Christian Cawley's Blog, page 389

The Green Death Special Edition Extras Revealed!

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.

Originally broadcast on BBC1 between 19th May – 23rd June 1973, The Green Death is a firm favourite with fans and marks Katy Manning’s final appearance in Doctor Who. This new special edition of a story last released in 2004 includes a nice new selection of extras, as you might expect…

So, what’s it all about? For those of you unaware of this slice of classic Jon Pertwee era Doctor Who:

When a man is found dead with his skin glowing green in an abandoned mine near the Welsh village of Llanfairfach, it’s not long before the Doctor, Jo Grant and UNIT head to Wales to investigate.

And while the Doctor becomes suspicious of the nearby Global Chemicals factory and its mysterious owner, Jo gets trapped underground where she finds old mine tunnels crawling with deadly and sinister giant maggots…

But why would you buy a DVD that has already been released? Naturally it’s for the improved visuals and audio as well as the special features!

Special Features

Commentary with actors Katy Manning (Jo Grant), producer Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks.
Bonus commentary with actors Richard Franklin (Captain Yates) and Mitzi McKenzie (Nancy), moderated by Toby Hadoke (episodes 3 – 5); with actress Katy Manning and writer Russell T Davies (episode 6)
The One With the Maggots – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story.
Global Conspiracy? – A spoof investigative report looks at the strange happenings in the village of Llanfairfach.
Visual Effects – An interview with the story’s visual effects designer, Colin Mapson.
Robert Sloman Interview
Stewart Bevan Interview
Wales Today – Two pieces from the BBC Wales news programme – a mute 1973 film insert from the filming of The Green Death, and a 1994 item with Jon Pertwee opening the new country park that was built on the site of the colliery used in the story.
Doctor Forever – The Unquiet Dead. In this unique interview, new series creator Russell T Davies and then BBC Controller of Drama, Jane Tranter, talk about the genesis of Doctor Who’s rebirth on television.
What Katy Did Next – A look at Serendipity, the TV series that Katy Manning presented after leaving Doctor Who.
The Sarah Jane Adventures – Death of the Doctor This two-part story from 2010 sees Katy Manning reprising her role as Jo Grant and a guest appearance by Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. Optional Commentary with actress Katy Manning and series creator Russell T Davies.
Radio Times listings (DVD-ROM)
Programme subtitles
Production information subtitles
Photo gallery
Easter Eggs
Coming soon trailer
Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

That’s quite a big selection of extras, we think you’ll agree, and you can now pre-order The Green Death: Special Edition for just £15.25 from Amazon(RRP £20.42) ahead of its 5th August release.

The post The Green Death Special Edition Extras Revealed! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Return of the Hinchcliffe Era!

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.

Is this the most awesome news yet for Doctor Who fans of a certain age in 2013? Big Finish has confirmed the release in 2014 of a new boxset featuring two brand new adventures that will evoke the tone of the hugely respected Philip Hinchcliffe era!

Starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson as the Doctor and Leela, the stories will sound and feel like the dark, gothic thrillers that underlined Hinchcliffe’s stewardship of Doctor Who from 1975-1977. Producer David Richardson recalls that he and Nick Briggs more or less snapped Hinchcliffe’s hand off!

“When we were recording series three of The Fourth Doctor Adventures, Philip asked if he could come along to the studio and observe I know that Tom Baker and Louise Jameson were thrilled to have him there, and they both enthused to him about what a great time they were having working for Big Finish. After the recording ended, Philip took me and executive producer Nicholas Briggs aside, and pitched the idea of doing a set of stories of the kind he would have hoped to have done, had he stayed on to produce the series for longer. We just said ‘yes’ instantly!”

Marc Platt has written the first story, described as “an epic six-parter set in Victorian London” – no word yet of any esteemed guest stars – while the second story is a traditional four-parter.

Says one of Doctor Who’s most distinctive fathers:

“My aim with the box set is to create stories that feel they could belong to my second or third season They are not designed to follow on from my era, more to re-evoke it for fans who enjoyed the originals: and so the Doctor and Leela in these new stories are the same as they were then, in the glorious seventies! That’s the beauty of radio – they look and sound the same!

We. Cannot. Wait!

(Via Big Finish.)

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Doctor Who Magazine 462 Talks Regeneration!

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 reminds us this month that a regeneration is on the way…

Click for hi-res version!

In the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, as speculation mounts about the identity of the next Doctor, the show’s head writer and executive producer STEVEN MOFFAT writes exclusively for DWM about casting MATT SMITH as the Eleventh Doctor, and the times they’ve shared together during the production of the series.

‘These have been the maddest few years of my writing career – so many ridiculous adventures, so many things I thought I’d never do – and I could not have shared them with a kinder, more considerate, more supportive friend than the man I completely refuse to call Smithers.’

Also this issue:

HOW MANY DOCTORS?

If you thought there just eleven Doctors, think again! And we’re not just referring to the surprise appearance of John Hurt at the end of The Name of the Doctor. Discover the Doctor’s forgotten incarnations in THE SIXTY-SEVEN DOCTORS!

THE CAPTAIN’S BACK!

He fought at the Third Doctor’s side as UNIT’s Captain Mike Yates, confronting Autons, battling Daleks, and resisting the control of mad computers… DWM talks exclusively to RICHARD FRANKLIN about his relationship with his alter ego.

CHOC’S AWAY!

Clara makes her comic strip début in the first part of a brand new adventure, A WING AND A PRAYER, written by SCOTT GRAY with art by MIKE COLLINS. When a sandstorm forces the TARDIS down in the Iraqi desert in 1930, Clara is overjoyed to meet the legendary Amy Johnson, currently engaged in her bid to become the first woman to fly across the world. But something else is hiding in desert sands. Something small and sinister…

CHANGING HISTORY

The Sixth Doctor uncovers a plot by the Cybermen to change their own history by using Halley’s comet to destroy the Earth, in Attack of the Cybermen. The Fact of Fiction places this serial from 1985 under the microscope, revealing more facts about the story than a Cyberman can shake a clenched silver fist at. Excellent!

POWER MAD!

DWM‘s COUNTDOWN TO 50 reaches the final days of the Tenth Doctor era and the five Specials shown from Christmas 2008 to New Year’s Day 2010, as the chorological tour through Doctor Who history continues. So eager to help people, the Tenth Doctor crosses a line and breaks the rules…

SUN BURN

Chris, Emma, Michael and Will are on the edge of their seats as the seconds count down to disaster for the ill-fated SS Pentallian and her crew as it plunges down into the hungry fires of a sun. Will our TIME TEAM chums survive the tension of the nail-biting Tenth Doctor adventure, 42? Or will it just be one big meltdown?

DON’T INTERRUPT!

There’s nothing more annoying than having your viewing of a brand new episode of Doctor Who disturbed by a phone call or a knock at the door. But, as JACQUELINE RAYNER relates in this issue’s RELATIVE DIMENSIONS, with a husband and two children, it’s not always easy to maintain that perfect peace and calm, even for just 45 minutes…

YUM, YUM

WOTCHA! is full of Goodies this issue as the mysterious white one shines a light on some of Doctor Who’s more notable, enduring and often quoted misconceptions – including that there was an episode featuring a giant kitten that climbed up the Post Office Tower! All this to be found in A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects. Plus The Six Faces of Delusion continues the Goodies theme; a selection of new previously unknown definitions from The Stockbridge English Dictionary; The Top Ten Nursery Rhymes with a Doctor Who twist; and an unforgiving spotlight on another Supporting Artist of the Month.

PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, ratings analysis, competitions, a prize-winning crossword and much, much more!

Discover the Doctor’s greatest secret with Doctor Who Magazine 462 on sale now, priced £4.75!

The post Doctor Who Magazine 462 Talks Regeneration! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who 3D 50th Anniversary Theatre Trailer Released?

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.

Looking forward to the 50th anniversary but frustrated by the lack of photos, the lack of coverage, the lack of a trailer? Sit back, crank up the quality settings and find your 3D glasses to enjoy this rather remarkable piece of video, featuring Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt.

Is it official? Did a fan make it? We don’t know. We have our suspicions…

(With thanks to Frank!)

Update: Fake Spotter’s Guide

Still think it’s real? This collection of references should put you at ease, courtesy of YouTube commenter Finlay Hamilton Sardesai

0.10: This shot of David Tennant’s is used on the Specials box set, it’s just been made to look like it’s moving.

0.14: Matt’s shot is from Hide, the face is CGi ed. Tennant’s shot is from Series 4.

0.25: Filming videos.

0.28: Photograph and CGI knight.

0.29: A shot from one of John’s other acting projects?

0.32: Shot from The End of Time. The buildings are CGI.

0.35: Shot of Eleven from The Rings of Akhatan flipped, you cab tell due to the hair. The face once again is CGI and stick and the hands.

0.36: The TARDIS shot could have come from any episode with fire and explosions added in.

0.37: Clara shot from filming photos/ videos.

0.38: Hand could have come form any show or just really good CGI.

0.38: Rose shot could have from any Bille acting projects.

0.39: TARDIS is form a Series 5 promotional picture. I know the exact one it is. The fire is just added as is the background.

0.50: Shot from Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

But flipping ‘eck, it gets you right in the mood regardless, doesn’t it?

The post Doctor Who 3D 50th Anniversary Theatre Trailer Released? appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control!

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.

Kasterborous associate editor and Tenth Doctor fan Brian Terranova has apparently just been carted off to a padded room upon hearing the news of a 3D scanned replica of David Tennant’s own sonic screwdriver prop – coming soon as a multifunction remote control from The Wand Company!

Everybody needs a Sonic Screwdriver; the Doctor’s wonderful science fiction gadget that can unlock doors, control objects at a distance and is the pocket sized answer to all sorts of tricky situations.

Now, fans of David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor are in for a treat. This summer, in response to massive consumer demand, The Wand Company will reveal their new, authentic Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control.

Previewing on the ThinkGeek Booth at San Diego Comic-Con in July, the Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote will be available exclusively through selected retailers in the UK, US and Australia in October to coincide with BBC Worldwide’s Tenth Doctor celebrations of the popular and long-running series’ 50th anniversary year.

Painstakingly 3D scanned from the original screen-used prop, kindly loaned to The Wand Company by David Tennant himself, this Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver is a faithful clone, CNC machined from aluminium, crammed full of technology and is a fully functioning gesture-based universal remote control that looks, feels and works just like the real prop.

The Wand Company’s Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver, officially licensed from BBC Worldwide, is a 1:1 scale replica of the original filming prop. As well as being a fully-functioning universal learning remote control, the Sonic Screwdriver features:

a built-in rechargeable battery,
authentic sound effects taken from the BBC sound effects archives,
10 special secret Morse code messages to discover
a light-up blue tip.
a die cast metal stand and comes in its own
protective hard case.

The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver is expected to retail for £69.95 in the UK, $109.95 in the US and $129.95 in Australia.

To further commemorate Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary year, The Wand Company is also launching a limited-edition gold and silver plated version of their enormously successful Eleventh Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control.

A small quantity will be available first at San Diego Comic-Con, and then from other selected retailers in the UK and US, but with only 250 of these special, individually laser-numbered Sonic Screwdrivers ever being produced, this is the ultimate collectible for Doctor Who fans.

The post The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Remote Control! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Doctor Who: Regeneration DVD Boxset Reviewed

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.

There has been much debate among fans about released versions of classic Doctor Who stories as special editions or in new boxsets over the past few years, but never before has a collection split opinion as much as the Doctor Who Regeneration DVD boxset.

Aside from being the first instance in which classic and nuWho sit together in the same collection, there are really only two reasons to purchase it if you’ve already got a burgeoning collection. The first would be for the beautiful collector’s book that accompanies the DVDs. The second, of course, would be for The Tenth Planet, presented on DVD for the first time (incidentally, it should be pointed out that contrary to fan conspiracy theory, there are no missing episodes in this particular boxset. The Tenth Planet part four is completely animated!)

Now then, the book. Featuring stunning design and illustration from Kasterborous co-founder (who then went on to bigger, better and DVD-shaped things) Anthony Dry, the 24-bage booklet to accompany the DVDs is designed with images of each Doctor and each episode, matching the all-new DVD menu design. Minimalist it might be, but this physical, commemorative extra is a page turner with every page looking like a work of art.

The full list of stories included on the DVD are:

The Tenth Planet
The War Games
Planet of the Spiders
Logopolis
The Caves of Androzani
Time and the Rani
Doctor Who: The Movie
Bad Wolf & The Parting of the Ways
The End of Time

Now, you’ll find reviews for almost all of these elsewhere on Kasterborous, so we’ll avoid focusing on them too much. Suffice to say that these superb episodes all represent the epitome of the changing of the guard in Doctor Who, the change in tone, in actor, and in direction. Perhaps most prominent in this description is the TV Movie, now on its third DVD release. Not bad for an episode once considered “non-canon”…

As a reminder about the episodes, here’s a brief promotional video:

Oh and don’t ignore the cover. Yes, that is the Eleventh Doctor apparently regenerating…

So, do you buy this DVD boxset or not? What if you already have the episodes? Well, I think the answer lies in that ongoing discussion about how the BBC is treating Doctor Who during the show’s 50th anniversary. We’ve all heard (or made!) the complaints. But whatever you think about the low episode count on air or the lack of classic episodes, this DVD collection is exactly the sort of thing that should be released – a celebrator, anniversary compilation of regeneration stories, almost all of them brilliant. Yes, it might result in you owning Time and the Rani before you had intended to, but with episode four of The Tenth Planet and the stunning book, you’re getting nine stories for under fifty quid.

That’s pretty good value, IMHO.

Out now, the Doctor Who Regeneration set can be ordered from Amazon for £46.21- but you’ll have to decide whether you think it is worth it…

The post Doctor Who: Regeneration DVD Boxset Reviewed appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Free Cyber Cress Head!

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.

YOUR. SCHOOL. LUNCHES. WILL BE. UPGRADED!

Doctor Who Adventures magazine have been playing with their food and conjured up some truly monstrous creations to liven up your lunchbox.

Out now, the title carries a free Cyber cress head so readers can grow their own herbs in a Cyber head pot! Plus, the magazine has been creating prehistoric parasites out of fruit with hilarious results and is inviting readers to send in their own fruit monster designs, including instructions on how to make the gruesome Mr Sweet into a tasty, healthy treat!

Editor of Doctor Who Adventures magazine, Natalie Barnes said:

“We had so much fun creating our own edible monsters and I know our creative readers will love coming up with their own scary lookalikes. The Cyber cress head is the perfect way to upgrade boring sandwiches and add something mean and green to their meals!”

Issue 323 of Doctor Who Adventures magazine is on sale now from all good newsagents (and a few middling ones) until 2 July 2013, priced at £2.99.

 

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Two Guys Who Won’t Be Twelve

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.

There’s one reason why Ben Whishaw won’t be the Twelfth Doctor and that reason is… Bond, James Bond.

The Skyfall actor has dampened expectations by telling the Daily Mail (via Entertainmentwise) that he couldn’t possibly be both Q and the Doctor:

“It’s not going to be me. But I don’t mind – I don’t think you can be Q and Doctor Who. It would be a bit wrong.”

With rumours circulating that Sam Mendes is still undecided on whether or not he’ll direct the 24th instalment of the Bond franchise – talks had reportedly begun with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson but no decision will be made until Sam’s latest project, the new West End adaptation of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, which opened this week, is up on its feet – it’s understandable that Ben would want to keep his schedule TARDIS free.

However, if other rumours are true and recent favourite Rory Kinnear does take the role, it turns out you can be both Tanner, Bond’s ally and MI6’s Chief of Staff, and the Doctor.

God, it’s just one rule for Q and another Tanner!

Another man who’s a law unto himself is perennial rumour favourite is Emmy hopeful, and Homeland star David Harewood, who has been talking to Entertainment Weekly about his chances of becoming the Doctor:

“It’s only rumours but it’s amazing to be attached to such an iconic role. It would be extraordinary if the BBC were to make me the first black Doctor Who, it would be extraordinary. But I’m almost scared to make any comment whatsoever.”

However that didn’t stop him from speculating on just what his Doctor might be wearing:

“It would definitely be something extremely sharp. Something extremely sharp and tailored. And not to kind of put too dark a pun on it, but I would make him darker. I would like to make this guy a bit of a badass if I was to do it.”

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/06/24/emm...

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Colin Baker Recalls the Genesis of Old Sixy

Meredith Burdett 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.

What a wonderful thing hindsight is, you can look back on the things that you wanted to do differently and learn from your mistakes.

Except when you’re Colin Baker and you’re talking about your time as the Sixth Doctor, in which case you can feel good about the fact that you were completely right all along.

Taking a break during a recent recording session at Big Finish, Baker sat down for a short while with Christopher Allen and discussed not only his time as the Sixth Doctor on television but also hid greater success as the character in the extended universe that Big Finish have offered for the last 14 years.

listen to ‘Colin Baker: the Sixth Doctor was “a brave idea”’ on Audioboo

In the interview, which you can enjoy above, Baker discusses his Doctor’s coat, his overall plan for the Sixth Doctor’s character, which has now come full circle thanks to the medium of audio, his vainglorious attempt to be a bit like the First Doctor and the meeting of the original ‘grumpy’ Sixth Doctor and the newer ‘mellow’ Doctor in Big Finish’s The Wrong Doctors.

What’s especially pleasant to listen to is the assuredness in Baker’s voice that he feels he has now fully carried out his plan of where he wanted to take his version of the Doctor even if it has taken him a few years decades longer than he expected!

(Via DoctorWho.tv)

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Oi Kasterborous, Where’s My Download?

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’ve received a few bounce emails over the past few days from people signing up to the Kasterborous Store.

These are basically messages returned by a customer’s email host to indicate that the address used no longer exists. Unfortunately, this isn’t compatible with the way the Kasterborous Store works.

If you want to purchase or download anything such as The Daleks’ Master Plan, Kasterborous Magazine or the eBook version of Ultimate Regeneration from the store, you must use a valid email address – otherwise you wont receive the download link!

Are you waiting for your copy of The Daleks’ Master Plan or Kasterborous Magazine #1 to arrive? The process is usually complete within 10 minutes, so signing up with the correct details or checking your spam folder for diverted messages is the best thing you can do.

If you have any concerns, please email christian@kasterborous.com.

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