Even More Doctor Who DVD Covers in the style of Target Books...

Six more little variants on a theme... 

Early Ninth Doctor Novels For Elderly Doctor Who Fans...

In 2005, the BBC, fearing that the radical new series of Doctor Who starring TV's Christopher Eccleston as more contemporary "Northern" Time Lord would alienate elderly fans, commissioned a set of three novels depicting familiar monsters and villains from the beloved Hartnell era in brand new adventures with the ninth Doctor. 

They were never published as it was a silly idea.

The Royal Wedding Doctor Who Cosplay Limited Edition Collectors's Figure

To celebrate the Royal Wedding between Harry and Princess Mertyl, the House of Andydrewz has commisioned this piece of collectors's tat for you to part with your money for... 

 

More Doctor Who DVD Covers in the style of Target Books...

Here's some more as I've had a lazy Sunday afternoon...

 

Doctor Who DVD Covers in the style of Target Books...

A suggestion from the Twitter this one...A selection of Doctor Who DVD covers but done using the old Target book branding. 

I've used some of my own artwork for this as I wasn't too keen on re-using the original Target artwork. What's the point really? I have used the synopsises from the actual DVDs though so apologies for the typos and grammar. 

Fonko Pups Taran Wood Beast from TV's Dr WHO!

In lieu of the Official Doctor Who Figurine Collection releasing an eagerly awaited 'Taran Wood Beast', here is a version in the style of those shitty generic plastic pre-school models that young folk are so fond of parting with their money for. 

If you do want to pay good money for this, you can get it on a T shirt at RedBubble here.

Three New Classic Doctor Who Action Figure Sets from B&M

Twitter has been all of a buzz (as they say) with news that the cheap homeware retailer, B&M will be releasing not one, not two but four sets of Doctor Who figures - including a Jon Pertwee with his TARDIS on a flat black plinth (as seen in Spearhead from Space). And a set featuring the Brigadier (Spearhead from Space), Auton (Spearhead from Space) and er... fourth Doctor (Talons of Weng Chiang). 

Oh what japes we'll all have trying to find a store that has them all in stock later this summer. 

Anyhow, here's a selection of the sets that didn't quite make it...

The Original 1960s Doctor Who Time Team

The recent controversy over the announcement of a new Time Team for the official Doctor Who monthly magazine reminded me of the ORIGINAL Dr WHO Time Team. It's a fair bet that none of the young millennials in the new team have even heard of it let alone realise that it used to be an actual television programme that was broadcast on Sunday evenings after each episode of the fledgling sci-fi show back in the 60s.

Telesnap from original caption slide

It's presenter was the late Katie Boyle. She introduced a panel of top celebrities who discussed with inteligence and wit the previous night's episode. There was also interviews with experts who filled the viewer in on the high concepts behind the show such as space travel, science, history and in one episode, how to make a perfect cup of cocoa. A number of comedy stars joined the show to perform special skits and monologues - some of which were written by the mother show's production team. Perhaps most important of all was the airing of viewers' opinions read out by the ever reliable Robert Robinson. In the days before the interweb and the Twitter, this was often the only place (outside of the Radio Times letters page) where young Whovians could let off steam about the latest storylines and shoddy special effects.

Robert Morley, Jimmy Clitheroe, Tony Perkins, Frank Muir

The show ran for many years and was supported by the Dr WHO production office - though members of it rarely appeared. Original producer Verity Lambert wanted to keep the cast and crew distant from the public in order to retain the magic and credibility of the series. Or at least that's what the original press release said. 

There was an attempt to revive the format in the 80s but this floundered very quickly when Dr WHO moved to a weekday transmission and a slot couldn't be found for it that wasn't before ten to midnight on a Thursday. 

It was left to the Doctor Who monthly magazine to finally succumb to public pressure and revive it - abeit in a text form using words. 

Precious little exists of the original show at the BBC. No recordings exist. A handful of telesnaps from the early broadcasts and some documentation was found in a brown envelope when they demolished the Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham a few years ago. 

Robert Robinson opened the letters.

I did start to write a book on the series but gave up when I was told there would be no market for such a publication based on such a paucity of material and guess work. Doctor Who fans like facts - not made up stuff however real it is. 

Here's a selection from my own personal archive. 

Page from unpublished episode guide for series.

Page from unpublished guide for the series.

Jackie Lane helped Katie announce the season 3 poll winners

The What's My Line team joined for a special episode

Original programme broadcast information for episode one.