BBC Childrens Books have released details of their Doctor Who books being published to the end of the year, including a collection of festive tales for Christmas, and the traditional Doctor Who Annual.

It is also possible to win copies of the publications, courtesy of BBC Childrens Books; in order to be in with a chance to win simply email us with the answer to the question along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news page, news app, Facebook, etc.). All competitions are open to UK readers only, with a closing date of 16th October 2016. Only one entry per household can be accepted.

Doctor Who Doodle Book
Published by Penguin Books, 1st September 2016 [purchase from Amazon UK]

Think you can draw Doctor Who? Time to get creative with scribbles of all shapes and sizes in this interactive Doctor Who doodle book!

Cover pages with monster footprints, sketch the scariest villains imaginable and design dastardly foes from your own imagination. Design a new scarf for the Fourth Doctor, some sand shoes for the Tenth Doctor, and dream up a new look for the Master. Doodle new gadgets, outfits, hiding places and battlegrounds.

The Whoniverse is yours to design in this awesome Doctor Who book!

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Competition Question: Name the Doctor Who story which featured a monster derived from a drawing.
Send your answer to comp-doodle@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Idle Moments".

Choose the Future: Terror Moon
Published by Penguin Books, 1st September 2016 [purchase from Amazon UK]

When one choice can lead to triumph or failure, life or death, glory or destruction - what will you choose?

In this brand new adventure, Terror Moon, the Twelfth Doctor travels to a far-off moon base, only to discover a monstrous, flesh-eating horror lying in wait...

With Choose the Future, YOU decide how, when, where and with whom the Doctor will fight to save the world! The fate of the universe is in your hands...

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Competition Question: name the previous range of "choose your own adventure" books that featured the tenth and eleventh Doctors.
Send your answer to comp-choosethefuture@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Turn To Page 42".

This competition includes both the latest Choose The Future book and the earlier publication Night of the Kraken.

A History of Humankind: The Doctor’s Official Guide
Published by Penguin Books, 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

A history book 'improved' by the Twelfth Doctor, with annotations, scribblings, and his trademark snarky humour!

Over billions of years of time travel, the Doctor has run into his fair share of important people - and he's formed opinions on most of them too. Now the Twelfth Doctor has got hold of a history textbook from Coal Hill School, and he's
decided to improve it with notes of his own.

From Nefertiti to Robin Hood, this essential Doctor's guide gives us his unique take on Earth's most famous historical figures. Through annotations, scribblings and his trademark snarky humour, the Doctor has plenty to say about the pudding-brained humans he's met on his travels. It's history... but perhaps not quite as you know it!

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Competition Question: name the first real-life person from history that the Doctor met in the television series.
Send your answer to comp-humankind@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Humans are quite my favourite species".

Time Lord Fairy Tales (slipcase edition)
Published by Penguin Books, 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

With 16 hardback books each containing a fairy tale set in the world of Doctor Who, this slipcase edition of Time Lord Fairy Tales includes a brand new story for 2016: The Emperor Dalek's New Clothes.

Time Lord Fairy Tales contains legendary stories of monsters, mysteries, villains and heroes from across the Whoniverse. A beautifully illustrate collection of dark and dangerous Whovian fairy tales, this slipcase is the perfect gift for any true Doctor Who fan.

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Competition Question: name a Time Lord fairy-tale/legend that the Doctor actually encounters in the television series.
Send your answer to comp-fairytales@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Once upon a Time...".

Official Doctor Who Annual 2017
Published by BBC Childrens Books, 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]


Join the Doctor for brand-new adventures on board the TARDIS in this year's Doctor Who Annual. With secrets from the latest series, fact files on the latest terrifying monsters, exciting comic strips, stories, puzzles and activities, it's the perfect read for any fan of the brilliant BBC show Doctor Who.

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Competition Question: which is the only "numbered" Doctor to not feature on a Doctor Who annual/yearbook cover?
Send your answer to comp-annual@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "One Year in the Life of the Doctor".

Twelve Doctors Of Christmas
Published by BBC Childrens Books, 6th October 2016 [pre-order from Amazon UK]

A beautifully illustrated collection of new Doctor Who stories, each featuring one of the twelve Doctors on a festive adventure in the TARDIS.

Written by six authors and with a full-page colour illustration for each story, these tales are full of magic, mystery, wonder, excitement - and everything else that fans love about a Doctor Who Christmas special.

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Competition Question: name the only non-21st Century Doctor Who Christmas episode.
Send your answer to comp-12xmas@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Ho Ho Ho!".

In addition to the new releases, BBC Childrens Books have kindly provided these publications from earlier in the year as additional competition prizes:

Doctor Who: The Essential Guide (Twelfth Doctor edition)
Published by Penguin Books, 7th April 2016 [purchase from Amazon UK]

A new edition of the ultimate and most essential guide to Doctor Who, now updated to include all twelve incarnations of the Doctor and covering all his newest adventures from Series 8 and 9.

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Competition Question: the Doctor has often kept a diary of his experiences - how many years does his most recent cover?
Send your answer to comp-essential@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Dipping into the Matrix".

Doctor Who: Travels in Time
Published by Penguin Books, 7th April 2016 [purchase from Amazon UK]


Experience the timey-wimey travels of the Doctor moment by moment with this historical Doctor Who colouring book.

Inside you'll find the Doctor's greatest friends and foes from throughout all of history, with original illustrations featuring Churchill, Shakespeare, Van Gogh, Dickens, Madame de Pompadour and many more. Colour in kings and queens, Romans and Egyptians, Viking villages and erupting volcanoes... not forgetting the occasional dinosaur on a spaceship.

With 45 brand new images to colour, Travels in Time is a truly fantastic addition to any colouring collection.

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Competition Question: name a story featuring a portrait the Doctor has painted.
Send your answer to comp-colours@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Strike Me Pink!".

Doctor Who: Dot-To-Doc
Published by Penguin Books, 7th July 2016 [purchase from Amazon UK]

Join a galaxy of dots to draw the Doctor with this incredible dot-to-dot book!

With 45 intricate portraits to complete and over 500 dots in every drawing, Dot-to-Doc contains hours of creative and timey-wimey fun.

Inside you'll find every incarnation of the Doctor, plus favourite friends and foes - Rose, Donna, Captain Jack, Clara, the Ponds, a Dalek, a Cyberman, a Weeping Angel and many more...

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Competition Question: in which story did the Doctor say a straight line might be the shortest distance between two points but it isn't the most interesting?
Send your answer to comp-dottodoc@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Going dotty".

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This week sees Titan Comics release a trio of Doctor Who comics featuring the Fourth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors.

Doctor Who: Fourth Doctor #5

Writers: Gordon Rennie & Emma Beeby
Artist: Brian Williamson
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Comicraft
Cover A: Brian Williamson & Hi-Fi, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Blair Shedd, Cover D: Todd Nauck & Hi-Fi

The shocking conclusion of 'GAZE OF THE MEDUSA'! Can the Doctor and Sarah Jane defeat the Medusa and use the Lamp of Chronos to restore those it has turned to stone - or are the victims of Lady Emily Carstairs pertrified forever? Who lives, who dies, who tells their story?!

Doctor Who: Eleventh Doctor #2.13

Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: I. N. J. Culbard, Simon Fraser
Cover A: Simon Fraser, Cover B: Will Brooks Photo, Cover C: Mike Collins (Linked Cover)

The endgame begins, as the architect of the Doctor's pain stands revealed, and the truth behind the Squire is out in the open at last! With Alice still trapped in the Time War, and Abslom itching to take a chainsword to the enemy, can the Doctor broker peace and balm his guilty soul?!

Doctor Who: Twelfth Doctor #2.9

Writer: George Mann
Artist: Rachael Stott
Colorist: Ivan Nunes
Letterer: Comicraft
Cover A: Mariano Laclaustra, Cover B: Photo – Will Brooks, Cover C: Warren Pleece, Cover D: Stephen Byrne

Rachael Stott is back on interior art as the Doctor receives a strange summons from an impossible source, and finds himself trapped inside a house of infinite dimensions! What is the Doctor's connection to the family that brought him there, and what is the stunning secret of the house itself?

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The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have announced details of their forthcoming special event dedicated to the third Doctor, Jon Pertwee.

Taking place on the 23rd October 2016 between 1:00pm and 5:30pm, Polarity Day will celebrate his time as the Doctor, with guests including Katy Manning, Richard Franklin, Bob Baker and Terrance Dicks. The day will also feature a special showing of The Claws Of Axos. Tickets to the main event is free, and may be applied for via post - see the website for further details. There will also be opportunities for photos and autographs at an additional charge.

Members of the Society will also be able to apply for separate tickets to attend the unveiling of the new Heritage Plaque in honour of Pertwee by his widow Ingeborg and daughter Dariel, with an invited audience of his friends and colleagues.

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It is still possible to purchase a set of TARDIS Roundel badges from the Society, the proceeds of which go towards raising funds for the plaque, and for Pertwee's favourite charity, the Water Rats. For full details see the DWAS website.

Related Articles: Heritage Plaque to honour Jon Pertwee (31 Aug 2016)

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ABC Australia has confirmed the new Doctor Who spin-off, Class, will broadcast in Australia, shortly after its UK debut.

The first two episodes of the series will be released on iView as soon as they becomes available in the UK. Class is due to be released on BBC Three sometime on Saturday 22nd October.

In addition the episodes will be screened on ABC2 on Monday, 24 October

Class is a young adult series set in Coal Hill Academy. The first episode will feature current Doctor Peter Capaldi.

Class has also been confirmed for transmission in Canada on 22 October. BBC America will also screen the series, but have not yet confirmed an airdate.

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This summer saw the release of a new film starring Colin Baker as The Narrator.

A Dozen Summers is a comedy, from writer/director Kenton Hall. A story about what it’s really like to be 12 in the 21st century.

The film was released in the summer and Doctor Who News, in association with Kenton Hall, has two copies to give away.

All you need to do is answer the following question

What is the title of the children's book, written by Colin Baker's daughter Lucy, published this month?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, another website, etc.) to comp-summers@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "A Dozen Summers".

The competition is open worldwide, the DVD is a Region Free, PAL copy.

Closing date 9th October 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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A number of props and costumes from Doctor Who are being sold as part of the Prop Store Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction taking place on September 27th.

Items for sale include a Resurrection of the Daleks Shooting Running Order signed by cast members Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Rodney Bewes, Rula Lenska, Terry Molloy and Royce Mills and a Vengeance On Varos Guard Costume.

Other lots include an Autographed Collectors Card Set, a Battlefield Special Effects Pistol and Holster and a Pyrotechnic Sterling Submachine Gun first used in Fury from the Deep.

The auction is being held at the Odeon Imax at Waterloo in London next Tuesday.

Full details on the Auction Website

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Canadian broadcaster SPACE have confirmed via Twitter that they will be broadcasting the new spin-off series Class from 22nd October, the same day the series launches in the United Kingdom.

The Doctor is in. Watch him in the #ClassDW series premiere OCTOBER 22nd on Space.

The Doctor is in. Watch him in the #ClassDW series premiere OCTOBER 22nd on Space. pic.twitter.com/jQAFpntN5f

— Space (@SpaceChannel) 23 September 2016

Related Articles: Class coming on 22nd October (23 Sep 2016)

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The BBC has confirmed that the new Doctor Who spin off, Class, written by Patrick Ness, will launch its first two episodes on BBC Three on Saturday 22 October.

The first episode of the young adult series will feature the current Doctor Peter Capaldi

An exclusive World premiere of the first episode will take place at Rich Mix, in London's East End, on Thursday 20 October, the home of Coal Hill Academy, Shoreditch, with doors opening at 6pm. Limited tickets will be available via the BBC Shows and Tours website.

The first two episodes from the series, For Tonight We Might Die and The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo, will be available on the BBC Three channel from Saturday 22nd, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the first episode of Torchwood.

Commenting on his involvement with the new Doctor Who spin-off series, Peter Capaldi, said

The Doctor Who family is growing, and it’s fantastic to be able to welcome the young new cast of Class in to the Whoniverse.

The new series is set in Coal Hill Acadamy, first seen in the very first episode of Doctor Who, screened in November 1963.

It’s a new term at Coal Hill Academy, and students are preparing for their Autumn Prom. But when the school comes under attack, four alienated students must form an unlikely alliance to defeat them. And this incursion is only the beginning.

Charlie (Greg Austin), April (Sophie Hopkins), Ram (Fady Elsayed) and Tanya (Vivian Oparah), assisted by their physics teacher Miss Quill (Katherine Kelly), are charged with a great responsibility by the mysterious alien known as the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) to guard against the creatures of nightmare that want nothing more than to find a way through to Earth and take it for their own.

The series is created by Patrick Ness and includes intriguing and complex characters that have to navigate their way through more than just teenage hormones, exams and detention. Joining as series regulars are Jordan Renzo (Chosen, Troubled), Pooky Quesnel (The A Word, Accused), Nigel Betts (Boy Meets Girl, Doctor Who). The first two episodes also feature Ben Peel (The Fall, Vampire Academy), Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter, Hollyoaks), Paul Marc Davies (Doctor Who, Torchwood), and Shannon Murray (The Totally Senseless Gameshow).

Class creator Patrick Ness, said

At last, we can tell you a little more about Class! Though there are still many, many secrets to come. Many. Like, a lot. But of COURSE, the Doctor is in episode one! That’s how these things are done. Truly, though, I can't wait for everyone to see the show; we've worked so hard and I'm so proud of it. Soon, soon...

Damian Kavanagh, Controller, BBC Three, added

We know lots of BBC Three fans are Doctor Who fans so Class on BBC Three is a perfect fit. It’s nice to be back as part of the Doctor Who family.

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The cast of Class will be appearing in a global Live Stream later today, Friday 23 September.

Stars Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oparah, will join Class producer Derek Ritchie in a special event hosted by Radio 1Xtra DJ A.Dot.

The stream can be viewed on the official Class Facebook Page, starting at 4.30pm UK time (1530 GMT). The Live Stream will also be available on the BBC Three YouTube channel.

Questions for the Class cast can be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat by responding to the official Class social media channels or using the hashtag #AskClass.

Class is a young adult spin off from Doctor Who that will premiere on BBC Three this October - please note it is not suitable viewing for younger audiences.

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The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine is on general release today, and this month celebrates the first appearance of the Cybermen some 50 years ago.

Costume designer Alexandra Tynan gave the original Cybermen their distinctive look for their first appearance in The Tenth Planet in 1966:

People often come up to me and say, ‘I think your Cybermen were the most frightening,’ I looked at them yesterday, when I re-watched The Tenth Planet, and I thought, ‘I suppose they are a bit scary.’ At the time, they got a lot of press, some of it very negative. Angry parents said that we were scaring the bejesus out of their kids. Am I personally responsible, with my Cybermen, for a whole generation of disturbed people? The number of adults who have come up to me and said, ‘Your Cybermen terrified me when I was a child,’ and I have apologised a thousand times...

Despite this, 50 years on in 2016, the Cybermen are still going strong...

At the time, I had no idea that my Cybermen would prove so iconic – none of us did – but I am overwhelmed by the fact that they became such an icon, and I’m really glad that I didn’t know at the time. I look back now and think how privileged I am to have had the opportunity to do something that has lasted for so long, and I enjoy every minute of talking to people about it. It makes me laugh. I think on my tombstone it will say, ‘She designed the Cybermen,’ and I’m okay with that. Cyber-Mum! Yes, I like it. I do love the Cybermen,” she concludes, “and I thank them for what they did for me.

Also inside this issue:

• CYBER-PLANS - Discover the inside story of the Cybermen’s many campaigns...
• EVOLUTION OF THE CYBERMEN - We examine the changes in Cyber-evolution, including some variants that were barely glimpsed on screen.
• JAMI REID-QUARRELL - We chat to Colony Sarff actor Jami Reid-Quarrell about playing a physically demanding role.
• MOVING IN - The Doctor goes domestic in our brand-new comic strip adventure, Moving In, written by Mark Wright and illustrated by John Ross.
• STEVEN MOFFAT - Readers ask the Doctor Who showrunner their burning questions.
• TIME TEAM - There’s a mystery to solve in nineteenth-century France as the Doctor and Amy have a brush with history when they meet Vincent van Gogh in this month’s episode, Vincent and the Doctor.
• SILVER NEMESIS - The Cybermen return for Doctor Who’s silver anniversary in this issue’s Fact of Fiction.
• COMING SOON - Previews of all the latest Doctor Who CD and book releases.
  

PLUS! All the latest official news, reviews, competitions, The DWM Crossword… and FOUR variant Cybermen covers to collect!

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The actor Terence Bayler has died at the age of 86

Terence Bayler appeared in two Doctor Who stories. In 1966 he played Yendom, one of the Monoids' slaves, in the First Doctor story The Ark. In 1969 he returned to the series playing Major Barrington, an officer in the British Army, in the final Second Doctor story, The War Games.

Bayler was born in New Zealand, where he first trained as an actor, appearing the 1952 film Broken Barrier, playing a young journalist who falls in love with a Maori woman.

After moving to the UK he made regular appearances on British Television appearing in Hamlet, Moonstrike, Compact, Maigret, Ivanhoe, The Brothers, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Squad, London's Burning, The Bill and Dangerfield.

In 1971 he needed stitches above an eye after he was injured in a sword fight while the shooting Roman Polanski's 1971 film of Shakespeare's Macbeth where he played Macduff.

Terence Bayler had a long association with the Monty Python team, appearing in Eric Idle's BBC TV series Rutland Weekend Television as well as in The Rutles, All You Need Is Cash and in the play Pass The Butler. He appeared in two Terry Gilliam films, Time Bandits and Brazil. He had a small but memorable role in the film The Life of Brian declaring I’m Brian and so’s my wife.

In later years he played the Bloody Baron in the Harry Potter films.

Terence Bayler died early last month.

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Candy Jar Books have announced details of the first novel to be released in the third series of Lethbridge-Stewart adventures:

Times Squared
Written By Rick Cross
Cover by Martin Bainess
Published by Candy Jar Books end October 2016


When Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, his fiancée Sally Wright, and nephew Owain Vine, embark on a much-needed holiday to New York City, the last thing they expect to find is a puzzling mystery involving coma patients, a stranger from a distant land and a dark menace lurking in the bowels of the city's labyrinthine subway system.

Before long, they're battling an ancient evil pursuing a deadly campaign of terror that could bring Manhattan under its control... and the world to its knees.

The book sees the return of the Great Intelligence, last seen on television during Series 7 and influential to the Lethbridge-Stewart range from the very start. Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen said:

For (the first novel) The Forgotten Son I was interested in wrapping up the story of the Great Intelligence as seen in Moffat’s trilogy, and exploring something of its origins. So now it’s time to go back to the Intelligence as depicted in the original Haisman/Lincoln stories. Ever wondered what happened to it in those long years between The Web of Fear and The Snowmen, and how the 1995 straight-to-video film, Downtime, fits in? Well, now it’s time to start finding out.

Times Squared, written by first-time novelist Rick Cross, takes place some eight months after The Web of Fear, transferring the Yeti from the London Underground to the underground network of New York. Shaun Russell, head of publishing at Candy Jar, said:

I had the idea of the Yeti roaming through Times Square, plaguing the immense underground of New York. And by throwing in a bit of time travelling shenanigans, the title was an obvious one.

Andy continued:

After Shaun came to me with the basic idea, it was quickly decided we wanted, ideally, an American author to write it. I turned to Rick Cross, an aspiring US author I knew via social media. We talked and he jumped at the chance. We spent a short while discussing story ideas, telling him the elements I wanted, and he came to me with a few ideas of his own. And it has turned out rather brilliantly; the first bona-fide sequel to The Web of Fear, dealing with the Intelligence from that story, as well as a story that brings back Owain, Lethbridge-Stewart’s nephew, last seen in Beast of Fang Rock. A character with a very special relationship to the Intelligence.

Rick said:

It’s been an exciting opportunity. Hard work, trying to remember the British rules of grammar, but I’ve enjoyed telling my story and delving into the relationship between Lethbridge-Stewart, his fiancée, Sally, and his nephew, Owain. Owain in particular has been fun, exploring his freedom of spirit, and his destiny – which is, one day, to be reincarnated into the person who will ascend to be the Intelligence.

On bringing back the Yeti, he continued:

I had this brilliant idea about the rats in the sewers of New York, and their connection to various plagues throughout the years. What if one such plague was the result of the Intelligence? Coupled with that was my desire to explore the origins of the Yeti. Who made them? How did so many of them get to be in the London Underground in The Web of Fear? Remember, in that story it is revealed that Travers only brought one of them back from Tibet with him. Hopefully Times Squared will provide fans with an interesting take on that, as well as expanding the mythology surrounding the Intelligence and Yeti.

The novel also links in to the BBC’s range of Eighth Doctor Adventures from the 1990s by the inclusion of character Adrienne Kramer, the future brigadier-general of the US arm of UNIT who made her official Doctor Who debut in the 1997 novel Vampire Science by Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman. Andy said:

Ever since first reading about this character in 1997 I’ve wanted to use her; indeed, she featured in an unpublished Doctor Who novel I wrote in 1998. Her connection to UNIT, and consequently the Brigadier, has been something I’ve wanted to explore since day one of this series. In particular to show the origins of how she came to know Lethbridge-Stewart and what piqued her interest in all things alien.

Rick added:

It was a wonderful opportunity. Andy set it all up, put me in touch with Jon, who compiled a detailed background document for the character. I had never heard of Kramer, but did my research, and it has been brilliant writing for her, exploring the young woman she was in 1969, long before she became the tough soldier in Vampire Science. I’ve been very blessed to play with all these wonderful much-loved Doctor Who characters in my book, and add one of my own creations to the mythos of Doctor Who.

Cover art is provided by Martin Baines, whose portfolio includes the Wallace & Gromit comic, Commando, The Beano, and more recently Thunderbirds Are Go magazine. Martin said:

As soon I was briefed on the key scene in the book, Yeti robots covered in rats coming out of the New York underground, I was onto a winner with the cover. This horrific, stark image along with the brilliant writing by Rick Cross makes this a worthy continuation to the classic Web of Fear.

The book includes a forward by Terry Molloy, narrator of the first series of Lethbridge-Stewart audiobooks (and best known in Doctor Who for his 1980s/Big Finish portrayal of Davros).

Times Squared can be pre-ordered individually or as part of the Series 3 Bundle (both UK and overseas), which will include the forthcoming novels Blood of Atlantis by Simon A Forward and Mind of Stone by Iain McLaughlin. There is also a subscription deal for those wishing to get six books for the price of five (UK only, covering the series three titles, plus the series four titles released early 2017)! Pre-orders are available directly from Candy Jar Books.

A free digital-only short story, The Wishing Bazaar by Sharon Bidwell, will be given out to all pre-order/subscription customers in October.

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Diamond Comic Distributors and Penguin Random House have announced that they have arranged a new distribution deal to include the latter's entire range of Doctor Who books and novels for the American market.

Robert Waddington, International Sales Director for Penguin Random House UK, said:

Diamond Comic Distributors have proven themselves a strong partner on our young adult Doctor Who range, and we are delighted to now be selling our adult list through them as well. We feel very positive about our relationship moving forward, and 2017 will be a big year for Doctor Who with the series returning to television.

Tim Leneghan, Executive Director-Purchasing for Diamond Comic Distributors, said:

Doctor Who has always been an important brand license for Diamond and we’re happy expand our deal with Penguin Books UK to represent their entire line of Doctor Who books in the United States.

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Silva Screen have announced that the 1983 album The Soundhouse, featuring music by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, will be re-released on CD on 7th October with a vinyl pressing to follow on 4th November:

SILVA SCREEN RECORDS PRESENTS THE SOUNDHOUSE

This historic 1983 BBC Radiophonic compilation reflects the advances made in computer technology and electronic music.

In 1979 the Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument) was launched, the year that the BBC Radiophonic Workshop celebrated its 21st birthday. At the price of a house (approx £30,000) this state of the art piece of equipment was embedded with an 8 bit digital sampling synthesizer capable of emulating acoustic instruments and orchestras alongside the manipulation of sound effects. For the BBC Radiophonic Workshop this was a major change, as previously composers would spend weeks editing small pieces of tape together to create sounds. Ingenuity and creativity in music and sound was still at the forefront for Workshop members but suddenly made a whole lot easier. This 1983 collection (a first time re-release here of the complete album) celebrated these new found freedoms most notably on the opening track where five Radiophonic composers combined to add their own musical identity to a rhythmic percussive sequence from the Fairlight. Highlights include music from the radio production of The Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy and Fancy Fish based on Saint-Saen's Carnival Of The Animals which was the first BRW project to utilise the Fairlight.


Tracklisting:

1. Radiophonic Rock - Peter Howell / Roger Limb / Jonathan Gibbs / Malcolm Clarke / Elizabeth Parker / Dick Mills
2. Lascaux - Peter Howell
3. Computers In The Real World - Jonathan Gibbs
4. Seascape - Dick Mills
5. The Whale - Paddy Kingsland
6. Rallyman - Roger Limb
7. Catch The Wind - Dick Mills
8. Believe It Or Not - Malcolm Clarke
9. Planet Earth - Elizabeth Parker
10. Dawn - Jonathan Gibbs
11. Mainstream - Attr. Henry VIII, arr. Peter Howell
12. The Unseeing Eye - Malcolm Clarke
13. Fancy Fish - Camille Saint-Saëns, arr. Peter Howell / Dick Mills
14. Brighton Pier - Paddy Kingsland
15. Armagiddean War Games - Dick Mills
16. Yellow Moon - Roger Limb
17. Radio Blackburn - Elizabeth Parker
18. Macrocosm - Dick Mills
19. Land And People - Peter Howell
20. Houdin’s Musical Box - A. Le Charpentier, arr. Jonathan Gibbs
21. Ghost In The Water - Roger Limb
22. The Milonga - Malcolm Clarke

Competition

To be in with a chance to win a copy of the CD courtesy of Silva Screen, simply answer the following question:

Which of the tracks features prominently during the fifth Doctor adventure Enlightenment?

Please send your answers along with your name, address and where you heard about the competition (news site, news app, other website, etc.) to comp-silvascreen@doctorwhonews.net with the subject "Not so secret Seven!". The competition is open worldwide, closing date 9th October 2016. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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The British Film Institute has now released details about its forthcoming special event based around the new, animated version of Patrick Troughton's premiere story, The Power of the Daleks:

Preview: Doctor Who – The Power of the Daleks (animated)

We are delighted to preview the first three episodes of the new animated version of this classic story.

The TARDIS lands on the planet Vulcan where the crew discover a crashed space capsule containing some very dangerous visitors. This classic story containing the historic TV moment when the First Doctor regenerated into the Second is completely missing from the archives, but the audio recording still exists. We are delighted to preview the first three episodes of this specially commissioned, animated version of the story, painstakingly recreated for BBC Worldwide for release on DVD. The first episode was originally broadcast 50 years ago, on 5 November 1966.

The event also includes a Q&A with Troughton era actors Anneke Wills and Frazer Hines.

Tickets go on sale from the 4th October at 11:30am, and will be priced at £22.70, which includes a copy of the DVD which will posted once released. There is a maximum of two tickets per booker. More details can be found via the BFI website.

Related Articles: The Power of the Daleks: 50th Anniversary animation (7 Sep 2016)

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The BBC have released a new teaser image for the forthcoming spin-off series, Class, due to be broadcast via their online channel Three in October.

"War Is Coming"

Related Articles: New Image (1 Sep 2016); Cast announced (4 Apr 2016)

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John Barrowman has recently spoken about the obstacles preventing Torchwood's return to television.

Oh lordy. pic.twitter.com/Ba936I4PZ3

— Jamie (@typicalmadness_) September 11, 2016

Speaking at the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con Barrowman mentioned Doctor Who's current lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat as the reason Torchwood would not be back, to which Moffat has clarified that he is not one of those obstacles:

You may be aware that John Barrowman has been saying, publicly, that I've been blocking a new series of Torchwood. To be very clear - I haven't blocked it; I wouldn't block it; I wouldn't even be ABLE to block it. I didn't even know a revival had been mooted till I read about it on the Internet. As John perfectly well knows, it's not my show and I could no more prevent it happening that he could cancel Sherlock. I am bewildered, and a little cross, even to be included in this conversation. For the record, I really liked the show (especially the third series) and would be very happy to see more - monsters and mayhem, why not? But the fact is, it has nothing to do with me. Please pass this on to the anxious and the angry - I've had enough hate mail now.

Acknowledgement: Wizard World Chicago Comic Con coverage report via YouTube, courtesy of ChristineDoesCons

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