The original FORBIDDEN PLANET London-based sci-fi retailer continues with their CHARACTER OPTIONS exclusives with a CLASSIC SERIES set (£24.99) featuring Peri Brown and Sil as featured in VENGEANCE ON VAROS (1985).

This set is "limited edition" and is released on 7 December 2010.

Link to our FORBIDDEN PLANET page for more products

The new RADIO TIMES (for 11-17 December 2010) is out today.

Need we say more.

With the arrival of the preview discs for DOCTOR WHO - MEGLOS and the two-disc presentation of DOCTOR WHO - THE MUTANTS we could be mistaken that, with all the snow across the UK, it's Christmas Day.

We will have a review of these January 2011 releases shortly. Unfortunately, unlike other DOCTOR WHO non-official fan-made sites/blogs, we respect the copyright held by the BBC and will not host unapproved video content (such as the "Coming soon..." preview footage). Sorry.

MEGLOS DVD - online now (updated - 01.12.2011)

THE MUTANTS DVD preview - online shortly

BBC DVD has released a "draft sleeve" for SERIES 5's special episode, DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

This will be released on 24 January 2011 and includes the coverage from the DOCTOR WHO AT THE PROMS 2010.

RRP £12.99 with a pre-order from AMAZON.CO.UK at £9.69 (at 27.11.2010).

26.11.2010 - BBC AUDIO (now under the stewardship of AUDIOGO) has released details of three additional 2011 titles.

• DOCTOR WHO - THE BBC RADIO EPISODES - 07/04/2011 (a mini-boxset featuring THE PARADISE OF DEATH, THE GHOSTS OF N-SPACE, EXPLORATION EARTH - TIME MACHINE, SLIPBACK, DOCTOR WHO AND THE PESCATONS and WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...SUSAN?)
• DOCTOR WHO - INFERNO - 07/04/2011
• DOCTOR WHO AND THE STONES OF BLOOD - 05/05/2011

As a reminder of 2011 BBC AUDIO (via AUDIOGO) DOCTOR WHO releases, here's the current planned schedule:

• DOCTOR WHO AND THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION - 06/01/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE JADE PYRAMID (11TH DOCTOR) - 06/01/2011
• DOCTOR WHO AND THE WAR GAMES - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE LOST TV EPISODES COLLECTION 2 - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - GENESIS OF THE DALEKS (RE-ISSUE) - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE GEMINI CONTAGION (11TH DOCTOR) - 03/03/2011
• DOCTOR WHO AND THE RIBOS OPERATION - 03/03/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE HOUNDS OF ARTEMIS (11TH DOCTOR) - 07/04/2011

There will be two audiobooks relating to TORCHWOOD (these will be set before CHILDREN OF EARTH):

• TORCHWOOD - DEPARTMENT X - 03/03/2011
• TORCHWOOD - GHOST TRAIN - 03/03/2011

DOCTOR WHO - THE PANDORICA OPENS has won an industry Award for the best digital effects.

At last night's Royal Television Society Craft and Design Awards THE MILL's work was recognised alongside three Awards for Moffat/Gatiss' SHERLOCK drama series (Best film and TV editing; Best Original Title Music; Best Picture Enhancement).

BBC WORLDWIDE recreated the famous image of the Cybermen heading down the steps near London's St Paul's Cathedral in a promotion for next year's DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE.

PRESS RELEASE: A group of Cybermen command the steps in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London to celebrate the launch of the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE- a fully interactive themed adventure and exhibition which opens at London's Olympia Two in February 2011.

The picture pays homage to one of the best loved and most iconic Doctor Who images of all time from the 1968 Adventure THE INVASION and highlights the evolution of both the Cybermen and the St Paul's landscape. Visitors to the DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE will be invited to step through a crack in time to become the Doctor's companion on a unique adventure which will involve fending off threats from a Dalek spaceship and the Weeping Angels, before exploring the wonders of Doctor Who at an out of this world exhibition

Limited edition preview tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday the 15th November 2010 via www.doctorwhoexperience.com/priority - fans can also register their interest now at: www.doctorwhoexperience.com

© BBC WORLDWIDE

The BBC PRESS OFFICE has released the synopsis for DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL (by Steven Moffat).

Amy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way The Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser.

But is Kazran Sardick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve?

Amy Pond is played by Karen Gillan, Rory Williams by Arthur Darvill, The Doctor by Matt Smith, Abigail Pettigrew by Katherine Jenkins and Kazran Sardick by Michael Gambon.

The official BBC (© BBC) promotional composite images have been released - see right and here.

DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL

More details of this DVD have been released, in addition to a region 1 sleeve artwork. DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK will be the third UK release 20 28 February 2011.

BBC DVD TWITTER page has details of the CLASSIC SERIES William Hartnell release, DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK. It has published the "draft" cover for the DVD.

The DVD extras have been released:

• Studio commentary: Peter Purves and Michael Imison (Director
• Documentary: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL discusses the influence of author HG Wells within DOCTOR WHO
• Documentary: ONE HIT WONDER is a "filler" that discusses what is the secret of a creative alien/monster.
• Documentary: THE RIVERSIDE STORY re-visits one of the original film studio from the Hartnell era.

PLAY.COM (UK) has a range of DOCTOR WHO merchandise in their pre-Christmas "Clearance" sale for a limited time. Free P+P to UK addresses.

Items include (links to PLAY.COM site):

• £3.99 - THE COMING OF THE TERRAPHILES novel (save £13.99) - and available from AMAZON.CO.UK (see right)
• £5.99 - SERIES 5 WEEPING ANGEL 6" FIGURE (save £3)
• £5.99 - IRONSIDE DALEK 6" FIGURE (save £3)
• £5.99 - RED DRONE DALEK 6" FIGURE (save £3)
• £9.99 - TARDIS (11th Doctor) FLIGHT CONTROL (save £5)
• £9.99 - 11th DOCTOR'S SONIC SCREWDRIVER (save £5)
• £13.99 - REMOTE CONTROL BATTLE DRONE (RED OR BLUE DALEK (save £6)

AUDIOGO - the home of BBC AUDIO - will be releasing their first abridged SERIES 5 tie-in on 6 January 2011, Martin Day's DOCTOR WHO - THE JADE PYRAMID, read by Matt Smith.

Fans will notice that AUDIOGO are "rebranding" their releases with a new design - a yellow strip (and yellow typography) at the bottom on the cover, similar to the recent release, THE ESSENTIAL COMPANION. With the SERIES 5 releases styled to compliment the TV programme, it is strange that a new style has been adopted at this stage, and the cover "illustration" seems less inspired than previous covers.

Pre-order from PLAY.COM - £6.49

Tonight, the annual CHILDREN IN NEED event has previewed DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL and reveals that Matt Smith doesn't know what a teapot looks like.

SPOILERS - THE OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THE PREVIEW FROM BBC YOUTUBE

Whilst eyeofhorus.org.uk will not upload any footage until official released via the BBC YOUTUBE site due to Copyright issues, here's a few screengrabs (right).

Highlights: The Doctor sweeping the chimney, Amy back in her police uniform, Rory back in his Auton Roman outfit someone has re-written history. Or have they?

"CHRISTMASTIME CAN BE REWRITTEN"

BBC WALES DOCTOR WHO is supporting CIN, now it's your turn. Fans are urged to donate as much or as little as you can to CHILDREN IN NEED via the official website. Thank you.

The official CIN website schedule for Friday night

Matthew Graham is "let slip" that he has been commissioned to write SERIES 6 episodes five and six, The episodes are titled: THE REBEL FLESH and GANGERS respectively, and will be directed by WHO newcomer, Julian Simpson

Graham wrote the mediocre 2006 SERIES 2 episode, FEAR HER.

CHARACTER OPTIONS has relented and released the new 2010 Daleks as "single-blister packs".

The price per pack differs from retailer to retailer but could be as little as £8.49.

• DRONE DALEK (RED) Play.com £8.49 Free UK P+P - reduced further to £5.99
• STRATEGY DALEK (BLUE) Play.com £8.49 Free UK P+P
• SUPREME DALEK (WHITE) Forbidden Planet £8.99 + P+P
• ETERNAL DALEK (YELLOW) Forbidden Planet £8.99 +P+P
• SCIENTIST DALEK (ORANGE) Forbidden Planet £8.99 + P+P

And the Remote Controlled 2010 Dalek is available in two sizes/variations:

• 6" DRONE or STRATEGY DALEK Play.com £11.99 Free UK P+P - note: price increase to £12.99
• 13" DRONE DALEK Play.com £42.99 Free UK P+P

On Friday, CHILDREN IN NEED is broadcast across the BBC networks and will include a featurette with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan (as the Doctor and Amy as they hold a "tea party" aboard the TARDIS with some familiar friends (and foes) which will give viewers a glimpse of the DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL episode.

The official CIN website schedule for Friday night

The first AUDIOGO release for 2010 (06.01) is the CLASSIC SERIES "sideways" story, DOCTOR WHO - THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION.

The synopsis for this unabridged release:

In this exciting reading of a Doctor Who novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1988, the Doctor and his companions are trapped inside the TARDIS as it hurtles through Time & Space.

Slowly a terrifying suspicion dawns. Has the Tardis become the prisoner of some powerful fifth intelligence?

PLAY.COM (UK) has a range of DOCTOR WHO merchandise in their pre-Christmas "Clearance" sale for a limited time. Free P+P to UK addresses.

Items include (links to PLAY.COM site):

• £9.99 - TARDIS (11th Doctor) FLIGHT CONTROL (save £5)
• £9.99 - 11th DOCTOR'S SONIC SCREWDRIVER (save £5)
• £11.99 - REMOTE CONTROL BATTLE DRONE (RED OR BLUE DALEK (save £8)

BBC AUDIO has released details of two new DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES tie-ins featuring the Fourth Doctor, published on 02.12.2010.

Paul Magrs splendid "series 2" exclusive from BBC AUDIO, DOCTOR WHO DEMON QUEST concludes with STARFALL and SEPULCHRE.

Synopsis for STARFALL:

Two things arrive on the same night in Central Park, New York, 1976. The first is a fireball from space, bringing with it a new identity for one Alice Trefusis. The second is the Tardis, carrying the Doctor and his friends on the trail of an unusual comic book cover. The Doctor's strength is sapped by something in the New York air - but what could cause such a malaise? As he and Mike are first mixed up with the police and then taken on an aerial ride over the city, Mrs Wibbsey comes face to face with the legendary Talkies film star Mimsy Loyne. And all the while, long multicoloured scarves and floppy felt hats are climbing the stairs of the Dakota Building...

Synopsis for SEPULCHRE:

The fifth exciting adventure in a brand new series of linked multi-voice adventures for the Doctor and friends, based on characters from the classic TV series. It is written by the acclaimed novelist Paul Magrs. Further details to be confirmed.

The RRP £9.99 is currently reduced to £6.99 at AMAZON.CO.UK.

To mark Armistice Day, eyeofhorus.org.uk would like to remind our readers that the Royal British Legion (UK charity) has a unique audio/video download that is raising funds to support British servicemen and their families.

2 MINUTE SILENCE is a music track without music. For £1 (sterling) the track is available to download (a music track and a video track).

The video download includes David Tennant.

Please, download before Saturday 13 November 2010 as the aim is to make the track no 1 in the Official UK Music chart that is announced on the following day.

2 MINUTE SILENCE website for downloads

As a reminder of 2011 BBC AUDIO (via AUDIOGO) DOCTOR WHO releases, here's the current planned schedule:

• DOCTOR WHO AND THE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION - 06/01/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE JADE PYRAMID (11TH DOCTOR) - 06/01/2011
• DOCTOR WHO AND THE WAR GAMES - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE LOST TV EPISODES COLLECTION 2 - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - GENESIS OF THE DALEKS (RE-ISSUE) - 03/02/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE GEMINI CONTAGION (11TH DOCTOR) - 03/03/2011
• DOCTOR WHO AND THE RIBOS OPERATION - 03/03/2011
• DOCTOR WHO - THE HOUNDS OF ARTEMIS (11TH DOCTOR) - 07/04/2011

There will be two audiobooks relating to TORCHWOOD (these will be set before CHILDREN OF EARTH):

• TORCHWOOD - DEPARTMENT X - 03/03/2011
• TORCHWOOD - GHOST TRAIN - 03/03/2011

Following last week's announcement that BBC WORLDWIDE has confirmed that a permanent DOCTOR WHO exhibition charting the drama series' history will be open from 20 February 2011.

However, a limited number of fans will be able to preview the Exhibition ahead of the full public launch.

Be the first to step inside the TARDIS this spring by snapping up a limited edition preview ticket for the Doctor Who Experience. Exclusive preview packages go on sale at 9am on Monday 15th November, available from www.doctorwhoexperience.com /priority

The Doctor Who Experience will open on the 17th , 18th and 19th February 2011 ahead of the official public opening on 20th February allowing fans to experience the adventure before anyone else. In addition to being the first through the doors of the Doctor Who Experience , preview ticket holders will also receive special Doctor Who Experience limited edition merchandise created especially for these dates.

There are two types of limited edition preview tickets for either the 17th, 18th or 19th February 2011:

Sonic Screwdriver Ticket (Adult: £28.00 Child: £24.00) includes:

• A limited edition of the Doctor Who experience souvenir brochure
• A limited edition Doctor Who Experience souvenir ticket

TARDIS Ticket (Adult: £40.00 Child: £36.00) includes:

• A limited  edition of the Doctor Who Experience souvenir brochure
• A limited edition Doctor Who Experience souvenir ticket
• An exclusive preview edition laminate & lanyard set
• A limited edition Doctor Who Experience lithograph

Fans can book these exclusive preview tickets via www.doctorwhoexperience.com /priority on Monday 15th November, guaranteeing entry before anyone else to this thrilling experience, ahead of the general public.

Preview tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday the 15th November 2010 via www.doctorwhoexperience.com/priority - fans can also register their interest now at: www.doctorwhoexperience.com

Booking fees may apply

By the way, in 2012, the Earls Court Exhibition complex will be demolished so this will/may be the final DOCTOR WHO exhibition to visit the UK's capital.

THE TELEGRAPH (UK) has interviewed Matt Smith ahead of the launch of the DVD boxset of SERIES 5.

THE TELEGRAPH (UK)

On 22 November 2010, BBC WORLDWIDE (DIGITAL) is launching a DOCTOR WHO GAME APP for mobile phones.

Presently, due to commercial reasons there are no further details.

AUDIOGO - the home of BBC AUDIOBOOKS - is releasing DOCTOR WHO THE ESSENTIAL COMPANION as a tie-in to SERIES 5 on 18.11.2010.

A full review will appear shortly but, on the surface, the two-disc release seems (1) a waste of time and (2) a waste of cash(RRP £13.99) for fans as it the release a audio precis of the latest series using clips and a linking narration.

However, the two-hour 38-minute presentation is, quite frankly, addictive.

For older fans. it will transport you back to the 1960s, 1970s and/ 1980s as you listen to off-air tape cassette recordings of the CLASSIC SERIES before the invention of the VHS machine let alone the DVD machine or a Hard-drive. The release is, excuse the phrasing, an "essential companion" to car trips or journeys to work.

With the 2010 release schedule almost complete here's a brief reminder of those DVD released by BBC DVD, and an overview of those CLASSIC SERIES stories that are yet to be published in that format.

• SERIES 5 (three versions) - releasing 08.11.2010
• THE SEEDS OF DOOM
• REVISITATIONS volume 1
• TIME AND THE RANI
• REVENEGE OF THE CYBERMEN
• SILVER NEMESIS
• THE DOMINATORS
• THE KINGS'S DEMONS
• PLANET OF FIRE
• SERIES 5 - "Vanilla volumes"
• THE CREATURE FROM THE PIT
• THE TIME MONSTER
• UNDERWORLD
• THE HORNS OF NIMON
• THE CHASE/THE SPACE MUSEUM
• THE MASQUE OF MANDRAGORA
• SERIES 4 - THE COMPLETE SPECIALS

And stories (complete, partly complete or a combination of black & white with colour) pending release on DVD:

The First Doctor

• THE SENSORITES
• THE REIGN OF TERROR (4 of 6 episodes)
• THE PLANET OF GIANTS
• THE ARK
• THE GUNFIGHTERS
• THE TENTH PLANET (3 of 4 episodes)

The Second Doctor

• THE ICE WARRIORS (4 of 6 episodes)
• THE KROTONS

The Third Doctor

• THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH
• TERROR OF THE AUTONS
• THE MIND OF EVIL
• THE MUTANTS (31/01/2011 confirmed)
• THE COLONY IN SPACE
• THE DAEMONS
• DAY OF THE DALEKS
• INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS
• DEATH TO THE DALEKS
• PLANET OF SPIDERS

The Fourth Doctor

• TERROR OF THE ZYGONS
• THE ANDROID INVASION
• THE FACE OF EVIL
• THE SUN MAKERS
• NIGHTMARE OF EDEN
• SHADA
• MEGLOS (10/01/2011 confirmed)

The Fifth Doctor

• KINDA
• SNAKEDANCE
• THE AWAKENING
• FRONTIOS

The Seventh Doctor

• PARADISE TOWERS
• DRAGONFIRE
• THE HAPPINESS PATROL
• THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE GALAXY

Any errors, contact us.

CHARACTER OPTIONS continue to release action figures relating to DOCTOR WHO SERIES 5 at a rate. The figures are RRP £8.99 or less.

This month they have released:

• SILURIAN RESTAC
• SILURIAN WARRIOR
• CYBERMEN (STONE-EFFECT)
• AUTON ROMAN SOLDIER (STONE-EFFECT)

These toys are available from PLAY.COM and FORBIDDEN PLANET

Link FORBIDDEN PLANET page for order details

BBC WORLDWIDE has confirmed that a permanent DOCTOR WHO exhibition charting the drama series' history will be open from February 2011.

The exhibition will open in London (Olympia, Earls Court) before moving to a "permanent" location in Cardiff from 2012. The exhibition space is huge with several TARDIS console sets and costumes from both the CLASSIC SERIES and NEW SERIES.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday the 18th of November 2010 - www.doctorwhoexperience.com

Door Price / Advance peak / Advance off-peak

Adult: £20.00 /  £18.00  / £15.50
Child (5 to 16): £15.50 /£14.00 /£12.50
Under 5's are free 
Family of 4:  £62.00 / £52.00 /£46.00

Here's the official Press Release (and promotional images):

BBC Worldwide invite you on a journey of a lifetime.  Step inside the TARDIS this spring to take a starring role in your very own Doctor Who adventure at the Doctor Who Experience.

Opening in London on Sunday 20th February 2011 at London 's Olympia Two venue, the Doctor Who Experience promises to be an unmissable adventure featuring an exhilarating and unique walk-through experience and an awe-inspiring exhibition.

Visitors will be invited to step through a crack in time to become the Doctor's companion on an adventure.  Their challenge will be to reunite the Doctor with the TARDIS whilst fending off threats from a Dalek spaceship and Weeping Angels along the way, before exploring the wonders of Doctor Who at an out of this world exhibition. 

The Doctor Who Experience allows visitors to join the Doctor on a journey through time and space , encountering some of the best-loved and scariest monsters from the hit international television series. Special scenes filmed with current Doctor Matt Smith combine with amazing special effects and the chance to enter a recreation of the modern TARDIS interior topped off by a breathtaking 3-D finale. The walk through experience is a fully contained interactive Doctor Who adventure, which puts the public at the heart of the action. 

The exhibition element of the Doctor Who Experience will chart the success of the show from the first series in 1963 to the most recent episodes starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.  Displays will include items never seen before including original costumes, the Tom Baker TARDIS police box and two authentic TARDIS sets from the eras of David Tennant and Peter Davison.  The public will also be able to get up close and personal with iconic sets from recent series, including the Pandorica Box and Chair and confront numerous monsters including several generations of the Daleks and Cybermen as well as Silurians an Ice Warrior and a Zygon.

Steven Moffat, Executive Producer and show runner for the hit television series comments: "The Doctor Who Experience is a fan's dream come true - a fully interactive adventure that will allow viewers of the show to get as close as possible to some of the scariest monsters from the series. It will also be the first time that Doctor Who artefacts from all the show's 47 year history - classic and new - will be on display together, many of them being seen for the first time. And never mind that, this is the day the Doctor teaches you how to fly the TARDIS through time and space, and takes you into battle with all his deadliest enemies in a brand new adventure.  So steady your nerves and bring your own sofa - the Doctor needs you!" 

Doctor Who star, Matt Smith, who has recorded a series of special, new scenes exclusive to the Doctor Who Experience comments: "The whole concept of the Doctor Who Experience, which will give fans a chance to star in their very own Doctor Who adventure, is massively exciting! I hope as many people as possible enjoy boarding the TARDIS next year to embark upon an exhilarating and sometimes terrifying adventure through time and space."

BBC Worldwide is pleased to announce that it is planning to relocate the Doctor Who Experience to a long term home in Cardiff in 2012.

The Doctor Who Experience promises to be an unmissable adventure for the whole family to enjoy.

WETA, a creative studio based in New Zealand, has agreed with the original FORBIDDEN PLANET (the UK's leading sci-fantasy retailer both on the high street and online) to sell their range of highly detailed & accurate DOCTOR WHO statuettes.

The designs are based upon the CLASSIC SERIES and NEW SERIES and are, quite frankly, stunning. The original RRP have been reduced across the range and would provide an ideal investment for DOCTOR WHO fans, as well as being a quality gift for fans this Christmas.

Pre-order for a release on 15 November 2010.

These items are officially licenced by BBC WORLDWIDE.

Link FORBIDDEN PLANET page for order details