When I did my piece on episodes that angered or insulted me, I promised to do one that would serve as a counterpoint. The most joyful episodes. But as I started breaking it down, I realized I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Which episodes of Doctor Who made me happy? Pfft. How much time have you got? Woe to the casual person who happens to ask me about Who. I could start a list of great episodes that have made me happy right now, but no, “happy” won’t quite cut it. Over 62 years, the show’s brought me so much happiness, we’d be here all day listing them. Sure, there’ve been loads of other emotions and reactions. A certain amount of negativity, but the happiness has been far far greater. The story of the Doctor has indeed been a long, complicated journey, with ups and downs. It was easy to pinpoint the horrible, bottom of the barrel, *insulting* stuff, because there wasn’t really that much. But for the positives, I’d have to roll up my sleeves and narrow things down. Breathe? There’s SO much good. The scenes where I’m holding my breath, on the edge of my seat, or marveling at the quirks or attributes of a particular incarnation, scrutinizing what makes the particular actor tick? Stories which are just great fun? There are tons of ‘em. So I figured that the only way to do this right was to gravitate toward just the moments that MOVED me. That meant more to me than most. That hit me hard, one way or another for the better. Scenes that produced pure physical joy. Each is a bit different, and I’ll try and explain if there’s any deeper meaning. The first one is very simple. The opening theme during the Tom Baker years. That music! That tunnel, followed by the police box, the headshot, and that sweet diamond logo. When I first heard that music, and saw that tunnel back in 1980, it grabbed me. I had no idea what it was but I sat there and remained motionless, watching first episode of The Brain of Morbius. In fact, my PBS station mistakenly broadcast the ep itself without any of the incidental music or special effects. A faulty copy! Bare bones actors on a stage. Literally the least favorable technical conditions under which you could ever be introduced to Who, and I still fell in love with it! The timing may have had something to do with it as well. Having graduated high school, my mom and I moved to a different town. A new life. Clean slate. The beginning. The utter void before the Big Bang. And then, that music started. *Life* started. It’s no wonder I’m physically incapable of not watching the show to this very day. Something In My Eye For the second example, let’s move ahead to Vincent & the Doctor. After spotting an ominous figure in a painting, the Doctor and Amy travel to 1890 France to meet Vincent Van Gogh. Witnessing the artist’s tortured life and his unappreciated art (as well as battling an invisible monster), the Doctor brings Vincent to the present day Musee d’Orsay art gallery to show him his legacy. He then asks the guide to assess Van Gogh’s work while the artist himself discreetly listens. He does so, giving the ultimate praise to the work and the man himself, bringing Vincent to joyous tears. He wasn’t the only one. I was inconsolable. It was the first time Doctor Who brought me to tears. I’m not embarrassed to say I balled like a baby. It was such a beautiful, powerful moment. To see what his life was like, and knowing how it ended—-for him to actually get a chance to see that his work WAS loved in the end. That it MEANT something. Maybe it hit extra hard because I’m an artist? Don’t know. Either way, it was a truly beautiful piece of work and very likely the best and most powerful episode of the Smith era. Friendship Hell Bent is next up. This one simply took my breath away. On Gallifrey, down in the bowels of the capital, having stolen Clara from history at the moment of her death, 12 works diligently to open a hatch so that he and Clara can steal a TARDIS and escape. Clara finds out that the Doctor spent 4.5 billion years trapped in his confession dial just to protect her. The enormity of the moment. She can barely comprehend the scale of his sacrifice. Stunned, she asks him why would he do that? He sheepishly responds “I had a duty of care!” The love, the bond of friendship between these two… the intensity of the moment actually made me dizzy. And then… Doctor Who in 2013 And finally, events in and around the 50th anniversary special. These particular instances evoked a different reaction than what I’d already experienced. These were moments of electric joy. Stunning, chilling, tingling moments of joyful shock. True “OH MY GOD” moments. The kinds of moments that sometimes only a 50 year build up can provide. Moment One The end of The Name of the Doctor, when none other than John -Freaking- Hurt turns around and is introduced AS The Doctor. It’s not often I’m speechless, but the moment, the direction, the music, the surprise… I *still* get the tingles when I watch it. Moment Two The Night of the Doctor. No one saw this coming. I certainly didn’t. This was one of the greatest accomplishments of the Moffat era, the Nu-Who era, maybe of any era. The mere fact that it was a legit surprise with no spoilers! The Moff introduced Cass, reintroduced the Eighth Doctor, gave us three scenes, a story, killed off the Doctor, gave us the return of the Sisterhood of Karn who revived him, gave us some McGann goodness, provided us with new insights as to the options of regeneration… then *gave* us a regeneration, topped off with a reflection of a young John Hurt. All in six minutes! Moment Three Nearing the end of the Day of the Doctor — The Doctors put their plan to stop the Daleks into action, and you’d think that having all 12 incarnations buzzing about would be the capper of all cappers, but then “No sir, all thirteen!” happens. EYEBROWS!!! They brought Capaldi in! A future incarnation we hadn’t even seen yet! What emerged from me at that moment was some mutated form of a gasp, melded with a scream. Maybe a burp, frankly, I’m not sure, I was all shock and awe at that point. But the Moff wasn’t done yet. Moment Four The dust has settled. Gallifrey was saved, everyone else has gone, leaving 11 alone in the Under-gallery, musing about possibly becoming a curator of the museum one day, when he’s interrupted by an unmistakable voice. “You know, I really think you might!” Head swimming in disbelief, I just lost it. Me, and a million other people in 90 countries, I imagine. Seriously, my jaw was just somewhere over there on the floor and I was exhausted. Much like the McGann surprise, filmed in the wee hours under cover of secrecy, they brought back Tom Baker. Perfection. More than a decade later, still perfect. I really don’t think it would have been possible to produce a better anniversary for the show. Thank you, Mr. Moffat. Seriously. And there you have it. The shining examples of when Doctor Who just absolutely rocked my world. If anyone else has had their own moments of Who-related, in-episode bliss, please share. Like this: Like Loading…

Few actors can boast a career like Julian Glover’s. Over seven decades, he has gone from the Royal Shakespeare Company to starring in some of the biggest films and television series ever made. From Game of Thrones, Doctor Who and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back to Indiana Jones, James Bond and Harry Potter, Julian has worked with an extraordinary range of actors, directors and performers. We chat and laugh about a lifetime on stage, television and the big screen including, of course, both of our work on classic Doctor Who ! This interview took a little arranging, but I’m sure you’ll agree it was worth it. As always I enjoyed discovering where our careers almost overlapped, reminiscing about people we’ve both met and looking back at the different paths we’ve taken over the years. Every two weeks, The Peter Purves Podcast, hosted by Doctor Who and Blue Peter star Peter Purves, brings you open and honest conversations with guests from across entertainment, packed with memories, insight and the kind of moments only lived experience can offer. Lots of exclusive content and support the podcast by joining our Patreon as a badge winner! https://www.patreon.com/cw/PeterPurves If you enjoy the show, please rate review and share. It really does help our community grow. I do hope you enjoy this one. Adieu!

BBC Studios is potentially set to make more than one bid for Doctor Who amid its tender process. Ad The beloved BBC sci-fi recently released its invitation to tender, detailing its vision for the next season of the show, which would aim for transmission in 2028/2029. Jamie Hall, BBC Studios' managing director for scripted, has confirmed that BBC Studios has "probably got one, potentially two companies" set to compete for the tender, telling Deadline that Doctor Who "should sit within the BBC and the whole group should reap the rewards of it". As for what he would like to see from the future of the sci-fi, he explained that he wanted to return to the feel of the show in the David Tennant and Matt Smith eras. "It feels to me that there is an opportunity to get back to what the core offering was in that time," he said. "It will be off screen for two or three years and that gives the audience a great chance to have a break then rediscover, while also bringing a new audience." BBC Studios runs an in-house production company, as well as owning various indies which could compete for the show. Meanwhile, multiple other companies have expressed interest, including Electric Entertainment and World Productions. However, Nicola Schindler, who is the longtime producing partner of former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, previously confirmed that her company, Quay Street, will not be entering a bid. Billie Piper in Doctor Who episode The Reality War BBC The broadcaster is asking production companies to pitch "a multi-episodic series (including specials) for transmission in 2028/29, with an option to extend the contract at BBC’s discretion to produce a second series". The deadline for pitches is 2 October 2026 and a decision will be made in spring 2027. In the document, the BBC states that the new season of Doctor Who should feel "contemporary and creatively ambitious". It specifies that, as well as the central character of the Doctor, producers will need to develop "at least one" companion for the series, adding that companions should be "distinctive, authentic characters in their own right, whose lives, relationships, ambitions, and personal journeys enrich the series". It goes on to say: "Stories should balance high-concept science fiction with strong emotional narratives, ensuring that spectacle is always grounded in character and human experience. "Episodes should transport audiences to extraordinary times and places, ranging from historical settings to distant futures, alien worlds and contemporary Earth. Successful pitches will deliver ‘back of the sofa’ scares, jeopardy and tension, whilst remaining suitable for a broad family audience." Watch this space (and time!). Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Dive into our Doctor Who story guide: reviews of every episode since 1963, plus cast & crew listings, production trivia, and exclusive material from the Radio Times archive. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Train to Busan was one of the standout zombie films of recent years, and so I was excited to see that the director Yeon Sang-ho had a new film coming called Colony.Now it has arrived, and I experienced it on a 4K UltraHD Blu-Ray! It doesn't disappoint.Written by Yeon Sang-ho with Choi Gyu-seok, the film charts a zombie outbreak in a shopping/hotel/conference building, and so has similar vibes to Train to Busan which places the protagonists and the zombies in a limited location from which they cannot escape.We follow a small group who find themselves initially trapped in a shopping mall when the outbreak hits. The set up is perhaps just best stolen from the Wiki as it's complex:Scientist Seo Yeong Chul (Koo Kyo-hwan) warns the police that he will launch a bio-terrorist attack at the Dongwoo-ri Building, then injects himself with the supposed vaccine to his mutated slime mold bioweapon. Meanwhile, Chains Bio is holding a presentation in the building, where CEO Kang Woo-chul demonstrates the slime mold's cell-regeneration capabilities. Kwon Se-jeong (Jun Ji-hyun), an ostracised and unemployed professor, attends after being invited by the company, hoping to secure a job through her ex-husband Han Gyu-sung (Go Soo), who is preparing to emigrate overseas. Security guard Choi Hyun-seok (Ji Chang-wook) is also at the building with his mobility-impaired older sister, Hyun-hee (Kim Shin-rok).Thus Kang Woo-chul is infected by Seo Young-chul and the outbreak spreads rapidly. The infected initially are animalistic, running on all fours and attacking anything which seems human: including photographs and shop dummies. But they learn, and have a hive mind in that what one discovers is rapidly transmitted to all the other zombies, so they get clever, and track, and slowly our intrepid band of surviving humans is whittled down. In this sort of film, even the nice people die!What I liked about it, as with Train to Busan, is that the film is clever. It presents intelligent situations and the development of the zombie infection is well worked out. There are shocks and scares aplenty, and the performances are superb, both from the humans, to the infected. These films seem to have nailed the jerky infection progress and the physical element is just terrifying to watch.If you're a fan of the zombie genre, then this film is not to be missed. It's exciting and well done, brilliantly performed, and most importantly original. A truly excellent entry in the zombie genre.

As the nights draw in, this year’s spooky season will bring a brand-new box set of four haunting horror stories set across the Doctor Who universe, featuring the Doctors and UNIT facing off against monsters old and new. One of the full-cast audio episodes will feature the Third Doctor (Tim Treloar) and Jo Jones (Katy Manning) as they encounter witch hunters in sixteenth-century England. But there’s a more deadly terror lurking beneath the marshes, and they find themselves in a confrontation with the Krynoid – the carnivorous plant first seen in 1976 TV story The Seeds of Doom. In the other stories, the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) gets involved with a monster in a mirror, the staff of a UNIT call centre discover something lurking in the dark, and the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) investigate a mystery in a tormented hospital. Doctor Who: Halloween - Doctor, Doctor, Doctor and Other Stories, due for release in October, is now available to pre-order for just £24.99 (download to own) or £35.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. The four terrifying tales are: Doctor, Doctor, Doctor – a Seventh Doctor adventure by Stewart Pringle and Lauren Mooney In the 1980s, four physics students find themselves drawn to a strange mirror, seemingly haunted by a ghastly figure carrying a distinctive umbrella… As they experiment with the mirror, they begin to lose themselves in its mystery, as the entity within seeks to break into their world. The Song of the Reed Man – a Third Doctor and Jo Jones adventure by Katherine White When the Doctor and Jo land in the marshes of Essex, in 1562, they find themselves at the dawn of England’s witch hunting mania. But lurking beneath the waterways, there lies an ancient evil, ready to hunt and feast. Can the Doctor help an isolated coven see reason, before it’s too late? Office Space – a UNIT adventure by Georgia Cook and Fio Tretheway It’s Max’s first night shift at the UNIT liaison call centre in Chester, screening emergency calls from the public for signs of extraterrestrial threat. But tonight the calls hold something far deadlier, and soon Max and his colleagues find themselves fighting for their lives to survive against the night itself. Overworked – a Fifth Doctor and Nyssa adventure by Hannah Kennedy When the TARDIS locks on to a signal calling out for a ‘doctor’, Nyssa and the Doctor are brought to a hospital on Earth in 1974. However, with the help of cleaners Harold and Sophie, they discover that something is very wrong with the patients here, something otherworldly. Script editor John Dorney said: “I’ve seen it said that Doctor Who isn’t science fiction, but a horror show for families. So it fits particularly well with Halloween! We were very happy with the previous set, but this time round we were able to push things a little further, trying a few things we’d not managed to do in the first run – including a story with no familiar characters in it, which means you can’t be sure from the get-go who is going to survive! “It was great fun bringing back some of our favourite writers from the previous set in Hannah and Georgia, plus a few old hands like Stewart and Lauren and Fio and throwing in a newer name like Katherine to bring it all together. There’s a mix of tales and tones in a hopefully terrifying – family level – way…” Katherine White, the writer bringing back a classic monster in The Song of the Reed Man, added: “The Krynoids are absolutely terrifying, aren’t they? They are these unrelenting monsters that will stop at nothing to spread and eat and thrive. And when they start to possess people, they get into their psyche – you begin losing the person you love and the monster starts to come out.

Doctor Who Tardis Police Box Juniors Mini Handbag Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk Categorised under: General, Homeware

Big Finish The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures Armageddon Dawn A Dalek encounter for the Thirteenth Doctor! The Daleks make their Thirteenth Doctor Adventures debut in Armageddon Dawn, a full-cast audio drama starring Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill, due November 2026. The Doctor has a new enemy – the Aegis Protectorate, an interstellar arms manufacturer that’s been causing trouble across her recent adventures. In the next episode of The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, she sets out to confront Aegis, but finds her new enemy in collusion with an old one… The full-cast audio episode Armageddon Dawn features the first audio encounter between the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), her companion Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), and the Daleks (Nicholas Briggs). This action-packed episode also features the return of Aegis boss Athena Nikos (Juliet Aubrey) and the mysterious Tourist (Maddison Bulleyment), and introduces the obnoxious tech entrepreneur Esskapell (Amit Shah). The Dalek Negotiator seems oddly restrained, but with it vying against Esskapell for control of Aegis, and the Doctor and Yaz stuck in the middle, how long can it be until someone gets exterminated? Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Armageddon Dawn, written by Matt Fitton, is now available to pre-order for just £9.99 (as a digital download to own) or £13.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. The Doctor decides it’s time to deal with Aegis. Taking Yaz to confront the company at the height of its powers, she finds Athena Nikos entertaining some unexpected clients. Tech genius Esskapell wants control of Aegis for his own reasons – but, more worryingly, so does the ‘Dalek Negotiator’… Writer Matt Fitton said: “As script editor on this run of adventures (and as a Northerner!), I couldn’t wait to write for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, so leapt at the chance for the pivotal episode Armageddon Dawn. “While we’ve seen this Doctor face Daleks on Earth on TV, I wanted to raise the stakes even higher here. So as the Dalek Empire tries to get its suckers on Aegis, what I really wanted to do was lock her in a room with her greatest enemy and see what they really think of one another! “I also get to bring in elements of the series arc and play with Noga’s inspired creation, the chaotic Tourist, brought to life by Madison Bulleyment. And there’s a return for Juliet Aubrey as arms dealer Athena Nikos – although she’s in a different place from when we last met her. With all this and an ambitious tech bro too, the Doctor and Yaz will be put through the wringer…” Armageddon Dawn is the ninth of twelve full-cast audio drama adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, released bimonthly. Big Finish listeners can pre-order all twelve releases in a multibuy bundle for just £102 (digital download to own), exclusively from the Big Finish website. Additional three-release multibuy bundles are available for £27 (download to own) and £33 (download to own + collector’s edition CD). Categorised under: Big Finish, CD, Special Releases

Join Joe Ford as he waltzes all around the world (via whatever means the internet allows) and undertakes Doctor Who commentaries with a wide range of wonderful contributors. Fans, podcasters, online reviewers, writers, actors...the USP of this podcast is it's variety of guests and the fact that they all bring their own unique perspective to the podcast. The guest chooses the story, be it one they love, hate or are completely indifferent, and amongst the gossip is trivia, critique and personal experience.

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill are set to face an iconic Doctor Who monster in the next chapter of the Big Finish audio drama The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures. Doctor Who: Armageddon Dawn, which will see the Doctor (Whittaker) set out to confront a new enemy - Aegis Protectorate, an interstellar arms manufacturer - only to find that Aegis is in collusion with an old foe (the Daleks!), is set to be released in November 2026. The official synopsis reads: "The Doctor decides it’s time to deal with Aegis. Taking Yaz to confront the company at the height of its powers, she finds Athena Nikos entertaining some unexpected clients. Tech genius Esskapell wants control of Aegis for his own reasons – but, more worryingly, so does the ‘Dalek Negotiator’…" Alongside Whittaker, Gill returns to voice companion Yasmin Khan, while Nicholas Briggs returns to voice the Daleks. The episode also features the return of Aegis boss Athena Nikos (Juliet Aubrey), the mysterious Tourist (Maddison Bulleyment), and introduces the obnoxious tech entrepreneur Esskapell (Amit Shah). Armageddon Dawn is the ninth of twelve instalments in The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, which have been releasing bimonthly since July 2025. Writer Matt Fitton said in a statement that he leapt at the chance to pit the Doctor against her oldest foe. "While we've seen this Doctor face Daleks on Earth on TV, I wanted to raise the stakes even higher here. So as the Dalek Empire tries to get its suckers on Aegis, what I really wanted to do was lock her in a room with her greatest enemy and see what they really think of one another! Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes. Accept and continue "I also get to bring in elements of the series arc and play with Noga’s inspired creation, the chaotic Tourist, brought to life by Maddison Bulleyment. "And there’s a return for Juliet Aubrey as arms dealer Athena Nikos – although she’s in a different place from when we last met her. With all this and an ambitious tech bro too, the Doctor and Yaz will be put through the wringer…" You can buy The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures from BigFinish.com. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

BBC director-general Matt Brittin has revealed that he recently received an AI-generated episode of Doctor Who that he thought was "pretty good". Ad The BBC has put the sci-fi series out to tender, inviting production companies to pitch a multi-episodic series, including specials, with a view to transmission in 2028/29. Speaking at the Royal Television Society’s London convention about the power of AI, Brittin – who joined the BBC as director-general earlier this year after an 18-year stint at Google – said: "Everyone's got the ability in their hands, or six billion people have, to create content at the standard of a Hollywood studio. "In some cases, it's not perfect, but look at what you can do. That's changing all the time." He continued (via Deadline): "Somebody sent me a 50-minute episode of Doctor Who that was AI-generated the other day. It's pretty good. "I mean, it's not going to replace humans. So, everyone's a creator." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news fromsee more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Brittin didn’t add any more details about who created the episode, or whether it used existing or entirely AI-generated actors. When the BBC announced that Doctor Who would be put out to tender, the broadcaster said in a statement: "Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come." The news comes after Brittin said on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he would allow AI to present future programmes "within guardrails", and that the corporation wants to "experiment with this technology and understand what it can and can't do". Back in June, the BBC announced the first phase of a three‑year plan to make £500m of savings, closing 550 roles across News, Nations and Content divisions by the start of 2027/28. The broadcaster said those cuts are expected to deliver around £160m of the overall target, with around 1,800 to 2,000 jobs expected to be axed over the next three years. BBC director-general Matt Brittin. Carl Court/Getty Images The BBC has also announced a series of programme cancellations in recent months as part of the cost-cutting measures, with Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live at the Apollo ending, and additional cuts to come in the next two years. Press speculation last week surrounded the futures of BBC Three and BBC Scotland, although nothing has been officially announced. Brittin addressed the BBC’s financial situation, saying: “The money runs out at the end of next year unless we have a new charter, and obviously the way that the funding of the BBC through the licence fee is going means that it’s a flush." He added: “We need a new mechanism if we’re going to have the sort of scale of service media that we’ve had in the past. So, that’s all contributing to the jeopardy.” Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Dive into our Doctor Who story guide: reviews of every episode since 1963, plus cast & crew listings, production trivia, and exclusive material from the Radio Times archive. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin has revealed that he was recently sent an entirely AI-generated episode of Doctor Who, and his verdict may prove controversial among some fans. Speaking at the Royal Television Society Convention in London (Via Deadline), Brittin discussed the rapidly increasing capabilities of generative AI and suggested that technology has dramatically lowered the barrier to creating professional-looking entertainment. “Everyone’s got the ability in their hands, or six billion people have, to create content at the standard of a Hollywood studio,” Brittin said, according to Deadline. He then offered a particularly relevant example for Doctor Who fans. “Somebody sent me a 50-minute episode of ‘Doctor Who’ that was AI-generated the other day. It’s pretty good,” Brittin said. However, the BBC boss was quick to stress that he does not see AI replacing the people traditionally responsible for making television. “I mean, it’s not going to replace humans, and we’ll come on to that. So everyone’s a creator. Not all the creativity is bad.” Brittin did not identify the episode, but a strong possibility is the recently released AI-assisted fan production The Curse of Kilmorag, part of The Unmade Season project. The full-length episode attracted controversy over its use of generative AI and was later removed from YouTube following a third-party copyright claim. Its creator also claimed he received death threats over the project. Given the timing and similar running time, it may be what Brittin was referring to, although he gave no details confirming this. There is currently no indication that the BBC plans to make AI-generated Doctor Who episodes. However, Brittin’s positive comments suggest the BBC’s leadership is at least open to the technology’s creative potential. In future, AI could potentially be used in areas such as development, visual effects or pre-visualisation, rather than replacing writers, actors or production crews. For now, Brittin’s comments show that AI-generated Doctor Who has already caught the attention of the BBC’s top boss.

The new BBC director-general, Matt Brittin (believed to be a Doctor Who fan on some level) has declared that he has seen an AI-generated episode of Doctor Who, and declared it “pretty good.” Brittin was chatting at the RTS London Convention, with his comments reported by Deadline. Appointed to the post of Director-General of the BBC in March 2026, Brittin was previously Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business & operations president for Google, and has no showbusiness experience. The comments obviously raise a number of issues, not least: how has a man with apparently no critical faculty ended up in charge of the nation’s broadcaster? Brittin has also recently admitted to considering the idea of an AI-generated TV presenter. On the matter of AI Doctor Who, Brittin revealed: “Somebody sent me a 50-minute episode of Doctor Who that was AI-generated the other day. It’s pretty good. I mean, it’s not going to replace humans. So, everyone’s a creator.” I didn’t want to have to come to this topic, if I’m honest. Rick Lundeen has already written about the AI-generated “Unmade Season” and it has even featured in broadsheet newspapers. With James McLean, I’ve recorded a Kasterborous episode about the same thing — the latest in several discussions on the topic of AI use replacing creative arts. Like Mr Brittin, I have watched the AI episode (I assume it is the same one based on duration) and while it is clearly accomplished, it is also clearly not very good. Its shortcomings are obvious in various ways that anyone experienced in watching TV drama and cinema would spot from the off. I’m not in the habit of calling for people’s jobs, but this seems like a massive misunderstanding, a disconnect, if you like, with what people actually want to watch. That it comes from the person who has been tasked with ensuring the BBC’s survival is, I feel, somewhat mindblowing. I am confused that these words could be uttered by someone on a salary of £565,000. This is not a conversation that we should be having. So, over to you. Like this: Like Loading…

It’s 1999 all over again as the dynamic duo of the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa return with some standard, but well made, Doctor Who Over the past several years, the Fifth Doctor Adventures have become one of Big Finish’s most reliable Doctor Who ranges. A large part of the reason for this consistently high quality has been the relationship between Peter Davison and his companions Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, and Matthew Waterhouse. In particular how that spills over into their characters to make one of the most engaging and fun TARDIS teams. It’s perhaps because there’s such a thing as too cosy that new boxset Shock and Awe mixes things up. It introduces a new dynamic, with the Doctor and Nyssa travelling together alone. Or rather, it’s a return to an old dynamic. In Big Finish’s earliest days Fielding and Waterhouse had yet to be convinced to come out to play. This meant an awful lot of Fifth Doctor stories set in the gap between Season 19 and Season 20, when the Doctor and Nyssa were on their own. It’s a combination that never got a single episode on television. Yet it still provides a hit of nostalgia to long time audio listeners. (As unlikely as being nostalgic for Land of the Dead sounds.) It’s remarkable just how well Davison and Sutton slip back into this very specific time in the characters’ development too. Sutton in particular instantly inhabits this version of Nyssa. She brings back the earnest, righteous, naivety of a young nobleman thrown from her alien utopia into an unkind universe. The script provides details like her still not being entirely sure what tea is. But it’s Sutton who provides the potent mix of anguish, confusion, and outrage in the face of sadism and genocide. Lair of the Voltaxa is Who at its cosiest and most familiar If the choice of leads mixes things up, the two stories in this set balance it with cosy familiarity. They’re the sort of story you could listen to at the end of a long day, confident that if you doze off momentarily, you won’t be lost when you snap back awake. So firmly do they keep to some standard Doctor Who patterns, you could probably fill in the blanks pretty accurately. This is particularly true of the four part story Lair of the Voltaxa which makes up most of Shock and Awe. Its basic set-up goes back at least as far as 1968’s The Invasion. Moreover, it unfolds in much the same way as stories like The Sontaran Stratagem. It’s compounded by enough previous Big Finish releases to fill a bookcase, also sharing the same essential plot. There’s a powerful tech millionaire, Miranda Moss (Beth Goddard) and her revolutionary new AI product on its way into every home in the country, the Miri Cube. Of course, this tech-oligarch is aligned with forces even darker than late stage capitalism, if such a thing is possible. Soon it’s up to the Doctor and his friends to shut down this product roll-out and send these domestic invaders packing. There’s no denying the quality with which the story riffs on these tropes, however, or the performances of the cast Even though Lair of the Voltaxa is straight off the shelf of Who Ikea, the real test is how well writer Ronald Moore assembles those flat-packed pieces. Fortunately, there are no awkward angles, evidence of overenthusiastic hammering, or left over screws, here. Everything is beautifully paced, with a good mix of action, drama, and lighter moments. The Tweflth Doctor almost certainly had a well thumbed prompt card for “I’m sorry but that’s not your family member/lover/friend/pet/robot anymore. It’s the thing that killed him/her/them/it. Stop trying to hug him/her/them/it.” But this Fifth Doctor adventure provides one of the best examples of a character’s mind telling them the tragic truth that their heart can’t accept. A lot of Voltaxa’s success is due to the confident performances of the cast. Especially Clive Hayward and Alex Stedman as a father and son duo hunted when one steals a Miri Cube. Wanda Opalinksa also does great work the potentially annoying Ania, shop manager and Moss’ unlikely companion as they search for the stolen cube. March of the Colossus may have been done before, but it fizzes with the wild excesses of a comic March of the Colossus makes up the final two episodes of Shock and Awe. If the Voltaxa brought the shock with their electric powers, the Colossus certainly bring the awe with their sheer gargantuan size. Unrestrained oligarchy is again the root of all evil. Though this time it’s with all the larger than life energy of a Doctor Who Adventures comic strip. Stuart Milligan’s Austus Zebeck certainly channels DWM villain Josiah Dogbolter, with his plan closely resembling that of Berakka Dogbolter in The Warmonger. This time, though the scale of Zebeck’s plan is vastly bigger. Literally, as instead of 20 foot tall alien warriors, the battling Colossus at the heart of his pay per view fight empire are the size of mountains. It goes without saying that that’s bad news for the Dianasa tribe who happen to live on those slumbering mountains. These comic book visuals do sometimes extend beyond the ability of Alan Ronald’s script to describe them. You’d think people falling through the air as their village suddenly pivots 90 degrees from horizontal to vertical would be less helpfully descriptive for instance. The story’s real heart is the conflict between an obnoxious tech oligarch and the outraged Nyssa Where March of the Colossus really sings is the battle of wills between Zebeck and Nyssa. The Doctor’s companion viscerally recoils from perhaps her first encounter with not the banality of evil but its cartoonish stupidity. Destruction, torture and death in pursuit of universal power is at least rational. But wiping out a whole civilization, and torturing innocent creatures to the point of insanity, just to earn a quick buck and get your face on TV… Sarah Sutton plays this knife to Nyssa’s very soul, and her subsequent grief and rage, with power and truth. This Doctor and companion pairing may deny us the amiable four way banter that’s made recent Fifth Doctor Adventures so enjoyable. However, is the result is giving the space for moments like these, it’s worth the trade. Doctor Who: Shock and Awe The Doctor and Nyssa face alien menaces on Earth and on a far-off unnamed world. Doctor Who – The Fifth Doctor Adventures: Shock and Awe is available to purchase now for just £19.99 (download to own) or £24.99 (download to own + collector’s edition 3-disc CD box set). Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. Like this: Like Loading…

The Doctor has a new enemy – the Aegis Protectorate, an interstellar arms manufacturer that’s been causing trouble across her recent adventures. In the next episode of The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures, she sets out to confront Aegis, but finds her new enemy in collusion with an old one. The full-cast audio episode Armageddon Dawn features the first audio encounter between the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), her companion Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), and the Daleks (Nicholas Briggs). This action-packed episode also features the return of Aegis boss Athena Nikos (Juliet Aubrey) and the mysterious Tourist (Maddison Bulleyment), and introduces the obnoxious tech entrepreneur Esskapell (Amit Shah). The Dalek Negotiator seems oddly restrained, but with it vying against Esskapell for control of Aegis, and the Doctor and Yaz stuck in the middle, how long can it be until someone gets exterminated? Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Armageddon Dawn, written by Matt Fitton, is now available to pre-order for just £9.99 (as a digital download to own) or £13.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. The Doctor decides it’s time to deal with Aegis. Taking Yaz to confront the company at the height of its powers, she finds Athena Nikos entertaining some unexpected clients. Tech genius Esskapell wants control of Aegis for his own reasons – but, more worryingly, so does the ‘Dalek Negotiator’… Writer Matt Fitton said: “As script editor on this run of adventures (and as a Northerner!), I couldn’t wait to write for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, so leapt at the chance for the pivotal episode Armageddon Dawn. “While we've seen this Doctor face Daleks on Earth on TV, I wanted to raise the stakes even higher here. So as the Dalek Empire tries to get its suckers on Aegis, what I really wanted to do was lock her in a room with her greatest enemy and see what they really think of one another! “I also get to bring in elements of the series arc and play with Noga’s inspired creation, the chaotic Tourist, brought to life by Maddison Bulleyment. And there’s a return for Juliet Aubrey as arms dealer Athena Nikos – although she’s in a different place from when we last met her. With all this and an ambitious tech bro too, the Doctor and Yaz will be put through the wringer…” Armageddon Dawn is the ninth of twelve full-cast audio drama adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, released bimonthly. Big Finish listeners can save money by pre-ordering all twelve releases in a multibuy bundle for just £102 (digital download to own), exclusively from the Big Finish website.

Doctor Who fans are not happy after a BBC boss praised an AI episode (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon/PA Wire) Doctor Who fans are unimpressed after a BBC boss praised an AI-generated episode. BBC director-general Matt Brittin has revealed that he was sent a 50-minute episode of the sci-fi series, made using artificial intelligence. In the aftermath, audiences are expressing horror and despair, declaring they would ‘never engage with the show again’ should it adopt AI-produced stories. Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference, Brittin said the episode he saw was ‘pretty good’. The broadcaster’s new boss did insist artificial intelligence is ‘not going to replace humans’ in the reactive field, despite his positive response. Get personalised updates on Doctor Who Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. ‘I mean, it’s not going to replace humans, and we’ll come on to that. So everyone’s a creator. Not all the creativity is bad.’ BBC director-general Matt Brittin said an AI-generated story was ‘pretty good’ (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire) Taking to X after his comments surfaced, @LadyGravemaster stated: ‘This is a pretty damning admission’. ‘Being a Doctor Who fan in 2026 is just non stop humiliation rituals’, wrote @kingsmillirving, while @PotNoodleOW said: ‘It’s genuinely so over.’ @willbondspeare said: ‘if doctor who ever uses ai, kill the show!!’ @qLxke_ called the remarks ’embarassing’, while @beeeeeeaan said: ‘doctor who is done, it’s over.’ Brittin, who joined the BBC earlier this year after spending 18 years with Google, was weighing in on recent comments by Amazon international chief Kelly Day. Day insisted AI ‘brings down costs, meaning more stories can be made, more diverse voices can get heard and more creative risks get taken’. Showrunner Russell T Davies departed the sci-fi series in June (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC Studios) Responding, Brittin said: ‘Everyone’s got the ability in their hands — or six billion people have — to create content at the standard of a Hollywood studio. ‘In some cases it’s not perfect, but look at what you can do, and that’s changing all the time.’ While the immediate future of Doctor Who doesn’t appear to be AI, it is uncertain, as the Beeb officially put the long-running sci-fi series out to competitive tender in June. The announcement was made alongside the cancellation of the 2026 Christmas special, with showrunner Russell T Davies also departing. Additionally, the BBC recently published a criteria for production companies hoping to take on the beloved franchise, saying it is looking for an initial ‘brief editorial online for a new multi-episode series’ which will include ‘potential for specials’. The idea is for Doctor Who to return in 2028 or 2029, with a decision to be made on its production in March 2027. Ncuti Gatwa unexpectedly left the role at the end of season 2, with Doctor Who now out for competitive tender (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf) Prospective production companies have also been told to develop a companion (Picture: BBC) Outlining the plans, the BBC said: ‘We are commissioning a new flagship series of Doctor Who. ‘The series should feel contemporary and creatively ambitious, whilst remaining true to the values and characteristics that have made Doctor Who a beloved series across generations.’ Companies hoping to land the job have been told to be ‘brave’ and urged to ‘innovate and surprise’ bosses, striking a balance between ‘high concept science fiction’ and ‘strong emotional narratives’. They continued: ‘Successful pitches will deliver “back of the sofa” scares, jeopardy and tension, whilst remaining suitable for a broad family audience.’ Still, it wants to maintain ‘distinctively British storytelling’, although they are ‘flexible’ in terms of whether the new Doctor Who will be ‘serialised’ or presented as a weekly story. Of course, as well as the Time Lord, there should be a companion to travel alongside the Doctor through time and space. We’re still far away from getting any news on who the new Doctor might be (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon/PA Wire) Prospective production companies have been told to develop ‘at least one’ companion for the series, noting that they should be ‘distinctive, authentic characters in their own right’. Famous companions of the past include Sarah Jane Smith, played by the late Elisabeth Sladen; Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper; and, most recently, Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson. When it comes to the visuals, the BBC want a series that feels ‘cinematic, distinctive, and ambitious, capable of competing for audience attention in a highly competitive global market’. They concluded: ‘Doctor Who is a show that has sparked conversation, taken risks and inspired audiences for decades and we are looking for this series to continue that tradition. ‘Be brave, have fun, and we look forward to hearing from you.’ As for who might step into the Tardis next and succeed Ncuti Gatwa, who was the Fifteenth Doctor from 2023 to 2025, with his run ending on a cliffhanger, the conversation is wide open. Recently, fans threw Daniel Craig’s name into the mix after a first look at him in Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia film, The Magician’s Nephew, although it’s unlikely any lead actor will be confirmed for the iconic role anytime soon. Arrow MORE: Who’s in the Celebrity Traitors season 2? Meet the line-up for the 2026 series Arrow MORE: Strictly fans rage over major It Takes Two change: ‘If it’s not broke don’t fix it’ Arrow MORE: Celebrity Traitors season 2 stars ‘are feeling paranoid about exposing BBC series’

The first trailer has been released for upcoming drama film Elsinore – which sees Andrew Scott play Scottish actor and Chariots of Fire star Ian Charleson. Ad The film – which looks set to be a highly emotional affair – focuses on the final months of Charleson's life, during which he played Hamlet at the National Theatre while he was seriously ill from AIDS. In the trailer we see him informed that he will be playing the lead role in the play while he is coming to terms with the severity of his illness. "I have to play Hamlet," he says at one point, while we also hear him declare that "I won't be a victim". At the end of the trailer, he explains: "When it comes to life, it's quality that I want. It's glory, it's joy." You can watch the trailer in full below. Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as YouTube may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow YouTube and its required purposes. Accept and continue The film also stars Olivia Colman as Charleson's doctor Margaret Johnson, while there are also key roles for a number of other well known stars including Doctor Who legend Billie Piper and Heartstopper's Joe Locke. Meanwhile, other notable actors who appear in the film include Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, Monica Dolan, Juliet Stevenson, Peter Mullan and Matthew Beard. Elsinore recently premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and will have it's first UK showing as the opening film of the London Film Festival on Wednesday 7 October ahead of a full release next January. Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes. Accept and continue It has so far been met with positive reviews – sitting on a score of 89 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and 75 on Metacritic – with Scott's leading performance having been singled out for particular praise. In fact, Scott has been named as one of the key contenders for the best actor Academy Award at next year's Oscars, where he is expected to be up against the likes of John Malkovich for Wild Horse Nine and Matt Damon for The Odyssey. Elsinore will open the London Film Festival on 7 October and will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 29 October 2027. Ad Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

The brand-new audio drama adventures of the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and her companion Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) continue today, in an adventure which begins with them receiving a message from an old acquaintance – the Tourist. The last time this mysterious individual sent co-ordinates to the TARDIS (in January’s Ride or Die), the Doctor and Yaz ended up in the middle of a war zone. And this time, the duo follow the instructions to a train speeding through space – which soon becomes the site of a conflict of its own. But as factions battle it out for control of the train, the Doctor and Yaz are on a rescue mission. The problem is, they’re not sure who they’re meant to be rescuing… Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: The Greatest Train Robbery is now available to purchase for just £9.99 (as a digital download to own) or £13.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. The Doctor and Yaz are sent on mission of mercy – but who or what are they supposed to be rescuing? On board a hijacked spacetrain, the stakes get higher as the fate of the Maelin system hangs in the balance. As the Rebel factions and Sentinel guards join battle, time is running out. Will the Doctor discover the secret of the Maelin Anomaly? Jodie Whittaker said: “I really loved this episode. It’s got really amazing characters, it’s a great ensemble. We’ve got to a point now where the Doctor can trust Yaz to rely on her instincts – they’re at a point of finishing each other’s sentences.” Mandip Gill added: “Yaz gets separated from the Doctor and has to figure it out without her help – it’s always exciting to find Yaz having to take the lead, use everything that she’s learned from all of those years being with the Doctor in space, and finally being able to put it into action herself.” “An entertaining tale that fits perfectly into the Thirteenth Doctor’s era. 4.5/5” CultBox “The second half of this series of Thirteenth Doctor Adventures gets off to a brilliant start. 4/5” Who Review “Genuinely thrilling.” Doctor Who Magazine The Greatest Train Robbery is the eighth of twelve full-cast audio drama adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, released bimonthly. Big Finish listeners can save money by pre-ordering all twelve releases in a multibuy bundle for just £102 (digital download to own), exclusively from the Big Finish website.

Join Joe Ford as he waltzes all around the world (via whatever means the internet allows) and undertakes Doctor Who commentaries with a wide range of wonderful contributors. Fans, podcasters, online reviewers, writers, actors...the USP of this podcast is it's variety of guests and the fact that they all bring their own unique perspective to the podcast. The guest chooses the story, be it one they love, hate or are completely indifferent, and amongst the gossip is trivia, critique and personal experience.

Doctor Who Battles in Time Circuit Breaker Limited Edition Collector’s Set Available to order from www.masterreplicas.co.uk “LIMITED EDITION OF 750 WORLDWIDE The Fugitive Doctor. UNIT. The Black Archive. One all-new Battles in Time adventure. Circuit Breaker is a special collector’s set of 15 all-new foil cards. Only 750 will ever be made, so once they’re gone, they’re gone. Reluctantly working with UNIT, the Fugitive Doctor is sent to return objects from the Black Archive and seal tears in reality. Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Petronella Osgood and Andrew Turner join her, as a corrupted Weeping Angel, the Conductor, the Silence and Daleks from Skaro stand in their way. Why you’ll love it Strictly limited to 750 sets worldwide 15 all-new cards, all printed on silver foil Every card is guaranteed in the set, so there’s no hunting through packs Key companions appear in Battles in Time for the first time Monsters old and new: Corrupted Angel, the Conductor, the Silence, Lilith, Shock Trooper and a Dalek Drone Includes The Resistor, a special action card that removes a card from your opponent’s deck Numbered 143–157, carrying on from the 142-card Obliterator set Comes in a collector’s box with the Fugitive Doctor on the front PRE-ORDER: Due to ship October 2026 Specifications Limited edition of 750 worldwide 15 cards, cards 143–157 Silver foil printing throughout Collector’s box Pre-order: due to ship October 2026” This limited edition of 750 worldwide is a pre-order item that is due to ship in October 2026 Categorised under: Card games, General

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

Suky Khakh returns with us from Whooverville 17 to take a look at Third Doctor story The Daemons to continue our heated debate on pronunciation. Hear Mark and the Rev’s childhood dreams of getting walkie talkies or bazookas for Christmas. Find us on Facebook Find us on Twitter Find us on Bluesky Find us on Mastodon Find us on Instagram We can also be found on the Doctor Who Podcast Alliance Find Diddly Dum pics on Tumblr. Visit our Youtube page. Email us at diddlydumpodcast@yahoo.co.uk SHOW NOTES (00:11:57) The original episodes of the Blue Box Podcast can be found here as they are gradually loaded. (00:19:13) Commando For Action and Adventure, formerly known as Commando War Stories in Pictures, and colloquially known as Commando Comics, is a British comic book magazine that primarily draws its themes and backdrops from the various incidents of the First and Second World Wars. It was first published in July 1961 and is still in print today. It is noted for its distinctive 7 × 5½ inch, 68 page format that became a standard for these kinds of stories. (00:23:11) The clip of the teenager with Nazi/WW2 memorabilia on “Multi Coloured Swap Shop” can be seen here. Though I think we ought to reflect on this comment posted below the video: “The boy in the clip is Nigel Bowles. Everyone called him Stan, after the 70s footballer. We were good friends. He was never far-right, nor rich – just a kid who collected militaria. Stan was a really sweet guy, great fun, brilliant to grow up with, grew to love music (Motorhead (Lemmy was another collector), The Damned, Hawkwind, Ramones, etc.) and played bass in a few bands. He was killed in a bike accident at the age of 28. He would have been 59 this year. Much missed. RIP: Stan”. (00:25:59) Photos of the bikers joining us at Whooverville 17 can be seen on our Tumblr page here. (00:57:06) Mark’s memory of the Daemons appearing in a comic strip called “Voyage to the Edge of the Universe” appeared in Doctor Who Monthly #49 and can be seen on our Tumblr page here. (01:03:40) The photo of the Rev’s home town of Heddon can be seen on our Tumblr page here. (01:35:55) Footage of the English Electric Lightning jet taking off can be seen here, Diddly Dum Podcast acknowledges the copyright of anyone we’ve pinched anything from.

As if the sudden appearance of Billie Piper, the departure of Russell T Davies, and Kate Stewart’s psychotic episode on a beach (you’d forgotten about that, hadn’t you?) weren’t enough of a sign that things are changing, this one will hit you hard. The TARDIS interior first unveiled in 2023 has been dismantled. As spotted by CultBox, Bad Wolf honcho Jane Tranter (who in 2003 commissioned RTD’s Doctor Who revival) posted on Instagram that the set was taken down in July. (If the image below is visible, scroll to #2) Tranter stated that the photo from July showed a: “…final goodbye to the Tardis from some of the team who designed + built it, on the eve of having to take it down…” The Cushing movie aside, we’ve seen 16 interiors of the Doctor’s TARDIS (which includes the TV Movie and the War Doctor’s weird hybrid). Which left me wondering… Let us know your choice and reason in the comments. The Disney TARDIS, remembered Let’s take a moment to remember this version of the TARDIS interior… Big, isn’t it? Like, very, very spacious… almost self-indulgently so. Discuss. Like this: Like Loading…

Candy Jay books has published a bind-up collection of all seven volumes of the Benton files. The stories feature John Benton of UNIT and the book includes a new story and contributions from our very own Philip Bates! From his first encounter with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Benton takes on alien menaces and uncovers dangerous secrets for UNIT. Candy Jar books says that this action packed anthology is a must-have for any Doctor Who fan and features stories by Tim Gambrell, Philip Bates, Hayden Gribble, Ian Ball, John Peel, George Ivanoff, Kenton Hall, Matt Barber, Paul Driscoll, and Andrew Allen. Also of interest is the tale What the Dickens? by Tim Gambrell. Imagine the Marvel series What If…? but with a Doctor Who spin. This one explores how the events of The Web of Fear may have proceeded without the interference of the Doctor. It’s Christmas Eve, and Sergeant John Benton is persuaded to tell one last story. But this isn’t one of Benton’s usual tales of UNIT, alien invasions and narrow escapes. This time, a mysterious disturbance leads him into another dimension, where he discovers Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and his team fighting a desperate battle for survival. Benton has somehow been transported back to the original Yeti invasion. But this time, the Doctor never turned up. And behind the invasion stands an old enemy: the sinister Tobias Vaughn, whose plans have brought an entire world to the brink of destruction. As Benton encounters familiar faces in unfamiliar circumstances, he discovers that he may hold information vital to the resistance. But there is another presence at work, one with plans that reach across dimensions and threaten Benton’s own world. Was this extraordinary Christmas Eve adventure really a journey into another reality? Or was it something else entirely? Even Benton isn’t sure. Appropriately enough, it also echoes Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The story is exclusive to The Benton Files Collection and we’re told it will not be released separately. You can pre-order the collection now from Candy Jar Books. Like this: Like Loading…

Several fantastic actors are today revealed to be part of the cast of Young Bond: SilverFin, a full-cast audio drama based on Charlie Higson’s novel, due for release on 29 October 2026. The story explores the upbringing of the teenage James Bond, and his Uncle Max and Aunt Charmian will be played by Tim McInnerny (Blackadder, Game of Thrones) and Miranda Raison (who recently finished an acclaimed run of Grace Pervades in the West End alongside Ralph Fiennes, and is also known for TV series including Spooks). And, the villains are revealed! The sinister Lord Hellebore is voiced by William Hope (known for various roles in the Alien franchise), and the Nazi scientist Dr Perseus Friend is voiced by Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, Wonka). Additionally, the cast contains some impressive Bond pedigree, as Lucy Fleming (niece of Ian Fleming) voices Madame Ouspenskaya, Tim Bentinck (the voice of James Bond in the beloved 1990s video games) is Sergeant White, and Penelope Rawlins (who’s related to Bertie Bruce-Lockhart, the inspiration for James Bond) plays Alfie Kelly. These new additions join previously announced cast members Isaac Rouse (as James Bond), Charlotte McBurney (Wilder Lawless), Charlie Higson (Mr Merriot), Miriam Margolyes (Cleek MacSawney), Harry Marcus (Red Kelly), and Christopher Nathan (George Hellebore). Writer and director Barnaby Edwards said: “It is a cliché – but one with a firm basis in fact – that 90% of directing is getting the cast right. It was hugely liberating to be told by IFPL that there was no pressure to cast ‘names’, I should just find the best actors I could for each of the roles. I’d be lying if I said I was unaware of the fame of the guest actors I was casting, but I wanted them for their talent – and they don’t come much more talented than Tim McInnerny, Miranda Raison, William Hope and Paterson Joseph. “Miranda Raison and Tim McInnerny both have the ability to produce perfect period voices without it sounding stilted and both are tremendous at creating fully-fledged human beings with emotional flaws, depths and heroic steel. “William Hope – famous for playing the vacillating Gorman in Aliens – worked wonders with Lord Hellebore and I can’t wait for listeners to hear his scene in a fog-bound marsh. It’s like something out of Beowulf! And I’ve always been impressed by Paterson Joseph’s ability to create vivid and richly colourful characters, but could he do the kind of German accent the role required: light, questing, playful, menacing in its seeming banality? A single WhatsApp voice note convinced me he could. He’s the perfect Dr Friend!” Producer Robert Valentine said: “One of the constant pleasures of working for Big Finish is the calibre of cast we get to work with. William Hope was our instant first choice to play Lord Randolph Hellebore. We were delighted that he was free and eager to play a Bond villain. Miranda Raison truly is perfect casting as Charmian Bond; she brings a certain period class with her, really evoking the interwar period, and she plays beautifully in her scenes with Isaac. “Tim McInnerny, an actor I simply adore, brings so much to the role of Max Bond, a man any boy would want in an uncle; he has a melancholy, a weariness, but also so much affection and love. Asking Paterson Joseph to play Dr Perseus Friend was Barnaby's idea, and I was instantly behind it one hundred percent. Paterson brings a chilling glee to Dr Friend, and a deceptively reassuring bedside manner that belies his sadistic heart.” Producer Lizzie Worsdell said: “It was incredible getting to work with such a star-studded and talented cast, we were so lucky and I think that speaks to what a great job Barnaby and Rob did with the script as well as just how much Bond means to people. They were all exactly how I’d imagined them when reading the script; Tim and Miranda both brought so much warmth, humour and depth to the roles while Paterson and William were just deliciously evil.” SilverFin is comprised of 16 half-hour episodes, making up approximately eight hours of full-cast audio drama. It will be released on 29 October 2026 as two box sets, available from www.bigfinish.com and www.ianflemingshop.com. Each box set can now be pre-ordered for just £24.99 (download to own) or £35.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD). Additionally, listeners can pre-order the two volumes together as a bundle, available in a number of premium tiers with strictly limited, exclusive collectable packages: Platinum (limited to just 300 copies worldwide): SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, plus an exclusive ‘Young Bond Intelligence Report’ magazine and commemorative collectables (notebook, mug, fridge magnet, and behind-the-scenes postcards), for £119. Gold (limited to just 300 copies worldwide): SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, plus commemorative collectables (notebook, mug, fridge magnet, and behind-the-scenes postcards), for £95. Silver: SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as collector’s edition CDs and digital downloads to own, for £68. Bronze: SilverFin Volumes 1 and 2 as digital downloads to own, for £48. Copies of the SilverFin novel by Charlie Higson can also be purchased from the Big Finish website, for £6.99. And, the novel is available in a bundle with both volumes of the SilverFin audio drama, for £54 (with the audio drama as digital downloads to own) or £68 (with the audio drama on CD). Mission briefing Sign up to the Young Bond mission briefings at www.youngbondadventures.com for upcoming inside intel. All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 31 December 2026. Young Bond will be released digitally, followed by a special collector’s edition CD. Pre-orders of the CD will also unlock a digital copy which can be instantly downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

This year you’ll be able to live-stream Crime and Comedy’s A Christmas Carol starring Colin Baker, Sophie Aldred and Tom Baker as it tours the UK again In what’s now an annual yuletide tradition, Crime and Comedy Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol returns. The new tour will take place this November at theatres across the UK. Live on stage, Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor) and Sophie Aldred (Ace) lead the cast of Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic. It also features a rare, specially recorded appearance by Tom Baker (The Fourth Doctor) as Jacob Marley! On Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is warned by the ghost of Jacob Marley that he will be visited by three Spirits – Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come. They whisk Scrooge to the past and his happy boyhood Christmastimes, to the present to meet Tiny Tim at Bob Cratchit’s Christmas feast, and to the future and Scrooge’s own miserable grave – all to show him the error of his ways. But will Scrooge wake on Christmas morning a changed man? The presentation takes the form of a radio-play-live-on-stage. The setting is a radio studio, the actors ready as if for a radio broadcast, and the sound effects are created live. It all combines to transport the audience to Victorian London. There, Dickens’ timeless tale of charity, forgiveness and redemption at Christmas unfolds once more. You can also livestream the performance on the 15th of November, or buy previous productions on DVD You can now also buy a recording on DVD of the production’s previous version, with Peter Purves as the narrator. There are also DVDs of the same team’s Sherlock Holmes adaptations The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Sign of Four. These both star Colin Baker as Holmes and Terry Molloy as Watson. You can order them now from Honolee Media. There will also be a livestream of the performance on the 15th of November. You can buy your tickets for the livestream here. The full list of dates and locations for this year’s tour of A Christmas Carol are on the Crime and Comedy Theatre website here. Like this: Like Loading…

Why did radio drama and comedy remain such a strong part of British broadcasting — while largely disappearing from American radio?In this edition of Kasterborous, Christian Cawley and Brian A. Terranova start with the very different audio traditions on either side of the Atlantic. Along the way, they encounter The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Star Wars on radio, Big Finish, and some almost-forgotten Doctor Who radio productions.That leads to the peculiar British tradition of bringing television comedy to radio, including Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers and Blackadder.But why did The Black Adder change so dramatically after its first series? Christian and Brian discuss the huge scale of Rowan Atkinson's original medieval comedy, the reduced budget that helped reshape the programme, the transformation of Blackadder and Baldrick, and whether moving comedy into the studio actually made it better.There's also Red Dwarf, live studio audiences, Jeeves and Wooster, Not Going Out, Fawlty Towers, panel shows, and the question of why British and American sitcoms developed such different approaches to comedy.In this episode: Why radio drama survived in Britain Doctor Who before Big Finish The British tradition of comedy on radio The Black Adder vs Blackadder II What happened when the budget disappeared Do sitcoms need a live audience? Red Dwarf: Back to Earth British vs American sitcoms When sitcoms start becoming dramas Presented by Christian Cawley with Brian A. Terranova.Kasterborous: Doctor Who, classic television and science fiction conversation since 2007.

Mercy is a 2026 American written by Marco van Belle, directed by , and starring and . The plot involves a detective (Pratt), who is accused of murdering his wife, and must prove his innocence to an (Ferguson). The film also stars , , , and . Mercy was released in the United States by and internationally by on January 23, 2026. The film grossed $54.7 million worldwide against a $60 million budget. Plot In 2029 , the Mercy Capital Court responds to a surge in crime by using artificial intelligence (AI) judges to try defendants for violent offenses. To assemble evidence, all devices are also registered to the municipal cloud to allow the AI judge to pass judgement. The AI judge also gives the defendants all available resources to find and provide all the evidence needed to prove their innocence in 90 minutes, or be executed via a sonic blast. Detective Christopher "Chris" Raven, a strong proponent of the court, is strapped to a chair, put on trial for his wife Nicole's murder, and is given 90 minutes to persuade the AI judge of his innocence. Presiding over his case is the AI Judge Maddox. All the evidence points to Chris having killed his wife, as her blood was found on his clothing and doorbell camera footage places him at their home shortly before her murder. Chris's guilt probability is 97.5%, which qualifies him for execution unless his evidence lowers it to 92% for reasonable doubt and 80% for a Mercy Trial. Since AIs are not allowed to take a human life, the chair is set on a 90 minute timer not controlled by the AI, and it is the defendant’s responsibility to lower their score and this allows the AI to unlock the chair before the timer runs out. Via Maddox's unrestricted access and abilities, Chris learns that Nicole was seeing another man, Patrick Burke. Chris's partner Jacqueline "Jaq" Diallo finds Patrick who confides that Nicole felt unable to communicate her troubles to Chris about work. Her work email records show reports of missing chemicals. Recalling hosting a work barbecue with Nicole, Chris reviews footage to better identify her co-workers. While looking for evidence, Chris confronts his relapse in sobriety following the murder of his former partner, Ray Vale, and regrets not shooting the suspect who was later acquitted. Relapsing into alcoholism led to Chris's aggression toward Nicole, and she began to consider a divorce. Maddox shows Chris records of one co-worker, Holt Charles, who had financial issues and had discussed the chemical disappearance with Robert "Rob" Nelson, Chris's sobriety sponsor. Suspecting Holt may have killed Nicole, Chris tries to contact Rob. Holt instead answers the phone and he explains that Rob is responsible for the missing chemicals. Chris reviews his daughter Britt's social media posts, which reveal that a stranger had been hiding in their basement since the barbecue. His neighbor's security cameras display a rustling in the bushes, and Rob is seen exiting the neighbor's trunk in parking lot surveillance footage. Chris sends Jaq to Rob's house, warning her and her team that he might be armed. The team arrive at Rob's house, finding it empty, but uncover detailed plans in the shed to craft a bomb. Maddox discovers that Rob's brother, David Webb, who was separated from him after Rob was adopted and given a new name, was the first person Mercy Court executed for murder. Chris realizes that Rob is orchestrating revenge against him and the Court. Chris is officially acquitted for the murder, but refuses to end the trial to exploit Maddox's unrestricted access. He tries to contact Britt, but footage from her grandparents' front door shows Rob kidnapping her and taking her into a stolen semi-truck. A bomb goes off in the shed killing most of the SWAT team. Jaq pursues Rob, who is transporting explosives toward Mercy Court to destroy the building with Chris inside. The police divert Rob away from Mercy Court, and Jaq, assuming command, orders the task force to blow up the truck. Chris pleads with Jaq but she refuses to yield to him. The bomb fails to detonate and Jaq attempts to shoot Rob directly. Rob arrives at Mercy Court, crashing into the building and causing a network glitch that requires a system reset. Maddox reboots in time to release Chris from the chair before the trial ends with his execution. Chris confronts Rob, working with Maddox to distract Rob by having Mercy Court reopen David Webb’s case and demanding Rob to submit his new evidence immediately. Chris then disarms Rob as he speaks and wants to kill him, but is talked down by Britt. Jaq arrives and shoots Rob. Rob provides new evidence that he was on the phone with David when the murder took place, but the police would not listen. Maddox confirms the call's timing and location which placed the phone away from the crime scene. Then Maddox retrieved footage that showed Jaq retrieving that phone from David, removing it from evidence, and dumping it in the river. Jaq explains she wanted to ensure that David was found guilty in the first judgement issued by an AI court to prove the system worked. Jaq and Rob are both taken into custody while Britt reconciles with Chris, whose case is formally dismissed. Maddox and Chris admit mistakes were made by humans and AI and they must learn from their mistakes. Cast and star in the film. as Det. Christopher "Chris" Raven, an LAPD officer who is on trial for the murder of his wife as Judge Maddox, an AI who is part of the Mercy program as Jacqueline "Jaq" Diallo, Chris's police partner as Nicole Raven, Chris's late wife as Robert "Rob" Nelson, Chris's sponsor and Nicole's co-worker as Britt Raven, Chris's daughter as Ray Vale, Chris's late partner as Holt Charles, a co-worker of Nicole as Patrick Burke, a man Nicole was seeing before she died Tom Rezvan as a governor Production It was announced in January 2024 that a science fiction thriller film entitled Mercy was being made for with starring, directed by from a script by Marco Van Belle and produced by , Robert Amidon, Bekmambetov, and Majd Nassif. In March, and joined the cast in undisclosed roles. In April, , , , , and joined the cast. In May, joined the cast of the film. began on April 18, 2024, in , with Khalid Mohtaseb serving as the cinematographer. Pratt suffered an ankle injury on day four of filming, posting a photo of a swollen ankle on his Instagram page. Filming on May 23, 2024. Music was revealed to have composed the score in January 2026. Release Mercy was shown early for patrons of and on January 19, 2026, as part of their Screen Unseen and Monday Mystery Movie programs, respectively. This made it the first IMAX film to be released via the programs. Mercy was released in the United States on January 23, 2026, in and , having previously been due for release on August 15, 2025. The film was released on digital on February 17, 2026, and on , , and on April 7, 2026 by Alliance Entertainment and .

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

It’s the end, but the Circuit has been prepared for! Big Finish concludes the Fugitive Doctor’s multi-month, multi-platform saga with audio play Full Circuit and Short Circuits, a couple of audiobooks. Plus “The Satan Pit” hits movie theatres on November 23, the BFI hosts...

There are libraries full of books. There are libraries full of knowledge. And then, apparently, there are libraries aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 where the books have started becoming rather selective about who gets to exist in them. This time aboard the ship, Sophie is joined by Dan Starkey, actor, writer, voice artist and one of the most recognisable inhabitants of the Doctor Who universe, despite frequently being hidden beneath several layers of prosthetics. Dan has played a remarkable variety of characters across Doctor Who, but is perhaps best known to television audiences as Strax, the gloriously literal Sontaran warrior who became an unlikely member of the Paternoster Gang alongside Madame Vastra and Jenny Flint. He has also played numerous other Sontarans, appearing opposite several incarnations of the Doctor. His relationship with Doctor Who extends well beyond the television screen. Dan has become a major presence in the world of audio, particularly through his extensive work with Big Finish, where he has appeared across Doctor Who and numerous other productions. He has also moved behind the microphone as a writer, co-writing Terror of the Sontarans, proving, perhaps, that having spent enough time playing Sontarans eventually leads to the inevitable conclusion that one must start writing them as well. But Dan’s arrival aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 comes at a particularly strange moment. The ship’s Narrative Archive has become a library, although not one that Sophie and Hobbes entirely trust. Books are present, but stories are missing. Information remains, but somehow the things that give that information meaning have begun to disappear. Meanwhile, Mrs C and the Ffantaface provide their usual means of escaping the immediate problem, taking Sophie somewhere rather unexpected for another conversation with a very special guest. This time, the Ffantaface brings us Laurence Scott, award-winning author of The Four-Dimensional Human and Picnic Comma Lightning. Laurence has spent more than a decade writing essays and criticism for publications including The New Yorker, Financial Times, New York Times, The Guardian, WIRED, Boston Globe, New Statesman and the London Review of Books, exploring the increasingly strange relationship between technology, culture, time and the ways in which we experience the world around us. And, perhaps most importantly for a journey aboard the Nosferatu 2.5, Doctor Who has had a profound influence on Laurence both personally and professionally. And somewhere aboard the Nosferatu 2.5, the books are waiting. Just be careful which one you open! Sophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes. Special Guests- Dan Starkey and Laurence Scott. You can find us all over your social media. Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63 Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey For listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community- *Episodes released early and ad free *Two exclusive podcasts every month *Online meet-ups and interactive events *Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the show www.patreon.com/aceodyssey Music by Graeme Allan Sound Effects & Sound Design by Gavin Rymill Programme Assistant Liz Whitmore Based on a short story by Soula Carmichael Written, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael You can follow Graeme Allan on Bluesky @graemeallan and listen to more of his music at www.youtube.com/brassbandit You can follow Gavin Rymill on Twitter & Bluesky @themindrobber, and you can watch his superb Dr.Who series Terry Nation Army on www.youtube.com/dalek6388 You can follow Paul Carmichael on Bluesky @paulcarmichaeluk and on Threads @paul.carmichael.1213

In this episode of the Who's He? Podcast.... Formula 1 to Blake's 7 - Interview with Richard Ashton - Part 1 In the first of a special two part interview, Phil sat down with Richard Ashton, one of the model makers who helped bring the updated special effects to the screen for the Blake's 7 blu-ray boxsets. This week, Richard tells about how he first got into building models, getting up close and personal with the Jordan F1 team and meeting his heroes. You can find amazing Richard's amazing model work here: It's An Ashton Contact us: Bluesky: @whoshepodcast.bsky.social X/Twitter: @Whos_He_Podcast Threads: @doctor_who_whos_he_podcast Facebook: www.facebook/groups/whoshepodcast Email: whoshepodcast@yahoo.co.uk

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

Another roundup of some Doctor Who titles recently published ... as usual there are a fair few coming through, and so without further ado ...On top of the teetering pile is a paperback edition of The Adventures Before ... the idea here is to present short stories based before some popular Doctor Who stories ... and as discussed in my review of the hardback (https://howeswho.blogspot.com/2024/11/review-doctor-who-annual-whodle.html) I found the book disappointing overall. The paperback adds a new story to the mix, 'The Night of the Shreek' by Pete McTighe, in which Ruby and the 15th Doctor first meet a Shreek, preluding the events of 'Lucky Day'. The story was actually first published in the official 2026 Doctor Who Annual, released in 2025.Another paperback edition with a new story included, is Time Lord Fairy Tales the hardback of which hails from 2015, and which was written by Justin Richards. I didn't review this at the time, but the content is as it says on the cover: various fairy stories are retold with Doctor Who monsters included ... they're nicely written, and as with all the BBC Children's Books fare, aimed at younger children. The new story is 'The Doctor and the Three Witches' by Janelle McCurdy and involves the three Carrionites from the story 'The Shakespeare Code' in a fairy tale interlude with Martha and a female Doctor (maybe the 13th? It's not specific), the UNIT Black Archive and Osgood ... a mixed bag!Not a book, but a rather lovely magazine is next. Museum Guide Book: The Classic Doctor Who Collection is a publication from Neil Cole at the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi. Intended as a guide to the Doctor Who props, costumes and ephemera collected by Neil for his museum, the 48 page guide lavishly pictures the items, along with some text explaining the context and how the museum comes to have the items. I love this sort of publication, with items from the first four Doctors all rubbing shoulders. So there are some negatives and prints from 'The Keys of Marinus', a camera script from 'Planet of Giants' and a script from 'The Savages', alongside a Gundan Robot from 'Warriors' Gate' and Target cover roughs and BBC cover roughs from artist Andrew Skilleter. An impressive collection.The idea is that visitors to the museum can buy the guidebook, so I'm not sure how available it is outside of actually visiting the museum, but if you are in the Hexam/Allendale area (postcode area NE47), then the Museum is well worth a visit.Next up is an 'annual'-styled special from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society. Doctor Who 70-79 is a celebration of the seventies period of Doctor Who and also marks 50 years of the DWAS.We have interviews with Caroline John and Mary Tamm alongside many pieces exploring different aspects of the series. Contributors include Dale Smith, Matt Hills, Simon Guerrier, Tony Jordan, Jeremy Bentham, Paul Scoones, Jon Preddle, Keith Barnfather and Dez Skinn. Edited by Bruce Nicholson and designed by Paul M C Smith, the book is full of colour photographs and is very pleasing to the eye. Unlike the official BBC fare, it also majors on the written content, rather than the photographs, and thus is more suited for the older fan. The book is available from Lulu, priced at a very reasonable £16.00. https://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-smith-and-bruce-nicholson/doctor-who-70-79/hardcover/product-m2evrqj.htmlFrom BBC Books comes the regular Doctor Who Annual for 2027. As there is no Doctor Who on television at this time, the publisher and editor (Paul Lang) have decided to make this a sort of 'best of'. I guess they have pared down on original material by reprinting material from past annuals, but this cost saving means they can increase the page count, so it's 126 pages long. This approach actually works really well, and the book provides a whistlestop tour of the last 20 years or so of Doctor Who. The earlier Doctors get a brief look in too, and all told it's a bright and lively race through the show, and something that would be sure to keep a youngster occupied for Christmas Day ... I like the inclusion of a 'Where's the Doctor' spread, the short stories and comic strips ... all keeping it exciting and interesting for someone new to the series.With the uncertainty over the future of high street chains like W H Smith/T G Jones at the moment, one does wonder if the end of the Annual may be upon us. I hope they can find a format which continues to excite, and more importantly sell copies, for next year and beyond.Finally, a vast doorstep of a book from Wonderful Books. This is Screen Printed, a 550 page updated print version of a previously free PDF book looking in detail at the old Target Doctor Who novelisations. Unlike my own The Target Book which focussed more on the behind the scenes development of the range, as well as looking at the cover art, this is focussing on the books themselves, seeking to pin down all the reprints, cover variants and so on through the years, using what information is available. It's a fascinating piece of work and is really invaluable to collectors of the books. Especially of interest are all the associated uses of the artwork, and details of where it has been displayed over the years.I assume that author Paul M C Smith has decided to make this available at this time, as BBC Audiobooks have just completed their run of audios of all the original Target books, making this a good place to position it. It's also up to date to the 2026 set of books (Aliens of London, The Satan Pit and The Time of Angels).Hopefully any future additions will be made available as add-on PDFs, as the book is too expensive to keep buying updated copies of!The book costs £36.87 and is available from Lulu (https://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-mc-smith/screen-printed/hardcover/product-dy4w549.html)

Low budget filmmaking can produce some impressive results, and there's a lot about this new horror from Shogun films to enjoy.Released on blu-ray by 101 Films, Harbinger is one of those 'group of people get slaughtered in a house' type films, but they have added an original twist that the killings are being carried out by a possessed arcade machine called 'Harbinger', a variation on the Zoltar seaside 'tell your fortune' machines. Thus a group of documentary film makers descend on the house in which Julia (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) lived and was attacked five years previously by a serial killer Henry Decker (Peter Woodward). They bring Julia with them and intend to make a new episode of their series Spectre Investigates, fronted by Mike Craggs (Gary Webster). There to capture the proceedings are the sound girl April (Maisey Gee), her boyfriend cameraman Barney (Joseph Emms), make-up girl Kathryn (Anna Arthur), who Barney has been sleeping with and who has got pregnant, a supernatural expert Chris (Johnny Palmiero), and psychic Neil (Tony Sands). However the Harbinger machine doles out some tarot-like cards to each of them, and soon they realise that the figure in the machine is out to get them!The film has a lot going for it. There's some smashing cinematograpy and drone work, some great colour palates inside the house (very inspired by Italian Giallo, and Dario Argento's film Suspiria in particular), and some great performances from the majority of the cast.Where the film is let down is in the choice of the leading lady, and the script. Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott is sadly weak in the role. Her scenes fall flat and it's a struggle to believe in her as Julia. This is just thrown into contrast by the rest of the cast who are universally excellent, and I wished one of them had ended up as being the 'final girl' here rather than Julia.On the script front, the biggest issue for me was that the tarot cards given by the machine should have been predictors of how these people would meet their ends ... but while some hint at it, others seem to have no bearing at all. In a film of this type, where the whole 'point' is the killings, they should have been far more imaginative and clever ... far more like the sort of deaths presented in the Italian Giallos which this film tries (and mostly succeeds) in matching for visual style and flair. It's a shame that the stalking Harbinger figure seems to just resort to mostly strangling people and killing them with a knife.There's some material in here which doesn't make a lot of sense. For example, if this house belonged to Julia, then why leave a valuable painting on the wall? She takes the 'job' with the film crew to earn some much-needed money to help her aged mother (an excellent scene with veteran actress Carole Ann Ford holding her own) - but why do that if there was money tied up in the old house which she obviously doesn't live in any more. I was also puzzled by the whole sequence of the young girl in the bath with the mask on ... it seemed out of place. The film also drags in places, which with six killings to execute (sorry) and only 90 minutes to do it all in, is something of an issue.Overall Harbinger was enjoyable, but sadly the choice of lead makes it a harder watch and a lot less fun and action packed than it could have been.

Circuit Breaker reaches its climax with Full Circuit and Short Circuits – out now from Big Finish Over the course of the mixed-media Doctor Who adventure Circuit Breaker – which has encompassed comic books, novels, games, and more – the Fugitive Doctor has been working with UNIT’s Petronella Osgood to resolve a crisis across time and space. That crisis reaches its climax today in Circuit Breaker: Full Circuit. This full-cast audio drama stars Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor and Ingrid Oliver as Osgood, as well as Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin) as Osgood’s assistant Andrew Turner, and Jemma Redgrave as UNIT Commander-in-Chief Kate Stewart (in her first chronological appearance since TV spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea). The Doctor and her allies have uncovered the villain behind the unusual anomalies – the Conductor (Dan Starkey). This uniquely scheming Sontaran is making his final moves, which involve a Time Bomb that threatens all of the Doctor’s future selves… The cast of Circuit Breaker: Full Circuit also includes Nigel Sudarkasa as Captain Ford/Andrew’s Dad, Ony Uhiara as Sergeant Ryle/Andrew’s Mum, and George Naylor as Skaag/the Sontarans. ” Jo Martin defines the sound and rhythm of Circuit Breaker” Director Barnaby Edwards said: “It was a great joy to work with the Fugitive Doctor. This was my first experience with Jo, and I’m keeping everything crossed that it won’t be my last. I love her! She’s so fresh and funny and natural. Robert wrote a really good script and Jo completely locked into the humour and the pathos of it. She defines the sound and rhythm of Circuit Breaker.” Esmie Jikiemi-Pierson, Circuit Breaker editorial lead, added: “It’s exciting to have the Fugitive Doctor at the heart of this story. She’s a fantastic character, and Jo as an actress is a gift that keeps on giving. She is capable of so much depth and tenderness, but also such strength, and that lends itself so well to the character. “People think they know the Fugitive Doctor from everything we’ve seen of her, and part of the process of writing this was asking: how much of what we’ve seen is a front that she puts up to protect herself from the world, and how much of it is really who she is in her heart? Which was a really fun dichotomy to play around with.” Also out now is short story collection Short Circuits Even after the climax of Full Circuit, some questions about the mystery remain. Those missing pieces are revealed in Short Circuits, a set of two Short Trips-style 30-minute audiobook stories, which reveal the backstories of two key characters original to Circuit Breaker. First, we head to Sontar, to discover the origins of the Conductor, a uniquely intelligent example of his militaristic race. Then, the second story focuses on Andrew, Osgood’s assistant in the UNIT Black Archive. Both stories are read by Dan Starkey, who’s known for playing Sontarans across Doctor Who on both TV and audio. Reader Dan Starkey said: “They’re fun stories. There’s an origin story for the Conductor. It has the birth of a supervillain feel to it, both nice and horrible at the same time! The other story is more of an introductory bridging story as to how Andrew ends up working for UNIT. There’s a little bit of jeopardy, some thrills and spills – oh, and a dinosaur. It’s all great fun!” Doctor Who: Full Circuit The Doctor, Petronella Osgood and Andrew Turner are joined by Kate Stewart. A final mysterious object is manifesting, this one at the pinnacle of UNIT Tower itself. A Time Bomb! Which threatens a dark future for all of the Doctor’s incarnations. Only this Doctor can save herself – and her other selves – from this intricately woven scheme. Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker: Full Circuit is now available to purchase for just £13.99 (download to own) or £21.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively from the Big Finish website. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker: Short Circuits is now available to purchase as a download to own for just £11.99, exclusively from the Big Finish website. Like this: Like Loading…

This month on the podcast, we saddle up and head for Mercy, Nevada, where the Doctor encounters a gunslinger, a disgraced alien doctor, a town full of terrified humans, and one hell of a moral dilemma. We’re talking A Town Called Mercy - the 2012 Eleventh Doctor story that asks some pretty uncomfortable questions about mercy, vengeance, guilt and whether the Doctor gets to decide who deserves to live. Before that, there’s the usual assortment of news and short topics, and afterwards we dig into the mailbag for a heap of listener feedback. So grab your hat, keep an eye out for cyborgs, and ponder what YOU would do with an alien war criminal. Enjoy, dear listener. Contact us: Bluesky: @thedwshow.net X / Twitter: @theDWshow Email: hello@theDWshow.net Substack: thedwshow.substack.com Facebook: facebook.com/theDWshow

Ncuti Gatwa will have a pivotal role in The Big Ballet, the Royal Ballet and Opera’s new free national dance event for UK primary schools. The event will aim to break record for the world’s largest dance class taking place across multiple venues, reaching 70,000 pupils in total. Gatwa, who played the Fifteenth Doctor from 2023-25, will play The Narrator in a specially adapted version of Will Tuckett’s The Wind in the Willows ballet, joined by dancers from The Royal Ballet. The event celebrates the 25th anniversary year of the original ballet adaptation of the classic book. The Big Ballet will be a free annual event livestreamed from the Royal Opera House, bringing together children aged seven to eleven from across the UK to celebrate storytelling through dance. The first event, on 25 February 2027, will explore Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows and aims to break the record for the world’s largest dance class taking place across multiple venues, currently held at 26,797 participants. The Royal Ballet and Opera intend to break the record during one of two sessions taking place on the day. Together, the sessions aim to reach 70,000 pupils. Through the livestream, children will see classrooms across the country taking part in real time, creating a shared national experience. Ncuti Gatwa, who showed his dance credentials in The Church on Ruby Road and The Devil’s Chord during his time on Doctor Who, said: “I still remember my first ballet class at primary school. I felt like I’d found my thing, my tribe, so it’s really exciting to be part of an event that will be introducing children to dance for the first time. Every child deserves the chance to express themselves through dance, and I hope The Big Ballet inspires children across the country to be creative and discover that dance is for everyone.” More details, including how schools can sign up to take part, can be found at Royal Ballet and Opera Schools. Like this: Like Loading…

Thank you for downloading the Trap One Podcast. On this episode US Jason, Denise, Lucy and Mark explore The Peter Davison Collection. You can order the collection now on CD or vinyl #ad The DWAS 1970-79 book that Lucy has contributed to can be ordered here.

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

It’s a tough question, and although it’s “just” a TV show, a bit difficult to consider. There’ve been at least three generations brought up on the show. Any current fans who were small children watching in the 1960s are among the most loyal, as the loyalty you establish as a child is often the strongest. I was 18 when I came across the show back in ‘80, and even though I was older, I still grabbed onto Who with both hands and never let go. After Capaldi left, and we had to deal with all things Chibnall, I kept watching, because A) it’s Doctor Who. There’ll be peaks and valleys. B) How bad could it get? And C) I was compelled to witness what came next. To catalog and critique at the very least. I also felt I couldn’t comment about its quality if I wasn’t watching. With some of the ridiculous, insulting storylines that came from the Chibnall era, combined with his stunningly bad characterization and lack of character development, it was at times ridiculous and depressing. But I kept watching. Maybe that made me part of the problem? If enough people keep watching a bad show, they’ll keep it around. When I heard that Russell T Davies was coming back, I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t expecting Moffat levels of quality, but I WAS expecting something better than the low bar provided by Chibs, and we saw what followed. But I kept watching. And here we are in a different world. Everything Changes In 2026, everything is very different, including how shows are written, produced, paid for, broadcast streamed, etc. The audiences are different, because their world is entirely different from what it was in 2005, 1985, or 1963. People in general spend more time on their phone than in front of the tv and almost never with the whole family. Upcoming writers, *especially* in regards to long running sci-fi franchises mostly delight in pushing fan service and constant call backs. Because in those situations, I feel most of those writers are fans first, and professional writers second. We’ve seen this in recent Star Wars and Star Trek. Doctor Who has different problems, but I fear the next incarnation will be especially vulnerable to this problem. It’s by no means etched in stone that this will happen, but factoring in the potential new streaming partners’ agenda, and a desperate BBC, who will do just about anything, *allow* just about anything (except Americans) to keep the show running, and make money, well, I’m not confident. But to my point. Doctor Who as a concept is the best ever created in the fictional world. They can never take that away. And let’s face it— we’ve been incredibly spoiled. Over 60 years—the majority of them good— and within that, a fair amount of brilliance. Do we NEED Doctor Who? Yes, I think we do. It’s a balm, a comfort, and a friend. It’s our childhood and warm memories. And we do have a LOT of it. Hundreds and hundreds of hours. We have all of that, and that can’t be taken away either. So, the more pertinent question would be — *do we need more NEW Who?* I don’t know. That’s where the “Should we let it go?” bit comes into play. What I Think There are different mindsets. Some, like me, up until now, have been in the “I must watch whatever happens” mode. Others watch warily, wearily, and at some point, just start skipping seasons. But going cold turkey? Stopping entirely? Actively shunning the show whatever happens in the future? Not realistic, I don’t think—for me, anyway. However, there are always degrees. As much as I love the Fantastic Four comic series, they’ve had a long list of unimpressive creators for most of the time stretching back to Lee & Kirby. So these days, when a new creative team is announced, I give the book a try. If they can’t get it right, I bow out until the next change-over in creators. Thanks goodness for the MCU, as I loved the FF movie far more than the majority of the comic run at this point. So from now on, that may be my new approach on Who. New team comes in, I’ll try it out, and if it doesn’t pass muster, I’ll bow out until things change over. And after the abandoned Christmas special, with whatever madness RTD had planned, it will be quite some time before we see more new Who anyway, and even now, we don’t know what we’ll get. It’s very much out of our hands. So maybe some of us will let it go, and some might stick with it. Or, possibly, we might come to the conclusion that what we knew as Doctor Who is gone for good, and what comes next is just some new show based on an old program we knew long ago. Maybe it’ll make it easier to recognize that… and then we can finally let go. But wouldn’t it be nice if it came back and it was wonderful again? Can’t hurt to be a bit optimistic. Just in case. Like this: Like Loading…

Nick and Benji present... The Chat: Nick's leaving! Plus the cost of chocolate, Nick's nose, the younger generation, The Cruel Sea and Quatermass. Behind-the-scenes and Drama Tease: Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: The Greatest Train Robbery. This podcast is released on Friday 25th September. Check out other editions of the Big Finish Podcast in the range here, enabling you to put them into your account and listen via the Big Finish Listening app on Apple and Android devices!

Doctor Who Battles in Time Dalek Invasion Limited Edition Booster Available to order from www.masterreplicas.co.uk “Every Dalek. Every Doctor. One sealed Booster. The most complete Dalek trading card collection ever made — 36 sealed packs, brand-new Vortex Metal chase cards, and more than 80 Daleks from every era of the show. Strictly limited to just 1,000 pieces worldwide — once they’re gone, they’re gone. In the Booster • 36 sealed packs (216 cards) • Every card carries the gold foil Dalek Invasion logo • Tamper-proof authenticity sticker • Increased odds of Rares, Super Rares, Vortex Metal and Box Topper cards vs single packs • One oversized Box Topper card per Booster — six to collect The full set — 142 cards + 6 Box Toppers: • 80 Common cards — high-spec UV gloss finish • 45 Rare cards — stunning rainbow foil, 1 in every pack • 15 Super Rare cards — premium holofoil, 1 in 10 packs • 2 Vortex Metal cards — Gold and Silver — brand-new metallic technology, 1 in 720 packs • 6 Oversized Box Topper cards — 1 per Booster (Booster exclusive) Each pack contains 6 cards. 142 cards to collect featuring more than 80 different Daleks — from the Skaro city Daleks that confronted the First Doctor to the latest advanced Dalek scouts. Exhaustively researched with leading Dalek expert Gavin Rymill. The ultimate chase — Dimension Boxes Seeded randomly through the entire print run, containing every single card in the collection. Any Booster could contain one. Two editions releasing: this Limited Edition (gold foil), and an Unlimited Retail Edition (silver foil) later in 2026. Pre-order now — ships to customers in early December. Cards are randomly sorted. Packs are not guaranteed to contain the cards shown.” Categorised under: Card games, General

Doctor Who Battles in Time Dalek Invasion Limited Edition Case Available to order from www.masterreplicas.co.uk “Six Boosters. One Case. One card no one else can get. For the serious collector — six full Boosters bundled together, plus the Case-exclusive 7th oversized Case Topper card you can’t find any other way. Strictly limited to just 100 Cases worldwide — once they’re gone, they’re gone. In the Case • 6 × 36-pack Boosters (216 packs, 1,296 cards) • Every card carries the gold foil Dalek Invasion logo • Every Booster sealed with a tamper-proof authenticity sticker • Increased odds of Rares, Super Rares, Vortex Metal and Box Topper cards vs single packs • 6 oversized Box Topper cards — the full set in one Case • 1 oversized Case Topper card — exclusive to the Case The full set — 142 cards + 6 Box Toppers + 1 Case Topper: • 80 Common cards — high-spec UV gloss finish • 45 Rare cards — stunning rainbow foil, 1 in every pack • 15 Super Rare cards — premium holofoil, 1 in 10 packs • 2 Vortex Metal cards — Gold and Silver — brand-new metallic technology, 1 in 720 packs • 6 Oversized Box Topper cards — 1 per Booster (Booster exclusive) • 1 Oversized Case Topper card — Case exclusive Each pack contains 6 cards. 142 cards to collect featuring more than 80 different Daleks. Exhaustively researched with leading Dalek expert Gavin Rymill. The ultimate chase — Dimension Boxes Seeded randomly through the entire print run, containing every single card in the collection. Any of the six Boosters in your Case could contain one. Two editions releasing: this Limited Edition (gold foil), and an Unlimited Retail Edition (silver foil) later in 2026. Pre-order now — ships to customers in early December. Cards are randomly sorted. Packs are not guaranteed to contain the cards shown.” Categorised under: Card games, General

Zoom Doctor Who Battles in Time Dalek Invasion Limited Edition Binder Available to order from www.masterreplicas.co.uk “The perfect home for the complete Dalek Invasion collection. Strictly limited to 1,000 pieces worldwide. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Exclusive to Master Replicas. In the Binder • Specially commissioned limited-edition binder • Holds all 142 regular cards • Side-loading pockets keep cards safely in place • Includes a special oversized collector’s card The full set — 142 cards to collect: • 80 Common cards — high-spec UV gloss finish • 45 Rare cards — stunning rainbow foil enhancement • 15 Super Rare cards — premium holofoil • 2 Vortex Metal cards — Gold and Silver — brand-new metallic technology What you’ll fill it with: more than 80 different Daleks — from the Skaro city Daleks that confronted the First Doctor to the latest advanced Dalek scouts — alongside the Doctors and companions who faced them. Exhaustively researched with leading Dalek expert Gavin Rymill. Heroes, monsters and epic battles — and the perfect place to keep them all. Pre-order now — ships to customers in early December.” Categorised under: Card games, General

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

Computer problems abound in truth and in fiction but nonetheless this one has been snuck out - unnoticed by our conniving computer overlords. Still no Cybermen, but plenty of fun to be had as Zoe smashes a computer, dandruff is discussed and your host doesn't even mention one of his favourite bits (he'll have to do so next week). And there are lots of fascinating listener comments too - making this one a really gorgeous prospect! #doctorwho #doctorwhoreaction #doctorwhocommentary #doctorwhocomedian #tobyhadoke #doctorwhofacts #positivedoctorwho #classicdoctorwho Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month: patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter: @tobyhadoke And these podcasts: @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club: @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.

A supernatural coming-of-age comedy starring Doctor Who's Lenny Rush as a human discovering he doesn't have the same abilities as his vampire family is coming to the BBC. Based on the books by Eric Morecambe, six-episode series The Reluctant Vampire follows Val (Rush), who's grown up convinced he's a vampire like the rest of his bloodsucking family. With his initiation as an adult vampire fast approaching, a revelation upends everything Val thought he knew about himself. Premiering on BBC One and iPlayer on 4 October, the series from Alan Partridge writers Rob and Neil Gibbons sees Val embrace his human side while working to live up to the high expectations of his vampire father Victor, played by Tom Davis. Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV As his suspicious brother Vernon (Gabriel Nagy) is out to get him, Val has his loving mum Valeeta (Sian Clifford) in his corner. The only one who's in the know about Val's true nature, Valeeta spills the beans to her son, confirming that he isn't actually a vampire. What to Read Next As you can see in the trailer at the top of this page, the reveal prompts a shocked reaction from Val, who points out that picking up being a vampire, like his mum suggested, isn't exactly like learning conversational French. Related: BBC's planned Doctor Who return date revealed in exciting new show update for fans The four stars are joined by a supporting cast including Taskmaster star Joe Wilkinson as werewolf Wilf, as well as Asim Chaudry, Bill Bailey, Ray Fearon and Charlie Cooper. Rush is best known for the role of Ollie in comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, and that of Morris Gibbons on Doctor Who. He also appeared in A Woman of Substance and is in the cast of season 6 of Apple TV hit series Slow Horses. The Reluctant Vampire airs its first episode on 4 October at 6.40pm on BBC One. All six episodes become available to stream on iPlayer on the same day. Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies. The new edition of Legends, a 100-page celebration of Dolly Parton's life, is here. Buy Dolly in newsagents or online. Reporter, Digital Spy Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy. Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half). Read full bio

BAFTA Scotland has announced its nominees for the Audience Award, in partnership with Screen Scotland, with Ncuti Gatwa in the running for his role as the Doctor in Doctor Who. Ad Those who Gatwa will be going up against in the category include Julie Wilson Nimmo for Balamory, Katie Leung for Bridgerton, Leah Byrne for Dept. Q, Peter Mullan for I Swear and Stephen Libby for The Traitors. The nominees were selected by an independent jury comprised of Scotland’s media and culture experts, as figures who made their mark over the past year as the Scottish talent audiences loved to watch and talk about. The Audience Award is the only category at the BAFTA Scotland Awards which is decided by a public vote, which is open now here. Voting remains open until 4pm on Friday 30 October, and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on Sunday 15 November, which will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central. Stephen in The Traitors. BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry The Audience Award has previously been won by the likes of Sheli McCoy AKA Sabre for Gladiators, Lawrence Chaney for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Sam Heughan for Outlander, Lauren Lyle for Karen Pirie and Ashley Storrie for Dinosaur. Jude MacLaverty, director of BAFTA Scotland, said in a statement: "We're delighted to announce the six nominees for this year’s Audience Award for favourite Scot on Screen in 2026. Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes. Accept and continue "Supported by Screen Scotland, this is the only award decided entirely by you, the public. This much-loved category is a celebration of Scottish on-screen talent who have sparked conversations and captured our nation’s attention over the past year. Get voting!" A list of all of the nominations for the BAFTA Scotland Awards 2026 will be announced on Thursday 1 October, featuring 14 competitive categories. This is the third time Gatwa has been up for the Audience Award for playing the Doctor, and will also be his last, as the actor departed the show, which has now been put out to tender by the BBC, last year. The BAFTA Scotland Awards 2026 will take place on Sunday 15 November. Add shows to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

While fans may have a wait on their hands until Doctor Who returns to the small screen, the sci-fi is set to bring one popular story to the big screen in a brand-new format. Ad Doctor Who: The Satan Pit Extended Cut will be a newly re-edited, movie-length cinematic cut of Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler season 2 episodes The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit. The new cut will feature deleted scenes that were previously only available on DVD and have now been restored into the story, as well as never-before-seen extended footage. The new feature-film cut will be getting a one-night-only release on Doctor Who Day (23 November 2026), screening in 1,000 cinemas across the UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The screening will also feature an exclusive interview with the director of the episodes, James Strong, reflecting on the making of the 2006 story. The Beast in Doctor Who's The Satan Pit. BBC Natasha Spence, global events director at BBC Studios, said in a statement: "Part of what makes Doctor Who so extraordinary is that there is always more to discover. "Even with a story as loved as The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit, we’re able to offer fans something they haven’t experienced before, with previously deleted scenes restored into the adventure and never-before-seen extended footage included in this special cinema cut. "Doctor Who Day is the perfect moment to celebrate that sense of discovery with fans. We’re delighted to be working with CinemaLive again to bring this unforgettable Tenth Doctor and Rose story to the big screen, and to give audiences the chance to experience it together in cinemas for the first time." Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as YouTube may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow YouTube and its required purposes. Accept and continue Tickets will go on sale at 9am on 25 September 2026, and you can book at doctorwhoincinemas.com in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and at Fathom Entertainment in the US. The story of the episodes, and now the film cut, sees the TARDIS land on Sanctuary Base 6, a remote outpost on a planet orbiting a black hole. The synopsis says: "As the base crew uncover something ancient beneath the surface, the Doctor and Rose are pulled into one of their darkest and most unforgettable adventures, facing the terrifying Ood and an evil older than time itself: the Beast." Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news fromsee more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. Alongside Tennant and Piper, the story stars Danny Webb, Shaun Parkes, Claire Rushbrook, Will Thorp, Ronny Jhutti and MyAnna Buring. Doctor Who Day marks the anniversary of the first ever episode of Doctor Who, which aired on the BBC in 1963. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Dive into our Doctor Who story guide: reviews of every episode since 1963, plus cast & crew listings, production trivia, and exclusive material from the Radio Times archive. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.