The BBC will release partially lost Doctor Who story The Celestial Toymaker on DVD and Blu-ray, complete with animated episodes, in June.
The animation of 1966 William Hartnell Doctor Who story The Celestial Toymaker was confirmed in December last year, just before David Tennant’s 14th Doctor went up against Neil Patrick Harris’ version of the character.
The BBC has now released the artwork for the DVD and Blu Ray, which you can see here.
Thanks to Amazon, we also know that it will be released on the 10th of June.
The story, written by Brian Hayles with rewrites by script editor Donald Tosh, saw First Doctor William Hartnell and his companions Steven Taylor (Blue Peter icon Peter Purves) and Dodo Chaplet (Jackie Lane) battle the titular Toymaker, plsyed by Michael Gough, as he forces The Doctor to play the impossible Trilogic Game. Meanwhile, Steven and Dodo must work their way...
The animation of 1966 William Hartnell Doctor Who story The Celestial Toymaker was confirmed in December last year, just before David Tennant’s 14th Doctor went up against Neil Patrick Harris’ version of the character.
The BBC has now released the artwork for the DVD and Blu Ray, which you can see here.
Thanks to Amazon, we also know that it will be released on the 10th of June.
The story, written by Brian Hayles with rewrites by script editor Donald Tosh, saw First Doctor William Hartnell and his companions Steven Taylor (Blue Peter icon Peter Purves) and Dodo Chaplet (Jackie Lane) battle the titular Toymaker, plsyed by Michael Gough, as he forces The Doctor to play the impossible Trilogic Game. Meanwhile, Steven and Dodo must work their way...
- 4/12/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
It’s the Rani. It’s always the Rani. Even when it definitely isn’t the Rani, well, it’s secretly the Rani.
That’s the running gag in the Doctor Who fandom every time it’s called upon to speculate about who or whatever is behind Something Mysterious and Evil happening on the show. If it’s not the Master, then it’s malevolent Time Lady the Rani. Monsters stealing time, cracks in the universe, milk going off even when kept in an adequately refrigerated container? It’s naughty scientist the Rani (even though it very rarely is).
As played by Kate O’Mara in season 22 and season 24, the character is a classic but little-seen Who villain whose reappearance on TV fans live both in eager anticipation and utter dread of. Four-part 1987 story “Time and the Rani” you see, is not popular.
“Time and the Rani” is not popular to...
That’s the running gag in the Doctor Who fandom every time it’s called upon to speculate about who or whatever is behind Something Mysterious and Evil happening on the show. If it’s not the Master, then it’s malevolent Time Lady the Rani. Monsters stealing time, cracks in the universe, milk going off even when kept in an adequately refrigerated container? It’s naughty scientist the Rani (even though it very rarely is).
As played by Kate O’Mara in season 22 and season 24, the character is a classic but little-seen Who villain whose reappearance on TV fans live both in eager anticipation and utter dread of. Four-part 1987 story “Time and the Rani” you see, is not popular.
“Time and the Rani” is not popular to...
- 3/28/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies foresees a gloomy future for the BBC, saying its end is “undoubtedly on its way”.
Russell T Davies knows a thing or two about the inner workings of the BBC, given that he’s worked at the corporation since the start of his career in the mid-1980s.
Now the showrunner on Doctor Who, Davies has some gloomy thoughts to share on the future of the BBC. Talking on the podcast They Like To Watch (as picked up by Deadline), Davies talked about the need to make the latest series of Doctor Who a co-production with Disney+, and added that such a deal was necessary in order to secure the show’s long-term future. The reason being that the BBC itself may be reaching the end of its life.
“I had already said in interviews that I think Doctor Who will have to become...
Russell T Davies knows a thing or two about the inner workings of the BBC, given that he’s worked at the corporation since the start of his career in the mid-1980s.
Now the showrunner on Doctor Who, Davies has some gloomy thoughts to share on the future of the BBC. Talking on the podcast They Like To Watch (as picked up by Deadline), Davies talked about the need to make the latest series of Doctor Who a co-production with Disney+, and added that such a deal was necessary in order to secure the show’s long-term future. The reason being that the BBC itself may be reaching the end of its life.
“I had already said in interviews that I think Doctor Who will have to become...
- 3/28/2024
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
Alright, Whovians and TV buffs, let’s unpack the revolving door of Gallifreyan regenerations that is Doctor Who. We’ve seen more actors leave this show than a Dalek’s seen exterminations. So, grab your sonic screwdrivers as we dive into the drama behind those who hung up their Tardis keys. Spoiler alert: It’s not always because they wanted to ‘spend more time with their family’. William Hartnell First Doctor William Hartnell, the granddaddy of the Doctors, set the stage for what it means to leave the show – and not on the best of terms. Poor health forced him to step down,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Jane Wiggle
- TVovermind.com
The role of Doctor Who is a cherished mantle that has been passed down through generations of actors, each bringing their own flair to the iconic Time Lord. As fans of the series, we often wonder why these talented individuals decide to step away from a role so beloved by audiences worldwide. Let’s explore the real reasons behind the departure of each actor who has brought life to the Doctor. William Hartnell First Doctor William Hartnell was the first to step into the Doctor’s shoes, setting a precedent with his departure due to health issues. Hartnell’s portrayal was influential, but...
- 1/19/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
“Ooh, jukebox” – the words uttered by the Fourteenth Doctor when invited to nosey around the Fifteenth Doctor’s new Tardis in the closing moments of 60th anniversary special “The Giggle”.
Ooh, jukebox indeed. Specifically, the Doctor’s jukebox is a 1946-designed Wurlitzer 1015 nicknamed “The Bubbler” on account of the bubbles that move through its colourful tubes as it plays tunes. Even more specifically, we’ve seen the same make and model of jukebox twice before on Doctor Who, once on the set of Clara’s 1950s-Diner Tardis, and once five billion years into the future on Platform One, where the great and the good are gathered to watch the imminent destruction of planet Earth.
Whether or not it’s supposed to be the self-same jukebox from those previous appearances, or simply something shiny that caught the Doctor’s eye, the songs it plays are significant. Production designer Phil Sims explained...
Ooh, jukebox indeed. Specifically, the Doctor’s jukebox is a 1946-designed Wurlitzer 1015 nicknamed “The Bubbler” on account of the bubbles that move through its colourful tubes as it plays tunes. Even more specifically, we’ve seen the same make and model of jukebox twice before on Doctor Who, once on the set of Clara’s 1950s-Diner Tardis, and once five billion years into the future on Platform One, where the great and the good are gathered to watch the imminent destruction of planet Earth.
Whether or not it’s supposed to be the self-same jukebox from those previous appearances, or simply something shiny that caught the Doctor’s eye, the songs it plays are significant. Production designer Phil Sims explained...
- 1/17/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Remember the first year of Russell T Davies reboot of Doctor Who? That season eased viewers back into the world of the Doctor, re-establishing a few classic villains such as the Daleks and the Autons, but also using the Time War as an excuse for avoiding references to the past.
Contrast that to the past few years, in which the show has no concerns with going back to previous adventures. Modern Doctors have met previous incarnations — sometimes in older form (as in the returns of Peter Davison and Tom Baker), sometimes recast (as in the case of David Bradley stepping in for William Hartnell), and sometimes in digital form (basically every other case). Classic villains have returned, not just the Master, the Daleks, or Cybermen, but even odd-balls like the Toymaker, whose one previous appearance can’t be watched in any form anymore. Most common, Doctor Who has brought back past companions,...
Contrast that to the past few years, in which the show has no concerns with going back to previous adventures. Modern Doctors have met previous incarnations — sometimes in older form (as in the returns of Peter Davison and Tom Baker), sometimes recast (as in the case of David Bradley stepping in for William Hartnell), and sometimes in digital form (basically every other case). Classic villains have returned, not just the Master, the Daleks, or Cybermen, but even odd-balls like the Toymaker, whose one previous appearance can’t be watched in any form anymore. Most common, Doctor Who has brought back past companions,...
- 1/11/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
“Never seen a Tardis before?”
We’ve seen a lot of shocking things in Doctor Who, but that question, delivered directly at the camera, ranks among the most surprising. It comes at the end of this year’s Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” from Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson), the elderly neighbor of new companion Ruby Sunday. But it’s not just Mrs. Flood’s fourth-wall breaking that raises questions. It’s the fact that she’s a markedly different character than the one at the start of the special, who grouches to her neighbor Abdul (Hemi Yeroham) about the police box parked on her walk. She’s also different than she was midway through the episode, when the Tardis disappears before her, causing her to drop her groceries.
From those three brief scenes alone, it’s clear that Mrs. Flood is more than she initially seems.
“Never seen a Tardis before?”
We’ve seen a lot of shocking things in Doctor Who, but that question, delivered directly at the camera, ranks among the most surprising. It comes at the end of this year’s Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” from Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson), the elderly neighbor of new companion Ruby Sunday. But it’s not just Mrs. Flood’s fourth-wall breaking that raises questions. It’s the fact that she’s a markedly different character than the one at the start of the special, who grouches to her neighbor Abdul (Hemi Yeroham) about the police box parked on her walk. She’s also different than she was midway through the episode, when the Tardis disappears before her, causing her to drop her groceries.
From those three brief scenes alone, it’s clear that Mrs. Flood is more than she initially seems.
- 12/26/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
For the better part of 60 years, “Doctor Who” has been typified by an ongoing cycle of death and rebirth. The death of one Doctor brought the birth of the next. Viewers of the long-running BBC series instinctively knew from the moment a new actor was announced as the titular Time Lord that an emotional farewell awaited in the not-too-distant future.
That all changed this year, fundamentally — perhaps irrevocably — altering the franchise with it.
Regeneration — one of the most brilliant storytelling devices in TV history — was a gambit born of necessity by the “Doctor Who” brain trust in 1966 when star William Hartnell, suffering from ill health and memory problems, decided to bow out of the successful series after three years. Of course, that the series was successful meant creatives and executives alike wanted to keep the train running. And if audiences were Ok with an impossibly long-lived time-traveling alien, surely the...
That all changed this year, fundamentally — perhaps irrevocably — altering the franchise with it.
Regeneration — one of the most brilliant storytelling devices in TV history — was a gambit born of necessity by the “Doctor Who” brain trust in 1966 when star William Hartnell, suffering from ill health and memory problems, decided to bow out of the successful series after three years. Of course, that the series was successful meant creatives and executives alike wanted to keep the train running. And if audiences were Ok with an impossibly long-lived time-traveling alien, surely the...
- 12/25/2023
- by Zaki Hasan
- The Wrap
Sixty years is but the blink of an eye for a time-traveler like The Doctor. But for a television series, a Diamond Anniversary is an extremely rare and impressive occurrence.
BBC’s Doctor Who recently celebrated such a milestone with three one-hour specials which, for the first time, streamed globally on Disney+.
Russell T Davies, fresh from his success on ’80s AIDS miniseries It’s a Sin, returned to the show he brought back so successfully to the BBC in 2005. Bolstering his team are returning producers Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson, as well as Jane Tranter, the woman who was instrumental in bringing back Doctor Who in 2005. Bad Wolf, the company founded by Tranter and Gardner in 2015, currently produces the show with BBC Studios.
Another big returning name return was David Tennant, who played the 10th Doctor from 2005 to 2010 and who also returned for the show’s 50th anniversary in 2013. Beloved by fans and audiences alike,...
BBC’s Doctor Who recently celebrated such a milestone with three one-hour specials which, for the first time, streamed globally on Disney+.
Russell T Davies, fresh from his success on ’80s AIDS miniseries It’s a Sin, returned to the show he brought back so successfully to the BBC in 2005. Bolstering his team are returning producers Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson, as well as Jane Tranter, the woman who was instrumental in bringing back Doctor Who in 2005. Bad Wolf, the company founded by Tranter and Gardner in 2015, currently produces the show with BBC Studios.
Another big returning name return was David Tennant, who played the 10th Doctor from 2005 to 2010 and who also returned for the show’s 50th anniversary in 2013. Beloved by fans and audiences alike,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Cameron K McEwan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The wonderful thing about ‘The Church on Ruby Road’, the first full episode of Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa as the title character, is how it manages to be both brilliantly new and brilliantly familiar all at the same time. Every face on screen is new to us: Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, who we’d previously glimpsed for just ten minutes or so at the end of the recent 60th anniversary specials. Millie Gibson’s companion, Ruby Sunday, and her family. The goblin baddies. Anita Dobson’s nosey neighbour. Davina McCall. This is all new to us.
And yet? It’s a handsome, dashing man in a long coat, running around being far cleverer than everyone else. He’s thwarting monsters with his dazzling brain and quipping away, and he’s also warm and emotional and funny, and he’s making friends with a plucky young girl who he can explain things to,...
And yet? It’s a handsome, dashing man in a long coat, running around being far cleverer than everyone else. He’s thwarting monsters with his dazzling brain and quipping away, and he’s also warm and emotional and funny, and he’s making friends with a plucky young girl who he can explain things to,...
- 12/20/2023
- by Marc Burrows
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers.
“When I was young, I was so sure of myself,” the Doctor tells Donna Noble early in the third and final Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special. “I made a terrible mistake.” That bit of exposition catches up viewers who never got the chance to watch the lost First Doctor serial “The Celestial Toymaker,” in which Michael Gough played the Toymaker, the bad guy of “The Giggle,” now played by Neil Patrick Harris. However, it also captures the theme of the episode, in which the Toymaker’s control over reality and the weight of constant running finally catches up to the Doctor and forces him to admit how little he knows.
From the Covid-era satire of the world destroying itself in pursuit of individual truth to the weariness with which the Doctor tells Noble that he was “so certain” about his past actions, “The...
“When I was young, I was so sure of myself,” the Doctor tells Donna Noble early in the third and final Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special. “I made a terrible mistake.” That bit of exposition catches up viewers who never got the chance to watch the lost First Doctor serial “The Celestial Toymaker,” in which Michael Gough played the Toymaker, the bad guy of “The Giggle,” now played by Neil Patrick Harris. However, it also captures the theme of the episode, in which the Toymaker’s control over reality and the weight of constant running finally catches up to the Doctor and forces him to admit how little he knows.
From the Covid-era satire of the world destroying itself in pursuit of individual truth to the weariness with which the Doctor tells Noble that he was “so certain” about his past actions, “The...
- 12/13/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who: ‘The Giggle’.
“The Giggle” has been. The outcome: Ncuti Gatwa Is the Doctor! And David Tennant Is Also the Doctor!
Well, people said they wanted a multi-Doctor story, I guess.
So what’s happened, what does it mean, and will anyone ever get to read the original version of this article that I wrote in an extremely broad German accent?
In the final act of 60th anniversary special “The Giggle”, David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor was shot with a massive laser by The Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) and started to regenerate. However, the regeneration energy disappeared, and the Doctor asked his friends to pull. The Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) emerged as a new incarnation, leaving the Fourteenth alive and well and slightly confused. This is a ‘bigeneration’.
What the Flip Is a Bigeneration?
It’s apparently a Time Lord myth, and like many...
“The Giggle” has been. The outcome: Ncuti Gatwa Is the Doctor! And David Tennant Is Also the Doctor!
Well, people said they wanted a multi-Doctor story, I guess.
So what’s happened, what does it mean, and will anyone ever get to read the original version of this article that I wrote in an extremely broad German accent?
In the final act of 60th anniversary special “The Giggle”, David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor was shot with a massive laser by The Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) and started to regenerate. However, the regeneration energy disappeared, and the Doctor asked his friends to pull. The Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) emerged as a new incarnation, leaving the Fourteenth alive and well and slightly confused. This is a ‘bigeneration’.
What the Flip Is a Bigeneration?
It’s apparently a Time Lord myth, and like many...
- 12/11/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Buckle up, Whovians, because Doctor Who’s timey-wimey-ness is about to get even timey-wimey-er.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has teased that Doctor Who’s third and final 60th anniversary episode, “The Giggle” (airing Saturday 9th December) will kick-start “a whole new Doctor Who mythology” that will – no stranger to hyperbole, Rtd – “rock the world”.
Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine in issue 598, Davies draws fans’ attention to the in-vision episode commentary that will be available on BBC iPlayer after “The Giggle” airs – featuring him, producer Phil Collinson and David Tennant – and revealed that “controversial events” in this episode would lead to a huge change for Doctor Who:
“If you listen and watch the commentary on iPlayer, I unroll a whole new Doctor Who mythology for you, based around the events taking place. And I’m explaining this to David Tennant and his mind is exploding. That commentary will have absolutely...
Showrunner Russell T Davies has teased that Doctor Who’s third and final 60th anniversary episode, “The Giggle” (airing Saturday 9th December) will kick-start “a whole new Doctor Who mythology” that will – no stranger to hyperbole, Rtd – “rock the world”.
Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine in issue 598, Davies draws fans’ attention to the in-vision episode commentary that will be available on BBC iPlayer after “The Giggle” airs – featuring him, producer Phil Collinson and David Tennant – and revealed that “controversial events” in this episode would lead to a huge change for Doctor Who:
“If you listen and watch the commentary on iPlayer, I unroll a whole new Doctor Who mythology for you, based around the events taking place. And I’m explaining this to David Tennant and his mind is exploding. That commentary will have absolutely...
- 12/8/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The BBC will release partially lost Doctor Who story The Celestial Toymaker on DVD and Blu-ray, complete with animated episodes.
This Saturday will see David Tennant’s 14th Doctor come face to face with The Toymaker, played by Neil Patrick Harris, in final 60th anniversary special The Giggle.
The character hasn’t been seen onscreen since his debut appearence in 1966 story The Celestial Toymaker, where he was played by Michael Gough.
The story saw First Doctor William Hartnell and his companions Steven Taylor (Blue Peter icon Peter Purves) and Dodo Chaplet (Jackie Lane) battle the titular Toymaker, as he forces The Doctor to play the impossible Trilogic Game. Meanwhile, Steven and Dodo must work their way through a series of childish games which turn out to be deadly.
Currently, only the fourth episode The Final Test exists in the BBC archives. You can watch it on iPlayer.
BBC Studios have...
This Saturday will see David Tennant’s 14th Doctor come face to face with The Toymaker, played by Neil Patrick Harris, in final 60th anniversary special The Giggle.
The character hasn’t been seen onscreen since his debut appearence in 1966 story The Celestial Toymaker, where he was played by Michael Gough.
The story saw First Doctor William Hartnell and his companions Steven Taylor (Blue Peter icon Peter Purves) and Dodo Chaplet (Jackie Lane) battle the titular Toymaker, as he forces The Doctor to play the impossible Trilogic Game. Meanwhile, Steven and Dodo must work their way through a series of childish games which turn out to be deadly.
Currently, only the fourth episode The Final Test exists in the BBC archives. You can watch it on iPlayer.
BBC Studios have...
- 12/7/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Who: “Wild Blue Yonder”
In the December issue of Doctor Who Magazine, a preview for the second 60th anniversary special “Wild Blue Yonder” advertised the following episode cast:
“David Tennant, Catherine Tate, [Redacted], [Redacted], [Redacted]”
Fans were understandably quick to fill in those blanks with potential guest stars fitting for a diamond anniversary. Nobody guessed the actual names redacted: Bernard Cribbins, plus Daniel Tuite and Helen Cripps.
Who? Exactly.
Tuite and Cripps play David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s body doubles in “Wild Blue Yonder”, an episode that saw the Doctor and Donna pitted against monstrous copies of themselves. Neither household names nor Doctor Who regulars, had the two actors been revealed prior to broadcast, it would likely not have explained or spoiled a thing…
…apart from the fervour of fan speculation, which was whipped up to great effect by the secrecy surrounding the ep. Very few...
In the December issue of Doctor Who Magazine, a preview for the second 60th anniversary special “Wild Blue Yonder” advertised the following episode cast:
“David Tennant, Catherine Tate, [Redacted], [Redacted], [Redacted]”
Fans were understandably quick to fill in those blanks with potential guest stars fitting for a diamond anniversary. Nobody guessed the actual names redacted: Bernard Cribbins, plus Daniel Tuite and Helen Cripps.
Who? Exactly.
Tuite and Cripps play David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s body doubles in “Wild Blue Yonder”, an episode that saw the Doctor and Donna pitted against monstrous copies of themselves. Neither household names nor Doctor Who regulars, had the two actors been revealed prior to broadcast, it would likely not have explained or spoiled a thing…
…apart from the fervour of fan speculation, which was whipped up to great effect by the secrecy surrounding the ep. Very few...
- 12/4/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Ncuti Gatwa has made his first official broadcast appearance as the Fifteenth Doctor in a re-edited version of An Adventure In Space and Time, the Doctor Who special that first aired in 2013. In honor of the long-running sci-fi series’ 60th anniversary, the U.K.’s BBC Four re-aired the 2013 special, which was originally part of the show’s 50th anniversary and chronicled the development of Doctor Who from conception to super hit. Game of Thrones alum David Bradley played First Doctor actor William Hartnell in the special, which ends with Hartnell seeing a vision of the current Doctor as he films his final episode, 1966’s “The Tenth Planet,” showing him that the future of the show is in good hands. In the original broadcast, Matt Smith, who was portraying the Eleventh Doctor at the time, appeared in Hartnell’s vision. However, in the new, re-edited version, Gatwa’s Doctor, who...
- 11/24/2023
- TV Insider
Well, it was supposed to have been a surprise. Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa let the cat somewhat out of the bag at the GQ Men of the Year awards on November 16, when he announced to The Mirror “I shouldn’t say this but I shot a scene, somehow, with the first ever Doctor, William Hartnell.”
Doctor Who fans put two and two together, correctly guessing that Gatwa didn’t mean the actual William Hartnell, who passed away in 1975, but the version of him played by actor David Bradley – first in 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time about the creation of Doctor Who, and subsequently in “The Doctor Falls”, “Twice Upon a Time” and “The Power of the Doctor”.
Knowing that An Adventure in Space and Time had yet to appear as part of BBC iPlayer’s extensive Whoniverse, and was scheduled for a BBC Four repeat on the night of the 60th anniversary,...
Doctor Who fans put two and two together, correctly guessing that Gatwa didn’t mean the actual William Hartnell, who passed away in 1975, but the version of him played by actor David Bradley – first in 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time about the creation of Doctor Who, and subsequently in “The Doctor Falls”, “Twice Upon a Time” and “The Power of the Doctor”.
Knowing that An Adventure in Space and Time had yet to appear as part of BBC iPlayer’s extensive Whoniverse, and was scheduled for a BBC Four repeat on the night of the 60th anniversary,...
- 11/24/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
A clip at the end of Doctor Who: The Daleks revealed more colourised episodes of the show that are on the way.
Last night saw the broadcast of a 75 minute, blockbuster edition of the 1960s Doctor Who story The Daleks, in colour for the first time. The William Hartnell-headlined story has been edited down from its episodic run into some more akin to a movie – and as suspect, that’s just the beginning.
For right at the end, we got a real treat. A montage of colourised clips from other Doctor Who episodes including The Dalek Invasion Of Earth, The Tomb Of The Cybermen, The Celestial Toymaker, The Web Planet and The Tenth Planet.
Technically speaking, you can already watch The Dalek Invasion Of Earth in colour, as it was adapted into the second big screen spin-off, Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150Ad, in 1966, which saw Peter Cushing and Bernard Cribbins...
Last night saw the broadcast of a 75 minute, blockbuster edition of the 1960s Doctor Who story The Daleks, in colour for the first time. The William Hartnell-headlined story has been edited down from its episodic run into some more akin to a movie – and as suspect, that’s just the beginning.
For right at the end, we got a real treat. A montage of colourised clips from other Doctor Who episodes including The Dalek Invasion Of Earth, The Tomb Of The Cybermen, The Celestial Toymaker, The Web Planet and The Tenth Planet.
Technically speaking, you can already watch The Dalek Invasion Of Earth in colour, as it was adapted into the second big screen spin-off, Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150Ad, in 1966, which saw Peter Cushing and Bernard Cribbins...
- 11/24/2023
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Doctor Who has been a cornerstone of British television since its inception in 1963. The series has not only captivated audiences with its adventures through time and space but also introduced us to a unique concept: regeneration. This narrative device allows the show to reinvent itself with each new actor taking on the titular role of the Doctor. But what prompts these talented individuals to step away from such an iconic character? Let’s journey through time to uncover the reasons behind each Doctor’s departure. William Hartnell’s Farewell William Hartnell was the first to bring the enigmatic Time Lord to life.
- 11/23/2023
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
On TV tonight (23rd November), the BBC are airing the Doctor’s first encounter with a familiar foe – The Daleks is now in colour!
A real thrill for Whovians tonight – a vital piece of the show’s history will be broadcast with a bit of added spit and polish on BBC Four as part of the show’s ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations.
The episode in question is called The Daleks, first broadcast in 1963, and finds William Hartnell’s Doctor coming up against a brand-spanking-new, iconic villain. We’ll give you three guesses which one.
The new, 75-minute “blockbuster edit” has been fully colourised by a team led by fan Rich Tipple, who told the BBC it was a “huge honour” and a “personal dream come true”.
Credit: BBC
The edit also features a new original score by composer Mark Ayres.
“The original is a masterpiece of 1960s television drama and...
A real thrill for Whovians tonight – a vital piece of the show’s history will be broadcast with a bit of added spit and polish on BBC Four as part of the show’s ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations.
The episode in question is called The Daleks, first broadcast in 1963, and finds William Hartnell’s Doctor coming up against a brand-spanking-new, iconic villain. We’ll give you three guesses which one.
The new, 75-minute “blockbuster edit” has been fully colourised by a team led by fan Rich Tipple, who told the BBC it was a “huge honour” and a “personal dream come true”.
Credit: BBC
The edit also features a new original score by composer Mark Ayres.
“The original is a masterpiece of 1960s television drama and...
- 11/23/2023
- by James Harvey
- Film Stories
Presumably, you’ve got your 60th anniversary outfit sorted and you’ve snacks to hand.
You’ve invited any guests you might want around, you’ve wrapped up the Doctor Who Top Trumps in the centre of your pass-the-parcel, and cleared your calendar from the 60th anniversary itself on Thursday November 23rd through to Saturday December 9th when the final special airs, so there’ll be no interruptions. You’re ready, basically, to celebrate Doctor Who’s birthday. You’ll watch the three anniversary episodes, of course, but what else?
Take a look below at what’s on offer in the UK. We’ll update this guide when more information arrives.
Already Aired & Available To Stream Doctor Who @ 60: A Musical Celebration
Recorded on September 28 at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, this special BBC Radio 2 concert hosted by Jo Whiley was where the Fifteenth Doctor’s theme music made its world debut.
You’ve invited any guests you might want around, you’ve wrapped up the Doctor Who Top Trumps in the centre of your pass-the-parcel, and cleared your calendar from the 60th anniversary itself on Thursday November 23rd through to Saturday December 9th when the final special airs, so there’ll be no interruptions. You’re ready, basically, to celebrate Doctor Who’s birthday. You’ll watch the three anniversary episodes, of course, but what else?
Take a look below at what’s on offer in the UK. We’ll update this guide when more information arrives.
Already Aired & Available To Stream Doctor Who @ 60: A Musical Celebration
Recorded on September 28 at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, this special BBC Radio 2 concert hosted by Jo Whiley was where the Fifteenth Doctor’s theme music made its world debut.
- 11/21/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
‘Right at the very beginning!’ – answered nobody, ever to the question of where a newcomer to Doctor Who should start watching. This is a show with almost 900 episodes, six decades of production, and a megaton of baggage.
To start with 1963’s “An Unearthly Child” now and try to watch everything, plus spin-offs, before you could get involved with the Ncuti Gatwa era? You’d need a Tardis.
So where to jump in? Now that BBC iPlayer is host to the whole Doctor Who kit and kaboodle in the UK as part of its new “Whoniverse” division, it’s a very good question. That’s why we asked it to our writhing nest of Doctor Who experts. And here’s what they recommend:
Rose (2005)
“Rose” is the first episode of the revived version of Doctor Who. Having been off air since a one-off special in 1996, this was designed as a continuation...
To start with 1963’s “An Unearthly Child” now and try to watch everything, plus spin-offs, before you could get involved with the Ncuti Gatwa era? You’d need a Tardis.
So where to jump in? Now that BBC iPlayer is host to the whole Doctor Who kit and kaboodle in the UK as part of its new “Whoniverse” division, it’s a very good question. That’s why we asked it to our writhing nest of Doctor Who experts. And here’s what they recommend:
Rose (2005)
“Rose” is the first episode of the revived version of Doctor Who. Having been off air since a one-off special in 1996, this was designed as a continuation...
- 11/1/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
On November 1, 2023, at 2:30 Am, BBC Four will air “Talking Doctor Who” as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the iconic show, Doctor Who. Hosted by David Tennant, a former Doctor, this program takes viewers on a journey through the BBC archives to uncover the history of the classic era of Doctor Who.
In this episode, David Tennant explores the Doctor’s adventures from the very beginning, starting with William Hartnell’s portrayal of the Doctor, and then traveling through time to the era of the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy. The show promises to feature rarely seen interviews and clips from the classic Doctor Who series.
For fans of Doctor Who, this is a unique opportunity to delve into the show’s rich history and learn about the various actors who portrayed the Doctor. “Talking Doctor Who” on BBC Four at 2:30 Am on November 1, 2023, is a factual and...
In this episode, David Tennant explores the Doctor’s adventures from the very beginning, starting with William Hartnell’s portrayal of the Doctor, and then traveling through time to the era of the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy. The show promises to feature rarely seen interviews and clips from the classic Doctor Who series.
For fans of Doctor Who, this is a unique opportunity to delve into the show’s rich history and learn about the various actors who portrayed the Doctor. “Talking Doctor Who” on BBC Four at 2:30 Am on November 1, 2023, is a factual and...
- 10/26/2023
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
On November 1, 2023, at 8:30 Pm, BBC Four is set to broadcast “Talking Doctor Who,” a special program in honor of the iconic show’s 60th anniversary. Hosted by David Tennant, a former Doctor himself, this show promises a unique journey through the BBC archives to recount the story of the classic era of Doctor Who.
“Talking Doctor Who” takes viewers on a trip back in time to explore the history of Doctor Who, featuring rarely seen interviews and clips that span from William Hartnell’s initial portrayal of the Doctor to the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.
For fans of Doctor Who, this is a wonderful opportunity to dive into the past and discover the actors who brought the Doctor to life in the classic series. “Talking Doctor Who” is a factual and informative look at the classic era of this beloved science fiction show, and it’s perfect for viewers of all ages,...
“Talking Doctor Who” takes viewers on a trip back in time to explore the history of Doctor Who, featuring rarely seen interviews and clips that span from William Hartnell’s initial portrayal of the Doctor to the seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.
For fans of Doctor Who, this is a wonderful opportunity to dive into the past and discover the actors who brought the Doctor to life in the classic series. “Talking Doctor Who” is a factual and informative look at the classic era of this beloved science fiction show, and it’s perfect for viewers of all ages,...
- 10/26/2023
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
“Doctor Who” is looking back at its past. The long-running British sci-fi touchstone is celebrating its 60th anniversary with three new specials that bring back important figures from the show’s run, while making a big move outside the UK to Disney+. Now, the streamer has shared the full trailer for the 60th anniversary specials, ahead of their November premiere.
First premiering in 1963, BBC’s “Doctor Who” follows the titular Doctor, a mysterious adventurer from an alien Time Lord species who travels through the galaxy and time in his Police Box-disguised Tardis machine. Originally played by William Hartnell, the Doctor has the ability to regenerate into new forms upon death, and the character was portrayed by six other actors before the original run ended in 1989. After a 1996 TV film starring Paul McGann as the Doctor, the show was properly revived in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the lead. The series has...
First premiering in 1963, BBC’s “Doctor Who” follows the titular Doctor, a mysterious adventurer from an alien Time Lord species who travels through the galaxy and time in his Police Box-disguised Tardis machine. Originally played by William Hartnell, the Doctor has the ability to regenerate into new forms upon death, and the character was portrayed by six other actors before the original run ended in 1989. After a 1996 TV film starring Paul McGann as the Doctor, the show was properly revived in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the lead. The series has...
- 10/25/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Can you feel that? A great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cancelled their BritBox subscriptions.
Yes, the BBC is finally preparing to do what we have wanted them to do all along and drop 800 episodes of Doctor Who plus extras onto iPlayer, where anyone in the UK with a TV licence can see them at any time.
And now it’s your job to watch them all. The question is, in what order should you watch them? Well, there are several options, depending on just how much damage you want to do to your brain when you attempt this.
Easy Mode: Start With the Accessible Stuff and Work Down
Doctor Who has been many different shows over its 60-year history, and not all of those shows will appeal to different people. If this is your first time approaching the classic series after developing a love...
Yes, the BBC is finally preparing to do what we have wanted them to do all along and drop 800 episodes of Doctor Who plus extras onto iPlayer, where anyone in the UK with a TV licence can see them at any time.
And now it’s your job to watch them all. The question is, in what order should you watch them? Well, there are several options, depending on just how much damage you want to do to your brain when you attempt this.
Easy Mode: Start With the Accessible Stuff and Work Down
Doctor Who has been many different shows over its 60-year history, and not all of those shows will appeal to different people. If this is your first time approaching the classic series after developing a love...
- 10/12/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
There truly has never been a better time to be a Doctor Who fan.
Not only do we have the three long-awaited 60th anniversary episodes mere weeks away (even if we are still waiting on an official release date beyond “November!”), we’re then getting the return of the Doctor Who festive special with a brand-new Doctor and companion on the way in Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, not to mention the shiny new series 14 launching some time in 2024.
But in the mean time, the surprise 60th anniversary celebration announcements keep on coming – and the BBC’s latest Doctor Who news is a biggie:
The Entire Doctor Who Back Catalogue Is Coming To BBC iPlayer!
From 1st November, BBC iPlayer will host over 800 episodes of Doctor Who, including all the classic series from the very first Doctor, William Hartnell, right the way through to the 1996 TV movie with Paul McGann.
Not only do we have the three long-awaited 60th anniversary episodes mere weeks away (even if we are still waiting on an official release date beyond “November!”), we’re then getting the return of the Doctor Who festive special with a brand-new Doctor and companion on the way in Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, not to mention the shiny new series 14 launching some time in 2024.
But in the mean time, the surprise 60th anniversary celebration announcements keep on coming – and the BBC’s latest Doctor Who news is a biggie:
The Entire Doctor Who Back Catalogue Is Coming To BBC iPlayer!
From 1st November, BBC iPlayer will host over 800 episodes of Doctor Who, including all the classic series from the very first Doctor, William Hartnell, right the way through to the 1996 TV movie with Paul McGann.
- 10/10/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The new trailer for the Doctor Who anniversary specials has dropped, and with it the reveal that Neil Patrick Harris is going to be playing the specials’ Big Bad – The Toymaker. Many fans had already guessed this was coming, because Doctor Who fans have a sixth sense for determining precisely which camp villain in an elaborate outfit has trapped the Doctor in an elaborate mind game of his own devising.
But for those of us who can’t take one look at Neil Patrick Harris in a top hat and tails and immediately determine that he isn’t the Mind Robber or the Dream Lord or the War Lord or the Meddling Monk or a gender-flipped incarnation of the Rani or whoever Jinkx Monsoon is playing next season, a bit of explanation might be in order.
A bit of explanation and a lot of saying ‘Obviously, Doctor Who is 60 years...
But for those of us who can’t take one look at Neil Patrick Harris in a top hat and tails and immediately determine that he isn’t the Mind Robber or the Dream Lord or the War Lord or the Meddling Monk or a gender-flipped incarnation of the Rani or whoever Jinkx Monsoon is playing next season, a bit of explanation might be in order.
A bit of explanation and a lot of saying ‘Obviously, Doctor Who is 60 years...
- 9/25/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The Guinness World Records once listed the BBC’s Doctor Who as the “most successful Science Fiction television series in the world,” and this year the show turns an impressive 60 years old. Despite its grand age, it’s not demonstrating any signs of slowing down.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate for three specials later this year, and then introduces Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) as the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord with season 14, expected to air in 2024. (The series originally ran from 1963 to 1989 and was relaunched in 2005.)
But what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Here’s your 101 to all of the lead actors, below.
The First Doctor: William Hartnell (First appearance – 1963) William Hartnell
Debuting the day after JFK was assassinated,...
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate for three specials later this year, and then introduces Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) as the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord with season 14, expected to air in 2024. (The series originally ran from 1963 to 1989 and was relaunched in 2005.)
But what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Here’s your 101 to all of the lead actors, below.
The First Doctor: William Hartnell (First appearance – 1963) William Hartnell
Debuting the day after JFK was assassinated,...
- 8/19/2023
- by Cameron K McEwan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A new Doctor is hopping through space, time and dimension.
The long-running British sci-fi series “Doctor Who” is getting rejuvenated with a new Doctor and the first teaser pic has been shared to Twitter.
Ncuti Gatwa will be the first Black, gay Doctor to take on the role of the Time Lord, and he certainly looks the part in the fresh poster tweeted by the show’s official Twitter account on Tuesday. He’s joining many past time-travellers, including William Hartnell, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker.
Read More: Jonathan Groff Cast In ‘Mysterious And Exciting’ Key Role On ‘Doctor Who’
Meet the Doctor #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/YazMdr6ApJ
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) July 18, 2023
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 30, can be seen rocking a vintage brown leather jacket reminiscent of the ’70s and an unbuttoned red-and-blue striped shirt underneath, perfectly capturing the Doctor’s whimsical and timeless style.
Viewers may remember Gatwa’s...
The long-running British sci-fi series “Doctor Who” is getting rejuvenated with a new Doctor and the first teaser pic has been shared to Twitter.
Ncuti Gatwa will be the first Black, gay Doctor to take on the role of the Time Lord, and he certainly looks the part in the fresh poster tweeted by the show’s official Twitter account on Tuesday. He’s joining many past time-travellers, including William Hartnell, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker.
Read More: Jonathan Groff Cast In ‘Mysterious And Exciting’ Key Role On ‘Doctor Who’
Meet the Doctor #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/YazMdr6ApJ
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) July 18, 2023
The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 30, can be seen rocking a vintage brown leather jacket reminiscent of the ’70s and an unbuttoned red-and-blue striped shirt underneath, perfectly capturing the Doctor’s whimsical and timeless style.
Viewers may remember Gatwa’s...
- 7/18/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
The legacy of Chris Chibnall’s reign as Doctor Who showrunner is a controversial one, and even now it’s unclear how history will judge it. Chibnall brought in a lot of important and necessary steps in the show’s evolution, including the first woman Doctor, the first non-white Doctor, the first non-white writer on the show, and a real attempt to bring back the educational aspect of the series for the first time in decades.
There were also things some fans were sceptical about. For many, the resolution of the giant Flux arc left something to be desired. The destruction of Gallifrey for the second, or possibly even third time, depending on your personal canon. Cybermen with giant frilly Time Lord collars…
But the biggest controversy, without a doubt, has been the story arc known as “The Timeless Child”.
What Is “The Timeless Child”?
For those that need reminding,...
There were also things some fans were sceptical about. For many, the resolution of the giant Flux arc left something to be desired. The destruction of Gallifrey for the second, or possibly even third time, depending on your personal canon. Cybermen with giant frilly Time Lord collars…
But the biggest controversy, without a doubt, has been the story arc known as “The Timeless Child”.
What Is “The Timeless Child”?
For those that need reminding,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Looks aren’t everything (or so our mums tell us) but when there’s a brand new Doctor in the Tardis, they become pretty important. Tradition tells us that each Doctor has their own signature style – from Tom Baker’s iconic stripey scarf to Peter Davison’s cricket-and-celery combo, and Matt Smith’s “cool” bowtie – giving us clues about what kind of Doctor they’ll be.
So what will Ncuti Gatwa’s fifteenth Doctor be like? Details are scarce so far, but his fashion-forward costumes give us plenty of interesting hints…
No More Unchanging Doctor Costume
Finally, it looks like the Doctor is going to take the occasional shower.
Past Doctors have either stuck rigidly to a single costume – like William Hartnell’s suave, Victorian-era get-up or Colin Baker’s coat of many colours – or gone for a consistent look, like David Tennant wearing the same geek-chic suit in different colours,...
So what will Ncuti Gatwa’s fifteenth Doctor be like? Details are scarce so far, but his fashion-forward costumes give us plenty of interesting hints…
No More Unchanging Doctor Costume
Finally, it looks like the Doctor is going to take the occasional shower.
Past Doctors have either stuck rigidly to a single costume – like William Hartnell’s suave, Victorian-era get-up or Colin Baker’s coat of many colours – or gone for a consistent look, like David Tennant wearing the same geek-chic suit in different colours,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
In its continuing mission to help older Doctor Who fans relive their childhoods, and make even older Doctor Who fans say “Wait a second, that was your childhood? But you’re 30!” it has been announced that the next Doctor Who we see will not only be written by Russell T Davies, the showrunner of this version of Who’s first four seasons (plus specials), it will not only star classic, fan favourite Doctor David Tennant, and classic, fan favourite companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), it will also be scored by classic, fan favourite composer Murray Gold.
If you don’t recognise the name, you will still know his work if you’ve watched any of the increasingly-inaccurately-named “new” series Who prior to Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation. He is, in many ways, as responsible for the feel and identity of the show as Russell T Davies or his successor, Steven Moffat.
If you don’t recognise the name, you will still know his work if you’ve watched any of the increasingly-inaccurately-named “new” series Who prior to Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation. He is, in many ways, as responsible for the feel and identity of the show as Russell T Davies or his successor, Steven Moffat.
- 4/28/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
In a franchise inching towards double-digit entries and with as big of a cast as "Fast & Furious," where it's not a guarantee that everyone in the audience has watched (or remembers) all the previous installments, it's important to give each character a quirk that makes them instantly memorable. People who missed the second movie might not know the name of Tyrese Gibson's smartass, but his constant wisecracks make us care about him anyway on a film-to-film basis, even if he's rarely the main focus of any given scene.
Likewise, those who missed out on "Tokyo Drift" may not understand how Han Lue (Sung Kang) came in, but it's still easy to keep track of him as that guy who's always snacking on something. (He's also the guy fans rooted to bring back.) Not only is it a relatable character trait — who among us would not like to have...
Likewise, those who missed out on "Tokyo Drift" may not understand how Han Lue (Sung Kang) came in, but it's still easy to keep track of him as that guy who's always snacking on something. (He's also the guy fans rooted to bring back.) Not only is it a relatable character trait — who among us would not like to have...
- 2/6/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Vicki, who never even got a surname on screen despite appearing in 38 episodes of Doctor Who, is an underrated companion. Indeed, Maureen O’Brien’s character is significant as the template for the young female lead in the show going forward. She has a strong bond with William Hartnell’s Doctor, who provides a father-figure for her, and is smart, confident and funny in her own right.
Appearing in only nine stories, Vicki’s final story has no surviving footage (though the audio exists) and two more of her stories are only partially complete. Only one of her stories was in the top half of the Doctor Who Magazine 50th anniversary poll, and a few of them are in the lower reaches of the rankings. Her only Dalek story is ‘The Chase’, which is one of the less well thought of. So perhaps there are reasons she’s not often cited...
Appearing in only nine stories, Vicki’s final story has no surviving footage (though the audio exists) and two more of her stories are only partially complete. Only one of her stories was in the top half of the Doctor Who Magazine 50th anniversary poll, and a few of them are in the lower reaches of the rankings. Her only Dalek story is ‘The Chase’, which is one of the less well thought of. So perhaps there are reasons she’s not often cited...
- 1/13/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Whether you're a long-time fan of "Doctor Who" or a relatively new Whovian that started following the seminal British sci-fi series after the 2005 reboot, you know that The Doctor's history is basically a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey stuff. And after nearly sixty years of stories, you start to revisit some of your old favorites. For starters, Russell T. Davies is returning to helm the BBC series (which makes its debut on Disney+ internationally starting this year), along with former stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate, to reconnect with some of the most beloved characters of the modern era of the show before the universe meets Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor.
Not only will we see the "Good Omens" and "Staged" star back on the Tardis (this time as the Fourteenth Doctor) alongside "The Runaway Bride" Donna Noble in some capacity, but Jacqueline King, Karl Collins, and the late...
Not only will we see the "Good Omens" and "Staged" star back on the Tardis (this time as the Fourteenth Doctor) alongside "The Runaway Bride" Donna Noble in some capacity, but Jacqueline King, Karl Collins, and the late...
- 1/8/2023
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
This isn’t about favorites. Favorites are flimsy and can be overdone, like a song or a sandwich filling you tire of after choosing it one too many times. This is about rightness. Of all the Doctors in the Tardis, of all the Bonds in the Aston Martin, of all the Batmen in the Batsuit, there’s one that feels more right to you than the rest. They’re in technicolor while everybody else is in black and white (speaking figuratively if it’s William Hartnell).
Maybe they’re the one you first fell for as a kid, or maybe they’re the newest hire who made everything finally click into place. The point is that they’re yours, an actor in a role that is unchangingly, enduringly right.
You know your Bond, you may well know your Doctor and own the accompanying action figure/reproduction Sonic screwdriver. But who’s your on-screen Santa?...
Maybe they’re the one you first fell for as a kid, or maybe they’re the newest hire who made everything finally click into place. The point is that they’re yours, an actor in a role that is unchangingly, enduringly right.
You know your Bond, you may well know your Doctor and own the accompanying action figure/reproduction Sonic screwdriver. But who’s your on-screen Santa?...
- 12/23/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Children in Need’s history of Doctor Who specials dates back to a time before Pudsey Bear even existed. Feature-length special ‘The Five Doctors’ was first aired in the UK during the 1983 Children in Need telethon, a full two years before Pudsey became the charity’s official mascot.
Doctor Who has a rich tradition of supporting BBC charities – including a 1999 Comic Relief special penned by none other than Steven Moffat – and there have been six further Doctor Who specials for Children in Need in the three decades since ‘The Five Doctors’.
They range from the sublime – aka ‘Time Crash’ in 2007…
…to the ridiculous. And we mean really, brilliantly ridiculous:
Some Doctor Who fans never really got over the 1993 ‘Dimensions in Time’ special, a set of two mini episodes which aired on consecutive nights, the first on Children in Need and the second on the 1990s Saturday night fever dream known as Noel’s House Party.
Doctor Who has a rich tradition of supporting BBC charities – including a 1999 Comic Relief special penned by none other than Steven Moffat – and there have been six further Doctor Who specials for Children in Need in the three decades since ‘The Five Doctors’.
They range from the sublime – aka ‘Time Crash’ in 2007…
…to the ridiculous. And we mean really, brilliantly ridiculous:
Some Doctor Who fans never really got over the 1993 ‘Dimensions in Time’ special, a set of two mini episodes which aired on consecutive nights, the first on Children in Need and the second on the 1990s Saturday night fever dream known as Noel’s House Party.
- 11/16/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
The Doctor Who Centenary Special "The Power of the Doctor" was an emotional time for Whovians all over the globe, as fans said farewell to Jodie Whittaker's history-making turn as the Doctor. It had been previously announced that "Sex Education" star Ncuti Gatwa had been cast as the next regeneration, so imagine the intense shock to the system felt by all when Gatwa did not regenerate on screen, but instead Tenth Doctor David Tennant appeared to take Whittaker's place. The return of David Tennant's Doctor is a fascinating decision from a storytelling perspective, but fans were dismayed when the Doctor's regeneration also included a change of wardrobe.
This might sound like an oddly specific character trait to be upset about, but the Doctor's regeneration has consistently included the transformation into the clothing of the previous Doctor since the conclusion of the 1966 serial "The Tenth Planet." The fact Tennant...
This might sound like an oddly specific character trait to be upset about, but the Doctor's regeneration has consistently included the transformation into the clothing of the previous Doctor since the conclusion of the 1966 serial "The Tenth Planet." The fact Tennant...
- 11/11/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Russell T Davies has explained why David Tennant’s Doctor was not wearing Jodie Whittaker’s clothes when he regenerated.
Typically in Doctor Who, when the Time Lords regenerate, the new incarnation is introduced while wearing the same costume as the previous actor.
However, when Tennant returned as the character at the end of the most recent special, he was wearing a different outfit, which was the first time since 1966, when William Hartnell transformed into Patrick Troughton. This led many fans to question what has inspired Davies’s decision.
In a new interview, Davies, who has returned to showrun the BBC series, said he “was very certain that I didn’t want David to appear in Jodie’s costume” as he was worried it would “make a mockery” of drag culture.
He told Doctor Who Magazine: “I think the notion of men dressing in 'women's clothes', the notion of drag,...
Typically in Doctor Who, when the Time Lords regenerate, the new incarnation is introduced while wearing the same costume as the previous actor.
However, when Tennant returned as the character at the end of the most recent special, he was wearing a different outfit, which was the first time since 1966, when William Hartnell transformed into Patrick Troughton. This led many fans to question what has inspired Davies’s decision.
In a new interview, Davies, who has returned to showrun the BBC series, said he “was very certain that I didn’t want David to appear in Jodie’s costume” as he was worried it would “make a mockery” of drag culture.
He told Doctor Who Magazine: “I think the notion of men dressing in 'women's clothes', the notion of drag,...
- 11/10/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
We’ve got a long wait for new Doctor Who episodes, with the three 60th anniversary specials not due to air on the BBC until November 2023, giving us plenty of time to revisit some of the old series.
Whether you’re a fan of the modern era of the show or want to find out where to watch classic Doctor Who from the sixties and beyond, there’s plenty of places to stream or buy old Doctor Who series both in the UK and the USA.
Where to Watch Classic Doctor Who BritBox – UK and US
There’s a whopping 272 hours worth of classic Doctor Who available to stream on BritBox, with 558 episodes spanning the first eight Doctors, from William Hartnell to Paul McGann. You can also watch spin-off series K-9 and Company, documentaries including More Than 30 Years in the Tardis and Doctor Who: Doctors Revisited, and rare gems such as the unbroadcast story,...
Whether you’re a fan of the modern era of the show or want to find out where to watch classic Doctor Who from the sixties and beyond, there’s plenty of places to stream or buy old Doctor Who series both in the UK and the USA.
Where to Watch Classic Doctor Who BritBox – UK and US
There’s a whopping 272 hours worth of classic Doctor Who available to stream on BritBox, with 558 episodes spanning the first eight Doctors, from William Hartnell to Paul McGann. You can also watch spin-off series K-9 and Company, documentaries including More Than 30 Years in the Tardis and Doctor Who: Doctors Revisited, and rare gems such as the unbroadcast story,...
- 11/8/2022
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Warning: contains spoilers for all episodes mentioned.
In some respects Doctor Who in the 1960s had an advantage over the rest of the show: it was brand new, it built in the loss of the lead actors into the format, and it was largely free of mythology weighing it down. Indeed, with the reveal of the Doctor’s backstory in the final story of the decade, it stands apart in the Doctor remaining a genuine mystery throughout.
It was also a time of experimentation, when Doctor Who tried different styles and genres to see what it could get away with. Occasionally the show coagulated into a consistent format, but there was also the variety of Season 2, probably the show’s most successful attempt at grimdark storytelling in Season 3, and the occasional subversive or anarchic flourish as Patrick Troughton’s Doctor shone outside a more standardised action/adventure format.
While the...
In some respects Doctor Who in the 1960s had an advantage over the rest of the show: it was brand new, it built in the loss of the lead actors into the format, and it was largely free of mythology weighing it down. Indeed, with the reveal of the Doctor’s backstory in the final story of the decade, it stands apart in the Doctor remaining a genuine mystery throughout.
It was also a time of experimentation, when Doctor Who tried different styles and genres to see what it could get away with. Occasionally the show coagulated into a consistent format, but there was also the variety of Season 2, probably the show’s most successful attempt at grimdark storytelling in Season 3, and the occasional subversive or anarchic flourish as Patrick Troughton’s Doctor shone outside a more standardised action/adventure format.
While the...
- 11/6/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Spoilers ahead for the recent "The Power of the Doctor" "Doctor Who" special and the regeneration reveal.
Attention Whovians! Change is in the air! A brand new regeneration is coming with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, and David Tennant's recent reveal as the Fourteenth Doctor because things are all wibbly wobbly timey wimey. The upcoming new season will feature the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies, setting a course for the Tardis in 2023. We've also got Disney+ as the new home for the long-running series outside the U.K. and Ireland.
On top of all of that time-traveling goodness, there is a brand new logo for the show, which premiered in a new video. Just like the strains of the theme song's beginning, seeing the "Doctor Who" logo on the screen is a moment of joy for people who love the series. Of course, that logo has changed over the years,...
Attention Whovians! Change is in the air! A brand new regeneration is coming with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, and David Tennant's recent reveal as the Fourteenth Doctor because things are all wibbly wobbly timey wimey. The upcoming new season will feature the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies, setting a course for the Tardis in 2023. We've also got Disney+ as the new home for the long-running series outside the U.K. and Ireland.
On top of all of that time-traveling goodness, there is a brand new logo for the show, which premiered in a new video. Just like the strains of the theme song's beginning, seeing the "Doctor Who" logo on the screen is a moment of joy for people who love the series. Of course, that logo has changed over the years,...
- 10/25/2022
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
This Doctor Who article contains spoilers for The Power of the Doctor.
Quite a few Daleks, Cybermen, the Master/Rasputin, and volcanic eruptions later, the Doctor has saved the day once again in “The Power of the Doctor,” but it’s not without consequences. In one last evil act, just as the Doctor sets the Quoronx free, the Master makes sure that the Time Lord receives a fatal dose of energy from the space jellyfish, triggering her next, life-altering regeneration.
We all knew this was coming, as the BBC Centenary Special was always meant to be Jodie Whittaker‘s final adventure in the Tardis. Her inevitable demise at the end of the episode was designed to make way for the next Doctor. And indeed, the final minutes of the special play out exactly how we all expected…mostly. One last goodbye from the Doctor, a few final words from Thirteen,...
Quite a few Daleks, Cybermen, the Master/Rasputin, and volcanic eruptions later, the Doctor has saved the day once again in “The Power of the Doctor,” but it’s not without consequences. In one last evil act, just as the Doctor sets the Quoronx free, the Master makes sure that the Time Lord receives a fatal dose of energy from the space jellyfish, triggering her next, life-altering regeneration.
We all knew this was coming, as the BBC Centenary Special was always meant to be Jodie Whittaker‘s final adventure in the Tardis. Her inevitable demise at the end of the episode was designed to make way for the next Doctor. And indeed, the final minutes of the special play out exactly how we all expected…mostly. One last goodbye from the Doctor, a few final words from Thirteen,...
- 10/24/2022
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Jodie Whittaker’s final episode of Doctor Who featured surprise cameos from a number of the show’s former stars.
The Broadchurch actor bowed out as the Doctor during Sunday night’s special “The Power of the Doctor”. You can read The Independent’s review of the episode here.
In the episode, Whittaker’s Doctor faces off against her nemesis The Master (Sacha Dhawan) once again, who has brought the Daleks and Cybermen together to defeat the Doctor.
The Master makes the Doctor take part in a “forced regeneration”, in which he regenerates into her body and is able to control the Tardis.
On the brink of her own death, Whittaker finds herself in a deserted liminal space, where she is greeted by a man in black and red robes.
It is revealed to be David Bradley, representing the first Doctor William Hartnell. Bradley portrayed Hartnell, who died in 1975, in...
The Broadchurch actor bowed out as the Doctor during Sunday night’s special “The Power of the Doctor”. You can read The Independent’s review of the episode here.
In the episode, Whittaker’s Doctor faces off against her nemesis The Master (Sacha Dhawan) once again, who has brought the Daleks and Cybermen together to defeat the Doctor.
The Master makes the Doctor take part in a “forced regeneration”, in which he regenerates into her body and is able to control the Tardis.
On the brink of her own death, Whittaker finds herself in a deserted liminal space, where she is greeted by a man in black and red robes.
It is revealed to be David Bradley, representing the first Doctor William Hartnell. Bradley portrayed Hartnell, who died in 1975, in...
- 10/24/2022
- by Isobel Lewis
- The Independent - TV
Warning: Contains spoilers for the latest episode of “Doctor Who”
“Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on?” says incoming “Doctor Who” star Ncuti Gatwa in a trailer for next year’s series premiere. After seeing “The Power of the Doctor,” it would be hard to find any “Who” fan who doesn’t feel the same way.
Airing on the BBC on Sunday, “The Power of the Doctor” was advertised as a sendoff for the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whitaker, after four years in the role. But with the special also airing as part of the BBC’s 100th anniversary celebrations, it also was overloaded with cameos from past Doctors and companions.
As advertised, we got Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding returning as 80s “Who” companions Ace and Tegan, but we also got cameos from four previous Doctors. Doctors No. Five through Eight — Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy...
“Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on?” says incoming “Doctor Who” star Ncuti Gatwa in a trailer for next year’s series premiere. After seeing “The Power of the Doctor,” it would be hard to find any “Who” fan who doesn’t feel the same way.
Airing on the BBC on Sunday, “The Power of the Doctor” was advertised as a sendoff for the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whitaker, after four years in the role. But with the special also airing as part of the BBC’s 100th anniversary celebrations, it also was overloaded with cameos from past Doctors and companions.
As advertised, we got Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding returning as 80s “Who” companions Ace and Tegan, but we also got cameos from four previous Doctors. Doctors No. Five through Eight — Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy...
- 10/24/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
The title of Jodie Whittaker’s swan song as the Doctor has been announced: ‘The Power of the Doctor’. Presumably it will line events up for Russell T Davies’ 60th anniversary specials, ‘Remembrance of the Doctor’, ‘Resurrection of the Doctor’, ‘The Doctor’s Master Plan’ and, of course, ‘The Doctor Invasion of Earth’.
It is a story that will be many things – it will reintroduce Ace and Tegan (and potentially play merry Hell with canon as it does so), it will conclude the tenures of both the Thirteenth Doctor and Chris Chibnall, wrap up the Thasmin romance arc (our money’s on ‘It ends tragically’) and conclude whatever Dan’s arc is. Some are still holding onto an outlying chance that it might end the universe. People are going to have strong opinions about it, many ones that you can probably guess in advance.
However, before we dive back into...
It is a story that will be many things – it will reintroduce Ace and Tegan (and potentially play merry Hell with canon as it does so), it will conclude the tenures of both the Thirteenth Doctor and Chris Chibnall, wrap up the Thasmin romance arc (our money’s on ‘It ends tragically’) and conclude whatever Dan’s arc is. Some are still holding onto an outlying chance that it might end the universe. People are going to have strong opinions about it, many ones that you can probably guess in advance.
However, before we dive back into...
- 9/22/2022
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
The expansive universe of BBC's "Doctor Who" predates even some of pop culture's most beloved sci-fi franchises, including "Star Trek" and "Star Wars." Since it first aired in 1963, the series has proved that its lasting relevance is fueled by its knack for reinvention. All thirteen eras of the show so far have had their own regenerated Doctors, quirks, and loveable supporting cast of companions, weaving a rich lore from decades upon decades of TV episodes, spin-offs, comics, and audio dramas.
In a series designed to be ever-changing, one constant is the Doctor's transportation method, a time- and space-traveling ship called the Tardis, disguised as a British police box. But have you ever heard of Bessie, the third Doctor's bright yellow Edwardian roadster?
The Doctor Modified Bessie With Advanced Technology
In the 1970 story arc "Doctor Who and the Silurians," Jon Pertwee's Doctor is put on trial by the Time...
In a series designed to be ever-changing, one constant is the Doctor's transportation method, a time- and space-traveling ship called the Tardis, disguised as a British police box. But have you ever heard of Bessie, the third Doctor's bright yellow Edwardian roadster?
The Doctor Modified Bessie With Advanced Technology
In the 1970 story arc "Doctor Who and the Silurians," Jon Pertwee's Doctor is put on trial by the Time...
- 8/29/2022
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
Since its original run in 1963 and its revival in 2005, "Doctor Who" has been airing for 60 years. It's the longest-running sci-fi series in history, and we're approaching closer to its anticipated 60th-anniversary special by the day. From William Hartnell to Jodie Whittaker, we have, so far, witnessed 13 different, distinguished incarnations of the renegade Time Lord, each personality distinct, with its own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Every few years, the protagonist of the renowned BBC series reinvents itself to feature a new presence. The regeneration storyline in "Doctor Who" is a creative tool employed to hire different actors to lead the show — and also a fictional biological ability exhibited by the Time Lords as a means of cheating death. Every familiar face transforms into a new one; the character might prove to have a sticky memory now and then, but each Time Lord retains most of their experiences.
Interestingly, "Doctor Who" secretly introduced...
Interestingly, "Doctor Who" secretly introduced...
- 8/21/2022
- by Fatemeh Mirjalili
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.