Monday, January 30, 2017

Peter Capaldi To Leave Doctor Who + BBC America Air Date Announced


Peter Capaldi announced tonight that he will be leaving Doctor Who after the new series in December during the 2017 Christmas Special.  He made the announcement on the Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2 show.  You can read the official announcement and hear the radio show below.


PETER CAPALDI ANNOUNCES HIS LAST SEASON OF DOCTOR WHO

Doctor Who returns Saturday, April 15 at 9/8c followed by Spin-Off Series Class at 10/9c.

Peter Capaldi first stepped into the TARDIS in 2013, and will leave the iconic role in the 2017 Christmas special after three incredible seasons on BBC AMERICA’s hit sci-fi drama.

The announcement came tonight on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2 show; speaking about the upcoming series this Spring he exclusively revealed the next season of the world's longest running sci-fi show will be his last.

Big Finish Wins Award For Doctor Who Audio Advenures


Congratulations are in order to the producers of Big Finish for winning a BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Online Only Audio Drama .  The nominated story Absent Friends by John Dorney, starring Paul McGann, Hattie Morahan and Nicola Walker, directed by Ken Bentley which is the opening story in the box set Doom Coalition 3 was the winner for Big Finish.  If you haven't listen to the Doom Coalition series featuring the 8th Doctor you should as they are really good and Absent Friends is very deserving of this award. To read the full press release and to buy Doom Coalition 3 follow the links below.

https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/big-finish-win-at-bbc-audio-drama-awards

https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doom-coalition-3-1223

Friday, January 27, 2017

Doctor Who, Alien and Harry Potter Star John Hurt Has Died



John Hurt who played The War Doctor in the 50th Anniversary Special "The Day of The Doctor" has passed away at the age of 77. He is has been in tons of TV and movies most notable The Elephant Man, Alien, The Storyteller and three Harry Potter movies  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2.  You can read more about John Hurt at the links below.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38778145

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000457/#actor

http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/01/john_hurt_who_starred_in_eleph.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-hurt-dead-elephant-man-809521





Thursday, January 26, 2017

Doctor Who - Frontios Review



Doctor Who:
Frontios
By Christopher H. Bidmead

“Oh, you think so? I got it cheap because the walk's not quite right. And then there's the accent, of course. But, when it's working well, it's very reliable. Keeping track of appointments, financial planning, word processing, that sort of thing.”

The TARDIS has gone as far into the future as it is allowed to by Time Lord law.  They look on the screen and see the planet Frontios which happens to be an Earth colony that houses some of the last humans from Earth before it was destroyed.   Tegan wants to go down to the planet and see them but The Doctor is insistent that they do not go down there and interfere with their development.  But a meteor storm appears to have happened and the TARDIS appears to have gotten caught in a gravitational pull and is heading to the planet.

It appears that Frontios has been under threat of meteors for quite a while now and it seems to be having its toll as the population has thinned out and for some reason people have been disappearing into the ground.   The Doctor and his companions decide to help with the wounded and get involved but it comes at a price.  During the next wave of meteor storms the TARDIS is destroyed and all that is left is the hat stand.    The Doctor decides to explore the underground passage ways that exist under the settlement along with Turlough, Tegan, Norna and Brazen.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Details For Torchwood One - Before the Fall


Out now from Big Finish is a special Torchwood release that tells the tales of Torchwood before the Cynermen and Daleks appear. This should be an interesting release as the previous Yvonne Hartmen release was really good.  As usual you can order this release from the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/torchwood-one-before-the-fall-1571

London, 2005. Yvonne Hartman is the undisputed head of Torchwood One. Above the government, beyond the police, she has excellent people skills; enjoys regular tea with the Queen; and effortlessly defends the British Empire from alien threats.

Yvonne Hartman is excellent at her job, and inspires devotion in everyone who works with her - until, one day, she makes a terrible mistake. We all make mistakes. But only at Torchwood can a single mistake plunge your world into interstellar war.

Yvonne Hartman's facing the fight of her life. One she's going to win.

New Girl by Joseph Lidster

“They’ve been coming to us for years. And we’ve been kept in the dark. My name’s Rachel Allan. And I’m Torchwood”

It’s Rachel Allan’s first day at Torchwood. Torchwood only takes the brightest and the best – and Rachel’s wondering if Yvonne Hartman’s made a terrible mistake in picking her.

Plunged into a world of alien invasions and office politics, Rachel’s desperate to fit in. For one thing, she really wants this job. And, for another, she knows what happens at Torchwood if you fail.

Through The Ruins by Jenny T Colgan

“Ianto, please. It’s all… it’s all gone wrong. I don’t know what to think any more.”

Away Days at Torchwood aren’t what you’d expect. Yes, there’s the forced camaraderie, the team-building exercises, and the chance for long-held rivalries to boil over. But Torchwood Away Days also have the potential to get very lethal very quickly.

Yvonne Hartman’s extremely worried by this year’s Away Day. But she’s got other things on her mind – something’s very wrong with Torchwood.

Uprising by Matt Fitton

“Torchwood. It’s taken the best part of a month, but I’ve finally got things running how they should be. How they should have been all along. ”

Torchwood has experienced some radical changes, but things are finally settling down. Everyone has pulled together and is trying to put the past behind them. Well, except for Yvonne Hartman – she’s out to win the future.

There’s one problem. Someone seems to have started an interstellar war. Someone who knows Torchwood from the inside out.

Written By: Joseph Lidster, Jenny T Colgan, Matt Fitton
Directed By: Barnaby Edwards

Cast
Tracy-Ann Oberman (Yvonne Hartman), Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), Gerard McCarthy (Dean), Sophie Winkleman (Rachel Allan), Robert Daws (Soren), Tim Bentinck (Thomas), Nisha Nayar (Guleraana), Lorelei King (Pippa), Damian Lynch (Kieran), Simon Hickson (Ziggy), Rachid Sabitri (Mehdi), Helen Goldwyn (Receptionist), Philip Childs (Dave). Other Humans, Aliens and Torchwood Agents played by members of the cast.

Produced by James Goss
Script edited by Scott Handcock
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Monday, January 23, 2017

Details on Doctor Who - The Beast of Kravenos


Out this month is the return of the 4th Doctor audio adventures and this series takes place during Season 18.  The first adventure in series 6 sees The Doctor and Romana meeting up with Professor George Litefoot and Henry Gordon Jago.  You can order this audio adventure from the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-beast-of-kravenos-1233

A stunning new star act is wowing the audiences of the New Regency Theatre. The modern mechanical marvel of canny canine charisma - the automated dog that can answer any question - the incomparable - the unbeatable - K9!

The Doctor and Romana have returned to Victorian London and been reunited with their old friends Professor George Litefoot and Henry Gordon Jago. However this is not merely a social visit. A terrifying crime spree is sweeping the capital, and the burglaries of 'The Knave' defy all logic.

Something impossibly dangerous is taking place amid the fog. Only the time travellers and their friends can stop it... but can they be sure they're all on the same side?

Written By: Justin Richards
Directed By: Nicholas Briggs

Cast
Tom Baker (The Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana), John Leeson (K9), Christopher Benjamin (Henry Gordon Jago), Trevor Baxter (Professor George Litefoot), Conrad Asquith (Inspector Quick), Ed Stoppard (Sir Nicholas Asquin)

Producer David Richardson
Script Editor John Dorney
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Friday, January 20, 2017

Doctor Who - Harvest of the Sycorax Review


Doctor Who:
Harvest of the Sycorax
By James Goss
Starring Sylvester McCoy

The third disc in the Classic Doctors: New Monsters Box set sees the 7th Doctor taking on the Sycorax.  Now this was another monster from the new series that I wasn’t all that thrilled to see again as they were mostly one dimensional and didn’t seem all that interesting of an alien threat to warrant a return.  But Big Finish brought them back and did their best to try and make them threatening.  But I wasn’t buying it.  It just didn’t seem to work for me having the Doctor taking on the Sycorax and then doing his 7th Doctor manipulation act on them just didn’t seem be all that convincing.  But if you listen to this story you figure out quite quickly that the Sycorax are just a minor character in this story as the real problem is the drug corp Pharma Corps as they have developed a drug based on your blood type to help you with any ailment or mood.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Doctor Who Director Rodney Bennett 1935 - 2017


Rodney Bennett who directed three Tom Baker Doctor Who stories has passed away at the age of 81. His first story that he directed was The Sontaran Experiment which was filmed before his second story but the story that comes after his second story that he directed the classic The Ark in Space that sees The Doctor taking on the Wirrn.  His last story was the opener for season 14 The Masque of Mandragora which was filmed at Portmeirion where the classic series The Prisoner was filmed.  He is also credited with tons of British TV including a production of Hamlet for the BBC which starred Patrick Stewart, Lalla Ward and Derek Jacobi as Hamlet.  You can read the obit by Toby Hadoke at the link below.
http://tobyhadoke.com/obituaries/rodney-bennett-rip-tom-baker-era-director-dies-aged-81/

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Doctor Who Comic Book Previews and Covers For January 18th


Out today is the 9th Doctor issue nine with the start of a new story and a good jumping on point for new readers.  You can get this comic book at your local comic book store or where ever you buy your comic books.


NINTH DOCTOR #9
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist:  Adriana Melo
FC - 32pp - $3.99 - On sale: January 18

The Ninth Doctor, Rose, and Jack head to Brazil on the next stop of their transtemporal mystery tour. The Iara have long been thought a Brazilian myth, but when these unearthly mercreatures prove to be aquatic aliens making an unscheduled stop on planet Earth, the TARDIS team must establish their intentions and broker peace across the water barrier...!

Cover A: Chris Bolson
Cover B: Will Brooks Photo
Cover C: Matt Baxter




Monday, January 16, 2017

Burn Gorman Returns To Torchwood



The news that Torchwood fans have been waiting to hear has arrived.  Burn Gorman is returning to Torchwood.  Big Finish announced last week that burn Gorman will be reprising his role as Owen Harper in the Torchwood audio adventure Corpse Day which will be released this May.  This is great news as he was the last one to return and now they have everyone.  There is no news on any other audio adventures with Burn Gorman but I'm sure we'll know soon enough from Big Finish.  For more and to pre - order this release follow the link below. 

Friday, January 13, 2017

Details on Doctor Who - The Star Men


New Year and a new series of Doctor Who Adventures for Big Finish's main range.  The year starts off with a 5th Doctor story that includes his first TARDIS crew where they encounter the universe of the Star Men.  You can order this Doctor Who audio adventure from the Big Finish website.

Astronomical navigation is a tricky business. To help Adric with his studies, the Doctor sets course for Gallius Ultima – a planet on the edge of the Milky Way, housing one of the most impressive observatories ever constructed.

But the TARDIS arrives to find Gallius U in a state of emergency, tracking the return of the Explorer-class ship Johannes Kepler from its mission into the heart of the mysterious Large Magellanic Cloud. A mission that met with disaster…

To find out what overtook the crew of the Johannes Kepler, the Doctor and his companions must journey into the heart of the Cloud… and beyond, into the darkness of another reality altogether. The universe of the Star Men.

Written By: Andrew Smith
Directed By: Barnaby Edwards

Cast
Peter Davison (The Doctor), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sue Holderness (Kala Tace), Sophie Wu (Autumn Tace), Peter Guinness (Rovus), Damian Lynch (Fell/Lom), Kris Dyer (Nomar/Vedrin / Surgical Robot/ Pilot), Barnaby Edwards (Computer). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Producer David Richardson

Script Editor Alan Barnes
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Details and Covers For Doctor Who Magazine 508


Out today in the UK and everywhere in the world later this month is issue 508 of Doctor Who Magazine and this issue looks back at the 70's era of Doctor Who.  Plus this issue comes with a special 3rd Doctor comic that was released in the 70's.

A FREE Doctor Who comic, *Sub Zero, featuring the Third Doctor and the Daleks, originally presented in 1972!

TERRANCE DICKS INTERVIEWED!
A chat with Doctor Who’s masterful writer, genius script editor, prolific novelist and creator of the Time Lords.

DOCTOR WHO IN THE 1970s!
An exploration of how Doctor Who reflected the real world during the 1970s.

TIME CAPSULE!
We vworp back to revisit what was happening during a single month in Doctor Who history: November 1977.

DOORWAY TO HELL!
Part One of a brand-new comic strip adventure, set in 1973, written by Mark Wright and illustrated by Staz Johnson.

THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS!
1970s Doctor Who meets Gothic horror, as the TARDIS lands on Karn in this issue’s Fact of Fiction.

THE DWM REVIEW!
A look back of the 2016 Christmas Special The Return of Doctor Mysterio, plus all the latest audio releases.

PREVIEWS!
A look ahead to all the latest Doctor Who CD and book releases, coming soon.

AND! All the latest official news, competitions, and answers to The Watcher’s Christmas Quiz.

Doctor Who Magazine 508 is on sale from Thursday 12 January, price £5.99.


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Doctor Who Comic Book Covers and Preview For January 11th



Out today is the new series for the 10th Doctor and what was previewed last week as there was a delay, Doctor Who Comic Book releases January 4th,  and as always you can get these books at your local comic book shop.

DOCTOR WHO TENTH DOCTOR YEAR THREE #1
Writer: Nick Abadzis
Artists: Giorgia Sposito, Arianna Florean
FC - 32pp - $3.99
On sale: January 11, 2017

 It's a brand-new season for the Tenth Doctor and his loyal travelling
companions, Gabby Gonzalez and Cindy Wu! Jump on board with a two-part
opening story - 'Breakfast at Tyrannies' that introduces a whole new
terror to test the Doctor and his friends! Plus: a new companion joins
the TARDIS - the like of which you've never seen!

COVER A: JOSH BURNS
COVER B: PHOTO
COVER C: MARC ELLERBY - LINKED COVER
COVER D: IOLANDA ZANFARDINO
COVER E: BRIAN MILLER & HI-FI
COVER F: ELENA CASAGRANDE


Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Doctor Who - Judoon in Chains Review


Judoon in Chains  
By Simon Barnard and Paul Morris
Starring Colin Baker and Nick Briggs

The 6th Doctor is no stranger to courtrooms. This time he is actually not the one on trial but the one coming to the aid of a very unusual Judoon.  Captain Kybo of the Nineteenth Judoon Interplantary Force is stuck in Victorian England and on trial for deserting his post and abandoning his duties as an officer of intergalactic law.  Captain Kybo is an unusual Judoon as he seems to have picked up the English language without the aid of his broken translator and has picked up on reading the books of the time and has even gone on to write poetry.   He does this in his spare time as he is chained up in a traveling circus and is being cared for by Eliza Jenkins who is also a performer of the traveling circus.

The Doctor finds it his duty to help Captain Kybo as he answered Kybo’s distress call and he suspects that there might be something else in play with Captain Kybo that may be influencing what is happening to him and there might be a bigger picture to reveal down the line.  So with the help of Captain Kybo The Doctor prepares to get to the bottom of this mystery of what can make a Judoon act not like a typical Judoon.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Into the Time Vortex Interview with the 8th Doctor of Doctor Who - Paul McGann







This interview was done on November 11, 2016 at L.I. Who Convention - thanks to Amanda-Rae Prescott for arranging the interview.











Doctor Who - Classic Doctors, New Monsters Vol 2 News


Big Finish has announced that the third story for the second box set of Classic Doctors, New Monsters has finished recording and joining the 4th Doctor and 5th Doctor stories will be an 8th Doctor story with the Vashta Nerada.  This will be the second story on this box set that will feature the Vashta Nerada as was previously announced they will feature in the 4th Doctor story.  Big Finish announced that the two stories are linked and this second part will be in the 8th Doctor Time War era as Jacqueline Pearce will be playing Cardinal Ollistra.  You can read more about this news from the Big Finish website.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Details on Doctor Who - The World Beyond Trees


The New Year starts off with an 8th Doctor download only audio adventure that takes place after the Dark Eyes saga.  You can order this download only story from the Big Finish website.
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/the-world-beyond-the-trees-1356

MedTech Chenka is alone. No Doctor. No TARDIS. No Molly O'Sullivan. But the strange environment she's stranded in is about to get even stranger, with Liv the only one who can help out. There's a message here, for her, and for someone very far away...

Producer Ian Atkins
Script Editor Ian Atkins
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs

Written By: Jonathan Barnes 
Directed By: Lisa Bowerman

Cast
Nicola Walker (Narrator)

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Doctor Who Comic Book Cover and Previews For January 4th


Out today are two Doctor Who comic books featuring the 12th and 11th Doctor and with the 11th Doctor it starts a brand new story arc.  You can buy these issues at your local comic book store.


DOCTOR WHO 12th #2.13
Writer: Robbie Morrison
Artist: Rachael Stott
FC - 32pp - $3.99 - On sale: Jan 4

A French swordswoman, dark matter monsters, alternate universes, swashbuckling adventure and symbiotic intrigue - all just another Wednesday for the Doctor! But when you throw in secret police, an alien takeover of the aristocracy, a villainous Count, the inquisition, and alchemical discoveries...well, then it gets interesting! More breathless adventure and visual delight from the stellar Twelfth Doctor team!

COVER A: Simon Fraser
COVER B: Photo
COVER C: Question No. 6
COVER D: Verity Glass