The Complete History book collection and competition

Monday, 31 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

The first issue of Doctor Who: The Complete History will be released on the 9th September. This will be the start of a long running fortnightly partwork series by Doctor Who Magazine in conjunction with Hachette Partworks. The collection will cover every Doctor Who story from An Unearthly Child to Last Christmas.

The Complete History has its origins in Andrew Pixley's Archive section of DWM. A lot of the early archives have been completely rewritten while later ones during Christopher Eccleston's era have been updated and expanded.

Doctor Who – The Complete History gathers all there is to know about Doctor Who in one essential encyclopaedic collection. Written by the experts behind Doctor Who Magazine, this unique book collection goes behind the TV cameras to document the making of the world’s longest running science fiction series from 1963 to the present day. Scripts, casting, film locations, studio recordings, broadcast, ratings and merchandise are all covered in detail for each and every adventure, along with full story details and profiles of the cast and crew, all illustrated by a wealth of colour and black and white photographs. From script to screen, discover how every adventure of all 12 Doctors was created.

Doctor Who: The Complete History - Issue 1 (Credit: Hachette/BBC/Panini)

Doctor Who: The Complete History - Issue 1 - Volume 55
Edited by John Ainsworth
Original production notes: Andrew Pixley
Additional material: Jonathan Morris, Richard Atkinson, Alistair McGown
Published 9th September 2015, £1.99

New York, New York - so good that they visited it twice. Yes, that's right! New York is the setting for two of the four stories, starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, featured in this volume. In truth though, the New York of Gridlock - 'New' New York - is a completely different city, on a completely different world to the more familiar 'Big Apple' of Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks. The Two cities, and the two stories themselves, couldn't be further apart. In fact, all four stories in this volume superbly demonstrate the breadth and variety of settings, time periods, and types of story that Doctor Who encompasses; from a bleak far future in Gridlock, to Dalek plots during America's Great Depression of the 1930's in Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks, to genetic tampering in present day London in The Lazarus Experiment, and back to the future onboard a doomed spaceship, plummeting into a sun, in 42. Each story is a self-contained mini-movie. It's hard to imagine that anyone could ever get bored with Doctor Who.

Of course, although each of the four stories is self-contained and can be enjoyed in its own right, there are some ongoing story threads running through them. Not least of these is the evolution of Martha Jones from tag-along traveller to fully fledged Companion. It has to be said that the Doctor is a little bit reluctant to embrace Martha as his new shipmate - he's still smarting from his recent forced separation from Rose Tyler [see Army of Ghosts/Doomsday - Volume 53] and isn't in a hurry to get close to anyone new. But Martha's having none of it, and puts the Doctor on the spot at the end of Gridlock, forcing him to open up and reveal the details of his past. And then again, at the end of The Lazarus Experiment, Martha initially declines another trip in the TARDIS, feeling the Doctor is just giving her a series of one-off "treats". The Doctor relents and acknowledges Martha's true status as a travelling companion, rather than just a passenger. He even presents her with her very own TARDIS key at the end of 42. We also see some foreshadowing of dark events in the future. With his dying words, the ancient Face of Boe tells the Doctor in Gridlock that he is not alone... while on present day Earth, election fever is in the air with the unseen Mr Saxon tipped to be the next prime minister. But why is Mr Saxon so interested in Martha Jones, warning her mother that the Doctor is a dangerous man? All will be revealed in the climactic final three episodes of the 2007 series - Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords [2007 - see Volume 56].

John Ainsworth - Editor

Issue 2: Colony in Space, The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks
Published 23rd September 2015, £6.99

Issue 3: Deep Breath, Into the Dalek
Published 7th October 2015, £9.99

Issue 4: 100,000 BC, The Mutants (aka The Daleks)
Published 21st October 2015, £9.99

Doctor Who: The Complete History - Issue 2 (Credit: Hachette/BBC/Panini)

Doctor Who: The Complete History - Issue 3 (Credit: Hachette/BBC/Panini)

Doctor Who: The Complete History - Issue 4 (Credit: Hachette/BBC/Panini)

Competition

Doctor Who News is pleased to offer readers the chance to win a subscription to the entire collection of The Complete History, courtesy of Hachette Partworks.

To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question:

The Complete History uses the title "100,000 BC" for one of the First Doctor stories but what is the title more commonly known as?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-completehistory@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Complete History". The competition is open to UK and and Republic of Ireland residents only, closing date: 7th September 2015. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

Doctor Who: The Complete History (Credit: Hachette/BBC/Panini)

FILTER: - Books - Competitions - DWM

Moments In Time: Zygons in Scotland

Sunday, 30 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Terror of the Zygons by Robert Banks Stewart. The Zygons returned to Doctor Who in The Day of the Doctor and are set to make another appearance in this year's Invasion Of The Zygons / Inversion Of The Zygons by Peter Harness.

The Radio Times issue for 28 August 1975 covered the story with a feature on Loch Ness by Anthony Haden-Guest with artwork from Frank Bellamy. You can read more on the Radio Times story guide by Mark Braxton.

What is Nessie? Who can tell? In a new series starting this week, Dr Who takes on the unidentified incumbent of Loch Ness. Here Anthony Haden-Guest plumbs the murky depths of the Scottish mystery.

Still waters, page 1 (Credit: Radio Times / Frank Bellamy)

Still waters, page 2 (Credit: Radio Times)

Saturday TV (Radio Times) (Credit: Radio Times / Frank Bellamy)

In article about Doctor Who in The Listener for 2nd October 1975, Jack Waterman wrote:

On another level, admirers of polystyrene suitings—to say nothing of shareholders in plastics firms—must like the work to be seen on Dr Who. To name but one monster, and the most recent, the Zygon was a creation of genius—an amber-coloured, heavy-duty plastic individual—and yet another tribute to designers who have, through this programme alone, over the years put the BBC well ahead, in a field whose first drawing-board effort was no less than Frankenstein's creation. [p. 437]

Harry meets Broton, War Lord of the Zygons, A clip from Terror of the Zygons part two
(May not play outside of the UK)

FILTER: - Moments in Time

The Magician's Apprentice: further BBC Worldwide confirmations

Sunday, 30 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Peter Capaldi as The Doctor (Credit: BBC / David Venni)

BBC Worldwide have confirmed the broadcast of series premiere The Magician's Apprentice in some more of their worldwide schedules.

The Far East will get to see the latest adventures of the Doctor and Clara only a few hours after the United Kingdom, with BBC Asia confirming that it will show the episode on Saturday 20th September at 10:00am (3:00am UK time). The series will be shown on BBC Entertainment at both 10:00am and a prime-time 8:15pm, with various repeats throughout the week thereafter. The channel is currently available in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Burma, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Belgium and the Netherlands will see The Magician's Apprentice a couple of days later, as BBC First air the premiere prime-time on Monday 22nd September at 9:00pm; as with BBC Asia the episode will be repeated several times during the week before the next episode airs.

The Magician's Apprentice: Known Broadcast Details
United Kingdom	BBC One	Sat 19 Sep 2015	time tbc
United States of America	BBC America	Sat 19 Sep 2015	9:00pm EDT	(2:00am BST)
Canada	SPACE	Sat 19 Sep 2015	9:00pm EDT	(2:00am BST)
Asia Pacific	BBC Entertainment	Sun 20 Sep 2015	10:00am SGT	(3:00am BST)
Australia	ABC	Sun 20 Sep 2015	7:40pm AEST	(10:40am BST)
Europe (Benelux)	BBC First	Tue 22 Sep 2015	9:00pm CEST
Finland	YLE2	Mon 28 Sep 2015	6:00pm EEST
New Zealand	PRIME	Sep 2015	date tbc
South Africa	BBC First	Sat 24 Oct 2015	6:00pm SAST
Germany	FOX	December 2015	date tbc	(dubbed into German)
India	FX	"coming soon in 2015"	date tbc
Italy	RAI4	Early 2016	date tbc	(dubbed into Italian)

Update: Australia is now confirmed for 7:40pm 20th September

Check our guide page for the latest transmission updates, and for general broadcasting details around the world see This Week in Doctor Who.

FILTER: - Asia Pacific - Broadcasting - Europe - International Broadcasting - Series 9/35

New books from Miwk

Sunday, 30 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Miwk Publishing have released details of two forthcoming memoirs of men who have worked on Doctor Who.

A Peculiar Effect on the BBC is the memoir of visual effects designer Bernard Wilkie. The book will feature a foreword by visual effects designer Mat Irvine and an afterword by visual effects designer Mike Tucker.

A Peculiar Effect on the BBC (Credit: Miwk Publishing)

A Peculiar Effect on the BBC
Written by Bernard Wilkie
Foreword by Mat Irvine
Afterword by Mike Tucker
Cover design by Robert Hammond
Published in September 2015

Bernard Wilkie is a pioneer in the world of visual effects. Along with Jack Kine he co-founded the BBC’s Visual Effects Department in 1954. Between them they worked on too many BBC productions to list, but chief among them were Doctor Who, Out of the Unknown, Quatermass, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and Some Mothers Do ‘ave ‘em. He passed away in 2002, writing this book in the late 1990s.

A Peculiar Effect on the BBC is his previously unpublished memoir and looks back on his career as a whole, covering each programme in detail with a light, but still educational, and often cautionary tone.

Sample from A Peculiar Effect on the BBC (Credit: Miwk Publishing)

Whether it’s trying to make a smoke gun, encase an Ice Warrior in a block of ice, creating a Loch Ness Monster or simply coming up with a way of presenting a photo collection on screen utilising only one studio camera, Bernard and Jack rose to the occasion – often choking, soaking and terrifying their colleagues in the process. And almost all of these effects had to be done live – the pressure was on!

Bernard also talks in detail about the BBC taking over Ealing Studios and the construction of the now-defunct Television Centre. For anyone interested in the history of television, this is a fascinating eye witness account.

Foreword by visual effects designer Mat Irvine and afterword by visual effects designer Mike Tucker.

To Put You in the Picture is by Robert Banks Stewart, who wrote Terror of the Zygons and The Seeds of Doom, and will feature illustrations by Jamie Lenman, who illustrated Doctor Whoah! for Doctor Who Magazine under the pseudonym 'Baxter'.

To Put You in the Picture (Credit: Miwk Publishing / Andrew Orton)

To Put You in the Picture
Written by Robert Banks Stewart
Internal illustrations by Jamie Lenman
Cover design by Andrew Orton
Published in October 2015

The memoir of Robert Banks Stewart, one of Britain’s most legendary television writer/producers, whose career has spanned five decades. Viewers who have watched television and its development over this period – including viewers of today – will be hugely entertained by this splendid autobiography.

The author has penned a host of behind-the-scenes anecdotes, most of them hitherto untold, plus descriptions of his considerable work experiences with refreshing candour (successes and failures) and delightful humour.

Credited with breaking the mould of early UK thriller dramas with ground-breaking series like Shoestring and Bergerac, he purposely set them away from the usual easy, endlessly grim metropolitan street backgrounds derived from BBC Radio, instead exploiting different locations – like the West Country and the Channel Island of Jersey. He also cleverly cast new actors such as John Nettles, Trevor Eve, Greta Scaachi and Catherine Zeta-Jones, rather than established stars, whilst also featuring film veterans like Terence Alexander and Michael Medwin in regular roles. Writing, adapting and producing – with what was called ‘the touch’ – Robert Banks Stewart was also responsible for many more hit television series, among them the initial productions of The Darling Buds of May and Lovejoy.

To regular Miwk customers, Robert Banks Stewart will be most recognisable as the author of two of the most popular Doctor Who serials, 'Terror of the Zygons' and 'The Seeds of Doom', the titular creatures from the former having recently returned to Doctor Who in the recent 50th anniversary special.

'To Put You in the Picture' is illustrated by Jamie Lenman, with cover design by Andrew Orton.

The book is available to pre-order in hardback here, priced £13.99 when ordered direct from Miwk.

(with thanks to Matthew West / Miwk Publishing)

FILTER: - Books - People

Russell T Davies returns to BBC with Shakespeare

Friday, 28 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC One, announced at the Edinburgh Television Festival on Wednesday that former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is to adapt William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC One, with the help of the Doctor Who production team. Davies was spotted in Cardiff with David Tennant earlier this month which led to speculation amongst fans as to what the pair were doing in the city. The cast for A Midsummer Night’s Dream is still to be announced.

The feature will be directed by David Kerr, produced by Nikki Wilson and executive produced by Russell T Davies, Faith Penhale and Brian Minchin.

Russell T Davies says:

I’ve wanted to make this for the BBC for my entire adult life - and only the BBC can put on a play like this, for all the family, smack-bang in the heart of primetime. With a riot of prosthetics, CGI, magic and action, it needs the brilliant Doctor Who team in Cardiff to bring it to life.

For one night only, BBC One becomes the Globe, with a bold and accessible 90-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Adapted by Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Cucumber), it is a truthful version of the play - the original play, the original words, the original Shakespeare. Warm and funny, it will have as much attitude and invention as any theatrical interpretation.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a much-loved comedy by William Shakespeare, set in the tyrannical court of Athens and the magical forest around the city. The single drama will be for everyone: children, who can laugh at Bottom and his Mechanicals and marvel at the fairies’ awesome powers; for adults, who know those broken hearts and star-crossed lovers all too well; for whole families, united in front of the television to enjoy the play’s dazzling world of danger, jokes, scares, poetry, thrills and fun.

The BBC Cymru Wales production will be filming in Roath Lock, Cardiff for transmission in 2016 as part of BBC’s Shakespeare Season.

FILTER: - BBC - Russell T Davies

Neighbours From Hell starring Colin Baker

Friday, 28 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Neighbours From Hell - Poster (Credit: Amber Pictures)

Colin Baker is to star in a new horror/comedy feature film by Amber Pictures. Baker's character is described as "an ancient Demon intent on bringing about the apocalypse". The film also stars Suzanne Shaw and Chris R. Wright, with more cast members being announced over the coming months. The film is expected to be released in Autumn/Winter 2016.

On the brink of divorce from his wife Joanna, selfish slob Simon Fisher reluctantly agrees to attend a Halloween supper with his snobby next door neighbours, Phil and Pam. When Simon and Joanna arrive they meet the fifth guest, a mysterious old man. The stranger, is in fact a demon, intent on imprisoning them in the house until midnight, when he will decide which one of them to possess for the next one hundred years. A horror comedy that plays on the prejudices we have for the people next door. Best get to know your neighbours as you may need them some day.

Colin Baker as Demon (Credit: Amber Pictures)

Updates on production of the film can be found on the Neighbours From Hell Twitter and Facebook pages.

(with thanks to James Eaves / Amber Pictures

FILTER: - Colin Baker - Movies

The Magician's Apprentice: Broadcast Roundup

Friday, 28 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

As the premiere of new series opener The Magician's Apprentice rapidly approaches, here is a roundup of the television channels that have currently announced their plans to show the episode:

United Kingdom: BBC One, Saturday 19th September: The home channel of Doctor Who, of course! Unlike previous years the date was announced quite a way in advance, though the actual time of broadcast has yet to be confirmed - it is expected that the show will occupy the time-slot either immediately before or after BBC One's 'traditional' Autumn Saturday evening entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC Media Centre publish their details of programmes transmitted from the 19th September next Thursday (though the time might still need 'to be confirmed').
USA: BBC America, Saturday 19th September, 9:00pm EST: The first channel to announce a broadcast time, BBC America will show the series in its own 'traditional' prime-time slot on Saturday evenings.
Canada: SPACE, Saturday 19th September, 9:00pm EST: The Canadian channel has confirmed to us that they too will broadcast the premiere at the same time as the United States.
Australia: ABC, Sunday 20th September: Trailers have been broadcasting on ABC to confirm that, as in previous years, the episode will be broadcast within 24 hours of the United Kingdom (and also available on their iView platform) - there has been no confirmation as yet whether the channel will also simulcast the episode in the early hours of the morning. ABC's Media Room should have details for that week available next Tuesday.
New Zealand: PRIME: As of writing, PRIME have yet to reveal when they are showing the episode, though they have confirmed it will be in September.
Finland: YLE2, Monday 28th September, ~6:00pm: The Finnish channel have confirmed that they will be showing the series on Monday evenings (these are broadcast in English). The actual time might change from 6:00pm, depending upon other programming.
South Africa: BBC First, Saturday 24th October, 6:00pm: Doctor Who will be one of the flagship programmes on the new BBC Worldwide channel BBC First in South Africa, which launches on the 18th October. The series has been confirmed for Saturday evenings.
Germany: FOX, December: FOX announced that, unlike previous years, they would not be showing Doctor Who until December. Last year there were unforeseen problems over arrangements with BBC Worldwide causing the German dub to be unavailable for broadcast, leading to the channel broadcasting a subtitled English version instead with the German version following after the series had ended - this time around the premiere on the channel will be the German version.
India: FX: The Indian broadcaster has announced that they plan to show the new series, but have yet to confirm the date when the series will start. FX recently took up the mantle for broadcasting Doctor Who in India, where the show hadn't been seen since BBC Worldwide ceased broadcasting there in 2012.

Check our guide page for the latest transmission updates, and for general broadcasting details around the world see This Week in Doctor Who.

(with thanks to Grant Sirett, Jouni Lahtinen, Jesse Wanagas [SPACE]

FILTER: - Broadcasting - International Broadcasting - Series 9/35

The Fifth(ish) Doctor

Thursday, 27 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

Peter Davison is writing his autobiography, which is currently titled The Fifth(ish) Doctor and will be published in April 2016. The book will feature a foreword by his son-in-law and former Doctor, David Tennant.

Davison is only the third Doctor actor to write an autobiography. Jon Pertwee wrote two autobiographies; 1984's Moon Boots and Dinner Suits (republished in 2013) and I am the Doctor in 1996, the year of his death. Tom Baker came out with Who on Earth is Tom Baker? in 1997, though he didn't mention much of Doctor Who. While not autobiographies, Colin Baker released two books; Look Who's Talking (2010) and Second Thoughts (2011) which were compilations of the columns he wrote for Bucks Free Press.

Peter Davison as The Doctor (Credit: BBC)

The Fifth(ish) Doctor
Written by Peter Davison, with Andrew Merriman
Foreword by David Tennant
Published on 7th April 2016 (available for pre-order)

‘Peter? It’s John Nathan Turner here. How would you like to be the next Doctor Who…’

After receiving this life-changing phone call in March 1980, actor Peter Davison would go on play the Doctor in the hit BBC series from 1981–84, fighting Daleks, Cybermen and the Master. Now, for the first time, Davison reveals what it was really like to take on this role of a lifetime.

Davison also talks exclusively about this childhood and personal life, as well as describing his work on shows such as All Creatures Great and Small, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Miranda, Sherlock and Law and Order UK.

An 8 page colour plate section will feature images of Davison in his most famous roles, including the Doctor, as well as photographs from his personal collection which have never been published before.

Peter Davison is one of Britain's best-known actors, having starred in All Creatures Great and Small, Doctor Who, Miranda, New Tricks, Lewis and Law and Order UK. Peter also enjoys a successful career in the theatre, starring in Arsenic and Old Lace, Legally Blonde, Spamalot and Gypsy. He lives in London.

Specs
Format: Hardback, 304 Pages
ISBN: 9781781315163
Illustrations: 8 Page colour plate section
Size: 9.213 in x 6.024 in / 234 mm x 153 mm
Published: Apr. 7, 2016

FILTER: - Books - Peter Davison

BAFTA Cymru showing for Series Nine opener

Thursday, 27 August 2015 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have announced a special preview of the forthcoming series premiere will be taking place in Cardiff on the 10th September; the event will see both The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familiar presented by BAFTA Cymru:

The Magician's Apprentice (Credit: BBC / David Venni)

BAFTA Cymru presents an exclusive preview of the new series of Doctor Who.

The two-part story stars Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and Michelle Gomez and was filmed in Cardiff earlier this year. Directed by Hettie McDonald, Produced by Peter Bennet and written by Steven Moffat, this is the only screening of both episodes ahead of their transmission on BBC One in September.

The double-bill screening will be followed by a panel Q&A session with Peter, Jenna and Steven, joined by Executive Producer Brian Minchin. Hosted by broadcaster Jason Mohammad.

Please note tickets are only available through this site and we request that you do not contact the BAFTA Cymru office when tickets have all been sold.

Tickets available from 5pm on Thursday 27 August.

Tickets can be booked via the event page.

FILTER: - Cinema - Premiere Events - Series 9/35 - Special Events - UK

Bernice Summerfield to feature in 12th Doctor novel

Wednesday, 26 August 2015 - Reported by Harry Ward

The character of Bernice Summerfield will be appearing in Big Bang Generation, a new Twelfth Doctor novel written by Gary Russell. Paul Cornell, the creator of the character tweeted earlier today: "I might as well say it. [Gary Russell's] forthcoming 12th Doctor novel Big Bang Generation features Prof. Bernice Summerfield!". The voice of the Big Finish character, Lisa Bowerman tweeted: "Does this make me canon?". The character first appeared in Cornell's 1992 novel Love and War, which was turned into a Big Finish audio play in 2012 and featured the voice of Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield. The character has been a regular fixture in Big Finish's output since 1998's Oh No It Isn't!, the very first Bernice Summerfield audio story. Bowerman will lend her voice to the audiobook version of Big Bang Generation.

Doctor Who: Big Bang Generation
Written by Gary Russell
Read by Lisa Bowerman
Release date: 8 September 2015 (Paperback Book) (available for pre-order)
1 October 2015 (Audiobook) (available for pre-order)

“I'm an archaeologist, but probably not the one you were expecting.”

Christmas 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Imagine everyone's surprise when a time portal opens up in Sydney Cove. Imagine their shock as a massive pyramid now sits beside the Harbour Bridge, inconveniently blocking Port Jackson and glowing with energy. Imagine their fear as Cyrrus 'the mobster' Globb, Professor Horace Jaanson and an alien assassin called Kik arrive to claim the glowing pyramid. Finally imagine everyone's dismay when they are followed by a bunch of con artists out to spring their greatest grift yet.

This gang consists of Legs (the sexy comedian), Dog Boy (providing protection and firepower), Shortie (handling logistics), Da Trowel (in charge of excavation and history) and their leader, Doc (busy making sure the universe isn't destroyed in an explosion that makes the Big Bang look like a damp squib).

And when someone accidentally reawakens The Ancients of the Universe - which, Doc reckons, wasn't the wisest or best-judged of actions – things get a whole lot more complicated…

FILTER: - Big Finish - Books - Merchandise - Twelfth Doctor

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