Category Archives: Uncategorized

Oct3

The Space Pirates – Loose Cannon Reconstructions

Posted on October 3, 2013 by twistie1

It’s time to celebrate. The penultimate serial of Season Six, The Space Pirates, is the very last missing Doctor Who story. Only episode two is held in the BBC Archives and the reason for its retention was that it was the first episode recorded on 35mm film. For that reason it was considered to be of archival importance. For the purposes of this marathon I viewed Loose Cannon’s reconstructions of episodes one, three, four, five and six. Unfortunately these reconstructions feature a very muddy fan recorded soundtrack and contain no telesnaps. There is absolutely no visual record of the character Dom Issigri, who was played by Edmond Knight. Accordingly Loose Cannon had to “invent” a visual representation for that character.

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 1 Part 1

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 1 Part 2

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 3 Part 1

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 3 Part 2

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 4 Part 1

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 4 Part 2

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 5 Part 1

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 5 Part 2

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 6 Part 1

Loose Cannon’s The Space Pirates, Episode 6 Part 2

Sep29

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Countdown

Posted on September 29, 2013 by twistie1

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To celebrate Doctor Who’s upcoming 50th Anniversary The Doctor Who Mind Robber will be counting down the last 50 days to this momentous event. Starting on Friday 4th October (Australian time) we’ll be posting a 1960s Who post everyday. Utilizing a “best of” format, the posts will examine a myriad of First and Second Doctor topics including Cliff Hangers, Monsters, Billy Fluffs, Firsts. Lasts, Companions, Supporting Actors and Dodgy Special Effects. Any suggestions for “Best” or “Worst” lists would be gratefully appreciated.

William Hartnell as the Doctor in The Celestial Toymaker

Patrick Troughton as the Doctor in The Power of the Daleks

My first post will be rather unimaginatively titled The Ten Most Wanted Missing Episodes. Please join me from the 4th of October for this exciting daily look at retro Doctor Who.

Vivien Fleming

©Vivien Fleming, 2013.

Sep23

The Light at the End – Big Finish 50th Anniversary Audio

Posted on September 23, 2013 by twistie1

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Big Finish has released a video publicising its 50th Anniversary Audio and the three editions available soon. Together with the Standard Edition CD, there is also a Limited Collector’s Edition CD and a Limited Vinyl Edition. The Vinyl Edition, which retails for a whopping AUS $171.20, includes four 180g vinyl records in deluxe premium packaging, a 30cm x 30cm lenticular image, four-way gatefold sleeve and rigid slipcase. Like all editions it also includes an MP3 download. The 120 minute audio adventure is on three LPs, whilst the fourth LP is a 40 minute documentary, The Making of the Light at the End. The Limited Vinyl Edition is limited and numbered to 500.

The Special Edition CD is a five CD collection. Discs one and two are the audio adventure, The Light at the End, Disc three is a 70 minute documentary, The Making of the Light at the End. Disc four is a 70 minute documentary, This is Doctor Who at Big Finish, whilst Disc five is Doctor Who – The Companion Chronicles: The Revenants performed by William Russell as Ian. Also included is a 32 page collectors edition book featuring a stunning array of photographs. The Special Edition CD is limited to 10,000 copies.

The Standard Edition CD includes the 2 CD audio adventure, The Light at the End, and an eight page booklet.

The Synopsis for The Light at the End, which was written and directed by Nicholas Briggs, is as follows:-

November 23rd 1963 proves to be a significant day in the lives of all eight Doctors…

It’s the day that Bob Dovie’s life is ripped apart…

It’s also a day that sets in motion a catastrophic chain of events which forces the first eight incarnations of the Doctor to fight for their very existence. As a mysterious, insidious chaos unfolds within the TARDIS, the barriers of time break apart…

From suburban England through war-torn alien landscapes and into a deadly, artificial dimension, all these Doctors and their companions must struggle against the power of an unfathomable, alien technology.

From the very beginning, it is clear that the Master is somehow involved. By the end, for the Doctors, there may only be darkness.

Due for release in November The Light at the End stars Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann (The Doctor), Louise Jameson (Leela), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Nicola Bryant (Peri),Sophie Aldred (Ace), India Fisher (Charley Pollard), Geoffrey Beevers (The Master) with special guest stars!

Pre-orders are being taken now at Big Finish.

Vivien Fleming

Sep17

Building a Complete Doctor Who DVD Collection – UK Based Online Retailers

Posted on September 17, 2013 by twistie1

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Last month I posted 10 Tips for Building a Complete Doctor Who DVD Collection. Since then I’ve become aware of a couple of UK based online retailers that provide free or low cost world-wide postage. If you know of any others please add a comment.

Fishpond – In my first article I discussed the Australian based Fishpond retailer. The link to the international Fishpond site is here. Fishpond offer free shipping anywhere in the world and currently have some exceptionally good bargains on Region 2 Classic Series Doctor Who. For less than $8.00 Australian you can buy such Fourth Doctor titles as The Sun Makers, The Brain of Morbius, The Seeds of Doom, Robot and Nightmare of Eden. The list of cheap titles goes on and on. As advised previously, please be mindful that Fishpond are particularly slow in their dispatch of DVDs. Easily anticipate at least a month for arrival.

Zavvi.com – This UK based retailer offers standard international delivery for 99p. Having never purchased from them I can’t attest to the quality of their service. The link for Zavvi is here. They’ve currently got a number of Classic Series Region 2 DVDs for £7.95.

Vivien Fleming

Sep16

Padders

Posted on September 16, 2013 by twistie1

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Talking of Wendy Padbury, I’m reblogging this interesting blog post which I’ve just come upon. Enjoy!

MY Doctor Who

I venture back into one of my favourite era, Patrick Troughton’s to look at the personage of Wendy Padbury. “Padders” as Frazer Hines calls her.

She played Zoe Herriot, computer genius from the then-future.

Known also for 60’s catsuits on her petite thin frame.

Pat Troughton’s era didn’t do “modern” companions.

Zoe started in “The Wheel in Space” and was there until the end of Troughton’s era in “The War Games“.

Her intellect rivals that of the Doctor’s, and she has a photographic memory. And she showed it off frequently trying to get the scatterbrained Doctor to focus.

She frequently looked the part of the smarter one of the Trio because of Troughton’s Doctors need for misdirection and enemies to underestimating him.

Part of the reason for her wanting to travel with the Doctor is her chafing at the restrictions and sterile surroundings of her station-bound…

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Sep16

Perth Mint Announces 50th Anniversary 1 oz Gold Proof Coin

Posted on September 16, 2013 by twistie1

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The Perth Mint has today announced the release of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary 2013 1 oz Gold Proof Coin. With a limited edition of only 250 coins, these 99.9% Pure Gold coins are issued by the New Zealand Mint and legal tender for Niue, a South Pacific Island nation. Retailing at $2,995.00 it’s highly unlikely that any of these $200.00 coins will find their way into circulation in Niue. The officially licensed product comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity and a prestigious wood display case. The reverse of the coin features an engraved relief of the TARDIS. Details are available from the Perth Mint website.

The Perth Mint has also announced the 18 October 2013 release of a rare coin collection featuring eleven 1/2 oz silver proof coins – one for each of the Doctor’s current eleven regenerations. No further details on this release are currently available.

A limited mintage of 10,000 1 oz Silver Proof Coins released earlier this year has sold out., Featuring the same TARDIS design as the gold coin, the coin is also legal tender in Niue and has a face value of $2.00. It retailed for $115.00.

The 1 oz Silver Proof Coin which has now sold out

Vivien Fleming

Sep15

Peter Davison and Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary

Posted on September 15, 2013 by twistie1

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Speculation is rife on the nature of Peter Davison’s involvement in Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. Digital Spy has reported Davison to have said “I’m making an appearance somewhere over that period of time but I can’t reveal in what. I can’t reveal anything specific about it. I’m not allowed to. It is a big year for the show and we’re all doing our bit for it. Trust me.”

A recent photo of Peter Davison

Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor from 1981 to 1984, could be alluding to anything from a convention appearance, of which he has four scheduled for November 2013, to a role in the 50th Anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor.

BBC promotional poster for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor

In March 2013 TV Rage reported that Davison had denied being involved in the 50th Anniversary Special. Speaking at the Mysticon convention in the US Davison said “I don’t think it will involve the older Doctors, certainly in their present form, because of course we’re meant to look exactly as we did when we left the TARDIS and none of us really do. Some of us are not here any more and others of us have weathered less well than others. I don’t know where I’d put myself in that category. I’m not going to make that decision.”

Davison, along with Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann, was in Australia for the Lords of Time Conventions in April 2013. It was at that time that the location shooting for The Day of the Doctor was being undertaken in the UK. Appearing on the Australian television morning show, the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors denied any official involvement in the official 50th Anniversary television special.

Three Doctors on Channel 9 Australia Morning Show

Perhaps the involvement that Davison is alluding to is audio rather than television. It has previously been confirmed that Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann will be appearing in the special 50th Anniversary Big Finish audio production, The Light at the End. Joining the five Doctors will also be Louise Jameson (Leela), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Sophie Aldred (Ace), India Fisher (Charley Pollard), Geoffrey Beevers (The Master). The Light at the End is due for release in November.

Big Finish 50th Anniversary Official Audio Aventure.

As to what Davison’s true involvement in the 50th Anniversary celebrations is remains to be seen. With only a little more than two months left until 23 November we don’t have long to wait for the answer.

Vivien Fleming

Aug31

New Promotional Footage for Doctor Who 50th Revealed

Posted on August 31, 2013 by twistie1

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Aug19

Missing Episodes Hysteria Cartoon

Posted on August 19, 2013 by twistie1

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Many thanks to Dave (Dr Twist) of the Gallifrey Base forum for this very cool summation of the current status of the Doctor Who missing episodes saga. The weekend has passed and alas, there was no BBC announcement. The rumours have not subsided and no evidence, to date, has been forthcoming. The Brigadier’s sense of frustration at Sarah Jane Smith’s explanation sums up the currently state of play brilliantly!

You can read my previous updates on the Missing Episodes Hysteria here and here.

Vivien Fleming

Aug10

Doctor Who’s Companions: The Definitive Guide (Part 4)

Posted on August 10, 2013 by twistie1

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Funk's House of Geekery

And here we are at the conclusion! If you want to catch up on the previous entries you can find them right here:

Sarah Foreman – Ben Jackson

Jamie McCrimmon – K9

Romana – Grace Holloway

Once you’re caught up you can get stuck into this bumper final edition covering the entire companion line up from the reboot.

Played by Billie Piper

Species: Human

Era: Early 21st Century

Doctor: Ninth and Tenth

First Appearance: Rose, the first episode of the Season 1 Reboot. Rose gets caught up in an Auton invasion of London that sees her cross paths with the Doctor a number of times. She is hesitant to join the Doctor in the TARDIS at first but quickly relents.

Profile: Rose may not have endeared herself to fans from the get-go but she certainly grew on us and is now remembered as one of the definitive companions of the…

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