The Classic Doctor Who Documentaries DVDs

The first episode of the Classic Doctor Who Documentaries is now available to pre-order from The Doctor Who Times website, and will be released on DVD from 26th February 2011.

The first DVD release includes a 40-minute long documentary about the Tenth Doctor, as portrayed by David Tennant, and also talks about the enemies that he faced during his tenure. The DVD comes with the first part of an exclusive mini adventure featuring the Eleventh Doctor, which will be released in four parts over each of the DVD releases.

The DVD is available to pre-order at a small cost of £2.50 for a limited time, and will then cost £3.99 after 24th January 2011. The price includes the cost of producing the DVD and postage, and at least 12p from every payment will go to Age UK, a British charity helping the elderly.

'Happy New Year' Message from Blink

Today marks the beginning of a brand new year, which will see thirteen brand new episodes of Doctor Who broadcast in the Spring and Autumn, as well as a Christmas Special. There are still plenty more treats to look forward to beforehand on Blink, including the upcoming ‘Blast from the Past’ project which will be released in early February.

I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported this blog since it started in February last year, and hope that you will continue to do so in the future. Happy New Year!

The Classic Doctor Who Documentaries DVDs

The Doctor Who Times has announced that there will be an exclusive new project on his site next year, where every three months you will have the opportunity to watch documentaries about classic Doctors and monsters from the series. The projects kicks off with the Tenth Doctor on 13th February 2011, which will be available to watch for 2 days online and then released on DVD.

The DVD will be available for pre-order in January 2011 and will cost a small fee of £3.99, which includes the cost of producing the DVD and postage. More information about the project will be released here.

Doctor Who Burning Ice - Part Two Download

Today’s treat on my advent calendar with The Doctor Who Times is the second part of an exclusive story written by me, with the title of ‘Burning Ice’. The story is set in a village called Silver Woods, and features the return of the Ice Warriors.

Part 2 can be viewed or downloaded for free as a PDF file here.

Doctor Who: Blast from the Past Schedule

The entry forms for the ‘Blast from the Past’ special project have now been checked, and the list of stories to be reviewed is available below. Thank you to everyone who entered their chosen stories of the latest Doctors. ‘Blast from the Past’ will begin in January 2011 with the review of the 1996 TV Movie.

Eighth Doctor – The TV Movie
Ninth Doctor – The Unquiet Dead
Tenth Doctor – The Waters of Mars
Eleventh Doctor – Flesh and Stone

Doctor Who Burning Ice - Part One Download

Today’s treat on my advent calendar with The Doctor Who Times is the first part of an exclusive story written by me, with the title of ‘Burning Ice’. The story is set in a village called Silver Woods, and features a mysterious creature frozen for eternity.

Part 1 can be downloaded for free on the Advent Calendar, and will be available as a PDF file later this year.

Doctor Who: Blast from the Past Returns

One of the first special projects to appear on this blog was ‘Blast from the Past’, where one story from each of the seven classic Doctors’ eras was thoroughly reviewed during a single week on this blog.

In January 2011, ‘Blast from the Past’ will return to this blog so that a story from the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors’ eras will be reviewed. The Eighth Doctor story will be the 1996 TV Movie, but the stories of the three new Doctors can be chosen by you on the new ‘Blast from the Past’ section.

The form will only take a few seconds to complete, and will hopefully mean that at least one of your chosen stories is reviewed.

Doctor Who Christmas Advent Calendar 2010

To get into the festive spirit, this blog has had a minor makeover with a slightly altered Christmas-themed banner, and lots of falling snow! The direction of the snow can be controlled by moving your mouse from left to right across the screen.

There is also a link on the side toolbar which takes you to the exclusive Christmas Advent Calendar 2010.

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Doctor Who Interview with Blink and CaptinFranko

Yesterday evening I completed an interview with CaptinFranko, where we discussed Doctor Who, my blog, and the episode that I have written for his second series of Christel Doctor Who. We also talked about what we could expect from the blog next year and my upcoming writing projects.

The full interview can be read here.

Doctor Who Winter Projects Coming Soon

Today is exactly one month before the start of winter, and so it feels appropriate to reveal some information about the upcoming winter projects on this blog. These special projects are intended to enhance your enjoyment of the Doctor Who world, as well as celebrate Christmas which is getting ever closer.

The first project is an online advent calendar which has been created exclusively with TheDoctorWhoTimes, who also worked with me on the Sarah Jane’s Monster Hunt week in October. This new project will have its own web address, and will be available to access via a link on this blog. A promotional trailer for this advent calendar project is available to view below.

The other project which I will be working on over winter is a script for Burkey’s brand new Doctor Who series, which will be released in the New Year.

Sarah Jane's Monster Hunt Week Website

The Special Projects page on this blog has been updated with information about the recent ‘Sarah Jane’s Monster Hunt’ week, where monsters from the spin-off show were hidden on this blog during Halloween.

There is also a brand new website where the seven treats from the Monster Hunt week can be found.

Special Projects Page
Sarah Jane's Monster Hunt Week

Doctor Who - Whispers in the Attic Room

This story is best viewed in complete darkness and across the full screen.



‘Whispers in the Attic Room’ is an exclusive story created by Blink to celebrate Halloween, and will hopefully add plenty of thrills and scares to your evening. The short film is just under 3 minutes long, and is shown through the point of view of a camcorder. Unfortunately the picture quality varies, although it does add to the retro feel of the story.

Doctor Who - Whispers in the Attic Room

A few weeks ago it was announced on this blog that Blink would be making an exclusive Doctor Who story entitled ‘Whispers in the Attic Room’ for Halloween.

The original plan was for the story to be presented as a script, however it will now be shown as a short film, so the scary moments really will make you jump!

The story is shown through the point of view of a camcorder, similar to the style of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ films, and sees the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond investigate a mysterious force at Widow’s Hall.

‘Whispers in the Attic Room’ will be available on this blog on 31st October 2010 from 6:00pm

Exclusive Doctor Who Halloween Story

Today marks three weeks before the release of ‘Whispers in the Attic Room’, a short Doctor Who horror story exclusively written by Blink, which will be available on this blog in two parts over the Halloween weekend.

This tale of a mysterious house named Widow’s Hall will feature the first incarnation of the Doctor, as he battles his worse nightmares when left alone in the unquiet house, which lies in the centre of an eerie forest. Although this story does not include a traditional Doctor Who monster, there will be plenty of thrills and scares to challenge the Doctor’s strongest beliefs, and sure to send shivers down your spine!

‘Whispers in the Attic Room’ will be released in two parts, with the first on 30th October 2010 and the second on 31st October 2010.

Autumn Projects Coming Soon to Blink

With the start of a new season, and the Summer special projects of ‘Patient Pluto’ and ‘Blast from the Past’ complete, the attention now turns to the Autumn projects, which will be released over the upcoming months. Prepare yourself for plenty of thrills and scares, and always expect the unexpected!

In October there will be an exclusive two-part story over the Halloween weekend, entitled ‘Whispers in the Attic Room’, which features the Doctor trying to solve the mystery of Widow’s Hall, and the nightmare that lights within. The short horror story will see Doctor Who go in a new and intriguing direction, and is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine…

The second planned Autumn project is in December, and will take the shape of a fun and engaging advent calendar, similar to that seen on the Official Doctor Who site every Christmas. This project will include all the latest photos and news about the 2010 Christmas Special, as well as plenty of games and videos created by Blink to enhance the festive spirit…

Brand New 'Special Projects' Page on Blink

A brand new page containing information about Doctor Who projects is now available on this blog. The page includes links to various high-quality projects made by fans of the show, as well as the recent ‘Patient Pluto’ and ‘Blast from the Past’ projects which were released on this site.

There is also a brand new blog exclusively for ‘Blast from the Past’, where all seven reviews of classic stories can be found.

SPECIAL PROJECTS PAGE

If you own a Doctor Who special project, such as a fan fiction or animated series, then please contact me via the comments section below.

Blast from the Past: Survival

By the time that this final story of the classic series came around, Doctor Who had been a dying show for a long time. With ratings at their lowest recorded levels for the show, and stories looking cheaper than ever, the BBC were more determined to cancel the once adored science-fiction show. The title of ‘Survival’ was ironic for the era when it was shown, as Doctor Who was fighting for its own survival. A fight that sadly wouldn’t be won…

The computerised effects seen in this story are surprisingly realistic, and very impressive considering the small budget that was given to the show. However, the practical effects of various cats in this adventure (with remote-controlled heads) are less than impressive, and unfortunately add to the criticism about the programme being technologically behind the American science-fiction shows.

The Cheetah costumes are another disappointment in the story, as the fluffy head masks they wear weren’t going to convince the audience that they were real, as well as not allowing much expression of the actors to be seen. However, this is partly made up for by the excellent acting and sound effects which are used to bring these (somewhat fake-looking) creatures alive.

The original and engaging script by Rona Munro is the main factor which saves this story, and proves that a high budget and state-of-the-art production values are not what make good television. The death scene of one of the Cheetahs is a particularly effective and moving moment in the story, as the supposed monsters are given an emotional side to them. Sophie Aldred also gives a strong performance as her (posh gangster) character of Ace in this scene, and her expressive acting makes her one of the most believable companions.

Sylvester McCoy had been an excellent Doctor, offering a new mysterious take on the legendary Time Lord, yet for various reasons no-one was bothering to watch the show anymore. Doctor Who may have been a dying show, but that didn’t stop the production team from creating some of the finest stories in the show’s history. The thrilling tale of ‘Survival’ meant that Doctor Who ended on a high note, with the Doctor and Ace walking peacefully into the distance. If only they had been given a fair chance…

Blast from the Past: Vengeance on Varos

The Sixth Doctor’s era was a very rough time for Doctor Who, where the stories coming in seemed to be getting worse and worse. A few weeks after the original transmission of this story, the BBC decided to put the show on hiatus, as it was considered too expensive to make and becoming far too horrific for children to watch. ‘Vengeance on Varos’ almost certainly contributed to this decision, as it is an extremely gothic and even disturbing tale…


Having said this, it is by far one of the strongest stories to emerge from Colin Baker’s time on the show, and the production team’s execution (of the executions) should be complimented. The darker lighting of the sets add to the gothic tone of the story, and make a nice change to the brightly-lit studios which often ruined tense scenes in previous episodes. The design of the base also fits the story well, where the dark colour schemes and constant surveillance give it a prison-like feel.

Nabil Shaban’s character of Sil has a very convincing prosthetic costume, which allows a believable alien character to be created, and as a result enhances the disturbing feel of the story. The political system on the planet is soon revealed to be corrupt, with powerful figures (including Sil) manipulating the Governor into no-win situations. The idea of voting to save or kill political leaders based on a television performance is a very powerful one, and shows how a television obsessed society could go too far.

If there is one scene that is always criticised by fans (and there is!), then it is the fight sequence between the Doctor and two prison guards, which ends up with both of them boiling in a pool of acid. Critics often claim that the Doctor murderously and deliberately throws them into the acid with the rage of an assassin (well… that is exaggerated). The deaths were of no particular fault to the Doctor, however his comical comments made afterwards have no place in this tragic scene.

‘Vengeance on Varos’ is a slightly controversial adventure in Doctor Who, where some viewers welcome the darker tones of the storytelling, whilst others argue that it is not right for the family show. While it may not be considered a ‘classic’ story, it is still a thrilling tale with some extremely powerful themes and images throughout. The corrupt society that we see in this story has some parallels to our own world, where television shows begin to change the way we see the world, and sometimes for the worst.

Tomorrow: Survival

Blast from the Past: Earthshock

By the time that this story came around, Peter Davison had fully settled into the role of the Fifth Doctor, and was becoming a strong favourite amongst the audience, achieving considerably higher ratings than the previous series with Tom Baker still at the helm. Davison had always said that he wanted to do a Cyberman story since he got the part, and this epic four-part tale was his time to shine…

The first episode is the most sinister of the lot, where we are presented with two shadow-like Robots who murder anyone that enters the caves which they are guarding. Peter Grimwade is the perfect director for this story, giving a real sense of energy and pace to Eric Saward’s action-packed adventure. He was an unpopular man amongst the cast (for constantly pestering them to give stronger performances), but the results he obtained from this method are unbeatable.

This story stands out as containing two of the biggest surprises throughout the show’s history, the first of which being the shocking return of the Cybermen at the end of the first episode. David Banks is excellently cast as the Cyber Leader with his deep booming voice and witty portrayal, and is a huge improvement on the rather camp Cyber Leader which appeared in ‘Revenge of the Cybermen’.

The second shock of the story is the tragic death of the companion Adric, who is notable as being the first fulltime companion to die. This is arguably the best departure scene of any companion in the classic series of Doctor Who, and one which would not be forgotten by any fans of the show. Matthew Waterhouse has often been criticised for his portrayal of Adric, but in these final moments he gives an exceptional performance, and proves that he could have been an excellent companion if given a real opportunity.

‘Earthshock’ is a phenomenal story for the time and budget in which it was made, and a true ‘classic’ adventure in Doctor Who, for the simple reason that everything worked in the planning and execution of the production. The sets clanked instead of creaked, the actors performed instead of played, the director stuck with it instead of surrendered. Peter Davison’s first series was a new beginning for Doctor Who, and this story marks a real highpoint in the show’s history.

Tomorrow: Vengeance on Varos

Blast from the Past: The Robots of Death

Tom Baker’s era is famous amongst fans of the show for having the strongest run of stories, in particular during his first three seasons, and ‘The Robots of Death’ falls within this time. The quality of acting, script writing, editing, and directing makes this story a ‘classic’, and it will always be remembered amongst the other popular stories from this era. Although the title gives away the enemy in these episodes, there are plenty of surprises along the way…

Chris Boucher’s script is a particularly strong one, offering terrifying images and creating believable characters (apart from one squealing girl who cries a lot). It has all of the elements of a classic gothic tale, including a remote location under attack from a mysterious force, a futuristic world where technology is fighting back, and a villainous man who betrays his own side to the enemy, before they fight back and destroy him as well.

One of the most terrifying shots in this tale is of a damaged Robot with dried blood on its hands, which is particularly morbid as it shows the true horrific power of these creatures. Gothic images like this were common during Robert Holmes’ era as the Script Editor of the programme, and are part of the reason why Tom Baker’s first three series are so fondly thought of, as the production team could introduce horror into the show whilst still keeping it child-friendly at the same time (unlike the Colin Baker era, where it was kill, kill, kill! ).

If there had to be a negative about these episodes, then it would simply be that the lighting of the studios is very bright, which slightly ruins the dark and sinister atmosphere of the story. However, over-lighting was a common feature of programmes in the twentieth century, as the BBC were supposedly worried that elderly people would think that there televisions had broken if the picture wasn’t bright. (What were the BBC smoking?)

‘The Robots of Death’ is a thrilling tale of betrayal and the problems of technology, and is one of many fantastic stories which Doctor Who produced during this era. Sadly, this long run of triumphs would soon disintegrate into a run of mediocre stories, as Robert Holmes left the show after his third season in the job. While he was the Script Editor though, the programme had never been so popular amongst fans, and he ensured that Saturday nights would remain as ‘Doctor Who night’ for many years to come…

Tomorrow: Earthshock