COMPANIONS BOOK SIGNING ANNOUNCED!

To celebrate the release of the much anticipated Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants by Andy Frankham-Allen, London’s The Who Shop has organised a book-signing event this coming Saturday in collaboration with award-winning publishers, Candy Jar.

Companions is an extensive and comprehensive examination of those the Doctor has deemed ‘the best’, and includes Expanded Universe appearances. No collection would be complete without a copy so why not get along to 39-41 Barking Road, Upton Park, E6 1PY this Saturday and get a signed copy. You can even challenge Andy with a Who-related question, make it a good one though; he’s a walking Doctor Who encyclopeadia! You have been warned.

Buy from Amazon now! 

WHO KNOWS?

Is The Dalek Master Plan still lost?

An Internet rumour has reignited the ‘missing episodes’ quest, somewhat of a Holy Grail for Whovians.

Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston reported the rumours last week and was, according to an update this week, completely unprepared for the reaction. He writes: ‘And all hell broke loose. Some were confirming the stories, some were denying it. But what was clear was that I’d broken the dam on a huge pent up amount of hope, fear and despair that had remained on message boards, in pub meetups, some behind private member forums and firewalls since late last year.’

Undeterred though by hell on the loose, he adds this week that of the one hundred and six missing episodes, the rumoured ones comprise ninety. The Dalek Master Plan, Mission to the Unknown, two episodes of The Invasion, The Ice Warriors and The Wheel in Space are the only ones that aren’t included in the apparent discovery. But it doesn’t stop there, oh no, Rich Johnston adds that Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Caroline Skinner and Russell T Davies are all involved in trying to ensure the return of the Lost Ark, sorry, the missing episodes to the BBC.

Weighing in, Ian Levine, whose intervention saved many episodes from extinction, claimed on Twitter to have actually seen ‘three tons’ of evidence; it’s rumoured that missing Dad’s Army, Morecombe and Wise and The Sky at Night episodes are also among the discovery. Levine has since declared on Twitter that he refuses to discuss the matter.
 
Add to this the increasing number of people involved who believe that this is an elaborate hoax against the BBC and all we need is a grassy knoll and Lord Lucan to turn the whole thing into a decent conspiracy theory. Surely the CIA have to be involved somewhere along the line. Oh, what a tangled Time Web we weave. Anyway the last word – for the moment – belongs to the BBC’s Head of Communications, Philip Fleming, who responded to Bleeding Cool, saying, ‘There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered, however we cannot confirm any new finds.’

Anyway, I’d like to contribute my own rumours so here goes: among the missing episodes are believed to be the two-part special where the Doctor teams up with Magnum PI to track down, and try to reason with, the Hulk, and the controversial episode written and directed by John Osborne, that sees the Doctor struggling against the stigma of being unmarried and pregnant in a small Northern factory town during the 1960s

MATT SMITH SAYS FAREWELL TO FANS

11th Doctor Matt Smith took time out from filming Ryan Gosling film 'How to Catch a Monster' to say thanks to the cast, crew and fans for their support during his time as the eponymous Time Lord.

Here's the vid:

MINI TARDIS TO BE SENT INTO SPACE!

Think you're the biggest fan of Doctor Who? Think again...

A father-and-daughter duo have done the unexpected and used Kickstarter for their rather eccentric dream: launching a miniature model of the TARDIS into space.

Based in Lake Helen, Florida, the pair have set themselves the goal of $33,000, and after only 17 days, have already surpassed that aim with winnings of over $48,000!





The idea behind the idea, is that they will use this money to include the model in the 'payload bay' of a commercial rocket, using very much the same tactics as private companies and universities who want a satellite sent into space.

Even cooler than this however, is what the TARDIS model will actually be used for. By using solar panels hidden within the windows, the constantly-powered box will use a hidden camera inside to send back to Earth photographs - very cool indeed!

Beyond this, their next goal would be to send a life-size replica of the TARDIS into 'Low-Earth-Orbit', so if you feel like that's even better (which let's face it, it might just be), then make a pledge and make it happen!

NEW DALEK TOYSET BACKDROP - SPOILER?

We at Type 40 have come across this intriguing image...

We noticed the claw on Big Ben, and the 'Daleks Invasion of Earth' feel of the thing.... Is this another hint of the anniversary special?

NEW DOCTOR WHO?

As rumour continues to abound over who's going to be the next Doctor, author/actor Terry Cooper (regular Type40 contributor) has started a campaign to get Adrian Lester in the role of the Twelfth Doctor. He's done this artwork, which Lester calls "wicked artwork! Nice one".

What do you think? Strikes a dashing figure, wouldn't you say?

COMPANIONS GRAPHIC BY MORGANBLUEBOX

Check out this amazing infographic by fan morganbluebox featuring all of the Doctor's companions from the TV series.

You can see a bigger version and order a full size print here.

PARIS JACKSON TO BECOME THE NEXT DOCTOR?

 

Todays Daily Star seem convinced that they have the scoop on who is to play the new Doctor.

"Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has been lined up to be the next Doctor Who. The fifteen-year-old tweeted her job application to the BBC after becoming a massive fan.

The wannabe actress has backing from Hollywood agent Rick Yorn who signed her up in April. Yorn is said to be determined to make her a major star like his other clients Leonardo DiCaprio, thirty-eight, and Cameron Diaz, forty.

Schoolgirl Paris tweeted a snap of the Tardis, saying: “Omg I wanna be The Doctor. They said any age and gender, right?” Yesterday she was flooded with support urging her to audition for Doctor Who, which is screened in the US. Skater Girl tweeted: “OMFG PARIS I LOVE YOU FOR THIS THE DOCTOR!!!! YOU’LL BE THE 12th DOCTOR.”

And Amrai wrote: “You would be awesome.” Paris would be the first woman to play the Doctor, as well as the youngest by fifteen years. Sources close to the show said the next star could be announced as early as next month. A BBC spokeswoman said: “I’m afraid I can’t give you any idea on who they’re looking for and if Paris would fit the role.”

Last night bookies Paddy Power gave odds of 18-1.

THE FANS PREPARE THE WAY

As the anniversary steadily approaches, so the fans over at YouTube start to demonstrate the levels of their creativity. Among the amazing pieces of work, we at Type40 have a particular love for this anniversary title sequence created by WillLOVESKaren...

MATT SMITH TO LEAVE DOCTOR WHO

As some fans have suspected for quite some time Matt Smith will hand over the TARDIS keys to a new Doctor at the end of this year. His final appearance will be the 2013 Christmas special. However, it is not yet known if this will be a two part story, with an episode broadcast on New Year’s Day.

In a BBC press release Matt said: “Doctor Who has been the most brilliant experience for me as an actor and a bloke, and that largely is down to the cast, crew and fans of the show. I'm incredibly grateful to all the cast and crew who work tirelessly every day, to realise all the elements of the show and deliver Doctor Who to the audience. Many of them have become good friends and I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last four years.

Having Steven Moffat as show runner write such varied, funny, mind-bending and brilliant scripts has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career. It's been a privilege and a treat to work with Steven, he's a good friend and will continue to shape a brilliant world for the Doctor.

The fans of Doctor Who around the world are unlike any other; they dress up, shout louder, know more about the history of the show (and speculate more about the future of the show) in a way that I've never seen before, your dedication is truly remarkable. Thank you so very much for supporting my incarnation of the Time Lord, number Eleven, who I might add is not done yet, I'm back for the 50th anniversary and the Christmas special!

It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with 'the ginger, the nose and the impossible one'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys. Matt”

Steven Moffat has also issued a statement. He said: Every day, on every episode, in every set of rushes, Matt Smith surprised me: the way he'd turn a line, or spin on his heels, or make something funny, or out of nowhere make me cry, I just never knew what was coming next. The Doctor can be clown and hero, often at the same time, and Matt rose to both challenges magnificently.

And even better than that, given the pressures of this extraordinary show, he is one of the nicest and hardest-working people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Whatever we threw at him –  sometimes literally – his behaviour was always worthy of the Doctor.

But great actors always know when it's time for the curtain call, so this Christmas prepare for your hearts to break, as we say goodbye to number Eleven. Thank you Matt – bow ties were never cooler.

Of course, this isn't the end of the story, because now the search begins. Somewhere out there right now – all unknowing, just going about their business – is someone who's about to become the Doctor. A life is going to change, and Doctor Who will be born all over again! After 50 years, that's still so exciting!”

At Type 40 we wish Matt good luck!