Torchwood Graphic Novel

Titan Books have recently revealed their plans to release the Torchwood comic strip "Rift War" as a graphic novel. Rift War is a comic strip that has appeared in Torchwood Magazine since issue three and the story will conclude in the magazine's thirteenth issue which will go on sale on Wednesday 31st December priced £3.99.

Synopsis:

When Torchwood-3 comes under fire in an all-out attack by extra-dimensional shock troopers, the team are torn in all directions. And with a deadly rift bleeding through into their own reality, time itself could be destroyed if the team aren't able to stop it!

This book will be released on the 24th of April 2009 priced £9.99. With a total of one hundred and twenty eight pages and at the moment there are only plans to release the book as a paperback

Doctor Who Proms New Years Day

1.50pm, New Year's Day, BBC One.

Described as the 'hottest ticket in town' - the first ever Doctor Who Prom took place at the Royal Albert Hall back in July 2008, selling out almost as soon as the tickets went on sale.

Presented by Freema Agyeman (aka Martha Jones), with a guest appearance by Catherine Tate (aka Donna Noble), this edited version of the concert features Murray Gold's music for the series, classical favourites on the themes of time and space and of course, the 'greatest' TV theme tune of all time.

Performed by the BBC Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Chorus under the batons of Ben Foster and Stephen Bell, the show also features a specially written scene by Russell T. Davies starring David Tennant and a mischievous Graske.

Throughout the concert the music is accompanied by sequences from the series and Christmas specials, as well as a host of monsters and aliens, including the Doctor's oldest enemies - the Daleks and Cybermen!

Interactive viewers will also be able to enjoy highlights today via the Red Button on television, and an uncut version from 11th January 2009. The uncut version will also be available as streaming video here on the website from 12th January 2009.

Programme includes:

• Murray Gold Concert Prologue* (3 mins)
• Copland Fanfare for the Common Man (3 mins)
• Murray Gold All The Strange Strange Creatures* (4 mins)
• Mark-Anthony Turnage The Torino Scale (UK premiere) (4 mins)
• Holst The Planets - Jupiter (8 mins)
• Murray Gold The Doctor Forever* (4.30 mins)
• Murray Gold Rose* (1.30 mins)
• Murray Gold Martha v The Master* (4.30 mins)
• Murray Gold Music of the Spheres (including theme original)* (7.30 mins)
• Wagner Die Walküre - The Ride of the Valkyries (5 mins)
• Murray Gold The Daleks & Davros* (8 mins)
• Murray Gold Donna, Girl in Fireplace, Astrid* (4 mins)
• Prokofiev 'Montagues and Capulets' from Romeo and Juliet (5 mins)
• Murray Gold This is Gallifrey* (3.30 mins)
• Murray Gold Doctor's Theme / Song for Freedom * (5.30 mins)
• Murray Gold Doomsday* (5 mins)
• Murray Gold Song for Ten* (4 mins)
• Murray Gold Doctor Who Theme* (1.30 mins)

DWM 404

Doctor Who Magazine will be on sale 9th January 2009 at the usual price of £3.99. It celebrates 30 years of DWM - 1979 -2009.

TND - Review

We had to wait 6 months and at 6pm, BBC ONE on Christmas Day, 11 Million of us sat down and watched Doctor Who - "The Next Doctor". The opening 2 minutes we had all seen thanks to the BBC snippet aired a few weeks ago to tantalize our WHO buds. The opening sequence from when we meet "the other Doctor", I laughed out loud. Where DM's Doctor lassoos a Cyber Shade and is dragged up the side of a building with the Doctor trying to help pull the Shade down woith no luck. Dragged upwards and through a window and then both dragged through an empty warehouse until Rositta cut the rope . From that moment on, both Doctor's become friends. At Christmas tea time that is what you want - a bit of laughter. TND part 1 below

The episode on didn't have the usual rush of previous specials, in that this one was more slower and played on the loneliness factor - which according to RTD, is what we can expect from the following specials of 2009, where the focus will be on the Doctor's solitary life style (even though he does pick up the odd companion here and there). We learnt what most of us knew but wished the opposite, that Morriey's 'Doctor' was not The Next Doctor nor the one after that, but in fact a man by the name of Jackson Lake, whose wife had been deleted by the Cybermen and who had abeen temporarily brain washed from opening an Info-Stamp. Everything about the Doctor became stamped into his memories. He became the Doctor quite literally despite not being the Doctor.

There was all this chatter about the Cyber King - What was he? What did he look like?. These questions were answered 40 minutes in - Miss Mercy Hartigan became the Cyber King, and then we saw what the Cyber King actual was - a gigantic mechanical Cyber space craft. I felt let down at this point. Being a mega Doctor Who fan, I expected a whole lot more than seeing some Dickensian mechanical monster grace the night's sky. Then again, this is Doctor Who and on the other hand it is reminiscent of the classic series.

On the whole; I enjoyed the episode. It was funny, all the characters were 3 dimensional and classic Doctor Who at Christmas. I will give it 7 1/2 nudging on 8 out of 10.

As for David Morrisey (I am a BIG fan of his work), should he get THAT call, I believe that that TARDIS key will be in very safe hands indeed with "THE ONE, THE ONLY AND THE BEST!"

BBC Breakfast -TND

BBC Breakfast aired a behind the scenes and interviews with the two Davids this morning.
Thx to (thedoctorwhosite.co.uk)

Who is the Next Doctor, David?

December 23, 2008

Christian Cawley (kasterborous.com)

David Tennant spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday, and among other things discussed the identity of David Morrissey's Next Doctor.

There has of course been many theories as to the identifty of The Next Doctor, ranging from an early version of the First Doctor to a regenerated version of the blue suited alternative Doctor who stayed behind in Pete's World - via con man or deluded lunatic. Tennant speaks as if it is an apparent, done deal that Morrissey's Doctor is a later version of the Time Lord we all know and love.

"The Doctor's on his own now and he lands in Victorian London and meets a future version of himself played by David Morrissey - who else would you want to cast as the Doctor, really? It's sort of perfect casting - but this Doctor, this future version of the Doctor doesn't seem to know who the current Doctor is, so clearly something has gone a bit wrong. He's had a memory lapse and is in a bit of a difficult state, that's got something to do with the fact that he's fighting the Cybermen at the time."

And who does David see as the best replacement (this week, after previously suggesting Billie Piper and Wee Jimmy Krankie)?

"Well, it might be David Morrissey, of course. He is playing the next Doctor on Christmas Day, so I'd be very happy to leave it with him. But everyone's being suggested - I think both Vic [Reeves] and Bob [Mortimer] have been suggested, so it could be anyone."

Easter Special Hints

Day 22: Russell T Davies & Julie Gardener have dropped some tempting teasers regarding the 2009 specials. The possible return of a long forgotten foe from the Tom Baker era - the Nimon ('The Horns of Nimon')? We will have to wait and see.

Podcast Teaser:

Day 21 - Miss Hartigan and the Cybermen

The Next Doctor - New Photos

David Tennant on The One Show

Friday, 19th December 2008, 7pm

Day 19: Help The Doctor To Escape

The Judoon have impounded the TARDIS! Can you help the Doctor break the security codes around the forcefield holding it and escape? Play

Elisabeth Sladen in Panto. (Oh no she isn't!, Oh yes she is!))

Join Peter Pan this Christmas as he takes you on a journey of a lifetime, in this swashbuckling, musical, magical and spectacular pantomime!

Based on the children's literary classic by novelist and playwright J.M. Barrie, this is the first time ever that Peter Pan has been staged as a pantomime in Windsor!

Starring everyone's favourite baddie - Jack Ellis - as Captain Hook. Jack shot to fame as the evil Jim Fenner in ITV's Bad Girls and recently starred as bookie Harry Mason in Coronation Street.

Jack will be joined by the very lovely Elisabeth Sladen as Mrs. Darling. Best known as Sarah Jane Smith, one of Doctor Who's most popular assistants, she is currently starring in the CBBC hit series The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The title role is going to be played by Christopher Parker. Christopher is best known for his role as one of EastEnders' most popular characters - Spencer Moon - for which he received more fan mail than any other EastEnders actor ever! Christopher was a finalist in the first series of the hit BBC TV show Strictly Come Dancing and has been touring the country this year as part of Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour!

Also starring the fantastic Britain's Got Talent finalists Gin the Dog and Kate - who wowed both the judges and viewers with Gin's amazing array of unbelievable tricks. Hannah Williams from Channel 5's Milkshake! will also be joining us as Wendy. We are thrilled to welcome back Windsor pantomime favourites Christopher Beeny and Michael Sharvell-Martin.

This most exhilarating of all pantomimes will thrill all ages as we fly you beyond the clouds. Join Peter Pan and the Lost Boys in a few hours of refusing to grow up - and find out whether our hero gets the better of the villainous Captain Hook - or whether the crocodile gets him first!

Theatre Royal, Windsor for bookings. Runs 1st - 4th January 2009

The Next Doctor Hints

Digital Spy have provided hints at we can expect from this year's Christmas Special:

1. The mysterious Cybershades can jump quite high.

2. Neither the Doctor nor the Other Doctor recognise each other. But the latter doesn't remember much anyway.

3. There are two words that the Doctor never refuses.

4. The Other Doctor has a TARDIS - and it's magnificent.

5. For a while Rosita becomes the Doctor's companion (but then you'll know that already if you've read our interview with the lovely Velile Tshabalala).

6. The script includes the customary line "what about the children?"

7. At least one previous incarnation of the Doctor makes an appearance.

8. Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan) is a very special lady.

9. The Other Doctor's fobwatch is a very important clue.

10. "I suppose ** *** ***, **** ***** ** *****."

DT on The One SHoh

Friday's programme will feature a pre-recorded interview with David Tennant from earlier this year along with Doctor Who fan and Tom Baker impressionist Jon Culshaw.

BBC One 7pm

TND Press Launch

'The Next Doctor' had it's press launch earlier today. David Tenant was unable to attend the launch as he is still in recovery from his operation. He should be recovered to commence filming by the 19th January 2009.

RTD: "We will be very careful with him, the problem has been fixed but we don't think we'll have swinging from any wires on his first day back." He also confirmed that the first of 2009's four specials will be filmed abroad, "It's gonna be quite exotic, but we've got 4 days filming abroad, to give it a bit of size and a new feel to it". RTD said that each special will feature a new companion and that he would be writing David Tennant's final 2 stories which will be broadcast at the end of 2009, saying, "The big climax is mine, all mine!"

Future Doctor>>

What if Richard Armitage became The Doctor?

The Hub 2

Eve Myles will be appearing at The Hub 2 convention, which runs March 13-15, 2009 at the The Park Inn, Northampton. Actors Kai Owen and Gareth David-Lloyd are also attending the event.

Here for more info.

Doctor Who Number 1 iPlayer Download

Almost a year has passed since th BBC made its iPlayer catch-up TV service available to the public and to celebrate its first birthday the corporation has compiled a list of its top 10 most popular online shows this year. No real surprises in the top three – Doctor Who, followed by this year's two series of Top Gear.

Top 10 most viewed shows on iPlayer in 2008:

1. Doctor Who – series 4
2. Top Gear – series 12
3. Top Gear – series 11
4. Little Britain USA
5. Merlin
6. Survivors
7. The Apprentice – series 4
8. Mock the Week – series 4
9. Spooks – series 7
10. Mock the Week – series 6