New Series Publicity Round-Up

As the broadcast of the new series looms closer, the Doctor Who publicity machine has been working overdrive.The launch of the third series took place tonight in Mayfair, London, screening the first two episodes to assorted press. As well as David Tennant, Freema Agyeman and Russell T Davies, a variety of other stars were in attendance, including Jonathan Ross, Dawn French, Adam Woodyatt and Sophia Myles. BBC Wales featured a report of the launch in their 10.25pm bulletin, highlighting the introduction of Martha Jones and the Welsh locations featured in the series. Radio One DJ Jo Whiley went to the press launch tonight, and will be reviewing the event on her show tomorrow between 10.00 and 12.45. If you miss it, the show will be available on listen again here for the next seven days.Newsround will also have a report on the press launch tomorrow.There will also be a variety of appearances by various members of the cast and crew over the next week, and here's a round-up of television and radio shows to look out for.Freema Agyeman will be appearing on Blue Peter on Tuesday, 27th March, and viewers have been invited to submit questions. Freema will also be a guest with Simon Mayo on Radio Five Live on Friday, 30th March between 1 and 4pm. Update: Freema will also be appearing on BBC Breakfast next week (date to be confirmed).Also on 27th March, Russell T Davies will be appearing on the Richard and Judy Show on Channel Four from 5pm. John Barrowman will also be appearing with Richard and Judy on 29th March, and on the Charlotte Church Show on 30th March from 10pm.David Tennant will be a guest with Fearne and Reggie on Radio One on Saturday 24th March from 7-10am. He will also be appearing on the Chris Moyles show on Radio One and with Steve Wright on Radio Two next week, but the dates have not yet been announced. These shows are available for seven days after broadcast via listen again.Catherine Tate will be interviewing David Tennant for the new series of Chain Reaction. This is being recorded on 24th March, and there is no information yet on when this will be broadcast on Radio Four. David Tennant will also be the interviewer on the next show, but it is not yet known who his guest will be.A repeat of The Sarah Jane Adventures has also been scheduled for Saturday 31st March on the CBBC channel from 4pm, preceding the broadcast of Smith and Jones.

Series Four Confirmed???

Doctor Who will return for a fourth series in 2008, executive producer and writer Russell T Davies has confirmed.
Speaking at the premiere of the third series in London, Davies said: "Series four is officially existing. I'm very excited, but we have known for ages."

But he refused to say whether the star of the hit sci-fi show, David Tennant, would return in the lead role.

The third series, which co-stars Freema Agyeman as new assistant Martha Jones, starts on BBC One on 31 March.

Her character replaces former assistant Rose Tyler, who was written out at the end of the second series after Billie Piper decided to leave the show.

"Billie did a tremendous job," said Agyeman. "I know no-one likes change but the nature of the show is change and hopefully fans will be cool with that and give me a chance."

Davies spoke glowingly of his new star. "I just think people will open their hearts and let her in - they'll love it."

Stars including Jonathan Ross, Jo Whiley and Fame Academy coaches David and Carrie Grant attended the premiere in central London.

They saw the first episode of the latest series, which sees Doctor Who share a kiss with his new assistant.

But Tennant, who plays the time-travelling hero, would not talk to reporters about his role in future series.

"Do you know how many times I have been asked that question? Do you know how many times I have answered it?" said the actor.
He was more willing to speak of his affection for Cardiff, where the hit series is filmed.

"Cardiff is a great city and has been very good to us," he said. "It's lovely to film there because everyone is so enthusiastic.

"You try filming in London and everyone's so mean about it and complains that there is a huge camera truck parking in their street.

"Everyone in Cardiff seems to welcome us with open arms. God bless you all, frankly."

SFX exclusives

Sci-fi and fantasy magazine SFX is celebrating the return of Doctor Who with world-exclusive gifts.Both its 132-page SFX Collection Doctor Who special and the May issue of SFX will be covermounted with Who goodies only available with the titles. The special goes on sale on Wednesday, March 28. It will give readers a classic Doctor Who novel - one of 15 - from Target. They will be original editions no longer available in the shops and exclusive to readers, says the publisher.The SFX special will have news and gossip from the 2007 series plus episode guides for the 2005 and 2006 series, the two Christmas specials and Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. In the May issue of SFX, on sale Wednesday, April 11, fans will have the first chance to get hold of the new Doctor Who Sticker Collection album.It is full of never-before-seen images from the latest series, says publisher Future, which adds that in a world exclusive the album, from Merlin, will be offered to readers one week before it goes on sale across the UK.The following June issue of SFX will also be covermounted with a pack of Doctor Who stickers from Merlin.

DW event in Northern Ireland

A one-day Doctor Who convention is to take place in Northern Ireland in May.Organiser UT Events says Genesis will see Colin Baker, Louise Jameson and Annette Badland among the guests.It will be held at the Park Avenue Hotel in Belfast on Sunday, May 27 from 9am until midnight.The convention will also see guest Q&A sessions, autograph sessions, photograph sessions and prize giveaways, say the organisers.More details at UT Events.

Big Finish News

For the latest news on current and forthcoming Big Finish
releases check out the Big Finish web site at
http://www.bigfinis h.com.

The website has recently been updated with...

NEW SHORT TRIPS COMING SOON
Two new `Doctor Who' short story anthologies are on their
way. `Short Trips: Destination Prague' (May) and `Short
Trips: Snapshots' (June). Authors include Helen Raynor, Todd
McCaffrey, Brian Keene and Brian Dooley. Check out the
covers and details now, plus the sample story, `Gold and
Black Ooze' by Robert Hood.

I.D. – COMING IN APRIL
April's `Doctor Who' audio drama release is `ID' by Eddie
Robson, starring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor. You can
now check out the cover and sample the trailer.

EXOTRON – COMING IN MAY
Peter Davison stars as the Fifth Doctor with Nicola Bryant
as Peri in May's `Doctor Who' release, `Exotron'. Cast
photos, the CD cover and story details have been added to
the site.

HORROR OF GLAM ROCK – RELEASED
`Horror of Glam Rock', the third of the new Eighth Doctor
mini-series of single CD plays, has been released. The CD
includes the specially recorded song, 'Children of
Tomorrow'.

SON OF THE DRAGON – CAST DETAILS
`Beau Brummell' and `Rome' star, James Purefoy guest-stars
as Dracula opposite Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison in
September's `Son of the Dragon'. Check out cast details and
photos now.

THE TUB FULL OF CATS – OUT NOW
The first release in the eighth series of `Bernice
Summerfield' audio dramas, `The Tub Full of Cats' has now
been released. All preorders have been sent out.

END OF SILENCE – OUT NOW
The penultimate release in the fifth series of `Tomorrow
People' audio dramas, `End of Silence', has now been
released. All preorders have been sent out.

NEW EIGHTH DOCTOR CD COVERS
The CD covers for the new Eighth Doctor adventures,
`Immortal Beloved', `Phobos' and `No More Lies' have been
added to the site. `Immortal Beloved' will be released in
April.

RACHEL – COMING IN MAY
The double-CD, final release in the fifth series of
`Tomorrow People' audios, `Rachel', will be released in May.
Louise Jameson guest-stars. Check out the CD cover now.

THE JUDAS GIFT – COMING IN APRIL
Benny faces the Draconians in April's `Bernice Summerfield'
audio drama release, `The Judas Gift'. Check out the cover,
cast and story details on the site now.

DVD PRICES SLASHED
`Big Finish' have now cut the price of its `Tomorrow People'
original TV series DVDs from £15.99 to just £5.99 (£7.50
o/s). Grab them while stocks last.

WHO'S HE SNOGGING NOW?

IT looks like The Doctor is making up for lost time.
The 900-year-old Time Lord has been on our screens for 44 years - but the closest he ever got to romance was a quick snog in the 1996 TV movie.
But last year, the Doctor (David Tennant) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) shared a kiss - just before she had to leave him for good. But it looks like he's not wasting time getting over her in the latest Doctor Who - which starts on March 31 - as he ends up in a clinch with sidekick Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman).

The Dalek's take part in Gang Show

A LIFE-SIZE Dalek will be part of a Doctor Who sketch in a variety show performed by a group of guides and scouts.The Letchworth and Baldock District Gang Show are busy rehearsing for the show which will take place at St Francis College, on Broadway, in Letchworth GC, at 7.30pm tomorrow (Friday, March 23) and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday.Tickets, at £5 each, are on sale at Millets, in Commerce Way, Letchworth GC, or by calling: 01462 671183.

This is not a kiss but a genetic transfer...guess Who said that?

Doctor Who and his new assistant enjoy a lingering onscreen kiss in the new series of the hit BBC show.

The Doctor, played by David Tennant, kisses Martha Jones, newcomer Freema Agyeman, on the lips but then says: "It means nothing, it was just a genetic transfer."
The kiss is in the first episode of the third series, which had a special screening at the Mayfair hotel. In later episodes, the Doctor gets married - while a jealous Martha looks on. He is believed to wed a character played by comedy actress Jessica Stevenson in a "flashback".
In a comment that will get fans guessing, Tennant said: "Yes. He gets married. Well, he doesn't not. Actually, it's quite difficult to answer that question truthfully."

Londoner and former Crossroads actress Agyeman, 27, is making her debut as the Time Lord's latest assistant, replacing Rose Tyler who was played by Billie Piper.
The action begins with Martha, a trainee doctor, finding herself - and her hospital - transported to the moon. Agyeman said of her role: "Hands on heart, I didn't have Billie's character in mind when I took this on but looking at it now I can see there are similarities.
"But the Doctor is always going to look for the same sort of thing in an assistant. There's got to be a feistiness, you're going to get a happy-go-lucky, bolshy kind of person."
BBC head of fiction Jane Tranter said of Agyeman: "She comes bursting on to our screens with intelligence, fearlessness, charisma and beauty. She tackles the Doctor like no other companion has done before."
Writer and executive producer Russell T Davies confirmed that there would be a fourth series, but refused to answer speculation that Tennant will bow out.
Jonathan Ross, Dawn French and Catherine Tatewere at the screening.

Doctor Who: at the cutting edge of music technology

An excellent archive clip, this: it features a chap from the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop explaining how the Doctor Who theme was created using the Yamaha CS-80 and Arp Odyssey synths. See how proud he is of his CS-80's whopping eight notes of polyphony. Bless.

No HD for Who

Fans have been delighted to find BBC Three's "Torchwood" in high-definition digital quality. But while it might seem like a logical progression that "Torchwood's" parent, "Doctor Who," would follow suit, don't hold your breath.
"We do have conversations about it, but I don't think we're ready to be on HD," Julie Gardner, an executive producer for "Doctor Who," told The Stage. "I think it would take more time for us to do our post-production, and I think it would be more costly. And I genuinely love the look that we've managed to achieve with our [directors of photography] and our grade on 'Doctor Who.'"
When a show moves over to HD, even the smallest visual details because highly important to clean up. Because "Doctor Who" is so special effects-oriented, the production crews would have to have the effects finished down to the most minute detail, Gardner said.
"We do so many effects on 'Doctor Who' compared to 'Torchwood' -- I can't think what the exact ratio is, but if we're doing a hundred effects on an episode of 'Doctor Who,' we're doing ... 20 or 10 on 'Torchwood.'"
The non-HD version of "Doctor Who" Season 3 premieres March 31 on BBC One.

By MICHAEL HINMAN

The Doctor returns with a sassy sidekick.

She stacked Doctor Who DVDs on shelves at Blockbuster, but Freema Agyeman has since entered the Tardis, becoming the Timelord’s new assistant.
The 27-year-old replaces Billie Piper when the series returns this month. After years of audition disappointments, the little-known actress is playing the medical student Martha Jones. The Doctor and the medic are thrown together when the Royal New Hope Hospital in London is transported to the Moon, and the pair are soon battling a galactic clan.
Agyeman, who was brought up in North London by her Iranian mother and Ghanaian father, is about to become one of the most recognisable faces on British television. She has already been modelled in plastic for a Martha action figure.
Agyeman had a minor role in last year’s series and believed she was auditioning for a role in Torchwood when she was summoned to meet the writing team in Cardiff. “I was absolutely elated,” she said after the truth was revealed. “I hadn’t allowed myself to entertain the thought that I would get it.”
Martha is expected to be a “sassier” sidekick than her predecessor, Rose Tyler. Piper has since become an acclaimed West End actress.
David Tennant, who returns in the title role, said: “There is a different dynamic, because the Doctor is not looking for a new best friend. Or, at least, he thinks he isn’t.”
The Doctor and Martha are destined to meet Shakespeare, alien Plasmavores and a sinister intelligence at work in 1930s New York, where the Daleks are once again ready to wreak havoc. Tennant said: “The scale is bigger, the locations are more extraordinary.”
Phil Collinson, the producer, said: “The biggest pressure is coming up with new, different and scary monsters. This year there’s probably a bigger selection.”
Agyeman worked shifts at a video shop so that she could get time off for auditions. Her casting will help to stem criticism from those, Jonathan Ross among them, who questioned the BBC’s commitment to putting ethnic minorities in leading roles. Martha is the first black assistant in the show’s 43-year history.

Lucas 'would love to be Doctor Who'

Funnyman Matt Lucas wants to play the Doctor in Doctor Who, according to his partner Kevin McGee.
With David Tennant and the executive producer of the show Russell T Davies keeping tight-lipped about who will be the Doctor in the fourth series, Matt has thrown his hat into the ring.Speaking at the premiere for series three of Doctor Who, Kevin said the Little Britain star would love to be in the long-running show. He said: "I think he would like to be the Doctor and yes I can see him playing that role."He added "He (Matt) would love to be in Doctor Who and I would love him to as well."Kevin said it was a "complete dream" to star in a Doctor Who."Unfortunately I lack any acting talent. I would have to be behind the scenes if anything," he added.http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho(Doctor Who)

Press kickoff for WHO begins

Doctor Who's David Tennant showed off his new assistant as the show's executive producer confirmed there would be a fourth series.
A string of celebrities stepped out to welcome Freema Agyeman who will play the new sidekick Martha Jones in the third
series with David Tennant as the Doctor.But a question mark still looms over whether David Tennant will continue his role. Neither David nor Russell T Davies - the executive producer and one of the writers - would answer who the fourth series Doctor would be.When asked if he would return, David said: "Do you know how many times I have been asked that question? Do you know how many times I have answered it?" then he smiled.Speaking about his new assistant, he said: "The big story is Freema Agyeman is Martha Jones which is the big event of series three."Finishing one relationship is always difficult, but then you plunge right into another one, that's what I find works best."Freema said: "Billie (Piper) did a tremendous job. I know no-one likes change but the nature of the show is change and hopefully fans will be cool with that and give me a chance."There are similarities between Martha and Rose. She's not a wall flower and there is a lovely and different relationship with her and the Doctor."It's been an amazing experience. I did not know what I was auditioning for until the last minute."The fans outside were so warm and welcoming."

The Weakest Link - Who Special

The BBCi Doctor Who website have provided more info on The Weakest Link Who Special.

The party starts on BBC One on Friday 30 March at 8.30pm with the screening of a special Doctor Who edition of The Weakest Link.

David Tennant, Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, John Barrowman, Nicholas Briggs, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Claire Rushbrook, Andrew Hayden-Smith and K9 all took part in the special, filmed late last year. Hopefully none of them were zapped onto a Dalek spaceship at any point.

Watch clips from The Weakest Link - Doctor Who Special.

S3: Press Launch - Tonight!

Prepare for a Doctor Who Media frenzy as tonight sees the Series Three Press Launch.

Members of the Cast, Crew and Press will descend upon London's Mayfair hotel to attend the Doctor Who Series Three Press Launch which kicks off at 7:00pm.

David Tennant and Freema Agyeman will be there as well as Russell T. Davies and one or two other familiar faces.

One thing is for sure... Thursday is gonna be one busy day for updates, as we expect a deluge of new publicity photos, and information for Series Three.

Win assorted goodies

Design a monster or alien and you could win Doctor Who and Torchwood goodies courtesy of Lastbroadcast.co.uk. Click on the link for full details of the prizes. Entrants must e-mail Lastbroadcast.co.uk with their details and design.The organisers say: "The image can be a drawing/painting you've done and scanned in, a picture you've done on your computer, a photo of yourself making a scary face or dressed up in a costume - anything really."And the design can be as rubbish or amazing as you wish! The best and funniest entries will be displayed on the site - and don't forget to think of a name for your alien or monster."The competition closes on June 25, 2007.Also on the website is a link to an interview with Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter, Susan Foreman.

Wilkie link continues

The Manchester Evening News has an interview with Martin Wilkie, son of the late classic era visual effects designer Bernard Wilkie, in his capacity as a special effects adviser and director of the Up Close exhibition, which opens in the city at the end of March.Martin, whose surname is spelled "Wylkie" in the article, tells how he and his brother (Simon) acted as guinea pigs when their father brought home prototypes and new characters from Doctor Who to see how scary they found them.He says of the exhibition: "These are all genuine props from the series, so it is as near to behind the scenes as you can get. The kids won't be too scared - we find it is the parents who are generally more scared than the kids."The online article has a gallery of seven images.Bernard Wilkie, who co-founded the BBC's special effects department with Jack Kine, died in May 2002. Kine died in January 2005.

Series 3 start date confirmed

BBC One has transmitted a trailer confirming that Series Three will begin transmission in the UK on the 31st March 2007In addition the BBC has updated the official Doctor Who Website .The main page features a still of David Tennant and Freema Agyeman against backings of various locations from the new series.The site also includes a countdown indicating the first programme will begin at 7pm.

Colin Baker Back On Stage

The new summer season at the Theatre Royal Brighton has been announced. A special line-up to mark the historical venue's 200th year kicks off with a world premiere of Indian legend Mahabharata on May 22—a fusion of dance, puppetry and music from the award-winning Nitin Sawhney.The season includes musicals such as Blonde Bombshells of 1943 and Dancing Queen and operas Aida and Tosca, alongside theatre classics such as The Railway Children.At the beginning of July the Alan Ayckbourne play Bedroom Farce with Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and Natalie Cassidy (Eastenders), will be performed.The anniversary celebrations will culminate in a "This Is Her Life" Gala on November 4—centred around a journey through the theatre's 200 years.To book tickets call 08700 606650.To mark the landmark 200th birthday The Argus and BBC Southern Counties Radio are collecting 200 Stories For 200 Years. Email your memories of the theatre to theatreroyal@theargus.co.uk.

Doctor Who News from the BBC

Two things to note from BBC News today. First the BBC Doctor Who website wants to know what is the scariest monster from the new series, to vote CLICK HERE. Second BBC News reports that the DVD of Catherine Tate's Comic Relief sketches has recorded the most advance orders in the history of Amazon.co.uk. The DVD will be released on 16 April and will include the sketch from last Friday with David Tennant, to read the article CLICK HERE.