Christian Cawley's Blog, page 115

DWM Special: The Art of Doctor Who

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Doctor Who Magazine‘s latest special is out today, and focuses on the artists who have been inspired by the show over the past 51 and a bit years, celebrating the best of their contributions to both the programme and the vast range of licensed products that rely on their skill.

“This is how the story of Doctor Who unfolded in the eyes of the artists who interpreted, shaped and represented the show,” says editor Marcus Hearn. “In fact, the story begins before the first episode was even transmitted – we have articles examining the creation of the Doctor Who logo and the filming of the original title sequence.”

This 100-page Special is packed full of stunning reproductions of original artwork from the Dalek annuals, the Doctor Who annuals, Doctor Who Weekly, the DVD range, the Radio Times, Target Books, TV Century 21, the VHS releases and more.

Other highlights include:

• Articles covering the history of graphic design and illustration in Doctor Who, from the early 1960s to the present day.

• Award-winning graphic designer Bernard Lodge explains how he created the series’ first four title sequences.

• Concept artists Peter McKinstry and Matt Savage share their portfolios from 21st-century Doctor Who.

• Interviews with Target Books artists Chris Achilleos, Jeff Cummins, Bill Donohoe, Roy Knipe, Tony Manero, Andrew Skilleter and Nick Spender.

• Interviews with comics artists including Mike Collins, Martin Geraghty, Dave Gibbons, Richard Piers Rayner, John Ridgway, Nick Roche, John Ross, Adrian Salmon, Lee Sullivan and Alice Zhang.

• Interviews with VHS and DVD cover artists Lee Binding, Colin Howard and Alister Pearson.

Meanwhile long-running readers of this site will be pleased to learn that co-founder Anthony Dry, whose astonishing images helped to build our audience, can also be found (briefly) between the covers of Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition: The Art of Doctor Who, which is available now, price £5.99.

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Doctor Who: The Complete History Partwork in Testing

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

We have potentially very exciting news for you: a new Doctor Who partwork is currently being tested, ready for publication nationwide!

Previous partworks have included the DVD Files, and The Doctor Who Figurine Collection (which we found less than satisfactory), but this latest one, Doctor Who: The Complete History, looks the most promising yet. Each issue is a full hardcover book, detailing a mass of behind-the-scenes information from all of the Doctor’s adventures. Each volume contains more than one storyline, and features:

Introduction: A specially written introduction for each story, highlighting the contributions that each one has made to the mythology of the series.
The Story: A full, episode-by-episode synopsis of every story, including quotes from the characters and illustrated with images from the TV broadcast.
Production: A detailed account of the production process, from scripts, through casting, rehearsals, location filming, studio recordings and editing and music.
Publicity: How each story was promoted in the papers, on TV, in magazines such as Radio Times, and by personal appearances from the cast and production team.
Broadcast: Details of when and where each story was originally shown, along with viewer ratings, plus the reaction from the newspaper critics.
Cast and Crew: A complete listing of each story’s cast members and the characters they played, including those not credited on screen, along with the production personnel.
Profiles: A biography of a key crew member, actor or author for each story.
Merchandise: The extended life of each story and its characters, featuring in reference books, full-length novels, video games, DVDs, gadgets, action figures, and toys.

There are 80 in total, focusing on all twelve Doctors. Obviously, the Eighth Doctor will only have one volume to his name, while long-running Doctors have more: Tom Baker has 12, as does David Tennant, while Matt Smith has 13. The collection builds up, with interlinking spines, so the final thing will display the Doctors, framed by images of their respective title sequences, all side by side.

It looks an incredible, comprehensive, and definitive (yes, I know that’s a big word, but it really is impressive) partwork – sort of like the Encyclopedia Britannica of Doctor Who! Plus, they look stunning: fully illustrated with well-known pictures and new compositions.

The first issue, with the Tenth Doctor on the front, covers Gridlock, Daleks in Manhattan/ Evolution of the Daleks, The Lazarus Experiment, and 42, and is priced just £2.99. Obviously this, like all partworks, is just to get you hooked: issue 2 is £6.99, while #3 goes to its normal RRP of £9.99. Volumes are released fortnightly. I know this sounds a lot, but the quality looks astounding.

Issue 2 focuses on the Third Doctor adventures, Colony in Space, The Dæmons, and Day of the Daleks; issue 3 stars Peter Capaldi’s debut as the Twelfth Doctor, Deep Breath, alongside Into The Dalek; and issue 4 takes us right back to the beginning: 100,000 BC (aka An Unearthly Child), and The Mutants, better known as The Daleks.

Volumes that begin new seasons (like 100,000 BC and Deep Breath) also feature an overview of that complete run of episodes.

Okay, so unless you live in selected areas in the North, you can’t buy this yet. Its publishers, Hatchette, are running it as a test, to gauge the reaction (and so how many need making to go nationwide), and to iron out any problems. The only one I see right now is with 100,000 BC and The Mutants. People generally know them by other names, most likely because otherwise it causes confusion with the Third Doctor serial, The Mutants, from 1972. Surely it’s advisable to stick with the names listed on the DVDs? Yes, in America, the DVD covers are different, but this partwork is only available in the UK and ROI – for now.

There are also bonuses for subscribers; at the moment, these are:

Free issue with your 1st delivery
Limited edition print with you 1st delivery
Travel mug with your 1st delivery
Doctor Who Wallet with your 2nd delivery
Exclusive audio adventure with your 2nd delivery – produced by Big Finish!
TARDIS bookends with your 4th delivery

As we say, it’s going to cost a lot. All partworks do. But we feel it’s going to be worth it. Hatchette has had issues in the past with customer services, which makes us dubious about subscribing, but placing a standing order with your local newsagent would be advantageous. Even Hatchette reportedly don’t know when this’ll go to national release, however. The sooner the better!

Anyone currently collecting The Judge Dredd Mega-Collection knows the quality of these books. If anything, Doctor Who: The Complete History looks more thorough and in-depth. But if you want to learn more yourself, head over to the series’ site.

Personally, this is the sort of partwork I’ve been waiting for. Frankly, I’m chomping at the bit to start the collection!

(Thanks to The DW Site.)

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Will The Drosten’s Curse Expand The Death Pit?

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

A new Fourth Doctor story is coming out this summer, written by A. L. Kennedy (Day; The Blue Book).

Fans may remember Kennedy writing The Death Pit, a short story originally released as an ebook but collected together with the work of other writers (including Jenny Colgan, Cecelia Ahern, and Jake Arnott) in the Time Trips anthology. The Scottish writer obviously enjoyed writing for Tom Baker’s Time Lord because she’ll be tackling him again in The Drosten’s Curse.

And this is an interesting one – it sounds as if she’s expanded The Death Pit into a full 384-page novel…

Isn’t life terrible? Isn’t it all going to end in tears? Won’t it be good to just give up and let something else run my mind, my life?

Something distinctly odd is going on in Arbroath. It could be to do with golfers being dragged down into the bunkers at the Fetch Brothers’ Golf Spa Hotel, never to be seen again. It might be related to the strange twin grandchildren of the equally strange Mrs Fetch – owner of the hotel and fascinated with octopuses. It could be the fact that people in the surrounding area suddenly know what others are thinking, without anyone saying a word.

Whatever it is, the Doctor is most at home when faced with the distinctly odd. With the help of Fetch Brothers’ Junior Receptionist Bryony, he’ll get to the bottom of things. Just so long as he does so in time to save Bryony from quite literally losing her mind, and the entire world from destruction.

Because something huge, ancient and alien lies hidden beneath the ground – and it’s starting to wake up…

At the time of the short story’s release (in December 2013), Kennedy said she’d like to make The Death Pit into a more expansive tale, and it seems as if the BBC has given her her wish. It’s a bit odd, though, considering the ebook garnered very mixed reviews; and with a talent like her on the good ship TARDIS, why not ask her to come up with a brand new tale instead?

We’ll have to wait until 16th July to find out how well this works, when it’s released as a hardback, and audiobook (read by Clare Corbett). Its RRP is £18.99, but Amazon UK currently has it for £12.91, while the BBCShop has it on pre-order for £11.49.

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Doctor Who Series 9 Spoiler Released by The Mirror?

Connor Farley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

The Mirror today reported a possible astronomically big spoiler for the opening two-parter (The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar) of Series 9 of Doctor Who. If you would rather avoid this spoiler (it might be tough, but give it a go nevertheless) we advise you don’t read the following.

 

Doctor Who Series 9 Spoiler

The report that surfaced earlier this morning claimed that the opening two-parter would include the return of Davros back into the Doctor Who narrative. If true, the Series 9 opener would mark the first time since the Series 4 two-part finale The Stolen Earth/Journey’s End with David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor that the evil creator of the Daleks has appeared on the show. The report said: The series opener would be based on a line muttered by the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) 40 years ago in Genesis of the Daleks. The line in question is as the Doctor is about to ponder destroying the Daleks on Skaro shortly after their creation. He says to companions Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan, “If someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you and told you that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives, could you then kill that child?”

The Twelfth Doctor’s worst nightmare would begin when the TARDIS materialises in a battlefield before it occurs to him that he has come face-to-face with a younger, child-like version of Davros before the creation of the Daleks. Davros then takes the Twelfth Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi hostage on the Dalek planet of Skaro as Davros struggles to keep the Daleks from dying out. The Series 9 opener – as far as we know – is set to feature Michelle Gomez as Missy, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart alongside the return of UNIT and the possible return of the Sisterhood of Karn and the Shadow Proclamation. Rumours of their return came with the re-appearance of actresses Clare Higgins and Kelly Hunter back into the show as announced back in February. From filming pictures and videos, we know that Missy enlists the help of Clara as the Doctor is in some danger, but the extent of the danger is not known.

However, it can be assumed that the situation must be severe if Missy is wanting to help the Doctor and ask for Clara’s help at the same time. Also, very little was seen of Peter Capaldi on the set in Tenerife and Cardiff. Which has got fans questioning whether Peter could have filmed exclusively in secrecy. So to avoid the possibly rumoured storyline from leaking out sooner.

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If the rumour does turn out to be true, this will certainly be one of the darkest Doctor Who storylines in the show’s history.

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Tenth Doctor Heads to Disney XD on May 9th!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

BBC’s world-renowned science fiction drama “Doctor Who” will premiere on Disney XD beginning SATURDAY, MAY 9 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT).  Disney XD, home to other top-rated action adventure programming including Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars Rebels” and Marvel Television’s animated series, has picked up seasons two through four of the global sci-fi hit.  The landmark series depicts the adventures of the Doctor (played by David Tennant), a Time Lord who travels through space and time in his TARDIS combatting various enemies to save civilizations around the universe.

On Saturday, May 9, Disney XD will feature a preview airing of “Doctor Who” (season two, episode one – “New Earth”) following the Disney XD premiere of “Fantastic Four” (6:45 p.m., ET/PT). In “New Earth,” the Doctor and Rose board the TARDIS for new adventures in time and space. But when they visit mankind’s new home, far in the future, they find gruesome secrets hidden inside a luxury hospital. And an enemy thought long since dead, the paper-thin Cassandra, is out for revenge.

Season Two, “Adventures in time and space,” will continue to rollout on Disney XD beginning Saturday, June 13.  The special week-long programming event will give fans eight episodes airing daily Saturday, June 13 through Saturday, June 20.  Beginning June 14, episodes will also be available on the WATCH Disney XD app, which allows consumers to watch on tablets, phones, computers and connected TVs.

Marc Buhaj, Senior Vice President, Programming and General Manager, Disney XD said, “It has been a pleasure working with BBC and we are thrilled that their hallmark drama series ‘Doctor Who’ is joining the Disney XD programming line-up. This iconic series features the high-quality, high-stakes action and adventure storytelling that our viewers love. The show headlines one of the most charismatic lead characters in television in the form of the Doctor and showcases a compelling rogues’ gallery of villains from around the universe.”

“Disney XD is recognized for its family-friendly programming making the channel a great partner to introduce the David Tennant seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ to a new generation of viewers,” said Matt Forde, EVP Sales & Co-productions, TV, BBC Worldwide North America.

“Doctor Who” originally ran on British television for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989, before it was re-launched in 2005. Following the phenomenal success of the first season of the re-launched version that took British television by storm in 2005, the second installment is full of new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak and some terrifying new monsters. Together, the Doctor and Rose (played by Billie Piper) travel back in time to the Highlands of Scotland to find Queen Victoria confronted by a terrifying Werewolf, and into the future where an evil team of humanoid-feline nuns hide a sinister secret at the heart of their hospital. A spaceship in the future holds a doorway to 18th Century France, where lethal Clockwork Droids stalk Versailles, and back on 21st-century Earth the human race is threatened by an army of emotionless Cybermen.  The second installment was produced by BBC in association with CBC.

Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for kids age 6-11, hyper-targeting boys and transporting them into worlds full of humor, unexpected fun and inspiring action-filled adventures. Disney XD-branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 80 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates.  In total, there are 31 Disney XD channels available in 25 languages around the world.

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Immediate to Panini: Doctor Who Adventures Regenerates

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

It’s officially the end of an era. But in true Doctor Who fashion, the moment has been prepared for. The final issue of Doctor Who Adventures to be published by Immediate Media is out now.

The title has run since David Tennant was in the TARDIS with Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, released on 5th April 2006. But after decreasing circulation, it was announced that Panini UK will take over publication from Immediate Media. This new Issue 1 will be released on 21st April, and editor, Jason Quinn promises changes to the format.

The latest issue, Doctor Who Adventures #363, features a cover by Mike Collins and promises:

A look at why we love Doctor Who
Find out who’s back in the new series of Doctor Who later in the year
Fascinating facts about the Dream Crabs of Last Christmas
Who is K-9?
An exciting adventure awaits the Alien Babies
Read an amazing comic strip for Doctor and Clara in a story written by Simon Guerrier and drawn by John Ross
The final guide to the 2014 episodes of Doctor Who
A trip to Lanzarote for some brilliant behind-the-scenes secrets
Z is for Zygon in the final Monster A-Z
Plus, make your own TARDIS!

The issue also comes with two mystery free gifts and a competition, with 20 chances to win Last Christmas on DVD.

DWA#1 Preview Art From Down The Tubes

The comic strip is drawn by John Ross, who has been working on the publication, on and off, since its debut; while the new series will be written by Jason Quinn, with art by Russ Leach. “The pages are coming together well,” Russ told Down The Tubes. “I’m about to start another issues pencils today. [Colourist] John Burns’ colours are lovely! I’m also very keen on being involved in comics for Doctor Who Adventures demographic – I grew up with comics and love the idea of being involved in producing strips for the 8-15 market.

“I’ve mostly used a more adult style for the books I’ve been involved with so far,” he goes on, “so I’ve had to adapt and create a style that is lighter but at the same time not watering down the character too far – Jason is pleased with where we have it and so am I!”

Very little else is known about the upcoming DWA, but here’s hoping it’ll kick-start the title again. It started off fortnightly, and changed to weekly from 2008. Sadly, sales dwindled and Doctor Who Adventures reverted to fortnightly in May 2013. And just this year, it went to monthly.

So things don’t look good, and that’s a massive shame. Who can say why this is? Fingers crossed this new Issue #1 will be the start of a bright future.

Doctor Who Adventures #363 is on sale until 21st April, priced £3.99.

(With thanks to John.)

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Reviewed: Damaged Goods (Big Finish Adaptation)

Chris Swanson is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

To me, Russell T Davies will always have something of a mixed legacy when it comes to Doctor Who. This is the man who brought back the series, gave us the Ninth Doctor, gave us first season Rose, and helped turn a minor cult series into an international phenomenon. On the other hand, he also gave us second season Rose, and brought farting aliens into the picture.

As a writer, he constantly gives the impression of someone who doesn’t actually take science fiction all that seriously and who thinks that everything should be a soap opera. Well, now, via Big Finish, we can get a glimpse into what a 1980s Doctor Who episode might have been like had it been written by Davies. Yes, there’s the soap opera elements, and a lower-class family with the last name of Tyler, but there’s also so very much, much more, and in Damaged Goods end up with a great example of what happens when Davies takes science fiction seriously.

The story concerns the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his “new to me” companions, Chris Cwej (Travis Oliver) and Roz Forrester (Yasmin Bannerman), arriving in an apartment block in 1987. A strange and terrible drug called Smile is tearing its way through the population, while some apparently alien life-force is killing people and stealing bodies. In the background, we have a young boy who is dying, and another who isn’t, and a sinister, maybe-American (hard to tell from the accent), physician who works for a mysterious institute…

There’re a couple of blatant Time War references and as well as something that gives me great hope for a possible future Big Finish audio range.

I think it’s safe to say that few Big Finish titles have been as anticipated as Damaged Goods. There haven’t been many novel adaptations yet (although more are on the way), and of course with Davies’ connection to the new series, people were understandably curious about what his classic series effort was like. With the book long out of print, this was one of the only ways people could really experience his take on the Seventh Doctor’s era.

I’m happy to report that I very much enjoyed this story. There was plenty of tension and suspense, and even the minor characters quickly become people you can care about. The title is very appropriate in a very horrible way and the conclusion is far from the happy ending people might want, which is a good thing.

The Doctor is right on form here in all this post-season 26 glory. As for his companions, Chris and Roz were both reasonably entertaining, though I didn’t know much more about them by the end than I did at the beginning. To be fair, I had stopped reading the New Adventures novels before the two characters were introduced, so that probably doesn’t help. I’m sure subsequent audios, including one featuring the first story with the characters, will clear things up a bit.

That said, the acting by Oliver and Bannerman as Chris and Roz, respectively, was quite good, as was the acting by former EastEnders and Coronation Street regular Michelle Collins (42) as Winnie Tyler.

There was also some lovely continuity here. Not just with the old series, though we get plenty of references to that, but also some nice connections with the new series. There’re a couple of blatant Time War references and another reference I won’t spoil for you, but it’s something well beyond an Easter egg, and something that gives me great hope for a possible future Big Finish audio range. Plus we, at long last, get an entirely new theme for the Seventh Doctor; something akin to, but not quite like, the movie theme. I liked that.

Did I dislike anything with this story? Not really. I gather that in the book there is some “off-screen” gay sex, and in the audio version of Damaged Goods it is tamed down to a kiss, but that’s a minor complaint at best, and likely one pushed onto the producers by the terms of their licence.

I wholeheartedly recommend this audio adaptation. It’s not only a great audio on its own, but it’s a lovely piece of Doctor Who history.

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T-Shirts Are Just $14 in the New Kasterborous TeePublic Store!

Christian Cawley is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

We like Doctor Who t-shirts, and we know you do too. So after a little chat with the lovely people at TeePublic, we’ve got together with them to bring you our Kasterborous t-shirt store!

Started by the same guys behind Busted Tees, College Humor and Vimeo, TeePublic is an online community of the world’s best independent designers. There are tens of thousands of designs on TeePublic representing every type of content and fan out there. Naturally we’re focussing on Doctor Who t-shirts and related mashups, and we’ll be highlighting the choice on offer at least once a week.

In fact, you might even find t-shirts designed by us…

Until Friday, any number of garments in different sizes, styles and colours can be found as part of TeePublic’s celebratory sale.

T-Shirts – $14
Tanks – $18
Kids Tees – $14
Hoodies – $35
Crew necks – $30
Prints and Canvas 25% Off

Head on over to our TeePublic store now to browse our already vast selection of curated Doctor Who t-shirts now, before the prices head back up!

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Spiders, Upgraded Paintings, Conventions & Events and William Hartnell Meets Cliff Richard

Rebecca Crockett is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Welcome once again, readers, to a patented K News Blast! We’ve got loads of news items for you, covering a wide spectrum of Who news topics. So let’s get started!

Upgraded Paintings

So we’ve all seen them – those nice but, well, bland and banal paintings that, while in they may have been done with great skill and are lovely, are just well, dull. Originals and copies alike of these paintings tend to end up in corners of charity shops when loved ones clear out the houses of deceased relatives or people decide to redecorate the old family home.

Aside from those that are fans of said artwork, most of these works lay around gathering dust and will never be worth much. That’s when David Irvine steps in.

Irvine takes those discarded paintings and adds his own touch to them, by adding a pop culture twist to the bucolic farm scene or the quaint cottage.

Thomas Kinkade meets Doctor Who?

Irvine finds the painting in shops, yard sales, even on the curb set out as trash and rescues them.

“They are usually old and in bad shape so I touch up marks and scratches to bring it back to its original form, then I add in my own elements…generally most are bought at thrift shops, yard sales and even salvaged from the curb. I hate seeing waste and when I see a painting collecting dust on a shelf, I see potential, not garbage.”

Each updated painting can fetch between £200 to £535. Check out Digital Spy for more of his “Re-Directed Art” works.

Denton, TX Doctor Who Day

As part of a special mini series in the Titan comics Doctor Who line, 29 special covers were created – one of which was set in Denton, TX. After a “frantic” call from Tim Stoltzfus, the owner of Denton’s More Fun Comics and Games, local comics artist Jake Ekiss got the call to design the special cover, featuring the Denton Courthouse on the Square, the TARDIS, and the Ninth Doctor.

To celebrate the release of the comic, the mayor of Denton declared 4th April “Doctor Who Day” and festivities were held on the Square. Many fans came out for the event, a number that was more than anyone expected. When asked to explain where all the fans came from, artist Ekiss had a simple explanation, “The Denton nerd community is intense and huge.”

(Via Dallas Morning News)

Katy Manning Coming To Kansas Convention

For our Stateside readers, does anyone live near Wichita, Kansas, or is planning on being in the area at the beginning of October? Well, you’re in luck!

Former companion Katy Manning as been added to the guest list of the Time Eddy Doctor Who convention in Wichita, KS, 2nd-4th October, 2015.

She’ll be joining a number of special Who guests including Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, companions Deborah Watling, Nicola Bryant, and Daphne Ashbrook, and script editor Andrew Cartmel, among others.

Special events for the convention include an Aztecs themed lunch and a discussion on the science behind Doctor Who. For more information about the convention including tickets and a full list of guest already scheduled to attend, check out Time Eddy website.

VFX House Stargate Opens Ealing Offices

Stargate, one of the visual effects companies that as previously done work for Doctor Who, has opened offices in Ealing Studios, with hopes joining in on London’s VFX market as well as bringing their innovate technology to a new locale. The company, which has also done work for other major television shows including The Walking Dead and 24, is already working on sci-fi comedy Apocalypse Slough, starring Rob Lowe, for Working Title TV, Sky 1 and NBC, as will also be working on Luther for the BBC.

Stargate is most widely known for their “virtual backlot” technology, which allows stories set in locations that no longer exists or that are complete fantasies to come to breathtaking life.

BONUS: Can you spot some of the shots Stargate has done for Doctor Who in this highlights reel? (I counted 3)

Stargate VFX Reel from Stargate Studios on Vimeo.

(via Digital Arts)

Disabled Whovian In Need Of An Artist

Do we have anyone reading this that is an artist or knows one in the Hove area? We an 18 year old young lady could use your help!

Sacha Walker is looking for an artist to turn her 18 year old daughter Amy’s wheel chair lift into the TARDIS for the Doctor Who loving girl.

Amy, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, loves the theme music of the show, according to her mother. “Amy is quite a mover, she jiggles her legs and arms and smiles and pats her hands for more.”

To brighten Amy’s life, Sacha got the idea to turn their boring and dull chair lift into something more appealing. “I want to break the mould of equipment being so boring and dowdy – it’s all so big, bulky and bland. Teenagers want something a bit funky but designers put no thought into making it interesting.”

“When she’s in the lift we can mimic the sound as she’s going up and down. We need to get a blue light too. There’s going to be a police car driving around without one on top wondering where it’s gone!”

So if you know someone that could help out this fellow Whovian, check out the The Argus for more info.

William Hartnell in Life With Johnny: Johnny Come Home

So we’ve got a treat for you, K readers. A rare look at one of First Doctor William Hartnell’s other television roles, this one after his time on Doctor Who.

In 1969, singer Cliff Richard and his band the Settlers stared in a series for Tyne Tees Television called Life With Johnny. Each of the six episodes drew it’s storyline from a Biblical parable. In this episode, Johnny Come Home, the character is looking to get out of the town he lives in to find bigger and better things, which would be the parable of the prodigal son. Hartnell plays Johnny’s father. Hartnell first appears at about the 4:29 mark.

(With thanks to Gareth)

Doctor Who Helps Scientists Understand Fear of Spiders A Little Better 

Now, I’m not generally an arachnophobe. Spiders, so long as they are outside and leaving me alone, are cool. (We’ve had some really amazing orb weavers every fall for the last few years at my house.) The ones kept as pets or in zoos, etc. well, I won’t actively seek them out, but those are cool too. Come in my house though? YOU. WILL. DIE. EIGHT. LEGGED. DEMONS.

So, I urge you to read this study at your own risk.

Apparently some scientists, trying to figure out just why humans tend to be afraid of things, including those little eight-legged freaks, did a study where they measured how distracted people where when simply seeing the picture of a spider. Their theory was that people were more distracted by those things that we see as threats, and therefore the images would be a bigger distraction. So what does this have to do with Doctor Who? Well, that’s in the title of their published scientific paper:

“But what about the Empress of Racnoss? The allocation of attention to spiders and Doctor Who in a visual search task is predicted by fear and expertise.”

There’s a lot there, but basically they used images of spiders and Doctor Who stills and had three groups of people, those that watched Who and were afraid of spiders, those that watched Who and weren’t particularly afraid of spiders, and those that had no strong feelings about either and measured their reactions to the images of spiders, Doctor Who stills, fish, and dogs while they were supposed to be looking for a picture of a horse.

Turns out, their  results insinuated that it has more to do with personal relevance than threat level.

Personally, if it were pictures of Matt Smith or David Tennant, I’d be the most distracted by those. What spiders? (No word on the reactions of those that looked at pictures of the queen of the Racnoss…)

 

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This Month’s Short Trip is Out Not: The Ghost Trap

Nick Kitchen is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

A new month brings a new installment of Big Finish’s Doctor Who – Monthly Short Trips range and this month’s release looks to be a cracker! Nick Wallace’s The Ghost Trap finds the Fourth Doctor and Leela facing off against a spectre:

“Responding to a salvage team’s distress call, the Doctor and Leela arrive on a crippled space ship. Its owners, the Dihmokk, are a secretive race of space mariners whose navigation skills make them the envy of the galaxy. The salvage team are long dead, but their last log entries speak of a spectre stalking the ship’s halls, picking them off one by one. When the pair become separated, Leela must fight for survival whilst the Doctor seeks to understand the nature of the ghost…”

While the Short Trips range is not a full cast series, the story is read by Leela actress, Louise Jameson, whose recent run with Tom Baker has been rather good. Be looking for a review from our team of reviewers soon. In the interim, as I’ve done previously, I highly recommend this audio range to you, dear readers; especially if you hold a fond place in your heart for the somewhat recently deceased Companion Chronicles range.

Doctor Who – Monthly Short Trips: The Ghost Trap is available for download now. At just under $3, it’s a fantastic deal. What do you think, fellow Kasterborites? Will this be part of your Big Finish collection? Are you passing on it? Already listened? Let us know in the usual place below!

The post This Month’s Short Trip is Out Not: The Ghost Trap appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.