Doctor, William Hartnell, into Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and follows the Time Lord and his companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) as they do battle with the Daleks on the planet Vulcan.

Louise Hill, Live Entertainment Executive for BBC Worldwide ANZ said
“This is a great opportunity for Doctor Who fans to see all six-parts of Power of the Daleks brought to life using modern animation techniques, and to experience this as a shared event.
Natalie Miller AO, Sharmill Films Executive Director, added:
The state-of-the-art presentation of these iconic lost episodes will be a landmark event in the world of Doctor Who, and we are hugely excited for Australian fans to discover them on the big screen.
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks is produced and directed by Charles Norton, with character designs from acclaimed comic book artists Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon. It will be released on DVD in Australia by Roadshow Entertainment on 14 December 2016.




FILTER: - Australia - Cinema - Second Doctor

Class in Australia

Monday, 26 September 2016 - Reported by Marcus
ABC Australia has confirmed the new Doctor Who spin-off, Class, will broadcast in Australia, shortly after its UK debut.

The first two episodes of the series will be released on iView as soon as they becomes available in the UK. Class is due to be released on BBC Three sometime on Saturday 22nd October.

In addition the episodes will be screened on ABC2 on Monday, 24 October

Class is a young adult series set in Coal Hill Academy. The first episode will feature current Doctor Peter Capaldi.

Class has also been confirmed for transmission in Canada on 22 October. BBC America will also screen the series, but have not yet confirmed an airdate.




FILTER: - Australia - Broadcasting - Class