31
MARCH 2004 | EVENT
| Blackpool Exhibition - PERMANENT
In
time for the UK Easter holidays, another sign that DOCTOR WHO is
re-staking its position in Blackpool with a new exhibition. This replaces the
original exhibtion that was open between from April 1974 to October 1985.
This
new and permanent exhibition (5,500 square feet) is located in the Golden Mile
Centre on the Central Promenade.
Devised
and created by Experience Design Ltd (based at Sheppeton Studios, and previosly
designed the 'Behind the sofa' exhibit for MOMI). as an interactive,
walk-through exhibition. It will house original props and costumes from the series.
These will include several of the Doctor's best-known adversaries such as Daleks,
Cybermen, Sea Devils.
Many
of the gadgets that appeared on the show over the years will also feature, including
Bessie' and a replica of the TARDIS console.
Richard
Hollis, BBC Worldwide's Head of Licensing, said, "The recent announcement
that Doctor Who is returning to our screens means there will soon be a whole
new generation of fans, and this exhibition will be the only one in the world
to bridge the gap between the old series and the new.
"We
hope it will give visitors an insight into the history of this extraordinary
and uniquely British programme and why it has such enduring appeal. It's bound
to become one of Blackpool's top tourist attractions!"
The
exhibition will be open to the public daily from Friday 9th April between 10.00am–6.00pm.
Let's
hope, too, that this new exhibition will 'wheelchair-friendly'.
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26
MARCH 2004 | PRODUCT
| THE LEISURE HIVE DVD
A
strange release (prophetic? As DOCTOR WHO is, again, starting
a fresh for new decade), but THE LEISURE HIVE will be released
on July 05.
Or the July release by GHOSTLIGHT? UK retailers GALAXY 4 and
BLACKSTAR have listed different dates for each. All to be confirmed by BBC WORLDWIDE
after Easter. UPDATED
| 31.03.04 Or today.
JNT's regeneration of the series was criticised for being brash and too glossy.
This story is a perfect example of the approach, and is, quite frankly, 'perfect'.
A rounded story, stunning score, deft acting (a swan-like master class by Baker)
and a superb re-working of the DOCTOR WHO theme.
And
the DVD EXTRAS (according to initial reports): UPDATED
| 31.03.04
Studio Commentary
with Lalla Ward, Lovett Bickford and Christopher H Bidmead
A
New Beginning - Examination of JNT's relaunch of the series. Including
contributions from Tom Baker, JNT, Christopher Bidmead, June Hudson, Lovett Bickford.
From
Avalon to Argolis - Focus on writing and script-editing with Christopher
Bidmead and David Fisher.
Leisure
Wear - Short featurette on costume designer June Hudson who looks at
the redesign of the lead costumes.
Synthesizing
Starfields - An in-depth look at the creation of the new title sequence
with Sid Sutton and Peter Howell.
Blue
Peter - A look round the revamped Longleat exhibition in 1980 including
the first on-screen interview with John Nathan-Turner.
Easter
Egg, Gallery, production notes
UPDATED
| 01.04.04 The Restoration Team has released a summary
of their work on THE LEISURE HIVE. Read
it here.
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25
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Julie Gardner on BBC Wales TV
Executive
Producer, Julie Gardner was interviewed by Jamie Owen on BBC Wales Today on Monday,
22nd March.
Gardner said that they, "could not have done better with this casting,
he is just instinctive and he is great to work with and he just loved the script.
And he is such a fan of DOCTOR WHO. It is so thrilling. I have
been looking at the Internet postings today and people seem to be largely delighted
by it."
The full
transcript of the interview, supplied by John Campbell Rees, can be read
here (Rich Text Formatted). Thanks for the email, JCR.
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23
MARCH 2004 | PRINT
| DWM 342
Published
on April 01, DWM 342 is one of those editions of the over-priced magazine that
even hard-nosed fans of DOCTOR WHO will devour.
Yet in the world of the internet (and, thus, immediacy) can DWM continue to survive?
Yes, they can, but only if BBC Wales respects the magazine as THE 'gazetteer'
and the cornerstone of DOCTOR WHO fandom.
The magazine needs to re-gain its 'value' as the place for TV production 'exclusives',
that are presently leaked to amateur productions (yes, including EOH) and spoiling
the mystery of adventures in time and space.
Let's learn from the (intentional?) leaks of the past week, and tighten the noose.
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22
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Eccleston and Davies 'cannot wait'
Wales
is quickly becoming the centre of the time and space universe. Western Mail newspaper
has interviewed both Christopher Eccleston and Russell T Davies.
UPDATED
| 22.03.04 | 12:50 GMT | A
darker Doctor. Read the BBC
NEWS profile for the Ninth Doctor. Celebrity/Entertainment magazine, HEAT's
Editor, Boyd Hilton confirms that with Eccleston's signing to DOCTOR
WHO will see the end of the 'cheesier' aspects to the show.
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20
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Eccleston rumoured September 2003
Other
than RTD, who would have guessed that Eccleston was to be the ninth Doctor?
UPDATED | 21.03.04 | 07:50 GMT | EOH have received a number
of emails since this 'challenge' was issued.
To date the earlier is September 20 in THE GUARDIAN MEDIA forum. The 'poster',
Magic Wanderer has the earliest mention...so far! Well done, Cliff.
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20
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Christopher Eccleston is the Doctor
March
20 2004 | 04:53GMT
Actor Christopher Eccleston is to be the new DOCTOR WHO when
the cult sci-fi show returns to our screens next year, it was announced. It is
a three-year contract.
Eccleston,
star of (not a comprehensive list):
FLESH
AND BLOOD (tv)
SHALLOW
GRAVE (film)
EXISTENZ
(film)
THE
SECOND COMING (tv)
28
DAYS LATER (film)
ELIZABETH
(film)
JUDE
(film)
THE
OTHERS (film)
OUR
FRIENDS IN THE NORTH (tv)
INVISIBLE
CIRCUS (film)
DEATH
AND THE COMPASS (film)
A
PRICE ABOVE RUBIES (film)
REVENGERS
TRADEDY (film)
WITH
OR WITHOUT YOU (film)
LET
HIM HAVE IT (film)
GONE
IN SIXTY SECONDS (film)
THE
LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN (GUEST STAR)
CLOCKING-OFF
(tv)
(soon)
STAR WARS EPISODE III (film)
The
BBC said the Salford-born 40-year-old, also known for his role in hit film SHALLOW
GRAVE (opposite Ewan MacGregor - to work together in STAR WARS EPISODE III) and UPDATED
| 20.03.04 | 14:20 GMT | with
Mark Gatiss in THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN (as cat loving Dougal Seipp) would take
the famous Doctor into the 21st century in a "fresh and modern approach" involving
travelling through time and space, and fighting monsters on all fronts.
Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, said: "We are delighted
to have cast an actor of such calibre in one of British television's most iconic
roles.
"It signals our intention to take Doctor Who into the 21st century, as well
as retaining its core traditional values - to be surprising, edgy and eccentric.
"We have chosen one of Britain's finest actors to play what, in effect,
will be an overtly modern hero." Executive
producer and writer Russell T Davies said: "We considered many great
actors for this wonderful part, but Christopher was our first choice.
"This man can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-reaching
as the Doctor's travels in time and space.
"His casting raises the bar for all of us. It's going to be a magnificent,
epic, entertaining journey, and I can't wait to start."
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 08:00 GMT | According to UK
Press reports the budget for each 45-minute episode is £1 million.
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 12:00 GMT | The OFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT
by BBC PRESS OFFICE will occur on Monday at 11:00, with Christopher Eccleston.
BBC TV News reports the news for the first time at Midday today.
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 13:20 GMT | EOH Source confirms
that Eccleston's signing continues BBC FILMS' development for feature film for
2006/7 release. As planned, the film will feature Terry Nation's Daleks. BBC
FILMS website is currently under re-design. Details to follow.
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 14:23 GMT | Eccleston on Eccleston: "The
last thing I've done will be different to the next thing I do. The characters
may all have big ears and a big nose, but they are all different." Christopher
Eccleston thus deflates all potential sarky comments by getting the self-deprecating
remarks in first. (Thanks to ALTERNATIVE
HOLLYWOOD).
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 14:23 GMT | Eccleston on Shakespearean
ambitions: read the ANANOVA report.
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 14:45 GMT | Eccleston on his
career to date: Read the FILM
FESTIVAL interview.
UPDATED | 20.03.04 | 14:45 GMT | Eccleston interviewed
by NETRIBUTION FILM
NETWORK.
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18
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Daleks
As
EOH has been stating (on the 'homepage' editorial) from September 26 2003, the
Daleks will feature in the forthcoming DOCTOR WHO series.
Another cynical website said "Where on Earth do they (EOH) get this
stuff from"; but we're pleased that our Source has (again) been correct.
But will McGann be the 'first' lead in the new series?
A BBC Spokesperson has now confirmed that, following negotiations, the Daleks WILL feature
in the new series.
7
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | RTD interview SUNDAY TIMES UK
Whilst
not wholly revealing (and full of inaccuracies), THE SUNDAY TIMES has announced
that the BBC are about to "Drop the dead Daleks, it's Dr Who the sex
machine".
A scant interview with RTD, punctuated with liberal abbreviated comments from
Colin Baker and DWAS (UK fan group) is hardly worth commenting over.
So, read
it for yourself. It says nothing new. Beware of writers licence - RTD is
merely toying with fans.
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3
MARCH 2004 | NEW
SERIES | Writers
Well,
the news is out (revealed finally on BBCi); the worst kept secret, due to the
number of leaks on the Net's forum pages.
Thankfully, Rob 'pooh' Shearman kept his counsel on last week's Fan
Forums when someone tried to 'out' him on February 27.
The writers, working alongside Russell T Davies (writing 8x scripts) will be:
Mark
Gatiss (BIG FINISH's INVADERS FROM MARS)
Paul
Cornell
Steven
Moffatt (expect 2x scripts) - Updated | 07.03.2004 EOH
March 03 news even confirmed by fan website, Outpost Gallifrey, on March 04!
Rob
Shearman (BIG FINISH's THE CHIMES OF MIDNIGHT, et al)
More information
to follow.
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INFORMATION
1
MARCH 2004 | AUDIO
| Big Finish titles?
Contributor,
Matthew Walter, indicates that BIG FINISH have delayed the (six part) 'third chapter'
of the excellent Nick Briggs conceived series, DALEK EMPIRE, until May 2004.
Additional titles to be released could include:
MEDICINAL
PURPOSES, starring the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn. To be published in August.
Purportedly a historical adventure complete with Scottish grave diggers who invented
the modern autopsy. Legendary British comedy (CARRY ON...) actor, Leslie Phillips
guest-stars as Dr. Robert Knox.
DEAD
MAN'S HAND to be released in September. Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred
travel to 19th Century America for a 'cowboy' adventure.
