Christian Cawley's Blog, page 275

Planet of the Angels vs Who Now? Great Tees From RIPT Apparel!

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.

Time for some more awesome t-shirts from RIPT Apparel adorned with original Doctor Who art! For one day only (February 25th, 2014), you can grab tees featuring the designs “Planet of the Angels” from davecollinson and “Who Now?” by thisisjonturner.

If you’ve been dying to get some Time Lords on your chest (or hoodie, baby grow or laptop) then this is a great place to start. Just head to RIPT Apparel where designs are available on a variety of attire and items from $10 plus shipping (international shipping is available).

Note that this offer closes midnight US time on Tuesday, 25th February. 

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Farscape’s Virginia Hey Joins Tom Baker In White Ghosts

Jonathan Appleton 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.

Tom Baker seems to be enjoying his stint revisiting his greatest role with audio producers Big Finish. It may have taken some doing to persuade him to appear as the Fourth Doctor again but now there’s no stopping him, and currently we’re into his third series of adventures with another batch promised next year and more treats to come before then.

Latest snaps from Big Finish show Tom (he likes his braces doesn’t he?) with co-star Farscape’s Virginia Hey in latest release White Ghosts, the second release of the current run. Next month we can look forward to The Crooked Man with co-stars including Neil Stuke, Sarah Smart and Lizzie Roper. Series three sees Tom paired up once again with Louise Jameson as Leela, warrior of the Sevateem.

As if that wasn’t enough to be going on with, September will see the release of the eagerly awaited Phillip Hinchcliffe Presents box set with the classic era producer dreaming up some hopefully truly terrifying scenarios for the Doctor to tackle. Tickets are also on sale now for Big Finish Day 5, with Baker and Hinchcliffe set to appear in Slough on 3rd September.

All in all then, it’s shaping up to be a great year for Fourth Doctor fans (and who doesn’t count themselves as one of those?). Have you bought any Fourth Doctor Adventures from Big Finish? Any recommendations?

(Via Facebook)

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Little Lindalee Rose Hits Gallifrey One

Andrew Reynolds 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.

Set your faces to ‘aww!’ as pintsized interviewer Lindalee Rose took to Gallifrey One to ask stars and fans alike all kinds of adorable questions at the world’s largest and longest running fan-run Doctor Who convention.

Armed with just a microphone and disarming manner five year-old Lindalee managed to grab a quick word with Billie Piper about getting hickeys from Mickey, has a brief chat with Colin Baker about his brownies and a frightening game of peek-a-boo with Arthur Darvill. Don’t miss her response to Sylvester McCoy’s ‘hi!’ – it’s beyond cute!

But ever the keen journalist, the infant interrogator also chatted with some of the fans about their creations, costumes and indeed cares as she got to the bottom of that elusive mystery: ‘How did you make that? It’s so cool!’

However, Lindalee isn’t just a superfan. Her considered, sweet and sometime sad opinions on everything from Matt Smith’s departure, the 50th anniversary special and, indeed, Peter Capaldi’s appointment have made her something of a YouTube sensation.

Get ready for a cute overload!

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Forget About 3.5″ Figures: Forbidden Planet’s Best Doctor Who Merchandise

Andrew Reynolds 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.

Let’s face it, those 3.5 inch Doctor Who figures have been very poorly received. Character certainly seem to have scored an own goal with their cost-cutting exercise, so much so that we’ve heard recently that certain future releases have been curtailed.

To commemorate over 50 years of time travelling madness, let’s put the 3.5 inch figures to the back of our minds and take a look at some of Forbidden Planet’s best Doctor Who merchandise that you can still buy today, including some of Character’s successes from those halcyon days of 2011.

Seems so long ago now, doesn’t it?

Daleks!

A particular favouite of ours is the Ironside Dalek Blueprint. This great little poster not only gives us a rare insight into the automaton mind of Prof. Ironside but also gives you exact plans on how to build your own unstoppable killing machine! (probably…)

For lovers of Daleks through the years, don’t miss the Action Figure Collectors Set: The Chase!

Not Lego!

Character Building Mega Set: TARDIS Console Room – Lets face it who doesn’t want a Lego-like (it’s not Lego, it’s not Lego – Ed) TARDIS set?

Similar to this is the Character Building: 11 Doctor’s Pack. Why not indulge your 50th anniversary fantasies and purchase this and the TARDIS set?

Books!

 

One of the most intriguing Doctor Who-related books of recent years as been Alwyn Turner’s The Man Who Invented The Daleks, which is still available in its paperback form from Forbidden Planet.

Meanwhile the Doctor Who: Encyclopaedia is  a collected history of everything you need to know about the Ninth, Ten and the Eleventh Doctor’s. It’s the one Encyclopaedia you’ll be glad to receive this Christmas!

Games!

Going directly to jail is the much-derided Doctor Who: Monopoly set which combines all the fun of inadequately used licensing and wet Sunday afternoons. Role a six and die a little inside.

Don’t forget Doctor Who: Risk, a Forbidden Planet exclusive that you surely cannot miss. Classic, timeless game + classic, timeless TV show = must buy this.

Attire!

Look sharp in the exclusive Fifth and Eleventh Doctor Costume T-Shirts. There all the fun of cosplaying minus trailing through Oxfam looking for those elusive trousers.

Complete the look with this UNIT Travel Pass Holder – it not only keeps your Oyster card nice safe but also grants you access to UNIT HQ! Provided you don’t mind suffering barbed wire scratches, dog bites and ‘five rounds rapid’  heading your way.

Master!

The Traken Set alone deserves to be on the list just for gifting us a Melkur figure and, maybe, if we don’t acknowledge the Monopoly set it might go away…

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New Recurring Character for Doctor Who Series 8

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.

The BBC has today announced that Samuel Anderson is set to join the cast of Doctor Who as a recurring character in Series 8.

Not described as a companion, you’ll notice, Anderson will play Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) also teaches, and a location that has played a significant role in Doctor Who‘s 50 years.

Anderson – who has also appeared in The History Boys, Gavin & Stacey and Emmerdale - said:

I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started! It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honour to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can’t wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!

Andrerson’s character Danny Pink has of course been created by showrunner Steven Moffat.

For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the First Doctor. These days it’s the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi’s first series of Doctor Who!

This is an interesting turn of events you weren’t expecting, isn’t it? We don’t yet know if Danny will set foot in the TARDIS and join the Doctor and Clara on their travels – but let’s hope he gets the chance.

The post New Recurring Character for Doctor Who Series 8 appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Speculation on ‘One-Season’ Capaldi

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.

Yes, this beast has raised its ugly head again. Could Peter Capaldi leave after just one series of Doctor Who? Well, of course he could. Is it likely? Well… Not as far as I’m concerned.

The Mirror‘s Richard Beech has seen fit to fill this slow news day with speculation based on rumours from unknown sources that Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, could do ‘A Christopher Eccleston.’ That is to say, stay for only one 13-episode run. Beech says:

But recent rumours and gossip suggest that Peter Capaldi was selected as a ‘single season Doctor’ in order to steer the show in a new direction and pave the way for an even more radical (and possibly more controversial) choice for the role.”

I don’t really think Capaldi was a “radical” choice for the part. At all. And why would we need a ‘transitional’ Doctor just to steer the Beeb’s big hit series into a new direction? It sounds stupid to take someone on to usher in a new tone for Doctor Who, and then go, “right, off you go – back to The Musketeers with you.” (Who says ‘season’ for the new show these days anyway?) Beech goes on to ask:

So let’s imagine that Doctor Who is due a major new direction, who could take on the role, make it different, and take it forward?

Or is ‘new direction’ actually a secret code for something much bigger, for the end of Steven Moffat’s stewardship? This would be a circumstance which would also certainly almost involve a new Doctor and a new companion – as with the transition from Russell T Davies to Steven Moffat.

Finally, he notes how much work goes into casting new leads to pilot the TARDIS. Surely the BBC wouldn’t want all that circus so soon after the last performance. Mind you, Beech does go on to praise Steven Moffat:

Doctor Who is bigger than ever, the brand has expanded unthinkably and you have to give him credit for almost all of it. He will go down in history as one of the most important and influential people ever involved in the show.

If he steps down at the end of the next season, he will have lasted around the same amount of time as Russell T Davies.

Who knows – maybe a new head writer may have already been chosen, and they may have already chosen a new Doctor and a new companion with which to announce a new era of Doctor Who.

Nice to hear some credit where it’s due!

Anything is possible. It’s Doctor Who. But let’s not forget that Capaldi is a huge fan of the show; if you were given your dream role, would you only sign up for one year? Matt Smith was supposedly contracted for three years initially, with the option for more, so has Capaldi been offered just one year as the good Doc…? Over to you, folks.

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In Tribute to Jerome Willis: Global Conspiracy? [VIDEO]

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.

In January, we somehow overlooked the passing of successful stage and screen actor Jerome Willis, who was well-known to Doctor Who fans following his appearance in 1973′s The Green Death.

With more than 100 screen credits to his name, of course, Willis was also more widely known and had appeared in shows as diverse as The Sandbaggers, Space Precinct, Poirot and The Caesars. Born 23rd October 1928, he died on January 11th. The Guardian has published a rather good full obituary for this recognisable and commanding actor.

To celebrate his performance in Doctor Who, here, from the DVD of The Green Death, is Mark Gatiss’ clever Global Conspiracy? which features Willis reprising the role of Stevens.

Also present is Tony Adams, still looking more like Crossroads‘ Adam Chance than Global Chemicals executive Elgin, and Stewart Bevan as Professor Clifford Jones.

Incidentally, The Green Death: Special Edition is down to just £10.50 on Amazon - don’t miss it.

The post In Tribute to Jerome Willis: Global Conspiracy? [VIDEO] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Twelfth Doctor: Shirt vs Jumper, Tradition vs Punk [SPOILER?]

Jonathan Appleton 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.

Speculation Alert!

Okay, it’s the weekend, who’s for indulging a bit of old-fashioned Doctor Who fan conjecture? You are? Great!

A potential variation on new Doctor Peter Capaldi’s costume has emerged in snaps posted on a couple of well-known social media sites used by young people. It seems the Twelfth Doctor may opt in a future episode to ditch the smart white shirt he recently sported in his well received new costume launch shots and go for more of a dressed-down approach.

HE WAS SO LOVELY, HE GAVE ME A HUG AND ASKED ME NAME! WE HAD A CHAT ABOUT SHOES AND SAW THE TARDIS ON SET!
(pic 1) pic.twitter.com/PMMT1k1H1i

— El (@EllieClapperzx) February 19, 2014

The previously unseen black jersey captured in new location pics (here’s another) either has a subtle yet eye-catching speckled white pattern or it’s just got loads of holes in it; it’s difficult to tell. There’s no reason why the Doctor shouldn’t change his get-up now and again, of course, and it has been breezy of late so it’s no surprise if a man of his age should feel the need to opt for warmth over style (he said, shamelessly adding to the ‘Capaldi too ancient to play the Doctor’ debate).

What do you think of the ‘jersey variant’ (as I’m going to call it from now on, even if no one else does)? What does it mean for forthcoming story arcs? And who’ll be the first cosplayer to create their own version? Over to you, Kasterborites!

(With thanks to Daren)

The post The Twelfth Doctor: Shirt vs Jumper, Tradition vs Punk [SPOILER?] appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

BBC Worldwide Discuss Supply Chain Challenges at HITS Europe

Andrew Reynolds 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.

Supply Chains! Chains of Supply! Chaining Supplies! It’s a man’s life in the Supply Chain business and now, revealing the secrets of ‘the greatest entertainment supply chain challenges ever undertaken’ , BBC Worldwide will separate the men from the boys when they speak at the inaugural Hollywood IT Society Europe Event.

The event, chaired by a who’s who of IT Executives representing Hollywood studios, will see BBC Worldwide divulge just how it managed to: simultaneously broadcast a feature length special across the globe, set a Guinness World Record, air the same special in 3-D in 1,500 theatres, organise a live weekend event attended by 25,000 fans, and then release that special on all formats within a week AND keep most of this all relatively spoiler free.

Jim Bottoms, Executive Director of MESA Europe, commented:

There is so much to learn from this huge cross platform challenge and we look forward to showcasing this at the London event.

Hits Europe, takes place in the Mayfair Hotel on Tuesday 25th March.

In addition to BBC Worldwide, confirmed participants include senior executives from Warner Bros Home Entertainment and Walt Disney International as well as Ron Channing: Bike Chain Supplier who was booked to speak by accident.

( ViaMedia & Entertainment Services Alliance.)

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Cybermen Invade New Zealand!

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.

Calling all New Zealand Kasterborites!

The Silence, Cybermen, and Daleks have invaded Wellington!

As part of the  2014 New Zealand Festival, which showcases art, music, theater, and the creative arts in New Zealand, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is presents the Doctor Who Symphony Spectacular.

The show features the NZ Symphony Orchestra playing some of the  amazing music from the BBC hit show. Along with the music, there will be video clips of some of Matt Smith’s best scenes as the Eleventh Doctor as well some of the show’s popular villains like the Silence, the Cybermen, and the Daleks roaming the audience – not to mention Fifth Doctor Peter Davison hosting the proceedings

A treat for Doctor Who fans of all ages!

There are still two shows left on Saturday 22 February so if you don’t already have plans to attend, you might want to check out the NZ Festival site for details!

(Thanks to Stuff.Co.NZ)

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