There's not one but two Doctor Who related online events taking place today. Starting at 10:00am BST, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society present The Capitol: CONtact has been made, and from 2:00pm BST Fantom Events present their fourth online event, Time Space Visualiser. Both will be broadcast on the organisations' respective YouTube channels and can be viewed afterwards for those in different time zones to the UK, as well as a host of other archive material from previous events also available to enjoy.

The Capitol: CONtact has been made
Presented by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society (via YouTube)

We're delighted to announce The Capitol CONtact has been made, a virtual event that will launch at 10.00am BST on Saturday 25th April. We have specifically chosen this time and date as it’s when The Capitol FIVE was originally scheduled to get underway.

CONtact has been made will be available at our You Tube Channel DWASonline, and features panels from the first four Capitols in their entirety. We are very grateful to our wonderful guests for giving us permission to make them available in these troublesome times as we continue to battle against the invisible enemy.

Panels will include Steven Berkoff talking about Shakespeare, Sylvester Stallone & Hitler, and Jon Culshaw trading blows with Terrance Dicks in a unique double header.

Time and Space Visualiser
Presented by Fantom Events (via YouTube)

We are back this Saturday with our fourth online convention, bringing you a hectic mixture of brand new interviews, special features, competitions, and archive material, broadcasting live and direct on YouTube… all completely for FREE.

This week we are honoured to have our first Doctor joining us; the seventh Doctor SYLVESTER McCOY is taking part in a specially recorded interview for the event.

Of course any Doctor needs his loyal companions, and we have three of his fabulous friends. KATY MANNING (Jo Grant/Jones), JOHN LEESON (K9) and DAN STARKEY (Strax) will also be joining in the fun.

And if that wasn’t enough, we have brand new interviews with a trio of wonderful guest stars. GRAHAM COLE is best known to Doctor Who fans as The Melkur, but is probably more familiar as PC Tony Stamp in The Bill. JESSICA MARTIN was Mags (and also the voice of the Queen) and also read one of our new stories recently. And finally, JASON WATKINS, one of the most recognisable faces on television right now, who was also a guest star in NIGHTMARE IN SILVER.

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Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy is joining the voice cast of CBeebies series Sarah & Duck to launch a brand new batch of episodes of the animated pre-school favourite.

Also featuring the voices of Roger Allam (The Thick of It, Endeavour) as the narrator and Lesley Nicol (Downtown Abbey) as Scarf Lady, the hugely popular, BAFTA-winning series brings back all the much loved, familiar characters as it continues to follow the animated antics of seven-year-old Sarah and her flappy, feathered best friend, Duck.

Sylvester McCoy guest stars In the space-themed first episode; Comet’s Coming. In this story, Sarah & Duck pay a long-awaited visit to the observatory to view a Comet (played by McCoy), a slightly scatty celestial object who won’t been seen again for many years. As Sarah & Duck watch on, Comet is reunited with his old friends Venus and Mars but the trouble is, he doesn’t actually remember them. Can Sarah & Duck and the planets help jog his memory?

Series producer Jamie Badminton said

Sylvester's performance as Comet in 'Comet's Coming' provided such a thrill for the animation team to bounce off when animating. McCoy's playful vocal delivery created such fun on-screen energy and fit perfectly with the unpredictable tone that we strive for in every Sarah & Duck episode.

Starting on Tuesday, November 14 at 5.15pm, the seven brand new episodes will see Sarah & Duck up to their usual quirky adventures including launching a search for Umbrella, investigating some mysterious hedge music and visiting a haberdashery.

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Many new products have been announced in Germany  recently.

• German DVD distributer Pandastorm Pictures announced at the Doctor Who convention TimeLash III on the last weekend of October a limited boxed set featuring all of the 7th Doctor stories, including new bonus features and the never-before-on-DVD released and newly remastered Silver Nemesis Extended edition. This longer cut of the Season 25 story has previously only been released on VHS in the UK.
  The set will be called Siebter Doktor - Special Collector's Edition and presented in a valuable hardcover book in coffee table format. The set is limited to 1,000 copies, each with an impressed number. Script editor Andrew Cartmel has written over 52 pages of production notes on each story, which can be found in the English language as well as in a German translation. The 17 region-free DVD's contain all adventures in English and German audio as well as English and German subtitles and over 24 hours of bonus material. Anther new bonus feature will be the BBC America special Doctor Who Revisited – The Seventh Doctor and an exclusive new interview with Andrew Cartmel. Product shipment is scheduled for the second week of December. This boxed set can only be ordered from Pandastorm's own shop.


• German books and audio publisher Bastei Luebbe also announced a new project at the convention. In cooperation with Big Finish they are going to release German translations of Doctor Who audio plays, with the German dubbing actors known from TV also speaking the parts on audio. The first batch of releases will be the 10th Doctor adventures featuring Donna Noble as the companion. 27th April 2018 will see the release of Die Zeitdiebe by Jenny Colgan, Technophobie by Matt Fitton and Eiskalte Rache by Matt Fitton. All stories will be released on CD and Download. You can pre-order on the publisher's website.
  
  
• Bastei Luebbe will also release four new novels. Scheduled for next year are:
  

  • Eleventh Doctor story Totenwinter (Dead of Winter) by James Goss (26th January 2018)
  • Eleventh Doctor story Der weinende Engel (Touched by an Angel) by Jonathan Morris (29th March 2018) 
  • Eleventh Doctor story Dunkle Gezeiten (The Coming of the Terraphiles) by Michael Moorcock (25th May 2018)
  • Third Doctor story Der Neunte Schlüssel (The Last of the Gadarene) by Mark Gatiss (27th July 2018)

  All novels will also be available in audio book format.
  
  

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Issue 518 of Doctor Who Magazine has an exclusive interview with Tenth Doctor David Tennant and his sidekick Billie Piper

Over a decade on from their time together in the TARDIS, the couple are back for a series of Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventures featuring the Tenth Doctor and Rose

An audio recording’s very different to filming a bit of TV – but the vibe is the same, and the characters are the same. (David Tennant)

It’s like when you hang out with an old friend who you haven’t seen for years, and then loads of stuff has happened between you, but it’s sort of just like you’re immediately there again. I love it. (Billie Piper)

Also in this Issue

• MATT LUCAS
Matt Lucas talks about his new autobiography, which he wrote while playing Nardole in the latest series of Doctor Who.
• CAMILLE CODURI
Camille Coduri, who played Jackie Tyler, tells what it’s like to be reunited with David Tennant and Billie Piper for more Doctor Who audio adventures.
• SYLVESTER McCOY
In the second part of the interview, Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy reflects on Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary and looks forward to the show’s future.
• WHITE WITCH OF DEVIL’S END
Meet the people behind a DVD sequel to the classic 1971 story The Dæmons.
• BOX OF DELIGHTS
An interview with Paul Foden, the fan whose home-made TARDIS recently appeared on Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year.
• MATILDUS
A brand-new comic strip adventure for the Doctor and Bill in Matildus, written and illustrated by Scott Gray.
• THE TIME TEAM
The Time Team continues its mission to watch every episode of Doctor Who with 2012’s The Rebel Flesh.

PLUS...

Previews, book and audio reviews, news, the Watcher’s column, prize-winning competitions and much, much more!

Doctor Who Magazine 518 is on sale from Thursday 19 October, price £5.99.

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Comic Relief is offering the first opportunity ever created to enjoy a Full English Breakfast in the company of Seven Doctors.

The Wolseley on Piccadilly will be hosting this landmark meal where, for the first time in the show's 54 year history, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi will meet to break bread and talk Tardis.

Here, inside its hallowed hall, the meal of meals will take place. An epic event, a world first, and a legendary opportunity to witness history in the making. To win the chance to join them on this remarkable morning, you need to enter the prize draw. Five pounds enters your name into the pot for a chance to join the seven Doctors for what is being described as the most historic breakfast in the history of television.

The meet and greet will take place between September 2017 and May 2018. Comic Relief will give you as much noticed as possible once the date is confirmed.

This prize has been kindly donated by the actors and The Wolseley.

To enter follow the link

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MineCartMayhem has secured interviews with each of the surviving Doctors from the original Doctor Who Series.

MineCartMayhem is run by George, an eleven year old who styles himself as a Mini Matt Smith. George obtained interviews with Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy at EM-CON 2015 in March. Last weekend he completed the set with a interview with Tom Baker at Geek Fest held at Folkestone Academy.

 

Tom Baker Exclusive interview / Exclusive interview with Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker and Peter Davison

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Reported by Jouni Lahtinen

The creative team behind the free, award-winning podcast series The Minister of Chance is looking to expand their saga into an episodically released motion picture. In order to achieve it, the producers have turned to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

The Minister of Chance is a spin-off from the very first Doctor Who podcast Death Comes to Time from 2001, in which The Minister was portrayed by Stephen Fry. The story continues the tale of the Minister, now regenerated and portrayed by Julian Wadham (John Steed in The Avengers from Big Finish), who steps into the middle of a power struggle between two nations, the technologically advanced Sezuan and the primitive Tanto – lead respectively by the Ambassador Durian(Paul McGann) and the Witch Prime (Sylvester McCoy). The audio series is available for free on both iTunes and the Minister of Chance website.

The original podcast drama featured a star-powered cast, ranging from the afore-mentioned McGann, McCoy and Wadham, to Sophie Aldred (Ace of Doctor Who), Paul Darrow (Blake's 7) and Philip Glenister (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Mad Dogs). The producers have stated that a majority of the original cast is interested in taking part in the movie, naturally barring the unforeseen issues like scheduling conflicts. In fact, the only actor that is said NOT to appear for certain is Paul Darrow. The movie will be written and directed by Dan Freeman and produced by Kerryn Arcari.

In order to enter production, The Minister of Change is seeking for £ 100 000 in funding by October 31st. As always with Kickstarter, the money won't be charged from the pledgers until the campaign closes and successfully reaches its goal. The Kickstarter rewards feature a wide range of collectibles from the movie props and statuettes to musical spoons signed by Sylvester McCoy.

The Kickstarter project is live here.

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Written by Pascal Salzmann

German DVD distributor Pandastorm have announced the release of the DVD boxed set Siebter Doctor Volume 1 (Seventh Doctor Volume 1).

The set contains the complete Season 24, featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, and includes all special features that were present on the single story DVD releases in the UK. According to the website of Pandastorm's distribution partner wvg the discs will run for approximately 350 minutes plus 328 minutes of bonus features. Audio and subtitles will be in English and German.

The description for the DVDs reads as follows:

Die erfolgreiche Sci-Fi-Kultserie öffnet die Tore zu ihrer Vergangenheit. Die Abenteuer des siebten Doctors erstmalig in Deutschland auf DVD. Mit über 5 Std. Bonusmaterial und Booklet. Sylvester McCoy's (Radagast aus „Der Hobbit“ Trilogie) erste Staffel in der Rolle des siebten Doctors ist ein schriller, bunter und witziger Trip durchs All. Dabei begegnet er einer gefährlichen Widersacherin: Die Rani. Diese hat sich mit einem Volk menschengroßer Fledermauswesen verbündet, um die Macht über das Universum zu übernehmen. Auf einem Eisplaneten muss er zudem gegen den skrupellosen Schatzjäger Sabalom Glitz und den Sklavenhalter Kane kämpfen, der mit einer einzigen Berührung seine Gegner zu Eis gefrieren lassen kann. Und trifft schließlich auf die junge Ausreißerin Ace, die den Doctor fortan auf seinen Reisen begleitet und sich als einer der beliebtesten Companions der Seriengeschichte entpuppen soll.

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The most successful Sci-Fi cult series opens the doors to its past. The adventures if the seventh Doctor on DVD for the first time. Featuring over 5 hours of bonus material and a booklet. Sylvester McCoy's (Radagast from "The Hobbit" trilogy) first season in the role of the seventh Doctor is a jarring, colourful and funny trip through the galaxy. On it he meets a dangerous enemy: the Rani. The Rani has an alliance with a race of huge bat-like creatures in her plan to rule the universe. On an Iceplanet he fights against the ruthless treasure hunter Sabalom Glitz and the slave trader Kane, who is able to freeze someone to ice with a single touch. And finally he meets the young runaway Ace, who is going to travel with the Doctor and who is seen as one of the most popular companions in the history of the show.

The DVD boxed set will be released on 28th November 2014 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon Germany.

Related Articles: Appeal for German-dubbed broadcasts (13 May 2014)

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A new book from Miwk Publishing Ltd and Auton investigates the stories behind the Seventh Doctor’s era.

Wallowing in Our Own Weltschmerz: An Auton Guide to the Stories Behind the Stories of the Seventh Doctor is being produced in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, with a choice of two different covers.

Doctor Who is now in its fifty-first year and enjoying its 12th/13th/14th/latest of many actors to take on the lead role. Every era is different, each actor brings their own style to the role, each producer and script editor makes their mark and probably Sylvester McCoy’s era is one of the most divisive among fandom.

It’s a dynamic three years blowing cobwebs off the memory of recent cancellation. The Doctor and the series develop over forty-seven episodes until finally, sadly, just as things are on the up, the show is cancelled again.

The Auton guide to the stories behind the Seventh Doctor’s era answers all the questions fans haven’t been asking

• Cleaning Robots: What can you actually clean with a drill and a saw blade? We tried.
• Who built the Rani’s lair? How long did it take?
• Harry’s 70+ - how old is his wife if she’s having twins in a few weeks?
• Why is the Psychic Circus so-called?
• Why do Rezzies eat Kangs when they’ve got a ready supply of teacakes, crumpets, muffin, basil and fresh cream?
• Now that we have a ‘Special Weapons’ Dalek, should we re-label all the other Daleks?
• And how did Delta fit into Mel’s dress?

We worry about these things so you don’t have to. It’s been a long time since Auton visited Doctor Who. Aided by the illustrations of Andy X Cable it’s time to get it out of our system.

The book is released on August 23rd.

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Bonhams' latest entertainment memorabilia sale will once again include items from Doctor Who, with Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures also featuring.

The sale - taking place at the showroom in Montpelier Street, Knightsbridge, London, on Wednesday 25th June from midday - consists of some 367 items, with lots 94 to 121 being of particular interest to DW, TW and SJA fans.

They include an original rehearsal script for The War Machines episode 2 (which is given the story title Doctor Who and the War of the Machines on the front page) as well as sets of draft and rehearsal scripts for all six episodes of The Abominable Snowmen and a set of four camera scripts for The Time Warrior, plus a screen-used panama hat signed by Sylvester McCoy. Items from The Sarah Jane Adventures include the costume worn by Elisabeth Sladen for Invasion of the Bane and her wedding dress from The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, while the Torchwood lots include costumes worn by Eve Myles.

Full list of DW, TW and SJA auction items

Doctor Who:
Lot	Description	Estimate (£)
94	Original rehearsal script for The War Machines episode 2	250-350
95	Complete set of six rehearsal scripts for The Abominable Snowmen	1,000-2,000
96	Complete set of six draft scripts for The Abominable Snowmen	2,000-3,000
97	Set of five rehearsal scripts for The Web of Fear	1,000-1,500
98	Original handwritten postcard from Patrick Troughton to Henry Soskin (Henry Lincoln)	300-500
99	Three rehearsal scripts for The Dominators	500-700
100	Set of four camera scripts for The Time Warrior	500-600
101	A Time Lord robe from The Deadly Assassin	2,000-2,500
102	An original costume design for Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor	4,000-4,500
103	A collection of scripts from the Sylvester McCoy era plus light and floor plans	600-800
104	An original screen-used panama hat signed by Sylvester McCoy	800-1,200
105	An original control panel from Remembrance of the Daleks	300-500
106	A Haemovore head from The Curse of Fenric	250-300
Torchwood:
Lot	Description	Estimate (£)
107	James Marsters' costume from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang	300-500
108	Bryan Dick's costume from Adam	250-300
109	Nikki Amuka-Bird's costume from Sleeper	250-300
110	Camilla Power's costume from From Out of the Rain	300-500
111	Eve Myles's costume from Adrift	250-300
112	Gareth David-Lloyd's costume from Day Two and Day Three	250-300
113	Eve Myles's costume from Day Five	250-300
The Sarah Jane Adventures:
Lot	Description	Estimate (£)
114	Elisabeth Sladen's costume from Invasion of the Bane	300-500
115	Tommy Knight's costume from Eye of the Gorgon	200-300
116	Yasmin Paige's costume from Warriors of Kudlak	250-300
117	Daniel Anthony's costume from The Last Sontaran	250-300
118	Anjli Mohindra's costume from Prisoner of the Judoon	250-300
119	Elisabeth Sladen's wedding dress costume from The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith	300-500
120	Elisabeth Sladen's costume from The Nightmare Man	300-500
121	Sinead Michael's school uniform costume from Series 5	250-300

A PDF of the catalogue can be downloaded here. Viewings are being held on 22nd June from 11am to 3pm, 23rd and 24th June from 9am to 4.30pm, and from 9am to 10am on the day of the sale itself.

Related Articles: Bonhams Auction December 2013 (13 Dec 2013)

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An extended video collating three of the Regenerations panels at the Doctor Who Celebration has been uploaded onto the BBC's 50 Years of Doctor Who website.

Recorded at the Excel arena in London on the 22nd and 23rd November and moderated by Nicholas Briggs, the panel brought together former doctors Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy before the celebratory simulcast broadcast of The Day of the Doctor.

Discussed were the series' 2005 revival, the current TARDIS set, an anecdote from Tom about improvising in The Face of Evil, what Doctor each of them would play discounting themselves and the actors' reactions to regeneration scenes. (also available in a separate YouTube video).

In a string of three days from November 22nd to the 24th at the Excel, the event saw fans from across the globe visiting the celebration, alongside cast and crew, in honour of the show as part of the anniversary weekend.

Acknowledgements: With Thanks to Ed Stradling

Related Articles: Celebration Eleventh Hour (22 Dec 2013)

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Christopher Eccleston has recorded an audio version of a short story by award-winning author Patrick Ness in aid of Read for RNIB Day.

The story, Now That You've Died, takes readers and listeners on an exhilarating journey into the afterlife. It was written by Ness especially for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the leading UK charity helping blind and partially sighted people.

The story can be heard for free here. In return, listeners are asked to consider making a donation to RNIB to help make reading more accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

The RNIB Day campaign manager, Becca McRow, said:

Now That You've Died is another fine example of Patrick's finesse for storytelling which is both captivating yet challenging to the reader and we're honoured that he wrote it in support of Read for RNIB Day.

Christopher Eccleston brings the story to life superbly and we're delighted that we can now open up this fantastic audio version of the story to members of the public. We ask for a donation in return to help RNIB continue its vital work in making reading more accessible for blind and partially sighted people.

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David Tennant is lending his voice to the upcoming Xbox One game Kinect Sports Rivals as the narrator.

The game is produced by British video game developer Rare. A video has been released which includes a behind-the-scenes interview with Tennant as well as footage of the recording sessions.

David Tennant narrates Kinect Sports Rivals, via YouTube

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Tom Baker has said he's thrilled that the classic Doctor Who series is to be screened in the UK on the Horror Channel, as reported here.

Horror is my very favourite genre, so I am thrilled the classic Doctor Who series have been picked up by the Horror Channel. There was clearly a darker edge to my storylines, which I think brought a new dimension to the series. I remember hearing of the series scaring children – I wonder how the audience will react to the series today, all grown up.

The Horror Channel has completed a deal with BBC Worldwide to broadcast 30 stories from the classic series, which ran from 1963 to 1989, featuring the first seven Doctors, starting with William Hartnell and concluding with Sylvester McCoy.

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Sylvester McCoy, will be making an appearance at FantasyCon this July. The Con will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tickets are now on sale.

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Actor Olaf Pooley has been talking to ABC News on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The centenarian told the station the secret of a long life.

A Facebook fan page for the actor has been set up here.

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A two-part, fully illustrated & extensive interview with Doctor Who companion actress Katy Manning has just been released online.

Both parts are available to be heard on her official website, katymanning.com. The interview covers her early career, her friendship with Liza Minnelli, Doctor Who, her TV/theatre work in Australia, and beyond. It's also available as a free download. Katy Manning has also recorded a comedy sketch during this interview, which is an affectionate parody of both classic Who and Big Finish.

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Marian Deuchar who was interviewed in Return To Devils End and had a scene in The Daemons where she grabbed a young child and took it indoors, died peacefully in Aldbourne Nursing Home on 24th February 2014 aged 91. Her funeral service was held at St Michael's Church as used in The Daemons.

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Siv-Art Productions has announced that Sylvester McCoy is joining the Inspector Chronicles guest cast that already includes Robert Picardo (The Doctor in "Star Trek: Voyager", "Stargate: Atlantis"), Chase Masterson ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"), and Mayim Bialik ("Big Bang Theory", "Blossom"). They'll all be joining existing cast members Travis Richey (Inspector Spacetime on "Community"), Eric Loya, and Carrie Keranen.

Instead of a second season of the web series, the team will be producing a feature-length film. "Untitled Web Series" will now become The Inspector Chronicles: Untitled Motion Picture About A Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time.

The film is currently entering the pre-production phase, and is seeking help from fans and investors. Pledges can be made here.

Sylvester McCoy joins The Inspector! In a MOVIE!!, via YouTube

Thanks to Mark Watterson, Steven Fook Yuan Wong, Matthew Wuethrich

Related Articles: Actor Olaf Pooley celebrates his 100th birthday (13 Mar 2014); Regional Roundup (2 Mar 2012)

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The BBC has taken to Twitter to warn people to avoid tweets claiming to be from either Peter Capaldi or Jenna Coleman, as neither actor has a Twitter account. In a tweet sent out from the official Doctor Who account last week, it said:

Doctor Who Official: We can confirm that neither Peter Capaldi or Jenna Coleman have twitter accounts. Don't be fooled by the fakes!

Meanwhile, Coleman has been talking about her life in travel, including her earliest holiday memory (Cornwall) and her favourite destination in Britain (Derbyshire). She says her best holiday was in The Maldives. "I went after finishing series seven of Doctor Who. I had to pinch myself because it was so picturesque. Especially because I'd gone in January, from grey London skies and concrete to all this colour and sea. It took about five days to settle in. We arrived by seaplane and barely saw anyone else the whole time. We did a catamaran trip where the hotel took us out with a picnic and snorkelling gear to a strip of sand in the middle of the ocean and left us there. You couldn't see anything else except the horizon and water. We were totally stranded." Her worst travel experience was "Christmas Eve at London Euston railway station, trying to get home to Blackpool. Everybody turns into animals. Humans stop being humans." [The Independent, 1 Feb 2014]

Tomorrow's episode of ITV drama Midsomer Murders sees an End of Time reunion of sorts take place, with Bernard Cribbins, Jacqueline King and June Whitfield among the guest cast caught up in the goings-on of The Flying Club, when an airfield owner is murdered. Cribbins plays veteran mechanic Duggie Wingate, Whitfield portrays Molly Darnley, a former Air Transport Auxiliary member with a dark secret, and King is Laura Wilding - the mother of resident pathologist Kate. Chatting about the episode last week, Cribbins said that Whitfield's character would be a love interest for Wingate. The two-hour episode airs from 8pm. [ITV Press Centre]

Paul McGann and Sophie Aldred will be among the star guests at sci-fi convention The SF Ball in Bournemouth later this week. The event takes place from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th February and Aldred, who filmed a number of her Doctor Who stories in the county, spoke of her fond memories of the place. "It was always a delight. I love Dorset and it was great to be filming there," she said, adding: "I remember having a barbecue on the sand at Lulworth Cove. Somebody had managed to wire up lights on an extension cable. We had a disco. Then we would go for walks off along Durdle Door. I remember watching shooting stars one night. It was wonderful." Aldred also said how much she enjoyed meeting the show's fans. "They are incredibly bright people. Doctor Who attracts really brilliant, brainy people," she said. (NB: McGann will only be at the event on the Friday and Saturday.) [Dorset Echo, 3 Feb 2014]

Sylvester McCoy and Karen Gillan join the guests taking part in the Sci-Fi Expo in Irving, Texas, at the weekend. Organised by Dallas Comic Con, the event will be held at the Irving Convention Center on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th February, with Gillan there on Saturday only. [TheForce.net, 30 Jan 2014]

If you miss her then, Gillan will be on the Wizard World Comic Con Tour later this year, appearing at Philadelphia Comic Con from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd June, Chicago Comic Con from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th August, and Austin Comic Con from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th October. [Wizard World]

Staying with the Stateside theme, Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall has spoken about David Tennant's American accent in Gracepoint - the US remake of the ITV crime drama. Tennant played Det Insp Alec Hardy in the British original and is portraying Det Emmett Carver in the US version, and Chibnall said of the actor's accent: "I've heard it's fantastic." [Radio Times, 30 Jan 2014]

Meanwhile, Broadchurch co-star Olivia Colman has been talking of the agonies of keeping a tight lid on the plot of the second series after enduring similar tongue-holding for the first one. "Now it’s all starting again, it's awful - there's no end to the secret keeping."
[Radio Times, 30 Jan 2014]

Colin Baker had a jovial dig at the BBC over the gender of the Doctor, saying: "There should [be a female Doctor]. It won't happen because they are too timid but there should be. First female Doctor? I will have a sex change and do it. I am in touch with my feminine side." [Radio Times, 29 Jan 2014]

Brian Cox is to return as Broughty Ferry burger-seller and failed politican Bob Servant for a second - shorter - TV series of the comedy Bob Servant Independent. Filming begins in May, with Bob and his long-suffering campaign manager Frank (played by Jonathan Watson) left to pick up their lives after a by-election disaster. Cox joked: "Doing Bob Servant was the worst experience of my long career, working with no-hoper talents like [series writer] Neil Forsyth and the rest of them. But these things are sent to try us and occasionally we must fly the flag for the afflicted. One has to be generous at my great age so I am happy to endorse the new series of Bob Servant. For no-hopers they're awffy nice people. I remember when I used to make movies!" The show follows in the footsteps of the Bob Servant books and radio series, with last year's TV series comprising six episodes. The second series, consisting of three episodes, will air later this year on BBC Four and BBC Two Scotland. [BBC Media Centre, 3 Feb 2014]

Following the announcement of the opening of a musical version of Back To The Future in the West End next year, speculation has been rife over who will land the plum role of Marty McFly, with Arthur Darvill being given odds of 16/1 by Paddy Power. [The Independent, 2 Feb 2014]

Billie Piper caused a stir at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin last week when she dropped by to give her support to friend Ben Power on the opening night of his play A Tender Thing. The actress is filming forthcoming psychosexual horror TV series Penny Dreadful in the area, playing Irish immigrant Brona Croft. The programme - also starring Timothy Dalton - is due to start airing on Showtime in May. [Irish Independent, 1 Feb 2014]

Alex Kingston reprises the role of Dinah Lance in an episode of Arrow, the series based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Entitled Heir To The Demon, the episode - which also features a character called Nyssa! - is due to air on The CW tomorrow at 8pm ET. A preview clip including Kingston is available to watch below:

The preview clip for Heir To The Demon (via The CW YouTube channel)

And Kingston is being reunited with Sir Kenneth Branagh for a radio production of Antony and Cleopatra. The duo - who are playing the eponymous roles - starred together in Macbeth last year at Manchester International Festival, and Branagh said he was "excited to be reunited with Alex Kingston after our hugely rewarding partnership in Macbeth on stage. To play another pair of Shakespeare's great couples is a privilege." It is due to air on Radio 3 on Sunday 20th April. [The Stage, 29 Jan 2014]

Jessica Raine will be appearing as new recruit Det Con Georgia Trotman in the second series of BBC Two's police corruption drama Line of Duty, which starts on Wednesday 12th February at 9pm. She said that what worried her most was her style of running. "What I was most concerned about was not running like a girl in a police vest. I practised that a few times," she said, adding that having watched playbacks she reckoned she did OK. [Radio Times, 30 Jan 2014]

Meanwhile, Raine and David Walliams were among those pictured at the Radio Times Cover Party. [Radio Times, 29 Jan 2014]

Robert Webb is to replace Stephen Mangan as Bertie Wooster in Perfect Nonsense at The Duke of York's Theatre in London from Monday 7th April. [The Stage, 3 Feb 2014]

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Afterlife
Starring Sylvester McCoy as The Doctor, with Sophie Aldred as Ace and Philip Olivier as Hex

Hex is dead. And a distraught Ace holds the Doctor responsible.

She forces him to take a trip to 21st century Liverpool to break the news to Hex's beloved nan and, to pay tribute to Thomas Hector Schofield, the pair seek out his family and friends to tell them of his adventures. They're helped by Private Sally Morgan, who has her own peace to find.

The Doctor, Ace and Sally must each face the fallout of the loss of their friend - to commemorate him, remember him, and finally to move on. But can they do it together, or will their attempts drive them apart?

Producer David Richardson says:

It’s the end of one era, and the beginning of another as the Doctor must face the consequences of his own actions, and mourn a fallen friend. I think, in this story, Sylvester McCoy delivers his best performance at Big Finish - in fact,it’s one of THE very best performances I’ve ever heard at Big Finish. So delicate, and powerful and memorable… it will break your heart.

The Dying Light (available to order)
Starring Frazer Hines as Jamie, Wendy Padbury as Zoe, with Terry Molloy as Quadrigger Stoyn

The TARDIS materialises on a dying world circling a dying sun, where the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are welcomed to Sanctuary - an entire monastery carved out of a mountain.

But little here is quite what it seems.

Quadrigger Stoyn has waited through the centuries. And it is time for the Doctor to pay for his first terrible mistake.

David Richardson says:

The second in the Stoyn Trilogy, which tells the story of an abandoned Time Lord from key points in the Doctor’s lives. This time we are directly before The War Games, as the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find Stoyn on a dying world. With Frazer playing both the Doctor and Jamie, and with Wendy Padbury and Terry Molloy with him, this feels very much like an authentic story from the late 1960s.

Night of the Stormcrow (available to order)
Starring Tom Baker as The Doctor, Louise Jameson as Leela

High atop Mount McKerry sits the observatory. For years now it's been watching the skies. Now something's watching back. Something dark and huge that blots out the stars. Something with giant wings. Something that kills.

When the TARDIS is struck mid-flight, the Doctor and Leela crash-land on the mountain to find they are not the only aliens to be visiting. Beings of nothing infest the complex, staff members are dead or mad. As the survivors argue amongst themselves and attempt to take advantage of the situation, a creature vast and terrible is coming ever closer.

A creature called... Stormcrow.

David Richardson says:

We asked writer Marc Platt to give us a scary story and that’s precisely what he did, as the Doctor and Leela arrive at a remote observatory that has discovered a creature that appears in the early hours of the morning. Gothic and doom-laden, this is one to listen to with the lights off.

The Mega (available to order)
Starring Katy Manning as Jo Grant and Richard Franklin as Mike Yates

"This is a warning. Your aggression cannot go unchecked. The West must disarm. We will make you disarm."

When an assassination follows the first demonstration of a deadly new weapon, it appears that an alien race has fired the opening salvo in a new war – a war… for peace.

But is that truly their intent? The Doctor is unsure. The answer lies deep in the heart of a distant country. A place where a man might be a hero or a traitor. Where a man has to face the menace… of the Mega.

David Richardson says:

The end of The Lost Stories, which has been close to my heart for four years. The Mega is our sole Third Doctor outing, as Katy Manning and Richard Franklin tell a story full of action, suspense… and hideous alien monsters that would have been made with CSO. Earthbound 1970s Who revisited!

In addition, subscribers to the main range will also received the bonus story below:

The Trial of the Valeyard
Starring Colin Baker as The Doctor), Michael Jayston as The Valeyard, and Lynda Bellingham as The Inquisitor

There is some evil in all of us – even the Doctor. Transported aboard the Time Lords' orbiting courtroom, the Doctor once again encounters the Valeyard, an amalgamation of the darker sides of his nature. This time, however, the Doctor isn't in the dock. This time, the Valeyard is the defendant, accused of a crime so terrible that the presiding Inquisitor is forbidden to reveal it even to the court, nor even to his counsel for the defence… the Doctor.

If the Valeyard is found guilty, he'll be executed. Execute the Valeyard, and the secret of his origins dies with him. A secret that the Doctor is desperate to know… and which the Time Lords will stop at nothing to protect.

David Richardson says:

This one plays almost like part 15 of The Trial of the Time Lord, as the Sixth Doctor is reunited with the Valeyard and the Inquisitor in the Time Lord courtroom, to unravel some mysteries of the Valeyard’s existence. This one is a very contained drama that allows Colin Baker, Lynda Bellingham and Michael Jayston to fly - and it was wonderful to see them back together again.

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Tom Baker has told the BBC that playing the Doctor was the happiest time of his whole life.

The veteran actor was interviewed for the BBC Three show Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty , screened directly after the 50th Anniversary episode in which Baker made a surprise cameo appearance playing The Curator. It's been my entire existence. I'm delighted to be celebrating it, he said. The fans give me the credit for making Saturday more fun than it really was, in between the football, Basil Brush and Bruce Forsyth. I was right up there with all those legends and I'm grateful..

The live show featured interviews many previous Doctors and Companions from the series including Carole Ann Ford and William Russell, both of whom appeared in the first episode, An Unearthly Child, fifty years ago.

Earlier in the day five Doctors, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Matt Smith received a standing ovation at the Doctor Who Convention at London's ExCeL Centre. When asked about their favourite Doctor most cited Patrick Troughton. He always managed to sort things out without you knowing he'd done it, said Colin Baker, without Patrick none of us would be here.

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The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot - a star-studded special written and directed by Peter Davison and starring Davison alongside Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, with Paul McGann appearing too - is now available on the BBC iPlayer.

With the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who about to film, the 'Classic' Doctors are keen to be involved. But do they manage it? (BBC iPlayer)

It is also scheduled to be broadcast again tonight via the Red Button service, between 9.25pm and 10.35pm.

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The BBC have revealed a new Red Button video this coming Saturday evening:

The Five Doctors(ish)
BBC Red Button, Saturday 23rd November, 10:05pm
Duration 30 minutes

A star studded special written and directed by Peter Davison. With the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who about to film, the 'Classic' Doctors are keen to be involved. But do they manage it?

The project, as noted above, has been driven by Peter Davison, and also has an associated Twitter account to follow, DayOfTheFishDr.

Davison, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker were spotted filming a "protest" outside BBC Television Centre during the summer, sporting signs such as "No Classics? No 50th!!" and "Have A Heart. Classic Doctors Want A Part". As Conor Keegan observed on Twitter at the time: "Sylvester McCoy and Peter Davison outside TVC right now! Protesting that they aren't in the 50th ann Doctor Who! Mental."; and "Colin Baker has arrived. Outside BBC Television Centre right now, protesting.". Other names associated with the spoof drama include Sean Pertwee, who tweeted an apparent call sheet with his, Paul McGann and Olivia Colman's names listed.

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Big Finish Productions have released The Light at the End, their 50th anniversary Doctor Who story, one month before the programme's actual anniversary:

We’re very pleased to announce that today is the day we’re beginning the release of our 50th anniversary Doctor Who story The Light at the End. We’re beginning with the Limited Edition CD box set.

It's the 23rd of October, one month ahead of the anniversary of Doctor Who on the 23rd of November, and as of today, the digital download releases for all versions of Doctor Who: The Light at the End will be made available. This includes the Limited Edition, the Standard Edition and the Vinyl Edition.

Mailing out of the Limited Edition CD version has begun today.

Nick Briggs, executive producer: ‘The Standard Edition CDs should start to be mailed out this coming Friday, and the Vinyl Edition will start mailing on November 2nd.

‘With the anniversary of Doctor Who imminent,’ continues Nick, ‘and everyone champing at the bit for the celebrations to begin, we thought it only right and proper that our special anniversary full-cast audio should be released a tiny bit early. Our plans for this very nearly went awry when the company responsible for the physical production of our CDs (and LPs!), Key Productions, experienced a series of unforeseeable problems beyond their control. This is what has caused the slight delay on the Standard Edition and the slightly longer delay of the Vinyl Edition. But for all our customers who can access the digital versions of all these releases, they can listen straight away.

‘We know that those customers who favour listening to the CD or the LP rather than downloading a digital version, might find this a little frustrating, but we thought this course of action would benefit the vast majority of our loyal listeners. We offer our sincerest apologies to any customers who find this decision doesn’t suit them, and hope they will understand our reasons for going ahead with the releases now.’

So, for Big Finish Productions, the 50th anniversary has started early. And for any of you who haven't yet ordered your copy of Doctor Who: The Light at the End, it will be on sale at the Dimensions 2013 convention (all tickets now sold) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors (Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann) will be making guest appearances.

When Big Finish announced on Facebook and Twitter that The Light at the End was available for download, their website was temporarily overloaded by the sudden, strong demand. These problems were subsequently resolved, but Big Finish requested that customers wait to download the story if possible:

As you may have seen, the BF Website is back up and running again. But we would ask that if you can possibly wait a few hours to download The Light at the End, please do. The problem we have discovered is that although we have ample bandwidth to support the download of the quantity of data needed (loads of downloads of The Light at the End) another issue has emerged. The problem is being caused by the sheer number of customers visiting the site at the same time. We have to confess that this is the unforeseen circumstance we simply didn't anticipate. It is because the demand is so unprecedentedly huge that we didn't know to check this before releasing. The analogy that's been used to explain this to us is that it's a bit like having one shop assistant and thousands of customers all arriving at once. Our IT people will continuing monitoring the site and will make all efforts to correct any hold-ups as the hours pass. But, as we said, if you can possibly manage to wait to initiate your download, we would very much appreciate your patience. Huge apologies from all of us here at Big Finish.

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After the success of its Fourth Doctor scarf, online scarf retailer Lovarzi is releasing five more Doctor Who products in partnership with BBC Worldwide to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary.

The range includes the Seventh Doctor's jumper and a detailed silk scarf, ideal for cosplayers, complete with a 100% cotton hanky. The Seventh Doctor's costume was designed by Ken Trew in April 1987, ready for Sylvester McCoy's debut in Time and the Rani.

Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor swapped his brightly-coloured scarf in his final set of stories. Lovarzi's Season 18 Fourth Doctor Scarf in burgundy is made from acrylic chenille. It was first seen in The Leisure Hive (1980) and was designed by June Hudson under instructions from producer John Nathan-Turner. The scarf was used extensively until the Fourth Doctor's swansong serial, Logopolis, and was used in publicity shots for the 20th anniversary special, The Five Doctors, before retiring to Blackpool's Doctor Who exhibition, which operated from 1974 to 1985, and 2004 to 2009.

Lovarzi's Fourth Doctor scarf is 13ft/ 3.96m in length, including tassels, and 10" (28cm) wide.

The reversible Dalek scarf is an entirely unique design, initially available in two inter-woven colour combinations: blue and light grey; grey and charcoal. The scarf is made in Italy from finest quality wool and modal, resulting in a very fine finish.

Maninder Singh Sahota, Director of Lovarzi, says:

After the success of the Doctor Who Scarf last year, it is great to offer Doctor Who fans some other classic products. We are dedicated to providing fans with fine quality products which I'm certain they'll love.

Alex Carter-Jones, Business Development Manager from Forbidden Planet, says:

Following on from the hugely successful Fourth Doctor Replica Scarf this range of new scarves and knitwear for the Seventh Doctor looks set to be a real fan favourite. Alongside this the addition of the burgundy Fourth Doctor scarf to the range makes for a great way to continue upon the line from last year.

Last year's Fourth Doctor Scarf remains available online and in Forbidden Planet stores nationwide, as well as at the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff and various independent retailers across UK.

The Seventh Doctor jumper, silk scarf and hanky, Season 18 Fourth Doctor scarf in burgundy and exclusive Dalek scarf will all be available for pre-order from Lovarzi.co.uk, Forbidden Planet, BBCShop.com and the Doctor Who Experience from September 2013.

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