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Helicon Arts Cooperative, a cinematic arts foundation and production company dedicated to innovative storytelling, is pleased to announce ‘Star Trek: Picard’ actress Olivia Youngers has been cast in the mystery thriller ‘Contre-Coup’ feature film, due to begin filming in 2025. Youngers will star with actresses Rekha Sharma (Battlestar Galactica, Transplant, Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Nicola Bryant (Doctor Who). Actor Rico E. Anderson (Truth Be Told, Swat) is also attached.

Written by James Kerwin (Yesterday Was a Lie), who will also direct, ‘Contre-Coup’ tells the story of a brilliant but troubled particle theorist desperately searching for answers as to why the only life he knows — and the only woman he’s ever loved — are disappearing before his eyes.

“I’d been kicking around the idea for a spiritual successor to my last feature,‘ Yesterday Was a Lie, ’for a few years. ‘Contre-Coup’ is a sci-fi-leaning film that deals with some weighty and timely social issues.

Warning: This article contains Major Spoilers for the Doctor Who season 14 finale.

To understand Doctor Who season 14's finale, watching Tales of the Tardis is crucial for context on the Memory Tardis. Tales of the Tardis provides explanations on the purpose and abilities of the Memory Tardis, which the Fifteenth Doctor only briefly touches upon. The Memory Tardis has a significant narrative impact in Doctor Who season 14's finale, amplifying its role beyond the spinoff.

Doctor Whos season 14 finale introduces a concept that will make no sense to viewers who havent watched Doctor Whos newest spinoff show. The last episode of Doctor Who season 14 has finally released, wrapping up a thrilling debut season for Ncuti Gatwas Fifteenth Doctor. Like past finales, the ending of Doctor Who season 14 solves mysteries like the identity of Rubys mother while continuing to build the lore of the Whoniverse.

Sutekhs survival is explained by the...

Colin Baker's Sixth Doctor was poorly received due to his abrasive character and negative interactions with his companion. Baker's talents were underutilized during his short tenure, but his potential was finally showcased in expanded media. The poor handling of the Sixth Doctor during a tumultuous time in Doctor Who's history resulted in a significant drop in ratings, partially leading to the show's cancellation.

Colin Baker's time as the Sixth Doctor in Doctor Who was very much a waste of both the actor's talents and the character's potential. Baker's tenure lasted for just two seasons, between 1984 and 1986, and, with a total of only eight televised stories under his belt, the Sixth Doctor had one of the shortest runs of all the Doctors. Additionally, Colin Baker's take on the character rarely ranks highly on lists of the show's best leads.

Doctor Who experienced a tumultuous time during the 1980s,...

As you may have seen, Steven Moffat is writing for Doctor Who again (and I bet Tumblr are glad Cloud servers exist now). According to showrunner Russell T. Davies’ Instagram, he contacted both his successors/predecessors in the role and Chris Chibnall turned the offer down in favour of writing a novel, whereas Moffat agreed and, Davies teases, wrote a series 14 episode in which “a perfectly ordinary word [is] turned into something Terrifying and it’s all in outer space and there’s a woman and Oh My God”.

As we saw during lockdown, Davies and Moffat never really stopped having ideas for Doctor Who stories. While it may seem unprecedented to have a former showrunner return to write an episode, it was fairly common during Doctor Who’s original run. If we take the Script Editor role of the original run as comparable to that of the contemporary showrunner (it...

Sixth Doctor actor Colin Baker praised David Tennant's return in the 60th-anniversary special of Doctor Who, calling it "phenomenal" and a good example of the show's tone. Baker expressed his excitement for Russell T Davies' new era of the show, stating that if it continues like the first episode, it will last forever. Despite not being part of the multi-Doctor story of the anniversary special, Baker has contributed to Doctor Who's celebrations through his involvement in Tales of the Tardis and Big Finish's audio dramas.

David Tennant's Doctor Who 60th-anniversary return gets a glowing review from Sixth Doctor actor Colin Baker, calling "The Star Beast" "phenomenal" and a good example of what Russell T Davies' new era can hold. Tennant will portray the new fourteenth incarnation of the Time Lord alongside returning companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) across three specials that will air in November and December. Baker portrayed...

Tales of the Tardis opens up exciting possibilities for future episodes, with various Doctor and companion pairings to explore. Reuniting characters like Jenny and the Tenth Doctor could provide closure and new storylines for Doctor Who fans. Bringing back Martha Jones and the Master would offer more insight into Martha's side of the story from when Harold Saxon took over the world.

Tales of the Tardis opens a whole new universe of Doctor Who, with many tantalizing pairings now possible should future episodes happen. In preparation for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, the BBC has released Tales Of The Tardis. The show follows pairings of classic Doctor Who Doctors and companions, and not only involves the actors reprising their roles, but also combines individual older episodes to create new anthology stories.

Tales of the Tardis sees the return of the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and Tegan (Janet Fielding), the...

Doctor Who: Tales of the Tardis introduces a brand-new Memory Tardis that connects all the Doctors and companions, allowing them to reminisce about past adventures. The Memory Tardis is a method of therapy, helping the Doctor and companions confront past losses and sad partings. The Memory Tardis is a powerful machine fueled by memories, providing an opportunity for reunions, new adventures, and the potential to bring back characters from the Doctor's past.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Doctor Who: Tales of the Tardis.In Tales of the Tardis, Doctor Who introduces a brand-new type of Tardis that connects every incarnation of the Doctor and their companions. Written by Russell T Davies, Phil Ford, and Pete McTighe, the six new episodes reunite Doctors and companions to reminisce about their time in the Tardis. These reminiscences effectively act as bookends to feature-length edits of classic serials like "The Curse of Fenric", "The Mind Robber", and "The Three Doctors.

If Doctor Who fans ever felt hard done by during any of the show’s previous big anniversaries then the 60th is here to soothe spirits, hand out cherished gifts, and generally make a bloody big hair-ruffling fuss of the lot of us.

First came news of David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s return in three anniversary specials, then came the ‘roughly 8 million episodes of Doctor Who are coming to BBC iPlayer on November 1’ announcement, then they brought back Doctor Who Confidential under a different name, and now…

…three Classic era Doctors are returning alongside eight former Doctor Who Companions (plus The Sarah Jane Adventures’ Clyde Langer) for new series Tales of the Tardis.

New Scenes, Classic Who Cast

Not a behind-the-scenes documentary, and not standalone adventures, the six-part series will pair up the stars of classic Who acting in new scenes together, in character, wrapped around episodes from six existing serials.

Tales of the Tardis is a great way for new viewers to get a taste of Doctor Who's classic era and understand its influence on the series today. The omnibus-inspired format of the series makes it more accessible to modern audiences who may not be used to the serialized format of the classic series. The newly filmed scenes in Tales of the Tardis offer a chance for familiar characters to return and tie up loose ends, while also introducing new viewers to other parts of the Doctor Who universe.

New Doctor Who spin-off series Tales of the Tardis has been revealed, as previous Doctor and companion actors reprise their roles to reflect on key stories from the show's classic era. The classic era of Doctor Who ran from the show's debut on November 23 1963 with "An Unearthly Child", and came to a close with the third episode of the 1989 storyline...

It’s a good time to be a Doctor Who fan. Over 800 episodes of the iconic sci-fi series will soon be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, and they’ll be joined by a brand-new Doctor Who spinoff series which will reunite classic Doctor Who duos, including classic Doctors and their companions.

Tales of the Tardis will span six-episodes, with each featuring a different duo, with brand new scenes woven together with classic episodes to create feature-length omnibus episodes. Reprising their roles for the Doctor Who spinoff series are; Maureen O’Brien as Vicki and Peter Purves as Steven, Frazer Hines as Jamie and Wendy Padbury as Zoe, Katy Manning as Jo and Daniel Anthony as Clyde, Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Janet Fielding as Tegan, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri, and Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace.

Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor had a misconceived reputation of being "nice," when in reality, he often displayed dismissiveness and overt hostility towards his companions. The Fifth Doctor's era was characterized by a dark and unpleasant tone, leading Tegan to leave the Tardis due to the horror and violence. The death of Adric left little impact on the Doctor, showcasing his coldness. Davison's Doctor highlighted that the Time Lord couldn't always afford to be nice, as he faced morally challenging situations and made questionable decisions, such as causing a massacre and attempting to shoot Davros. The era proved the existence of darkness in the Doctor Who universe.

Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor always had a reputation as being too nice, which is a popular Doctor Who misconception. Sandwiched between an irascible Tom Baker and the brash Colin Baker, it's easy to see how Davison earned his "nice guy" reputation. However,...

Sylvester McCoy fought to give his co-star Bonnie Langford a proper sendoff scene after she decided to leave Doctor Who in 1987. Langford's character Mel Bush was initially unpopular, but she delivered strong performances despite limited material. Langford's portrayal left a lasting impression, leading to her return in 2022 and McCoy's insistence on a farewell scene for her.

Doctor Who actor Sylvester McCoy, who portrayed the Seventh Doctor, revealed that he vehemently persuaded the showrunners to give his companion co-star a proper sendoff scene after her exit from the show. Bonnie Langford played Mel Bush, a 20th-century computer programmer who traveled with the Sixth and Seventh Doctors and initially replaced Nicola Bryant during the "Trial of a Time Lord" storyline. After appearing on the show between 1986 and 1987, Langford decided to leave, after which she was replaced by Sophie Aldred, who played the Doctor’s companion until it was cancelled in 1989.

Speaking to RadioTimes.

Since 2005, modern Doctor Who has taken a very different approach to regeneration that forgets the disturbing truth of its real-world origins. Introduced in 1966, the concept of regeneration ensured the longevity of Doctor Who when actor William Hartnell stepped down from the role due to ill health and enmity with his producers. Since then, regeneration has allowed Doctor Who to recast its lead character multiple times, with each regeneration becoming a relaunch for the show.

From William Hartnell to Ncuti Gatwa, the Doctor has regenerated at least 15 times, not including the glib fireworks display of the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in "The Lie of the Land", or the Tenth Doctor's regeneration into the Tenth Doctor in "Journey's End". The more casual approach to regeneration in Doctor Who's modern era has occasionally run the risk of removing any threat to the character. Chris Chibnall attempted to restore some horror to the concept...

Barbara Shelley, an acclaimed British horror movie actress, has died at age 88 after contracting Covid-19.

Shelley’s agent, Thomas Bowington, told the U.K.’s press association that the actress spent two weeks in the hospital before Christmastime battling coronavirus. He added, “it’s most likely Covid is going to come up on the death certificate.”

Shelley was best known for her roles in classic horror films produced by London-based Hammer Film Productions (better known as Hammer Horror), including “The Gorgon,” “The Pit” and “Quatermass.”

She also starred alongside Christopher Lee in the 1966 movie “Dracula: Prince of Darkness,” directed by Terence Fisher. With that role, Shelley helped launch Hammer Horror’s productions into the pop culture lexicon and came to be known as the “Queen of Hammer.”

In 1984, Shelley joined the 21st season of BBC’s intergalactic sci-fi series “Dr. Who,” playing the role of Sorasta in the show’s “Planet of Fire” serial.

Barbara Shelley, a renowned British horror movie actress and Doctor Who star, has died at the age of 88 after contracting coronavirus.

Shelley was best known for her work in horror films made by British production outfit Hammer. She starred alongside Christopher Lee in 1966’s Dracula: Prince of Darkness, while other notable films included Rasputin: The Mad Monk and Quatermass And The Pit.

Shelley also did plenty of TV work, most notably appearing in a string of 1984 Doctor Who episodes, in which she played Sorasta in the Planet of Fire story. Peter Davison was playing the Doctor during her time on the show. Co-star Nicola Bryant tweeted:

So very sad to hear of the passing of #BarbaraShelley. A darling person and a talented actress. When we worked together on Planet of Fire she was so kind to me. She gave me a little owl, still in my possession and some good advice.

Sixth Doctor and Peri box set – currently due for release Aug 2020 Four new adventures featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown are coming in August 2020, set after the adventure “Trial of a Time Lord” and the Big Finish adventure “The Rani Elite”. Scott Handcock (producer/director) told us more: “Ever since the Sixth …

The post Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant reunite for four More Adventures appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.

The best fan-made web-series has come to an end. To Boldly Go: Part 2 was released this week and it not only concludes the show in style, it also brings the 5-year mission of the Starship enterprise to a solid, entertaining end.

It was a bittersweet moment watching the final episode of Star Trek Continues. On one had, it was great to see this excellent series get wrapped up so well, but it was also sad to realize that there won’t be any further episodes. The purpose of the show was bridge the gap between the end of the classic 1966-69 TV series (“Turnabout Intruder” was the final original series episode) and big screen cinematic adventures, which it does very well. It was a great ride, while it lasted.

Vic Mignogna, the executive producer/writer, who portrays Captain Kirk on the show, explains what he wanted to accomplish with this last episode.

Part one of the final episode for the Web’s finest fan-made series came out this week, and as usual, it does not disappoint. As Star Trek Continues warps to its conclusion, long-time Trek fans are treated to a wonderful trip back to the very beginning of the classic series.

The latest episode of Stc, “To Boldly Go” (a homage to the famous opening narrative to Classic Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation) is a fun trip into the Trek universe that pays homage to “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, the original 1966 pilot episode for Star Trek. (Okay, that was actually the second pilot, the first being “The Cage”, starring Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike, but I digress.) It shows the fidelity and affection that the makers of this show have for the source material; which is why they chose to end their series that way Star Trek began.

Pete Dillon-Trenchard Jun 24, 2017

Spoilers ahoy, as we dig through the many callbacks and references in World Enough And Time...

This article contains lots and lots of Doctor Who spoilers.

See related Twin Peaks season 3 episode 7 review: There’s A Body All Right Twin Peaks season 3 episode 6 review: Don’t Die Twin Peaks season 3 episode 5 review: Case Files

Pain… Pain… Pain… That’s one of the main emotions I experienced while watching this week’s (rather excellent) Doctor Who, as I knew this weekly round-up of references, similarities and generally interesting ‘stuff’ was going to be a whopper. That doesn’t mean I haven’t missed anything, though, so if you spot something I’ve not mentioned, do the honourable thing and leave it in the comments section below...

Poll Winners’ Party

So, Genesis Of The Cybermen, then. In case you missed the episode’s biggest sledgehammer of a reference,...

Simon Brew Oct 10, 2016

From Doctor Who and The FiveIsh Doctors to Campion and Button Moon: we chat to the fifth Doctor, Mr Peter Davison...

Ah, the mighty Peter Davison. The Fifth Doctor, All Creatures Great And Small, Campion, and living in a house with Freddy from Rainbow are just some of the topics we chatted to him about, ahead of the publication of his terrific autobiography, Is There Life Outside The Box.

We’ve got a fair bit to get through, so without further ado….

I got a sense you thoroughly enjoyed writing this book, once you were over some initial research-y hurdles. Would that be fair?

Yeah, that’s fair. It was kind of a journey, really. A reassembling. I’ve had these memories, and it was really a chance to put them down on paper and order them. Everything fragments as you get older, and things come out,...

Josh Maxton 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.

Time Eddy, the convention run by fans for the fans, is returning in 2016 after a successful event at the Best Western North Wichita this October. Over 1,100 fans packed in to meet a host of stars from the shows’ past and present including Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Peter Purves, and Ellis George. The venue will remain...

The post Time Eddy Convention Returns in 2016 appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

America’s newest Doctor Who convention will return in 2016 by popular demand. Over 1,100 fans packed into the Best Western North Wichita this October to meet a host of stars from the shows’ past and present including Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Peter Purves, and Ellis George. The venue will remain the same for next year’s convention but the vendor’s area will be expanded, the events line-up enhanced, and beer and wine will be available for the over 21 crowd.

Other exciting additions include a Doctor Who musical extravaganza, a sci-fi mystery dinner, and more participatory events involving guests and attendees. You can save $25 on three day passes and vendor tables by entering the discount code K9 on the registration page. This huge discount is only available until Thanksgiving 2015. We are assembling an amazing array of guests and events so don’t delay, buy your Time Eddy II tickets today.

Between...

Vera — probably the best contemporary detective drama on British TV — returns to the U.S. with a fifth season being debuted nationally on Acorn TV. Based on novels by Shetland’s Ann Cleeves, Vera is a no nonsense Northumbrian detective with a brusk exterior and a well buried heart. It’s tempting to describe her as a female Wallander but unlike her Swedish counterpart she doesn’t spend half an hour caught up in self-indulgent introspection before uttering a sentence.

I interviewed leading lady Brenda Blethyn last year and she was an absolute delight. The antithesis of her dowdy onscreen persona. At the time, season 5 was very much up in the air. Like most things these days, it’s fate depended very much on the ratings of season 4. Unsurprisingly (in my view) Vera season 4 was one of the few shows in the UK last year to satisfy the TV critics...

Josh Maxton 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.

The Time Eddy convention is descending upon Wichita, Kansas, and it’s about to land! This weekend (October 2nd – 4th), big names like Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri Brown), Andrew Cartmel (script editor for the show in the 80s), Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon), Nev Fountain, and more, will gather together for the first...

The post Get 50% Off Wichita, Ks Time Eddy Tickets! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

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.

Taking place in Wichita, Kansas from 2nd – 4th October 2015, the Time Eddy event has a great collection of stars attached to it! Sixth Doctor and Peri pairing Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant are the headliners, with classic series companions Peter Purves, Katy Manning and Deborah Watling joining them. From modern Doctor Who, Ellis George (The Caretaker, Kill...

The post More Guests Announced for Time Eddy Doctor Who Convention! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Philip Bates 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.

The latest installment of Big Finish’s Short Trips range, The Shadows of Serenity, is available now. The story, featuring the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown, and read by Nicola Bryant, is written by Nigel Robinson and produced by Michael Stevens. The Guns of Malgar once defended their planetoid from any who strayed too close; just one gun...

The post Out Now: Short Trips – The Shadows of Serenity appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Philip Bates 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.

Asking why Clive James is famous is like asking the meaning of life. No one knows. Clive James has opinions, and that is why he’s notable amongst the 8 billion or so people on this planet. In this infuriating clip from Clive James On TV, the British-Australian presenter talks to Sophie Aldred (aka Ace), Nicola Bryant...

The post Clive James Chats To Doctor Who & Blake’s 7 Stars in This Delightfully Patronising Clip appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

The rebirth of Doctor Who in 2005 has sparked a revival in an area of Geekdom that was on the brink of extinction in the early 90s — American Doctor Who fan conventions. The hearty souls behind Gallifrey in Los Angeles kept the fan run scene alive during the wilderness era at the end of last century. In the last few years, the green shoots of a revived fan movement have begun to appear around the nation. Ken Deep’s New York state based L.I. Who was a blockbuster success when it debuted in 2013 and plans are underway for L.I. Who 3 later this year. Full disclosure here — I’m heavily involved in planning a Doctor Who fan convention myself — Time Eddy, in Wichita Ks this October. I’ve run conventions in the past — though it’s been a few years and those were in the UK. So I see myself...

Doctor Who is back with Peter Capaldi playing an all-new incarnation of the Time Lord.

Feature-length premiere 'Deep Breath' sent The Doctor and his companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) on a harrowing adventure through Victorian London – and set the tone for future adventures.

Doctor Who: 'Deep Breath' video review - Geek TV

Doctor Who: Who made a surprise cameo in 'Deep Breath'?

Digital Spy rounds up the best reactions from fans and stars to Doctor Who's series premiere below (Warning: spoilers ahead):

Deep breath, all! Happy #CapalDay ! 7.50pm BBC1, 8.15pm @Bbcamerica Aftershow 11pm! #DoctorWho

— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) August 23, 2014

I thought that was an amazing reinvention, a modernisation, even. We've rarely been given a Doctor we can't immediately define.

— Paul_Cornell (@Paul_Cornell) August 23, 2014

Oh yes Peter Capaldi! Great stuff - great beginning Bring it on

— Colin Baker (@SawbonesHex) August 23, 2014

Ugh.

Philip Bates 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.

A new event is coming to the South West this weekend: TimeWarp features a great cast of actors and actresses, and sees the Sixth Doctor, Colin Baker, paired with Peri Brown herself (aka Nicola Bryant) once more. The event couples Q&A sessions with signings and photo shoots at much more accessible prices than many other

The post Colin Baker Among Guests As TimeWarp Comes to the South West! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Philip Bates 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.

Time Warp, a new convention which couples Q&A sessions with photo shoots and signings, comes to the South West this weekend (5th-6th July 2014), and Kasterborous caught up with the organiser, Ian Fraser. The convention has an incredible guest list – but you can see that for yourself: Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor); Nicola Bryant (Peri); Katy Manning (Jo Grant); Wendy

The post Exclusive Interview: Event Organiser, Ian Fraser Talks TimeWarp and Kate O’Mara appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

BBC

All things must end, and so it is with companions and their time in the Tardis. From the first companion, Susan, all the way up to Rory and Amy, almost every companion has had a start and a finish (there are three exceptions. Can you name them?). Some of those send-offs have been truly epic; bringing us to tears or moving us to great joy. Some of been…well, some have just basically been someone wandering off in the middle of the story and never coming back. Yes, that is actually a thing that happened. We’re all looking at you, Dodo.

For the purposes of this article, we are not considering Katarina, Astrid Peth, Adam Mitchell, or any of the other “one off” characters as companions. If someone was in basically two episodes, they aren’t a companion, they’re a guest star. There’s nothing wrong with that,...

Feature Alex Westthorp 16 Apr 2014 - 07:00

Alex's trek through the film roles of actors who've played the Doctor reaches Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy...

Read the previous part in this series, Doctor Who: the film careers of Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker, here.

In March 1981, as he made his Doctor Who debut, Peter Davison was already one the best known faces on British television. Not only was he the star of both a BBC and an ITV sitcom - Sink Or Swim and Holding The Fort - but as the young and slightly reckless Tristan Farnon in All Creatures Great And Small, about the often humorous cases of Yorkshire vet James Herriot and his colleagues, he had cemented his stardom. The part led, indirectly, to his casting as the venerable Time Lord.

The recently installed Doctor Who producer, John Nathan-Turner, had been the Production Unit Manager on...

Drew Boynton 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.

Nicola Bryant is in New Zealand with a couple of other former Doctor Who stars–Colin “Sixy” Baker and Mark “Turlough” Strickson–for the Armageddon Expos. The Expos are a celebration of all things fannish, from science fiction to gaming to Anime. The first Armageddon will take place in the city of Dunedin this weekend and the second

The post A chat with Nicola Bryant | Stuff.co.nz appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Drew Boynton 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.

The ChicagoTARDIS convention was held on Thanksgiving weekend in the Us, November 29-December 1. The line-up of guests was pretty spectacular, with no less than three Doctors (Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Paul McGann) and many companions (Freema Agyeman, Dan Starkey, Daphne Ashbrook, Frazer Hines, Sarah Sutton, Nicola Bryant, Louise Jameson) and many other guests.

The post ChicagoTARDIS Convention Highlights! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

Regular followers are probably aware that we here are at Sound on Sight are more than a little fond of an obscure British science fiction program that celebrated an anniversary of some kind last weekend. Anniversaries are always an excellent time to reflect upon and celebrate a show’s history and the lead up to last Saturday’s “The Day of the Doctor” saw the entire Whoniverse coming together to share their thoughts on everything from their favourite episodes, most beloved eras, and of course, “their” Doctor. I just love that a top ten list can be the beginning of a good conversation or a great fight, and I find that the most heat, and some of the best light, is generated when Whovians start talking about their favourite Companions. A Companion is more than just our surrogate, they’re a gateway and guide to the series who helps us...

Peri

Portrayed by: Nicola Bryant

Doctor(s): Fifth Doctor, Sixth Doctor

Tenure: 11 stories, from Planet of Fire (Feb, 1984) to Mindwarp (Oct, 1986)

Background: Perpugilliam Brown is an American college student on holiday with her stepfather when she nearly drowns and is saved by Turlough. Having been rescued and taken into the Tardis to recover, Peri is aboard when it takes off, whisking her away with the Doctor, Turlough, and Kamelion to face off with the Master. Peri is studying botany in school, which comes in handy during her travels with the Doctor, and her parents are archeologists, giving her a solid background in that subject as well.

Family/Friends: Peri has a strained relationship with her mother and friendly relationship with her stepfather (though one account, unsupported by other discussions of the character, claims she was sexually abused by him). Her father isn’t discussed in the series, but in...

Doctor Who is a little nugget of TV gold, that much is a given - but this year, the world's longest-running sci-fi drama is shining just that little bit brighter as it celebrates 50 years on our screens and its golden anniversary.

It's no secret that the Week in Geek is just a little bit passionate about all things Who, so with just four days to go until 'The Day of the Doctor' inevitably blows our minds, we're picking the show's 'golden' moments.

From 1963 to 2013, here's each Doctor's finest hour - 11 mind-blowing moments from William Hartnell, Matt Smith and everyone in between!

> Doctor Who 50th: Digital Spy's greatest ever story revealed

"One day, I shall come back..."

No big surprise here - unquestionably William Hartnell's finest moment as the first Doctor comes when our crotchety hero bids a sad farewell to his granddaughter Susan, trusting her to "go forward in...

It’s not true so much in the U.S., where Doctor Who had been primarily of cult interest to geeky teens and grownups until the past few years, but almost everyone in the U.K. has childhood — and grownup — memories of the show going back to 1963. A few years ago, fan Steve Berry self-published, for charity, a collection of reminiscences from British celebs. Now, a new edition of Behind the Sofa has arrived just in time for the show’s 50th anniversary, with all royalties going to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Berry says:

When I conceived the book, I wanted it to fulfill two purposes; firstly, to raise a Tardis-load of cash for scientific research into the dementia that affected my mum; and secondly, to show just how vibrantly Doctor Who can live on in the memories of those who experience it.

Contributors include Neil Gaiman on how he...

New details of BBC Worldwide's Doctor Who 50th Celebration have been announced.

Peter Davison is the latest star to be added to the guest-list for the three-day event, which takes place at ExCeL London from Friday, November 22 to Sunday, November 24.

The fifth Doctor actor joins Matt Smith and former Doctors Tom Baker, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy in attending the celebration.

It has also been confirmed that 50th anniversary special 'The Day of the Doctor' will be screened, in 2D and free of charge, on the evening of Saturday, November 23.

The screening will have limited availability and tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, with Saturday attendees due to be e-mailed shortly with details about how they can reserve a seat.

The full guest list for all three days is as follow:

Friday, November, 22:

Waris Hussein, Anneke Wills, Kate O'Mara, Richard Franklin, Matthew Waterhouse,...

Feature Jeff Szpirglas 30 Oct 2013 - 06:44

Classic Who had more than its fair share of really, really weird moments. Jeff picks 10 of the most bizarre...

There’s barely a second to waste in television today; most shows pack plot threads into running times more tightly than sardines. But back in the days of Classic Doctor Who, there was room for a story to breathe – admittedly, sometimes too much room. Spanning from the 60s to the 80s, when a televised shot could last longer than five seconds, Classic Who had its fair share of strange asides and mind-altering trips…

Ancient skull space-out (Image of The Fendhal – Part 1)

In two minutes of today’s Doctor Who, a lot of plot can happen, and frequently does. You’d never get something like the sequence that runs part way through Image of the Fendahl’s first episode, when Thea Ransome (Wanda Ventham) forms a...

Review Andrew Blair 14 Oct 2013 - 10:26

Andrew checks William Hartnell's final story, newly released and restored, The Tenth Planet...

This review contains spoilers.

The Tenth Planet, Mondas, is a vampire. So are its inhabitants. This vaguely supernatural aspect of the Cybermen is promptly never mentioned again. Author Dr. Kit Pedler – co-creator of Doomwatch – had begun Doctor Who's glorious tradition of turning scientific theories into fantasy yarns, the pseudo-science in the background just as motivated by narrative necessity as before.

Compared with the titular entity, there's a lot that's grounded about the final First Doctor story. Set on an Antarctic Base in the distant future of 1986, the space programme is in full swing, and it's a multi-national organisation (courtesy of the script and good casting decisions by director Derek Martinus). Sexually frustrated men of all creeds and colours gather to supervise routine probe flights. It's like a British version...

Over the summer I came across an article at the Mirror about Doctor Who’s location manager, Iwan Roberts. I put the link aside and never found the right time to post it — it’s worth a read if you’re a production dork, or if you want to learn about the places in Cardiff they use over and over again — but when I rechecked it again today, I saw something I missed the first time around (or perhaps it wasn’t there).

Smack in the middle of the article — in a sidebar sort of way, not actually related at all to the Roberts’ piece — is an incredible collection of behind-the-scenes photos from the classic series, none of which I had ever seen before. And I’m so familiar with the material that’s generally available that I was astonished to find a trove of “new” old stuff.

Here’s a sampling.

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.

Here’s an event not to be missed – an opportunity to join Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Nicola Bryant (Peri) and Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) for Doctor Who glamour beyond the boundaries of...

The post Join the Doctor Who Girls at Forbidden Planet! appeared first on Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews.

An introductory viewer’s guide to the classic series, here is a list of important episodes: the essential, the exceptional, the merely expository (as, sadly, the very best episodes and those that are important to the overall series continuity are not always the same), and the execrable.

You can find Part 1 here:

Comments, criticisms and contrary opinions from other veteran viewers are, of course, welcome. But if you’re one of those fans who started watching Doctor Who when it came back in 2005, or who came onboard only as recently as the Tennant or Smith eras, who’s curious about past Doctors, past episodes, and the long and winding mythos of a series that has become an international phenomenon, but doesn’t know where to start, this guide is for you…

How does a show that had become a national institution in Britain, and a cult phenomenon worldwide, recover after...

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of Doctor Who and the BBC special that may or may not make total sense, Puffin is releasing a series of eBook short stories featuring each of the eleven Doctors so far. “Something Borrowed” chronicles an adventure of the Sixth Doctor, accompanied by American companion Peri. As described on Amazon.com,

“A wedding on the planet Koturia turns out to be a far more dangerous proposition than the Sixth Doctor and Peri ever expected. It marks the return of a formidable old foe whose genius matches the Doctor’s. Can the Doctor outwit this villain, save Peri and stop the wedding in time?”

As a veteran of only a few Classic Who stories, I was entirely unfamiliar with Six beyond his rather recognizable outfit. So, in preparation for “Something Borrowed,” I watched the Six serial entitled “Vengeance of Varos,...

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Well…they can’t all be great.

I’ve enjoyed almost everything I’ve heard from Big Finish. Even the stuff that wasn’t great tended to at least be decent, to at least have something that made it worthwhile. This story, the sixth in the “Destiny of the Doctors” range, has, sadly, nothing to make it worth your time or trouble.

The story begins with the Doctor and Peri (Nicola Bryant) receiving a mysterious message from the Eleventh Doctor. Yes, at least they get it out of the way quickly this time. He sends them on a mission to get a MacGuffin that he needs up in the future. This takes the Doctor and Peri to a certain ship in the Caribbean, circa 1492.

Yes, the Doctor and Peri meet Christopher Columbus, and that’s where it all goes a bit pear-shaped for me. You see,...

Matt Smith has set Doctor Who's fans around the world abuzz with his announcement that he will be leaving the series at Christmas.

The actor took over the role of The Doctor from David Tennant in 2010, and most recently wrapped up the seventh series with the shocking finale 'The Name of The Doctor'.

Smith is due to appear with Tennant, Billie Piper, Jenna-Louise Coleman and John Hurt in Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, and then bid his farewell to the sci-fi series in the annual Christmas episode.

Digital Spy presents a collection of Doctor Who's former castmembers, writers and celebrity fans paying tribute to Smith's tenure on the series.

Thank you, Matt Smith. It was an honour and a delight to write scripts for you: you never did what I expected. bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwh…

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) June 1, 2013

To those kind people who have suggested...

During Doctor Who’s fifty years of on-again-off-again run on television, not only have we been treated to eleven different actors playing the title role, but we’ve gotten countless companions. Some have been absolutely amazing, some have been merely decent, and some have been…. uh, something else entirely.

If I may, I’d like to take this paragraph to conduct an experiment, but only this paragraph. I’m going to insert random words into the sentences refrigerator that have nothing to do with what I’m saying salamander. See, I have this idea squid that the majority just skim over the words snugglebunnies and don’t really read the intros porpoise. I can understand this because albuquerque I do this myself on occasion. If you catch this, please leave a comment below with the word Baker in it. And now we return you to your regularly scheduled intro.

So in honor of those companions,...

A special Doctor Who edition of BBC quiz Pointless is to air later this month.

The quiz one-off will be broadcast on Saturday, March 23 at 6pm on BBC One - one week before Doctor Who returns to our screens.

Famous faces from Doctor Who putting their obscure knowledge to the test include Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor) with Sophie Aldred (his assistant Ace) and Bernard Cribbins (Wilfred Mott) paired with Jacqueline King (Sylvia Noble).

They will face Nicola Bryant (Peri) playing with Andrew Hayden-Smith (Jake Simmons) and Louise Jameson (Leela) alongside Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon in the 1960s).

Alexander Armstrong will host, with co-presenter Richard Osman receiving some robotic assistance in the form of the Doctor's loyal robot dog K9.

Eight new Doctor Who episodes will air on Saturday nights from March 30, with a number of additional projects also being planned to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary later in 2013.

> Toby Whithouse...