Author: Scott Marshall

RIP Deborah Watling

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It is with sorrow, that we have to report the passing of Deborah Watling.

Watling first joined Doctor Who in 1967, playing the second Doctor’s companion Victoria Waterfield. She, along with Frazer Hines (Jamie) would battle along with the Doctor, Cybermen, Daleks, Ice Warriors and of course, the Yeti.

She was born on the 2nd of January 1948.

It is well known that the team of Troughton, Watling, and Hines got on extremely well with Watling often the butt of the boys jokes. Many of her stories have been wiped since transmission, and the return of two to the archive a few years ago, The Enemy of the World and most of The Web of Fear brought her considerable delight.

She left Doctor Who in April 1968, at the end of Fury from the Deep.

She briefly returned to the character of Victoria in 1993, for the Children In Need skit, Dimensions in Time before recreating Victoria in a number of audio plays for Big Finish.

Deborah Watling was diagnosed with lung cancer six weeks ago. She was 69.

 

RIP Trevor Baxter

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It is with deep regret we have to report on the passing of Trevor Baxter.


Baxter who had a wide career, appearing in such shows as Z Cars, The New Avengers and George and Mildred.

To Doctor Who fans he is best known for playing Professor George Litefoot, pathologist and eventual comrade of impresario Henry Gordon Jago, from the Fourth Doctor story The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

He returned to this role in 2009 in the Big Finish audio drama The Mahogany Murderers, which would end up serving as the pilot for 2010’s Jago & Litefoot series box set. Thirteen box sets were produced over eight years, the most recent of which was released just a couple of months ago.

Baxter was 84.

Multi Doctor episode for Christmas

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As per the end of The Doctor Falls we saw that the first Doctor (played by David Bradley) has returned to team up with the twelth Doctor in his final story before his regeneration.

The BBC has released the following promotional image:

This isn’t Bradley’s first time in Doctor Who, or indeed playing the first Doctor. He was previously in season seven’s Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and he also played the Doctor/William Hartnell in the Docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time

The Christmas special is as yet untitled.

Sir Derek Jacobi to return to playing the War Master

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Overnight, Big Finish have announced the return of Sir Derek Jacobi to play the role of the War Master.

“I didn’t expect to come back to it all these years later,” says Sir Derek, “but I was thrilled to be remembered. The plots in all these episodes have been very good indeed, very interesting, very dramatic, and beautifully written. The whole process has been a delight!”

The four episodes are as follows:

1. Beneath the Viscoid by Nicholas Briggs

On the ocean planet Gardezza, deep beneath the Viscoid, a mysterious capsule is recovered from the Time War, and an equally mysterious stranger found within. The Doctor’s reputation precedes him, even here… but can he be trusted?

2. The Good Master by Janine H Jones

The Time War rages around Arcking – a planet serving as a sanctuary for the sick and injured. But Arcking is protected by a mysterious, powerful force: a force the Master will stop at nothing to harness… even if time itself is against him.

3. The Sky Man by James Goss

When his new companion decides to save a planet, the Master indulges this most futile of requests. Materialising on a primitive, agrarian world, both the strangers quickly find their place in it… until fallout from the War invades their happy paradise.

4. The Heavenly Paradigm by Guy Adams

With his plans approaching fruition, the Master travels to Stamford Bridge in the 1970s: a location he believes might hold the key to his success. But what terrible secret lurks under the stairs of No. 24 Marigold Lane? And what sacrifices will the Master make in the name of ultimate victory?

The DWCA will have these available for sale in early 2018.

New Digital Comic

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This week Supanova starts in Sydney and along with guest John (Benton) Levene, the DWCA will be there to fulfill all your merchandise needs! To celebrate the occasion the club has produced a special exclusive digital comic – Wrath of the Cyber-Spider! The Cybermen have a plan to rid themselves of the Doctor forever, a plan that threatens every one of his past incarnations across the web of time. Can the Doctor and Bill stop them in time? The publication also features interviews with Nicola Bryant, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, talking all things Cybermen and regeneration. All that and a pin-up gallery too!

If you want to get a copy of this exclusive publication it’s easy – Just be a member! Either sign up, or if you’ve let your membership lapse, then renew it with the club before midnight on Sunday 18 June (the last day of Supanova).

Head here to renew/sign up now!

 

 

DWCA at Sydney Supanova 2017

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If you’re heading to Sydney Supanova this coming weekend (June 16-18) be sure to come over to the DWCA Stand!

We are booth number 533, which is near the autograph tables. (See below for a visual picture to help you plan!)

Why would you swing by you ask? Apart from meeting our lovely volunteers helping at the desk, you’ll be able to pick up a bargain! From a smorgasbord of Sonic Screwdrivers, to a range of comics staring Doctors past and present, we have you covered. We will also have the latest audio dramas from Big Finish and Series 10 Part 1 on DVD and Blu-Ray!

Not to mention, we will also have Classic Who DVD titles staring Supanova guest John Levene as Sergeant Benton.

If this wasn’t enough, we’ll also have select merchandise from Torchwood, Sherlock and other cult programmes.

So be sure to come on by, say hi and pick up some great products!

Book Club #8 – Peter Davison’s Autobiography

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Book Number 8 in the DWCA Book Club is Fifth Doctor Peter Davison’s Autobiography. The autobiography is entitled “Is There Life Outside the Box? An Actor Despairs.”

 

In this autobiography from Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison, Peter recounts his life and times – from his early days in amateur dramatics to his more recent stint in West End musicals such as Legally Blonde and Gypsy.

Anyone who has listened to a commentary on a Fifth Doctor DVD can attest to Peter Davison’s sharp yet self-deprecating wit. This book offers a candid retrospective on the actor now best known for being David Tennant’s father-in-law.

Davison’s Autobiography is available for sale from the DWCA club shop, here. We will be discussing this book in our book club discussion on the 4th of August. Alternatively, if you can’t make it, we will also be discussing the book online.

Data Extract 235 released

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Issue 235 of DWCA’s Data Extract Magazine is hot off the presses and on its way to our members!

This issue features an interview with Big Finish actor Richard Unwin, YouTube sensation Oscar Crisp and all the other features of DE that you know and love!

If you’re not already a member, stop missing out on this publication and other fine things the DWCA does, and sign up today!

http://dwca.org.au/membership

Tenth Doctor and Rose for Big Finish

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Big Finish Productions have confirmed that for Series 2 of its Tenth Doctor audio adventures, Billie Piper will return to play Rose!

The three episodes are:

Attack of the Zaross by John Dorney – With Camille Coduri guest starring as Jackie Tyler. The episode features an Alien invasion of Earth, isn’t quite what it appears to be…

Sword of the Chevalier by Guy Adams.  The Doctor and Rose arrive in Slough in 1791 and encounter Chevalier D’Eon, an enigmatic ex-spy who has lived his life as a woman. Together they must fend off alien slavers, who have come to Earth to abduct valuable humans.

Cold Vengeance by Matt Fitton. TARDIS arrives on Coldstar, a vast frozen food asteroid in deep space. But there is something sinister defrosting in the network of storage units… the Doctor’s old enemies the Ice Warriors!

All three full-cast adventures will be available for purchase from the DWCA Shop from February 2018, but if you’ve not listened to David Tennant reprising his role, why not check out some of his previous audio adventures here.

Michelle Gomez to leave the role of Missy

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Overnight, the Radio Times has confirmed that Michelle Gomez will leave the role of Missy at the end of this series.

With Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat leaving at the end of this season, Gomez decided if they are leaving, she would leave as well.

The Radio Times has quoted Gomez as saying:

“[I’ll miss] the fact that it was probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had,” she told us. “The fact that I’m a woman of a certain age who’s this ass-kicking action figure.

“I won’t miss the corset because that was agony, and I’m a woman that likes a big lunch. And that’s not fun to wear after you’ve had two helpings and dessert.

“So I won’t miss that. But I’ll miss the amazing, wonderful, incredible Peter Capaldi, who I think is one of the best Doctors we’ve ever had. I’ll miss somebody like Steven Moffat writing me the best lines I’ve ever had in my career.

“I won’t miss the rain in Wales, but I will miss Wales. And the incredible crew that work so hard. It’s not work for them, it’s a passion, and that’s wonderful to be surrounded by. It’s very inspiring and energising.”