News: Series Finale in Distribution Error

Doctor Who fans in the United States are being urged to keep the plot of this Saturday's finale The Name of the Doctor secret after DVD boxsets of the current series were distributed early in error. BBC Worldwide has said that a small number of fans had been sent pre-ordered DVD boxsets three weeks early. BBC Worldwide has asked those with the DVD Series Seven Part Two boxset not to reveal plot details of the shows finale ahead of it's terrestrial showing.

Steven Moffat, Doctor Who's head writer and Executive Producer promised footage of current Doctor, actor Matt Smith with his predecessor David Tennant if everyone keeps tight lipped about the finales secrets.

"A small number of US Doctor Who fans have received their Series Seven Part Two DVD three weeks early," BBC Worldwide said in an issued statement.

"We are asking fans who may have the discs not to divulge plot details so that fellow fans who have yet to see the episodes do not have their viewing pleasure ruined."

BBC Worldwide is currently investigating how the boxsets were distributed so early.

This Saturday's episode of the hit BBC One show, The Name of the Doctor which is written by Steven Moffat, comes ahead of a Fiftieth Anniversary 3D special, due to air on 23 November 2013.

David Tennant and Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler, are among those who will guest star.

Tennant starred in Doctor Who from 2005 to 2010, while Billie Piper first appeared in 2005 in the very first New Series episode opposite Christopher Eccleston, who played the Ninth Doctor.

Spoilers: Series Finale News

The episode title of the current series finale has been released from the BBC and it's an epic one everyone.

The episode is called The Name of the Doctor and his most endearing secret will finally be revealed in this exciting episode when it airs in a few weeks time on Saturday 18th May!

The episode is written by Steven Moffat and directed by Saul Metzstein, and as you can see from the officially sanctioned poster, will see the return of Alex Kingston as River Song.  It is also rumoured that the events of this particular episode which will feature the fields of Trensalore, will lead into the Fiftieth Anniversary special which is currently being shot.

So hang on to your hat's everyone as Doctor Who continues on BBC One!

UPDATE: Many fans have had a negative reaction to the title of the last episode. Other fans are speculating this will finish the River Song arc and the audience will not find out the name of the Doctor.

DWBarOZ

Hi all,
To those who have been taking part in #DWBarOZ broadcasts recently, we are sorry that the Bar tonight did not go ahead. There were technical problems with the account beyond my control. Hopefully we will be back next week with the 8:30pm (adelaide time) episode Hide.

Spoilers: Fiftieth Anniversary Special News

The BBC has announced one of the villains taking part in the Anniversary Special, which is currently being filmed.  As you can see Tom Baker's most iconic villain the Zygons are to return since their last appearance in Terror of the Zygons.

In addition both David Tennant and Billie Piper are to reprise their starring roles as the Doctor and Rose.  The picture below is of David and Matt at the read through of the Anniversary Special.

So just Who else is coming back!  As a former Doctor Who Producer once said, Stay Tuned! 

'The Stones of Blood' Preview

‘The Stones of Blood’ was the third story from Doctor Who’s 16^th season – commonly known as the ‘Key to Time’ season due to it’s plot arc which involved the Doctor (Tom Baker) and companion Romana (Mary Tamm) searching the universe for fragments of an all powerful key.

It also happened to be Doctor Who’s 100^th story, and was intended to feature a scene in which K9 sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Doctor. However this scene was vetoed by producer Graham Williams who regarded the idea as to self indulgent. However, Baker did order a cake, which was eaten by the cast and crew.   

The story has been described as “Hammeresque” – indeed it features a variety of horror movie style scenes. One scene was cut from the VHS release of the story due to concerns about its presentation of adults consumed by terror. However this scene was reinstated for the DVD release of the story. Another memorable scene features two campers being killed by the Ogri – huge sentient slabs of stone.

We will be watching ‘The Stones of Blood’ on Wednesday. Hope to see you there. 

New Series Session's in the Doctor Who Bar!

Join the Doctor Who Bar for the New Series of Doctor Who!

We believe in letting the fans watch the original showing of the show on Saturday in peace.  However the Bar is introducing a new session, as from Friday the 5th of April when BBC3 shows the repeat showing of the first episode, The Bell's of Saint John you can now join in with our new session and tweet against the repeat transmission.  Air your views and tell us what you liked or didn't like about the story!

So join my good friend @Whoooligan who will be returning to host the first of our New Series session's as Doctor Who also returns to television in the lead up to the shows memorable Fiftieth Anniversary.  The session will open at 7pm and BBC3 will air the episode at 7.15pm BST.  So please join us in the Doctor Who Bar everyone.  

The Key To Time/The Ribos Operation Preview

When Graham Williams applied to be the producer of Doctor Who in 1976 as part of his application he proposed the Key To Time story arc, which would encompass an entire season of Doctor Who.

A story arc in itself would be nothing new for Doctor Who as Season 8 was a Master storyline arc ending in his capture at the end of The Dæmons.  Also some of Tom Baker's 1st season (Season 12) involved the ongoing plot of the space station Nerva.

The Key to Time was aired from September 1978 - February 1979.

The season is set up at the beginning of The Ribos Operation where The White Guardian summons The Doctor who has just finished building K9 MK II, we (the viewers) having seen The Doctor dragging a box saying K9 MK II on it into the console room at the conclusion of The Invasion of Time, having left the original K9 on Gallifrey with Leela when she chose to stay there, again at the conclusion of that story.

The White Guardian explains that a powerful artefact called The Key To Time has been split in to 6 pieces as it is far to powerful for any one being to possess and has been dispersed throughout time and space.  However a time is approaching rapidly where The White Guardian needs to restore the equilibrium of the universe and he needs The Doctor to recover it.

The task will be made all the more difficult as the pieces are disguised and could be anything.  The Doctor will have a tracer device to help locate the pieces.  He has also been given a new assistant to help him on his task a Time Lady called Romanadvoratrelundar.

The Bar will be watching the entire Key to Time season on Wednesdays starting this Wednesday (13th March).  The Bar will open at 7:30pm GMT and we will press play at 8pm GMT.

I do hope you can join me.

'The Invasion of Time' Preview

‘The Invasion of Time’ was the final story of Doctor Who’s 15^th season. It starred Tom Baker as the Doctor, and marked the final appearance of Louise Jameson as Leela.

The initial setup of the story is an intriguing one. The Doctor appears to be working against Leela and spends much of the early story concealing his motives from her. This Doctor is willing to sell out to an unseen voice in return for “complete control over the Timelords”. It’s a bold move that immediately draws the viewer into the plot.

The story features a return to Gallifrey, the planet of bickering old men. This time it’s under attack from the Vardans, but are they merely a figurehead for a much more dangerous enemy?

With the alien invasion suppressed after a lot of running around, the Doctor is ready to leave. However, to everyone’s surprise, Leela has suddenly fallen madly in love with Commander Andred. Precisely why is anyone’s guess. I reckon it’s the flashy cape. I can't imagine it lasts very long between them.

We will be watching ‘The Invasion of Time’ on Wednesday. The bar opens at 7.30pm and we press play at 8.00pm. Hope to see you there. 

The Mutants - Preview

The Mutants was the penultimate story of Season 9.  It starred Jon Pertwee as the The Doctor alongside Katy Manning as Jo Grant.  

Whilst working on a super drive for Bessie in his laboratory at UNIT HQ, The Doctor and Jo witness a strange object appear in front of them.  The Doctor explains to Jo that this is a top priority assignment from the Time Lords and he cannot ignore it.  So for the 3rd time since his exile began The Doctor along with the TARDIS is allowed by the Time Lords to leave earth. 

The destination for the TARDIS is the 30th century, the planet Solos where the Earth Empire is contracting and plans are being made to decolonise the planet.

The intention of writers Bob Martin and Dave Baker along with Producer Barry Letts was for this story to have an anti-racist message to it.

We will be watching this story on Wednesday.  The bar opens 7:30pm GMT and we press play at 8:00pm GMT.  I hope to see you there.

Dr. Who and the Daleks Feature Film Preview

‘Dr. Who and the Daleks’ was the first of the two spin-off films released in the 1960’s. Essentially a higher budget and colour rehash of the original Dalek story, the film starred Peter Cushing as Dr Who, a human who has invented a time machine.

The film follows the basic plot of the original story with some minor changes, for example the brightly coloured Daleks and the inclusion of companions with slightly different personalities and backgrounds (Barbara is now one of Dr Who’s granddaughters and Ian her inept and bumbling boyfriend). The interior of the TARDIS also differs considerably from the main series.

The feature film was the first example of Doctor Who being filmed in widescreen before the 2005 revival. It also pre-dated the main series use of colour by several years as a result of its higher budget.

We will be watching ‘Dr Who and the Daleks’ on Saturday. The bar opens at 8.45pm GMT and we press play at 9.00pm GMT. Hope to see you there.

'The Happiness Patrol' Preview

‘The Happiness Patrol’ is a strange mix of political comment (the character of Helen A is a not so subtle parody of Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s prime minister when the story was first broadcast) and plain surrealism (the Kandyman certainly ranks high in the list of the Doctor’s more unconventional enemies). It was first broadcast in 1988, and starred Sylvester Mccoy and Sophie Aldred as the Doctor and Ace.

It was hardly the first time that Doctor Who had drawn parallels with real world political issues, with the ‘Monster of Peladon’ commenting on the Miner’s Strikes that took place during the 1970’s. However ‘The Happiness Patrol’ is known for having a particularly strong political message. Aside from the clear parallels with Margaret Thatcher mentioned above, the story has also been claimed by some as a metaphor for gay rights, with the TARDIS painted pink and the finale of the story involving Helen A’s husband leaving the planet with another man. The story also examines dictatorships.

The Kandyman

Some elements of the story maybe aren't as successful or well received as the political subtext. Channel 5 named the Kandyman’s appearance as “one of the fifty most shameful TV moments” in 2005. Clips from the story were also used during the 40^th anniversary celebrations to showcase Verity Lambert’s point that Doctor Who had gone into decline during the 1980’s. However, I don’t need Helen A to force me to be happy when watching this story, because I like it! Even if the Pipe People are a bit rubbish.  

We will be watching 'The Happiness Patrol' on Wednesday night. The bar opens at 7.30pm GMT and we press play at 8.00pm GMT. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

DWBarOZ Host a session!

Hello all!
The DWBarOZ needs someone to host 2 sessions next weeks Feb session and next months March session, if you could help out comment below and we will arrange something.