Doctor Who Feeds

It’s almost time for Torchwood’s curtain call as Bilis Manger returns with one final terrifying plot

The latest Torchwood audio adventure is the 99th and penultimate release in the Doctor Who spin-off’s regular range. Curtain focuses on a mysterious character who has loomed large over Torchwood’s history: Bilis Manger.

Three actors receive invitations to reunite at a theatre where they once shared a terrible experience. There’s hasbeen Dermot Lacey (Cyril Nri, Class, Sarah Jane Adventures), and former grand dame Mathilde Balfour (Sarah Douglas, Superman II). Then there’s the massively successful Roger Cartney (Robert Bathurst, Flux).

Here, they find themselves tormented by a figure calling himself Bilis Manger (Colin Ryan, Knock Knock). But how does he connect to the Bilis, previously encountered by Torchwood? And is he angel, demon, or something else entirely?

Murray Melvin originated the character of Bilis Manger on television, before returning to the role numerous times for Big Finish. Curtain’s development began before his death in 2023. The production team subsequently reworked the story to act as a tribute to both Murray and Bilis.

 

Curtain is about performances and the masks people wear

Director Scott Handcock said: “The influence of Bilis Manger stretches far and wide throughout Torchwood – and Curtain is no exception. It’s a play about performances and the masks people wear, consciously and subconsciously, and it was a delight to work with such a talented band of actors on a script about acting!

“We had the best of times with Murray Melvin, and I know the idea of one more story with Bilis after he’d gone always tickled him. We all miss him a very great deal.”

 

“Bilis Manger truly deserves one last ovation”

Writer and producer James Goss added: “Curtain’s the release you listen to if you want a slice of horror – three people trapped in a haunted theatre with the devil playing deadly tricks on them.

“It’s a release that we’d have absolutely loved Murray Melvin to be around for; indeed, he suggested the notion of Bilis Manger in a theatre, as he loved lighting up a green room with theatrical anecdotes. Actors adored Murray, and it seemed irresistible to do a story in which Bilis sunk his teeth into three actors – a success, a has-been and a never-quite-was, all broken in their own ways.

“Sadly, of course, Murray died before we could get a script ready, and we were left with a corking idea and the burning need to give Bilis a soaring send-off. Bilis was such a great part of the Big Finish Torchwood range, he couldn’t just go out without a big bang. And so we came up with the notion of Curtain – there is a character called Bilis Manger in it, but who is he?

“The recording was a blast – there’s nothing actors love so much as taking the mick out of themselves and each other. Honestly, it’s a great curtain call for Bilis Manger, and he truly deserves this one last ovation.”

 

Torchwood: Curtain. Cover by Grant Kempster (c) Big Finish Torchwood: Curtain

Many years ago, the Palace Theatre burnt down during a performance that accidentally summoned the devil.

Now the cast have been invited back to the grand reopening by a mysterious figure. Who is Bilis Manger?

 

Torchwood: Curtain, scripted by James Goss from a story by David Llewellyn, is now available to own for just £8.99 (download to own) or £13.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,000 copies and will not be re-pressed. 

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What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever seen a Whoover before?

The Whoovers fan group’s Whooverville convention returns in September for a seventeenth year. The popular East Midlands convention for fans of the BBC’s Doctor Who is now in its seventeenth year will once more take place at the Derby QUAD. And they’ve just revealed that they’ll be joined by the fairest, if most wicked, Time Lady of them all: the Rani, as played by Anita Dobson. Her character first appeared in The Church on Ruby Road as ‘Mrs Flood,’ Ruby Sunday’s slightly spiky, but generally good natured neighbour. However, she became one of the great mysteries of the Ncuti Gatwa era, ultimately revealed as the Doctor’s old enemy the Rani.

Dobson has proven to be just as witty, but significantly less evil, in her public appearances and quickly become a fan favourite at conventions.

She joins the previously announced Sophie Aldred, who was the Seventh Doctor’s companion Ace, and Janet Fielding, who was Tegan Jovanka, companion to the Fourth and Fifth. Both Aldred and Fielding have returned to the Whoniverse in recent years, most notably in the Thirteenth Doctor’s final story The Power of the Doctor.

You can also meet David Banks, who played the Cyberleader throughout the 1980s in stories such as Earthshock, Attack of the Cybermen, and Silver Nemesis.

The Whoovers tell fans to expect a day jam-packed with activities, including celebrity guest panels, autograph and photo sessions, displays and dealers, and above all a chance to meet fellow fans in a relaxed and fun environment.

Tickets for the event, which takes place on Saturday the 5th of September, are on sale now. Standard tickets cost £60, while concessions are £50, and tickets for accompanied children 12 and under are £20.

You can book your tickets on the Derby Quad website here.

 

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Billie Piper is currently filming Elsinore, telling the true story of the behind the scenes drama of the National Theatre’s 1989 production of Hamlet

Filming has begun on Elsinore, a new drama film co-starring Billie Piper. When Doctor Who returned to screens in 2005, Piper was a key part of its success as the Doctor’s companion Rose Tyler. She recently returned to the series in the shock reveal at the end of The Reality War, though her role in this year’s Christmas Special is still unclear. In Elsinore she joins a cast led by Andrew Scott (Sherlock, Fleabag) in the true story of Ian Charleson’s run as Hamlet at the Olivier Theatre in 1990.

When the play’s star Daniel Day-Lewis leaves the stage mid-performance, and refuses to return, it throws the National Theatre production of Hamlet into high drama of its own. They find a replacement for the remainder of the run in Ian Charleson, who accepts the challenge despite being seriously ill with AIDS. The result is a performance many critics regards as one of the greatest Hamlets of all time, tinged with tragedy as Charleson dies only weeks after finishing the run.

The actor was one of the first high profile figures in the UK to be open about their battle against the disease, and the news coverage of his final role and death helped change public attitude to HIV and AIDS.

Andrew Scott stars as Charleson, while Olivia Colman (The Eleventh Hour) plays his doctor. The roles of the rest of the cast are still unannounced. One possibility is that Billie Piper will be portraying Stella Gonet, who played Ophelia opposite Charleson in the production of Shakespeare’s most iconic work.

Other members of the cast of Elsinore include Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, Monica Dolan, Juliet Stevenson, Joe Locke, Adeel Akhtar, Matthew Beard, David Dawson, Kadiff Kirwan, Dickie Beau and Peter Mullan.

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The new Doctor Who Doctionary explains the Whoniverse, right up to the Fifteenth Doctor era

A new version of the official ‘Doctionary’ will be out this October from BBC Children’s Books. The original Doctionary by Justin Richards came out in 2012. It sought to define some of those tricky words and concepts from the Doctor Who universe. It’s not clear yet if the new Doctionary is updated from the original text, like the 2018 ebook edition or written completely from scratch. Similarly, there’s no author included in listings but, then again, the original was likewise credited simply to the Doctor.

However, we do know it brings the Doctionary up to date with all the latest concepts from the show, including bi-generation, the Vindicator and more.

If it’s anything like the original version, the 208 book will be full of colourful photos to illustrate the entries. We can also expect engaging, witty text, written by the Doctor themselves! The cover certainly reflects a fun approach to diverse topics, with brightly coloured images of the Fifteenth Doctor, Ruby, the Sonic Screwdriver, K9, a fez, and more.

‘The Doctor’s dictionary of definitions for time travellers’ as the cover describes it, will be in bookshops from the 22nd of October. The hardback edition will be £16.99. Meanwhile, an ebook version will be available to read on devices, at the price of £8.99. You can pre-order it now, though, with links for your preferred retailer on the official page here.

 

Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary (c) BBC Children’s Books Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary

Have you ever wondered what the Doctor is actually talking about? Are you burning to find out what a Vindicator is? Or what bi-generation is? In this book, the Doctor takes you through all those tricky Time Lord words and phrases to teach you everything you need to know for travelling through time and space in the TARDIS.

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The latest Doctor Who Blu-ray collection will be out in America this July

 

Doctor Who Season 21 is already available on Blu-ray in the UK, but American fans will also soon be able to see it as Doctor Who: Peter Davison Season Three arrives in July. Due for release on the 7th of July, it stars Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor. In also introduces Colin Baker as the Sixth incarnation, who takes the lead for final story The Twin Dilemma.

In his final season, the action ramps up for Peter Davison’s Doctor. He faces terrors from his past, as well as invaders from the future, arch enemies and even a battle to the death. With companions Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson), Peri (Nicola Bryant) and robot Kamelion (Gerald Flood) the Doctor journeys from an underwater seabase to contemporary England, from a devastated Earth colony to the beaches of Lanzarote, from a volcanic alien world and finally to the deadly caves on Androzani.

Along the way, the TARDIS crew confront Daleks, Sea Devils, Silurians, Tractators, slug-like Gastropods, the evil Malus. Meanwhile, Anthony Ainley’s vengeful Master makes a deliciously malevolent return!

All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources. These classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media.

 

Doctor Who: Peter Davison Complete Season Three includes the following stories from 1984:

• Warriors of the Deep
• The Awakening
• Frontios
• Resurrection of the Daleks
• Planet of Fire
• The Caves of Androzani
• The Twin Dilemma

 

Peter Davison Complete Season Three is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material including:

• Updated Special Effects – Optional enhanced effects for The Awakening, Frontios, Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Caves Of Androzani
• Warriors of the Deep Special Edition – An exciting four-part re-edit with updated special effects and immersive 5.1 surround sound mix
• In Conversation –  Matthew Sweet chats individually to Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough) and Matthew Waterhouse (Adric)
• New Making of Documentaries –  Brand new looks at the making of both Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Twin Dilemma
• Look Who’s Boating – Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton take to the river for an epic adventure.
• 48 Hours with Fielding – Toby Hadoke crashes at Janet Fielding’s
• Behind the Sofa – More Doctor Who stars from across the eras watch Who. with Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Bonnie Langford (Mel), Colin Baker (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri). There’s also Tara Ward (Preston, Warriors of the Deep), Keith Jayne (Will, The Awakening), Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet, Frontios), Rula Lenska (Styles, Resurrection of the Daleks), director Graeme Harper (The Caves of Androzani), Paul Conrad (Romulus, The Twin Dilemma) and Andrew Conrad (Remus, The Twin Dilemma).
• The Doctor Who Escape Room: Two new teams battle it out to solve fiendish Whoniverse based puzzles in the fastest time
• The Awakening commentary – a new second commentary track for what’s the only Fifth Doctor story to not previously have commentary from Peter Davison
• New 5.1 Surround Sound mixes – Warriors Of The Deep, The Awakening and The Caves Of Androzani.
• Tales of the TARDIS – A 2023 edit of Earthshock with new linking material from Peter Davison and Janet Fielding as the Doctor and Tegan find themselves on the Remembered TARDIS from Empire of Death
• The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot –  The 2013 comedy film created by Peter Davison; also including a brand new audio commentary
• Archive treats – Including never-before-released TV appearances and studio footage
• HD photo galleries – including both higher quality versions of photos from the DVDs, and new finds
• Info Text – subtitle style commentary text, full of fascinating behind the scenes details for each scene
• PDF Archive – an exhaustive collection of documentation about the making of Season 21 from the BBC Archive

The box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.

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Doctor Who TV Movie stars Paul McGann are together again for the next Time War arc from Big Finish

In 1996, Daphne Ashbrook starred alongside Paul McGann in the Doctor Who TV Movie. Thirty years later, she’s reuniting with him in a brand-new box set of full-cast audio drama.

In Time War Uncharted the Eighth Doctor travels with great-grandson Alex (Sonny McGann) and pilot Cass (Emma Campbell-Jones).  They’re exploring a strange new universe, while trying to avoid the escalating conflict between the Time Lords and the Daleks. Through this all, he has had multiple encounters with Hieronyma Friend.

This shady temporal diplomat takes the form of many of the Doctor’s past companions, though he’s somehow yet to notice. In the next volume, Branches, the Doctor finally twigs what’s going on, and Daphne Ashbrook is the latest actor to voice the mysterious character.

Ashbrook said: “It was wonderful to be working with Paul again. The script was beautifully written and it was so much fun to play a villain to his Doctor. It does make me long for the days when I can be his friend – no pun intended!

“Thirty years it’s been since we shot the Doctor Who movie – I’ve recently watched it for the first time in many years, and I couldn’t believe how young we all were. Paul’s a fabulous actor, and he loves doing these audio dramas. His talent and the scripts Big Finish write for him is a match, and it’s kept his character going. He’s been able to experience much of what other Doctors got to experience on TV – what a gift, and it’s wonderful to be a part of that.”

The cast of Time War Uncharted: Branches also includes Carole Ann Ford as Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter, and Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks, as well as Kate Harbour, Akbar Kurtha, Susan Penhaligon, Jane Asher, Amy Rockson, Olivia Woolhouse, and Robert Fitch.

 

The four new episodes starring the excellent Eighth Doctor are: The Only Girl in the World by John Dorney

Searching for Cass, the Doctor and Alex find themselves on board an odd slave spaceship with a version of their friend from the Uncharted universe – the swashbuckling and dangerous Cassie.

Cassie is seeking revenge for the destruction of her homeworld – believing her destiny is to stop Mr Karl, the ruthless killer who obliterated it. But if that is her destiny, why is it so hard to fulfil?

False Dawn by Alison Winter

A galactic quarantine order has the Doctor investigating an invasive species that is rapidly spreading across the uncharted universe and infiltrating multiple dimensions. As the walls between worlds weaken, even the TARDIS struggles with keeping everything on the inside.

Council of Susan by Tim Foley

Looking for a way through a dangerous Barrier, the Doctor and his friends stumble upon an unusual organisation. The Council of Susan is stationed by a wormhole – and they know all about the mysterious time traveller known as ‘Grandfather’. Are the Doctor and Alex due for a family reunion? Or will a darker presence try its best to sever all family ties?

All Over by Patrick O’Connor

Out on the ice lies an empty blue box. Luckily, there’s someone out here who can drag it to safety – that’s what Friends are for, after all. In a rundown house at the edge of the Uncharted, someone will face her destiny. It’s time for myths to be exposed and everything to end.

 

Doctor Who – Time War Uncharted: Branches is now available to pre-order for just £24.99 (download to own) or £30.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed.

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