RATINGS

Doctor Who was the third most popular programme on TV last night with a 5.5 million viewers. This is a slight increase on recent figures. It was beaten by Britain's Got Talent with 9.2 million viewers. This figure will  increase when timeshift figures are included. The Eurovision Song Contest had an average audience of 7.7 million viewers. Bad luck Bonnie!

THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR REVIEW

Our review of The Name of the Doctor, series seven's finale episode, is now live. But beware - there be spoilers ahead! If you've not watched the episode, do so first. You have been warned!

http://type40reviews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-name-of-doctor-review-spoilers-ahead.html

THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR PROMO PICS

Prior to this Saturday's series finale, the BBC have released a series of promo pics from the episode.

Here's a little taster:

You can see more after the jump:

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/galleries/

SERIES 7 EPISODE 8 - PREQUEL

The BBC have released a prequel video in advance of the season finale episode 'The Name of the Doctor'.

DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE #460 OUT NOW!

As we draw near to the end of series seven, DWM takes a look at the final three episodes leading towards the anniversary adventure coming in November. It seems all we have left this year are ‘event’ episodes; The Crimson Horror is the one hundredth episode since Doctor Who returned in 2005, Nightmare in Silver is the triumphant return of both the Cybermen and author Neil Gaiman, and The Name of the Doctor is the big series finale that’s set to shake up the universe of Doctor Who to its very core. Following these, of course, we have an anniversary and Christmas special to look forward to.

The magazine features a wonderful interview with Mark Gatiss where he talks about writing The Crimson Horror, likening it to his successful Lucifer Box series of novels, calling it ‘the campest thing I’ve ever written – and that’s saying something!’ Of course, the high point of The Crimson Horror is the first appearance of Dame Diana Rigg in Doctor Who. Known to fans as Mrs Peel in the 1960s television show The Avengers, she is also well remembered as Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the only woman to whom Bond gets married.

After series six’s award-winning episode, The Doctor’s Wife, which did more for the TARDIS than any episode has before or since, Neil Gaiman returns to pen Nightmare in Silver because, in his words, ‘I set the bar high. But that’s why I came back. Not to top The Doctor’s Wife, but to at least come close.’ He promises that the Cybermen in this episode will be scarier than ever!

One of the most interesting reveals in this issue of Doctor Who Magazine is Steven Moffat explaining that River Song who appears in Name of the Doctor is a post-Silence in the Library River, a story in which she died. In his interview about The Name of the Doctor, Moffat goes to great lengths to not really tell us anything. No real spoilers to be gleaned here.

Speaking of Moffat, there’s a wonderful section in the magazine in which he answers questions put to him by readers of the mag. One such question ‘how did the Statue of Liberty make it to Winter Quay without being seen?’ is something I’ve been debating with people since The Angels Take Manhattan aired last year. His answer is mostly okay, but the only part worth repeating here is; ‘Also, it tiptoed!’ Quite.

Doctor Who Magazine issue #460, £4.75, now available from all good retailers.

 

Yesterday we reported the sad news revealed in DWM that no old Doctors would be returning for the anniversary special. But, if it makes all you fans who decry this revelation feel a little better, the old Doctors are also disappointed. Says Sylvester McCoy, the Seventh Doctor, ‘all of us want to do it, just for the fans – because that’s what they want’.

So, although it seems as if the BBC are focussing on celebrating the past EIGHT years of adventures, audio producers Big Finish are at least planning on celebrating the past FIFTY years. Their anniversary special, The Light at the End, will not only features all the past Doctors (Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann) but also companions Leela, Nyssa, Peri, Ace and Charley. On top of that look out for small ‘kisses to the past’ with cameos by Susan, Ian, Vicki, Steven, Sara, Polly, Jamie, Zoe, Jo, Tegan and Turlough! A veritable cornucopia of old Doctors and companions!

STEVEN MOFFAT TALKS

Copyright BBC TV

The BBC have just released a new interview with show-runner, Steven Moffat, who talks about the rest of the current series of Doctor Who. Excerpts below...

When asked about the inspiration behind the Whisper Men (from the forthcoming The Name of the Doctor), he had this to say;

Having brought back two of the classics, the Ice Warriors and the Cybermen, this year we wanted a brand new monster to bring chills in the finale. And the thought of the stylish whispering almost faceless creatures was an idea that firstly scared me and that I thought would work well in an episode that looks forward and back.

Why the change of the look of the Cybermen?

One of the things that the Cybermen historically like to do before involving themselves in a military campaign is run up a new outfit. Throughout the classic series they always changed their appearance and we've been very consistent with them. I thought it was time they went back to their tailor and had a re-model!

What can you tell us about the finale?

It's full of surprises and questions that have never been answered in the history of Who, including the Doctor's greatest secret. We're not pretending, we're not kidding, it's actually going to happen. The episode is called The Name of the Doctor and involves our hero in a conflict that is very, very personal to him. Usually he's saving other people, but this time he might be the one who needs to be saved. We'll also find out what makes his new companion so impossible, and there's a surprise that no one has got right so far, and one that will change the course of Who forever!

Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS is transmitted at 6:30 tonight, on BBC1 and BBC1 HD.

THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR

The final episode of series 7 is called 'The Name of the Doctor' and now has its own poster to publicise it. Check it out below:

River Song will definitely feature in the episode since Alex Kingston's name appears alongside Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman. What could that tagline possibly mean?

Only a few weeks until we find out.