BFI: Doctor Who at 50 July screening

The BFI have today confirmed the latest screening in their monthly series, Doctor Who at 50. July will see Remembrance of the Daleks on the big screen on Saturday, July 27 at 2pm. The four-part story first aired in 1988 and stars Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Guests have yet to be announced and the tickets go on sale to the public on Tuesday, June 11.

As previously announced HERE, next month sees a screening of the Colin Baker story, The Two Doctors, on June 15, 2pm.

Visit the BFI website HERE.

Read Blogtor's review of the latest event, featuring Tom Baker and The Robots of Death, HERE.

Thanks to the BFI.

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Chris Chibnall talks Series 8

Writer Chris Chibnall (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and The Power of Three, amongst others) was a guest on the Phil Williams BBC Radio 5 Live show last night and he chatted about the possibility of being the new Doctor Who showrunner and writing for the next series - listen to a clip in the player above.

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Bernard Cribbins talks 50th

Our chums over at Den of Geek have reported that Bernard Cribbins will not be appearing in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special. Despite contacting the production unit in Cardiff and asking about his involvement, he was told "no" - read the full news piece HERE.

Next week, Den of Geek will be publishing a great interview Blogtor conducted with Bernard yesterday, where he chats about the Daleks (movie & TV versions), Peter Cushing, David Tennant and lots more!

Check out the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special section for all the latest news, pics and clips HERE. 

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AUDIO REVIEW: Smoke and Mirrors

SMOKE AND MIRRORS

by Steve Lyons

Out Now

Review by Emrys Matthews

Smoke and Mirrors is a new audio adventure for the Fifth Doctor in the 50th Anniversary AudioGo/Big Finish collaboration series, Destiny of The Doctor.

The Doctor, along with companions Adric, Nyssa and Tegan, answer a psionic distress call from an old friend in a fairground in 1920s England. That friend: Harry Houdini. Houdini and the Doctor suspect an alien influence may be at work. The Doctor may be right, but what he doesn’t realise is that, somewhere in the shadows of the fairground a sinister and familiar presence is waiting for him, how will he escape?

Janet Fielding and Tim Beckman

All the elements that comprise this new adventure should form a truly memorable story: escapologist extraordinaire, Harry Houdini, a wonderfully creepy fairground setting, scary fairground folk and animals and a very familiar enemy [we'll keep you spoiler~free on that one - Ed.] and yet something just seems to be missing. It’s difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is that’s absent but I came away feeling liked I’d missed something. The story starts at a lovely pace but seems to feel a little rushed towards the climax and the build to the reveal of the villain is a little underwhelming. Although what is here is great, one can’t help but feel there is some binding ingredient missing from this otherwise delicious recipe.

The story takes place sometime after The Visitation and before Earthshock. Due to Matthew Waterhouse’s lack of involvement in Doctor Who audio or other post-Who projects it feels like an exciting and untapped period to exploit for Destiny of The Doctor. The story perhaps isn’t quite as memorable as it could have been, but certainly fulfills the remit to produce a Doctor Who story that accurately represents the Fifth Doctor era.

It’s great to have such an infamous character as Houdini, that has been mentioned many a time in Doctor Who both on and off television and there are some lovely little mentions of previous times the Doctor has met the escapologist.

Another highlight is that we get to see a lighter more internal side to Tegan. She is a companion many adore and as many more find utterly infuriating, but in Smoke and Mirrors we get to see things from her point of view which really helps to understand and empathise with her as a character. Janet Fielding who has exploded back on to the Doctor Who audio scene after a very long absence does a great job voicing this tale and it’s many characters and Tim Beckman is wonderful as Houdini.

All in all it’s well worth a listen for nothing other than to see how the Doctor and Houdini interact and to hear a passionate performance from the inimitable Janet Fielding. 

BLOGTOR RATING 7/10

Thanks to AudioGo

Review by Emrys Matthews

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BOOK REVIEW: Plague of the Cybermen

 
PLAGUE OF THE CYBERMEN
by Justin Richards

Out Now

Review by Douglas Barrie

Before you read this review of Plague of the Cybermen [too late, they've already started - Ed.], Justin Richards' novel set in the fictional 19th century village of Klimntenberg, cast your mind back to the middle of Series 7. In the Doctor's timeline, this adventure sits somewhere between The Snowmen and The Bells of St John, and long before Neil Gaiman's recent rejuvenation of the Cybermen in Nightmare In Silver.

Whether or not Richards deliberately put the Cybermen on their last legs is unknown, but the story itself bares some resemblance to the penultimate episode of Series 6 - 'Closing Time'. Like in that episode, a Cybership is buried underneath a building with the army stuck in hibernation inside low on power until such a time when they are at full strength. 

The effect of this underground wreck brings the titular plague to Klimtenberg which is killing the locals - but the bodies are disappearing from the graves. You can join the dots if you so wish but all the signs are there, much like most of the recent Cybermen stories. This is no exception, the set-up is there, then the twist where the Doctor finds out the plan, followed by the final battle to save the village. 

In the run-up and even including the final part of the book there is very little interaction with the Cybermen themselves with the 11th Doctor, whose knack for making up a plan as he goes comes across as a hinderance rather than having the usual sense of anticipation. There's much toing-and-froing between the castle and the village where most of the people live, with some stereotypical Doctor Who tunnels along the way. 

Throughout his adventure the Doctor is accompanied by local school teacher Olga, who doesn't really engage the reader even though you know she's a one-off companion. The narrative is a bit swishy at times too, with the Doctor's handy sonic screwdriver jumping from being his sonic screwdriver in some chapters to being his magic wand in others when it just seems right to call a stick a stick. It's something which might confuse casual fans or even new fans casually picking up the book.

I may sound like I'm grumbling on but I did think it was enjoyable. Especially the the third quarter. Plague is the sort of book one could take on holiday knowing it's not exactly an easy read but it's not going to have you scratching your head and spending days trying to resolve your own conclusion.

It's wrapped up neatly if a little abruptly and there is one or two characters who feel underused despite their importance to the story. So I go back to my original point - remember that the Cybermen in this book are not the new breed and you'll be a satisfied customer. Otherwise an upgrade is in order.

BLOGTOR RATING 5/10
Thanks to Broadway Paperbacks

Review by Douglas Barrie 

Read the review of the audio book HERE

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Doctor Who on Points Of View

BBC One viewer feedback show Points of View featured some Doctor Who related comments in its most recent edition (which aired yesterday) - watch it in the player below.

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Tee Offer

Our chums over at TeeFury have got another great Doctor Who t~shirt for sale - for 24 hours only! Titled The Girl Who Waited, the design is available worldwide for $11 - visit the site HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: This design is no longer available

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Guide to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special

Last update: May 22

Included here are links, pics and news (and possibly spoilers - though they will be heavily marked as such) on the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, this page will be updated as and when "stuff" happens. First up, the facts:

• The episode is written by current showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran (The Angels Take Manhattan, Asylum of the Daleks, The God Complex, The Girl Who Waited).

• It has been filmed using 3D technology and will be broadcast on November 23. It will also receive a limited worldwide cinema release.

• Starring in the special are: David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor), Matt Smith (The Eleventh Doctor, Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Jenna-Louise Coleman (Clara), Joanna Page (Elizabeth I), Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart), Ingrid Oliver (Osgood), John Hurt and many more. See the pictures from the Anniversary Special read~through HERE.

• Classic monsters The Zygons are to feature in the story, but are not the main villain. Pic HERE.

Now here's the rest! The most recent news will appear at the top:

• Bernard Cribbins not involved - read HERE.

• David Tennant and Matt Smith chat about how their characters get on with one another HERE.

• John Hurt talks about his role HERE.

• Steven Moffat reveals secrets have been kept - watch interview HERE.

• Jemma Redgrave talks about it HERE.

• The running time is around 60 minutes.

• Is David Tennant the only returning Doctor? Info HERE.

• Matt Smith reveals that "paintings" play a part - watch interview HERE.

• Scenes were filmed in London at Tower Bridge, read Blogtor's exclusive report, along with set pictures, HERE.

• Scenes were filmed in London at Trafalgar Square, read Blogtor's exclusive report, along with set pictures, HERE. Also includes some lines of dialogue!

• Ingrid Oliver's character Osgood is related to UNIT's Sgt. Osgood from The Daemons, she wears a Fourth Doctor scarf.

• The BBC have some behind~the~scenes videos from the London shooting - watch them HERE.

• Christopher Eccleston talks about the 50th - watch his interview HERE.

• Paul McGann talks about the special HERE.

• Billie Piper says it's "very much for the fans" - interview HERE.

• Steven Moffat doesn't want it to be a "fanfest" - interview HERE.

• Producer Marcus Wilson says it's a "love letter to fans" - read HERE.

• Filming pictures reveal a familiar location - see HERE.

• David Tennant talks about filming - listen HERE.

• Pic of Tennant and Smith on set together - see HERE.

• John Simm says he's not involved - watch interview HERE.

• John Barrowman not involved - see HERE.

• Matt Smith says it's "very funny" - interview HERE.

• Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker talk about the special - watch interview HERE.

• Matt Smith says it's "vast","epic" and "momentous" - watch interview HERE.

• Freema Agyeman chats 50th - see HERE.

• Steven Moffat is interviewed by his son - watch HERE.

• Jenna-Louise Coleman talks 50th - read HERE.

• David Tennant talks to Jonathan Ross about being involved/not involved [pre-announcement] - watch interview HERE.

• Billie Piper talks to Graham Norton about being involved/not involved [pre-announcement] - watch interview HERE.

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Series 7 Part 2 - What Did You Think?

Doctor Who Series 7 Part 2 has now come to an end with the sensationally exciting finale, The Name of the Doctor - but what did you think of the last eight episodes? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. You can read what Blogtor readers thought of Doctor Who Series 7 Part 1 HERE.

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BBC confirms Series 8

Earlier this evening, the official Doctor Who website confirmed that Series 8 of the show has been commissioned by the BBC. Current showrunner Steven Moffat is on board, reaffirming what he told reporters last weekend HERE. The BBC have not made any official casting announcements regarding Jenna-Louise Coleman and Matt Smith though both are definitely involved in the 2013 Doctor Who Christmas Special which starts shooting in "August or September".

Jenna talks "big gap" before Series 8

Steven Moffat: Doctor Who is "knackering"

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