Doctor Who Feeds

The Trials of a Time Lord provides a season finale style collection of heroes and villains in a fun, if chaotic, battle royale

 

Anniversary stories are, by tradition, huge melting pots of a dozen diverse elements from across the era being celebrated. Also high in the ingredients list are lashings and lashings of cheese. On that front Doctor Who: The Trials of a Time Lord, the second of the two, independent, 40th Anniversary events for the Sixth Doctor doesn’t disappoint. Both of Colin Baker’s television companions, Peri and Mel, feature heavily. Meanwhile, it would probably be faster to name which of his old enemies don’t return.

The writing team happily copy a page from The Five Doctors’ homework to make all this work. There it was a sinister force within the Time Lords at work. Time scoops abducting heroes and villains from across time and space to pit against each other. Here it’s very much the same idea, except it’s all the work of oily, amoral television executives. Their one pursuit of nothing grander than top viewing figures and a high Audience Appreciation Index.

There’s a faint echo of Vengeance on Varos here, especially in the gurgling sadism of the Muskoids controlling it all. But the tour of thinly disguised, but lethal, versions of competitive reality TV shows is probably closer to 2005’s Bad Wolf. Meanwhile, the threat of cyber-conversion hanging over a companion will inevitably make you think of Bill Potts. Notions of the Doctor as a universal legend, weaving through the histories of a thousand worlds are similarly very Moffatesque. As well as those elements fit into the story being told here, it’s unusual for an anniversary celebration to draw so much on another era entirely.

 

Some of the cast of Trials of a Time Lord (l-r) Jon Culshaw, Rufus Jones, Bonnie Langford, Jonathan S Powell (producer and director), Samuel James The plot is structured like a Russian doll, with some magnificently wild shock reveals

Inevitably, it all gets a little messy as the six episodes progress and more and more villains are thrown into the mix. The Androgums having their own version of Gordon Ramsay seems logical enough. However, both the Cybermen and Davros weave back and forth over the line of credibility,. The story tries to balance the scripted role they have to play with them inevitably awaiting a chance to turn it to their own advantage. But it’s not always successful.

The Russian doll of reveals of what’s really going on, and who’s really behind it, loses its power to shock one or two twists from the end, as well. There’s even a slight case of The Last Day Syndrome. One significant character that might make you wonder if you’re supposed to know who they are. (You’re not. Despite appearances they are, in fact, new.)

A certain amount of chaos is all a part of the fun in these things, though, and there’s an awful lot to enjoy in The Trials of a Time Lord. Some of those twists and turns are as wonderfully outrageous as anything in 1980s Doctor Who. At least one had Blogtor Who laughing at loud at its pure, deliberate, cheekiness. The Doctor’s grumpiness in the face of his central dilemma sees Baker at his spluttering best. After all, if he saves the day he gives the channel controllers the footage they want, but if he sulks too long, people will die. Nobody does towering outrage quite like Colin Baker. He may not quite rattle the windows with his incredulous bellow any more. But he can still give it a damn good try.

 

 

Like many of the best celebrations, Trials of a Time Lord isn’t aiming for narrative depth, but the sugar high of too much birthday cake

In many way, The Trials of a Time Lord is a classic theme park roller coaster. Its twists, turns, and loop the loops, may leave you a little dazed and unspecific as you exit the ride. It won’t leave you anything too profound to ponder about the meaning of life either. But it will see you to the door with a giddy smile on your face as you zig zag dizzily to the concession stand.

 

Doctor Who: The Trials of a Time Lord. Cover by Sean Longmore (c) Big Finish Doctor Who: The Trials of a Time Lord

The Sixth Doctor’s fortieth anniversary celebrations continue, courtesy of LudoSphere Incorporated, with the greatest adventure ever streamed…

Responding to a distress call from an old friend, the Doctor and Mel find themselves in ‘Cyberia’, a prison camp run by an even older foe. But this time, the Cyber Leader’s machinations are just the tip of one very sinister iceberg, one that will test the Doctor to his very limit, and beyond…

We hope you’re hiding behind the sofa, because ‘The Trials of a Time Lord’ are about to begin!

 

Doctor Who: The Trials of a Time Lord is now available to own for just £22.99 (collector’s edition CD box set + download.) You can also get as a download only for £18.99 exclusively here. The collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1500 copies and will not be repressed.

 

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New details of the upcoming Doctor Who: Icons sequence of novels emerge as a fourth volume is announced

 

As previously revealed in Blogtor Who’s roundup of upcoming books, Doctor Who Icons is a new range of celebrity historical novels. We now have covers for the first two in the series, more details on a third, and the announcement of a fourth. Within their pages various Doctors will encounter familiar faces from history: Charles Darwin, Frida Kahlo, Fela Kuti, and Shirley Jackson.

 

Doctor Who: Icons – Frida Kahlo and the Skull Children Frida Kahlo and the Skull Children by Sophie McKenzie, 24th October 2024

Some art can be deadly . . .

Young Frida Kahlo is angry. Injured in a terrible accident, she lives with constant pain and worries that her dreams are unreachable.

But when the TARDIS lands in Mexico City – drawn by a strange disturbance in its energy fields – Frida’s life is turned upside down. Aliens have arrived, taking over the bodies of children and killing anyone who gets in their way.

With the fate of the Earth at stake, the Doctor and Frida must find a way to understand their alien invaders, and each other.

 

Doctor Who: Icons – Charles Darwin and the Silurian Survival Charles Darwin and the Silurian Survival by JD Lapinksi, 21st November 2024

Some discoveries should never be made…

When Charles Darwin takes a break from a long sea voyage to look for shells on the Galapagos Islands, he finds two things that really shouldn’t be there. The first is a sunbathing Doctor. The second is a fresh Silurian skull . . .

When more Silurians are discovered by Darwin’s crew – alive, this time – there is pandemonium. And when the island’s volcano starts erupting, years ahead of schedule, it looks like all-out war.

The Doctor has his hands full. Can he keep Charles – and his evolutionary theory – alive?

The history of science is at stake.

 

Doctor Who: Icons 3, 29th May 2025

The third in the series features horror novelist Shirley Jackson, author of The Haunting of Hill House. Newly revealed, however, is that it will be the Fifteenth Doctor who meets her for an adventure into darkness.

 

When a strange signal echoes through time to the heart of the TARDIS, the Doctor follows it to the home of Shirley Jackson.

But the strangeness deepens when they find a sinister figure sowing chaos and discord with the use of a glowing box – encouraging a crowd to murderous deeds.

Catapulted back to Shirley Jackson’s own era by the TARDIS, the Doctor (with the help of the time-struck author) must discover the origins of the box, and the terrible power that it wields . . .

 

Doctor Who: Icons 4, 31st July 2025

A newly listed fourth novel sees the Fourth Doctor team up with Nigerian musician Fela Kuti to save Sarah Jane.

 

Sarah Jane doesn’t know who she is any more.

She’s applied for a job as a secretary at a run-of-the-mill office, with just one other co-worker. He’s nice enough. A little strange, a little charming, clearly an innovator. For a snappy dresser, though (Sarah loves the scarf) he’s strangely quiet.

That’s because, of course, he’s the Doctor. Working with UNIT to try to restore Sarah’s memories, he’s found himself battling an alien group harvesting the minds of unsuspecting victims. But he’s already on the back foot, and as the alien hive mind draws in its followers, he’s very much in need of a friend.

Enter legendary musician Fela Kuti. Another innovator – just as challenging, and just as charming. He might just be the one the save the human race.

 

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Whovians, get ready! This year’s L.A. Comic Con promises to be a treat for Doctor Who fans. If you’re heading to the star-studded convention on October 5th, you’ll want to check out The Future of Doctor Who. 

This fan-centric panel will provide a unique look at what’s to come for the Doctor, including a sneak peek into the Christmas special, the highly-anticipated second season, and even the Sea Devils spin-off. But what makes this panel extra special is that it won’t just be the experts sharing their thoughts; the fans will be leading the conversation.

Hosted by Sandro Monetti, a CNN contributor and Big Finish writer, the session promises to be as engaging as it is informative. Monetti, known for his deep knowledge of the series, expressed his excitement for the event: “There’s a mix of both excitement and uncertainty about what will happen next with the show, its star, and its broadcast partner. That all makes for lively discussion and informed speculation.”

Joining Monetti will be a panel of dedicated Whovians and convention veterans, including Andrew Elkins, Julie O’Malley, Kristi Schoeman, Cody Shoeberg, Myriam Lopez, and River Alexandra Song. Together, they’ll explore what’s next for the series, giving fans a platform to voice their opinions on the direction Doctor Who should take.

The panel is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th at 1:00 PM in room 303 AB at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting conversation and help shape the future of Doctor Who!

While Doctor Who fans will no doubt be flocking to this event, L.A. Comic Con has plenty more to offer. Other highlights include a highly anticipated Back to the Future cast reunion and appearances by Star Wars icons Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. The convention runs from October 4th to 6th, so prepare for a weekend full of geeky delights.

Whether you’re a die-hard Whovian or just starting your journey with the Doctor, L.A. Comic Con is the place to be this weekend!

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Everyone Must Go Part Three ups the emotional stakes as well as the terror

Titan Comics’ Fifteenth Doctor series continues, with issue three of the Doctor Who comic’s latest incarnation. The new issue arrives in a stunning and atmospheric new cover by Robert Hack, who’s fast becoming one of the definitive Doctor Who artists of the 21st century. Within the comic itself, the Doctor travels to a nightmare dimension to confront the Sommelier. Meanwhile Ruby, left apparently abandoned on a post-apocalyptic Earth, tries to save insectoid aliens the Cankaranka by herself.

Part Three of Everyone Must Go, like any good classic Part Three, ups the stakes. But Dan Watters’ script does so in a very modern, smart way. The Doctor and Ruby’s fundamental personalities, and the character of their relationship, is key. Rather than blowing up the universe, the Sommelier wants to know their deepest darkest fears, all the better to rip their souls to shred.

The villain benefits hugely from no longer skulking around in the shadows. He might have an outlandishly silly moniker, and his feeding on the fear of others might be a standard cliche of science fiction and fantasy. Yet, his confrontations with the Doctor set him out as something a bit more sinister and interesting. Because he doesn’t greedily feast on terror like so many of his antecedents. He’s a connoisseur, not a glutton, and all the more frightening for it as he ponders just the right psychological buttons to push. It leads to a fantastic cliffhanger, the Doctor’s disdain for all the usual nightmare fuel tactics collapsing as the Sommelier realizes his weakness.

 

The Sommelier is quickly evolving past cliche to being a deliciously malevolent new force in the Whoniverse

The focus on character, and the nature of the Doctor and Ruby’s fears, makes Everyone Must Go an appropriate companion to this year’s season. The Sommelier breaks the fourth wall throughout, too, in another echo of recent episodes, though his malignant chattiness, makes him a wonderfully entertaining example.“Don’t look at me! I didn’t even plan this bit!” he smirks at one dark plot twist.

If you stretch the point, you can almost imagine the otherwise odd change of the TARDIS sound to “VROOOP! VROOOP!” as a Sutekh reference.

Beginning with a startling splash page of the Doctor, knee deep in a river of blood, facing an army of Cybermen, Kelsey Ramsay’s always energetic energy hits a higher level this issue. The Sommelier becomes a truly menacing force this issue thanks to some stronger inks and more monsterous design. The human characters don’t aim for photo-realism but their exaggerated expressions sell every moment of shock or swagger beautifully.

The Doctor hates to lose. But as we race towards next month’s climax, this time he might not have a choice.

 

Doctor Who: The Fifteenth Doctor #3. Cover A by Abigail Harding (c) Titan Comics Doctor Who: The Fifteenth Doctor #3

The Doctor and the Cybermen clash while Ruby faces an insectoid threat. But is everything as it seems? And what is the true nature of the terrifying evil that stands ready to unveil itself…

(Yes, this is the same blurb as issue 2, but it’s a new issue, honestly.)

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Katy Manning stars in Elixir, a new award winning short film touring film festivals now

Within the cobwebbed decrepitude of a bygone tavern, a youthful bartender beguiles a glamorous dame to recall her sensational past… New short film Elixir stars Doctor Who’s Katy Manning as Shirley Madden, a former nightclub singer who decades later enjoys an unlikely friendship with Hugh (Jeffery Otame), the new bartender at one of her old haunts.

The Elixir bar may have seen better days, but visiting it always transports Shirley back in time. As she tells Hugh the story of her happiest night at the Elixir, we met her younger self (Abbie Steele).

Katy Manning famously played Jo Grant, later Jones, in three seasons of Doctor Who from 1971 to 1973, opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor. She then returned for the Sarah Jane Adventures story The Death of the Doctor where she encountered Matt Smith, and made further brief returns in The Power of the Doctor and Tales of the TARDIS. One of the show’s most beloved actors, her enthusiasm and unfiltered joy has won her generations of fans. Manning’s perfect, then, for a project about the power and hope of nostalgia.

Since it began touring film festivals last month, Elixir has won Best Production at the Emerging Talent Film Festival. It also won no less than five awards at the Independent Short Awards in Los Angeles: Platinum Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Romantic Short, and Gold for Best Score, Best First Time Director (Male), and Best Production Design.

You’ll next have a chance to see Elixir for yourself at the New Renaissance Film Festival in London. It will be screening as part of Block A of the festival at the Close-Up cinema. You can buy your tickets now, at £11, from the New Renaissance Film Festival website. After that, you can find Elixir at the Ealing Film Festival in November, though tickets are not yet on sale.

In the meantime, check out the trailer for Elixir below:

 

 

 

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Steven Moffat headlines the guest list for a special convention in Cardiff’s Temple of Peace

“The great and the good,” is how the Doctor described the visitors to Platform One in 2005’s The End of the World. Now, almost two decades later the great and the good are assembling again. But this time it’s in the real world location where the episode was filmed. Cygnus Alpha continue their talent for holding innovative Doctor Who conventions in iconic filming locations with Arcadia. They’ve now begun revealing the guest list for the event taking place in Cardiff’s Temple of Peace this November. Impressively, one of the headliners is former showrunner Steven Moffat, making a rare convention appearance.

Appropriately Yasmin Bannerman will be returning to the Temple of Peace too, after playing Jabe in The End of the World. Other guests on the day will include Caitlin Blackwood, the iconic ‘girl who waited.’ Blackwood played the younger version of Amy Pond, her cousin Karen Gillan’s character, in several episodes. The Unquiet Dead’s Mr. Sneed, Alan David will also be there, alongside Will Thorpe (The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit), Joe Pickely (School Reunion), Abigail Eames (In the Forest of the Night), and Colin Prockter (The Long Game, Victory of the Daleks).

Moreover, one of the Doctors themselves will be there. Cygnus Alpha will be revealing exactly which one in an announcement on Friday the 27th. So watch their page for updates.

 

The Temple of Peace in real life (c) Temple of Peace Tickets include refreshments and autographs from the guests

Arcadia will be taking place at the Temple Of Peace on Saturday 2nd November 2024. As well as its most famous role as Platform One, the location also featured as the Senate of New New York in Gridlock, the Sibylline Temple in The Fires of Pompeii, the Silurian Senate in Cold Blood, the Berlin restaurant in Let’s Kill Hitler and the bridge of the Imperial flagship in Nightmare in Silver. It was even the gallery in Sarah Jane Adventures episode Mona Lisa’s Revenge and was in minisode The Eternal Mystery. It’s also appeared in other shows such as Bad Wolf’s adaptation of His Dark Materials.

With the Temple of the Peace generally not open to the public unless you book it as a venue, it’s a rare opportunity to walk among the pillars of one of Doctor Who’s most iconic locations.

Tickets cost £90.00 per person. This includes tea or coffee on arrival, a finger buffet lunch and one autograph from each guest (excluding bonus guests.) All guests appearing at Arcadia will be taking part in a professional photo studio. This will take place in iconic main hall at The Temple Of Peace and the photos will be available in time for the autograph signing session. Tickets are limited to only 100, so grab one of the remaining ones while you can.

For full details, updates, and to buy tickets, see the official Cygnus Alpha Events page.

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The latest Doctor Who Magazine Bookazine plots a course through the show’s vast history!

The makers of Doctor Who Magazine present a lavish, 224-page bookazine in an exclusive slipcase. Into the Vortex covers the entire history of the world’s longest-running science-fiction series, with details and highlights of all 311 television stories. There are also sections dedicated to the series’ best-known monsters, villains and other characters. Newcomers to the show will find this the perfect way to navigate the vast archive of episodes on the BBC’s iPlayer. Meanwhile longtime fans will find new and surprising insights into the television adventures of all 15 Doctors.

 

Into the Vortex Page 12 (c) Panini Into the Vortex provides the perfect guide for exploring more of what you love most about the show

With every generation, and every regeneration, the show attracts brand new fans. For people who fall in love with each new Doctor, the series’ vast history is both a treasure and a challenge. Almost no other show can give viewers so much to discover and enjoy. However it can be nearly impossible to know where to start. Into the Vortex helps chart a course through 61 years of television stories. For instance, if you love a good celebrity historical, you can find a complete guide to the best and the rest from Marco Polo in, um, Marco Polo to the Beatles in The Devil’s Chord. Whatever your favourite monster or type of story, Into the Vortex will help you find more of what you love.

 

DWM Into the Vortex Pg 140 (c) Panini

The bookazine also acts as a guide to the essential facts for each story to read along with your watching, or help to decide what to watch. Which story introduces the idea of the TARDIS being alive, or it being forbidden to change history? Which ones include key moments that will build into larger story arcs? And which famous guests feature? And what did reviewers think of these stories at the time?

 

DWM: Into the Vortex pg 54 (c) Panini Doctor Who: Into the Vortex

Doctor Who: Into the Vortex is on sale Thursday the 26h of September from the online Panini store, WH Smith and other retailers priced £19.99 (UK).

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Rhys enters a cave of skulls in this month’s new Torchwood thriller – The Hollow Choir

This month’s brand-new Torchwood release from Big Finish sees Kai Owen return to the role of Rhys Williams in The Hollow Choir. This amiable everyman is a devoted husband to Gwen and father to Anwen. But that doesn’t stop him striking out on his own adventures once in a while.

In The Hollow Choir, Rhys finds himself involved in a search and rescue mission. This being Torchwood, he inevitably discovers something much more sinister about this cave than anyone expected. By his side, Game of Thrones star Simon Armstrong plays retired caver William. Also in the cast are Olivia Forrest as Lynn, William’s lost daughter. Meanwhile, Cerith Flinn is Lucas, another student missing in the depths.

 

Acclaimed horror authors Helen Marshall and Malcolm Devlin join Torchwood for this subterranean thriller

Acclaimed horror and science fiction authors Helen Marshall and Malcolm Devlin are new to Big Finish. Now they step into the Whoniverse for the first time with Hollow Choir.

Devlin said: “We were asked to write something horrible, because we both have experience writing horror stories. And so we thought about lots of things that upset us or scare us, and we thought of being stuck in caves. We were inspired by the graphic novelist Junji Ito, particularly The Enigma of the Amigara Fault, one of his most famous short pieces.

“Rhys is interesting to write for because he’s actually just normal, he’s an ordinary bloke, and putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances is more interesting than people who are special or magical. Rhys is vulnerable, and he’s much more identifiable in that respect – he’s John McClane in Die Hard 1 as opposed to John McClane in Die Hard 5!”

And, co-writer Helen Marshall added: “With the cave setting, we were trying to play on that sense of intimacy that comes with a cramped, confined space. It gives us the chance to do something interesting in terms of the audio and the ambience – you put on your headphones and feel like you’re in this really claustrophobic space. Combined with beautiful music, it’s quite creepy.”

 

Torchwwood: The Hollow Crown. Cover by Sean Longmore (c) Big Finish Torchwood: The Hollow Choir

There’s always been something in the caves. Over the years, people have gone in and not come out. But that was a long time ago. They’ve been sealed for the best part of a century.  

Eight hours ago, something changed. Three students somehow found their way in. Now time’s running out to rescue them. Their one hope is a man called Rhys Williams. Because somehow he has a map. 

 

Torchwood: The Hollow Choir is now available to own as a collector’s edition CD (+ download for just £10.99) or as a digital download only (for just £8.99), exclusively here.

Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

The Hollow Choir is the 87th release in Torchwood – The Monthly Range. Big Finish listeners can purchase it as part of a six-release multibuy bundle including Torchwood 85 to 90, for just £60 (collector’s edition CD + download) or £50 (download only), or a twelve-release multibuy bundle of Torchwood 85 to 96, for just £110 (collector’s edition CD + download) or £96 (download only).

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Forbidden Planet adds new items to its Doctor Who range, from The Mind Robber and Daleks to the Fifteenth Doctor

Forbidden Planet’s range of Doctor Who merchandise continues to expand. Recent and upcoming additions come from both the present season and classic stories. There are designs featuring the cactus faced doppleganger Meglos and the 1980s Daleks and the Chief Clown. Others celebrate the TARDIS, Ruby Sunday, and all Fifteen Doctors. New art by Kelly Yates highlights the current Doctor’s wardrobe highlights, and you can get ready for Christmas with a Joy to the World inspired design. There are also new entries in Titan’s toy range, with little versions of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors and the TARDIS. Meanwhile a new set of postcards features art by Mike Collins depicting various Doctors in comic book style. There’s even a new pin badge recreate the unique White TARDIS from Second Doctor serial The Mind Robber.

These designs feature across a range of items, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, coasters, badges, and more.

 

The full range of new items include:

• Comic book postcard set (7 cards)
• TARDIS mug
• TARDIS greeting card
• White TARDIS pin badge
• Monsters Postcard set
• Meglos pin badge
• Meglos t-shirt (unisex and women’s fits)
• Meglos coaster
• 1980s Dalek t-shirt (unisex)
• 1980s Dalek sweatshirt
• 1980s Dalek pin badge
• 1980s Dalek mug
• Chief Clown t-shirt (unisex)
• Chief Clown sweatshirt
• Chief Clown pin badge
• Chief Clown coaster
• Fifteen Doctors t-shirt (unisex)
• Fifteen Doctors art print
• Fifteenth Doctor Quadrant Costumes t-shirt (unisex fit)
• Fifteenth Doctor Quadrant Costumes mug
• Fifteenth Doctor Quadrant Costumes coaster
• Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby pin badge set
• Joy to the World Christmas Card
• Joy to the World Christmas Jumper
• 3″ Fifteenth Doctor Titan
• 3″ Bi-generation Titans set
• 6.5″ TARDIS Titan

 

You can shop the entire Forbidden Planet range of recently added Doctor Who clothing, toys, and giftware on the Forbidden Planet site.

 

 

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