Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils podcast review
In the return of our Doctor Who podcast, we catch up with episode co-writer Ella Road and give our verdict on the new Easter special.
We’re back! After a long absence for both our podcast and Doctor Who in general, we’ve returned for a one-off episode to take a look at… er… a new one-off episode. Specifically, of course, we’re giving our verdict on Legend of the Sea Devils, the new Doctor Who Easter special that happens to serve as Jodie Whittaker’s penultimate adventure. Was this a festive treat to savour alongside your mountain of chocolate, or less than eggs-celent? Were the new Sea Devils a roaring triumph, or a damp squib? Find out what we thought by listening to the full podcast below, or on whichever podcast provider takes your fancy at this given moment. View oEmbed on the source website We also delve into the question of the Doctor and Yaz, look ahead to the centenary special this autumn, and ponder the age-old question: which is the best season of Doctor Who? By which we mean, spring or autumn? All that, and we caught up with episode co-writer Ella Road, who revealed the unusual way she was inducted into the world of Who. Doctor Who trailer revealed for Jodie Whittaker's epic final episode Doctor Who confirms return of classic companions "I basically chatted to them on the phone, and they were like, 'Are you in? We need someone immediately.'" she tells us. "And I was like, 'Yeah, cool. So what’s the story that I’m writing?' And they were like, 'We don’t have a story. We want you to come and make it up.' "So there I was, suddenly on a train to Wales, to sit in Chris’s living room for three days, and come up with some ideas." Altogether, we hope it’s a Doctor Who podcast that was worth the wait. Only six months to go until the next one… Where can I listen? Join us for our reaction to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and the biggest discussions about Doctor Who’s past, present and future. Find every episode here. Read more about Doctor Who: Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devil's 8 biggest questions Who was Madame Ching? The real history behind Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils Doctor Who reveals the Doctor's feelings for Yaz in Legend of the Sea Devils Doctor Who's Legend of the Sea Devils ends with regeneration hint Doctor Who finally addressed the River Song elephant in the TARDIS Doctor Who will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year. All 13 series of Doctor Who are available to watch now on Prime Video – sign up for a <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/offers/rel=%20%E2%80%9Csponsored%20noopener%20noreferrer?tag=radtim0b-21&ascsubtag=radiotimes-1628421" target="_blank" rel="sponsored" data-geniuslink="https://buy.geni.us/Proxy.ashx?TSID=114542&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fgp%2Fvideo%2Foffers%2Frel%3D%2520%25E2%2580%259Csponsored%2520noopener%2520noreferrer%3Ftag%3Dradtim0b-21%26ascsubtag%3Dradiotimes-1625860&dtb=1">Prime Video free trial. Visit our Sci-fi hub for more news, interviews and features, or find something to watch with our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks podcast review
As we welcome the New (Who) Year, we give our review of the new special and chat to episode director Annetta Laufer.
Bong! Bong! Happy Who Year! Doctor Who fans rang in 2022 in style with new festive special Eve of the Daleks, which saw the TARDIS trio (Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill and John Bishop) join forces with two strangers (Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon) to flee a team of ruthless Daleks while trapped in a time loop. It was a pacy, funny and oddly emotional adventure – but how did the time loops fit together? Will Yaz and the Doctor’s relationship develop in the next special, or sputter until Jodie Whittaker’s final episode? And what's the deal with the Sea Devils anyway? View oEmbed on the source website We try to piece it all together in this week’s Radio Times Doctor Who podcast, while also chatting to episode director Annetta Laufer and talking through our Controversial Question of the Week. What else can I expect from episode 10? In the final episode of this run of podcasts, we caught up with Eve of the Daleks director Annetta Laufer to get the inside scoop on how the episode was made. “Chris [Chibnall] had said he wanted to have an episode that had a bit more of a positive, magical element to it, because the previous ones had been more serious, and less of the festive mood,” Laufer told us. “And I guess because of the year we’d been having, he wanted something more festive. View oEmbed on the source website “So I knew that was coming. And then he basically pitched it as a romcom, but with Daleks. Which I thought was really exciting, because the two just really don’t go together! So I thought it would be a really fun way to sort of bend that genre, really.” We also talk through the first look at Spring special Legend of the Sea Devils, and finish with a significant question – should the Doctor and Yaz actually get together, or are they better kept apart? When and where can I listen? Listen to all the episodes on spotify and find every episode here. After 10 episodes, this will be the final instalment of our Doctor Who: Flux and Eve of the Daleks Doctor Who miniseries. Please get in touch via @RadioTimes on Twitter or on Facebook to let us know if you’d like to see more from the Radio Times Doctor Who podcast, and we may see you again… Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks podcast preview
We give a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the festive special, and take a look back over series 13 with director Jamie Magnus Stone.
Christmas is over – but Doctor Who fans have one last present to unwrap, with festive special Eve of the Daleks set to debut on BBC One on New Year’s Day. In this special episode of the Radio Times Doctor Who podcast, Huw and Morgan take a look ahead at the upcoming New Year’s episode, which sees the Doctor and friends trapped in a time loop – with Daleks! – in a Manchester self-storage facility. So far the story is mostly under wraps – but we caught up with episode guest star Adjani Salmon to give us some clues about what to expect, find out what it was like to do the same scenes again and again and what else we might expect from Nick in Doctor Who’s future (spoiler alert – anyone for Daleks take Barbados?). View oEmbed on the source website Plus, we take a look back on series 13 with director Jamie Magnus Stone, and ask our latest Controversial Question of the Week – should John Bishop and Mandip Gill stay on after Jodie Whittaker leaves? What else can I expect from episode nine? This week, we interview New Year’s guest star Adjani Salmon to find out more about Eve of the Daleks, and his character Nick. "I guess it kind of starts off with Nick as an introverted, kind of lovesick guy, who’s really just trying to say ‘This year will be better,'" he told us. View oEmbed on the source website "He’s planning to tell Sarah, which is Aisling Bea’s character, how he feels, and ask her out. But I guess the Doctor shows up, and there’s chaos. "It was super-fun. Honestly, being on Doctor Who, you understand the grand nature of it, being on set, and realising, 'Oh, there’s no green screen.' Yeah, it’s amazing." We also caught up with series 13 director Jamie Magnus Stone, for a little look back at the making of Doctor Who: Flux. "I think probably the stuff in the Crimea, I’m most proud of, because it was really difficult to shoot," Stone said. "We shot that in the November of last year. November or December. It was about a year ago. And the elements were really against us. It was really difficult filming conditions. All of our equipment was soaked. "But I think, in the end, it worked well for the episode. I think there’s a real kind of truth to the grit, and the mud, and the smoke, and the rain, and the sleet, and the texture that is there on screen. I think it served the tone of that story really well. And I guess I’m proud of it because it was so miserable, and so difficult to shoot. I think that kind of came out as probably my favourite episode of the bunch." All that, and a Controversial Question of the Week? The Christmas presents just keep coming. When and where can I listen? Find episodes here. Join us regularly for our reaction to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and the biggest discussions about Doctor Who’s past, present and future. Our final episode will be released on New Year’s Day 2022 at 8pm, following the transmission of Eve of the Daleks. Next time, we’ll be giving our full review of that special – so tune in to see what we thought of the Doctor’s latest episode. Read more about Doctor Who: Doctor Who finale hints at Jodie Whittaker regeneration Doctor Who teases Sacha Dhawan Master return Doctor Who – The Vanquishers review: Flux draws to a satisfying, if frenetic, conclusion The Daleks return on New Year’s Day – again – in new Doctor Who special trailer Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks airs on BBC One on New Year’s Day 2022 at 7.00pm. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Doctor Who: Village of the Angels podcast review
We dissect episode four's big cliffhanger and catch up with guest star Annabel Scholey.
Don’t… blink! After a seriously terrifying episode of Doctor Who, you can bet we have thoughts – and once we managed to stop our teeth chattering, we got stuck right into them in this week’s Radio Times Doctor Who podcast. In this episode we give our in-depth review of Village of the Angels (spoiler alert – we loved it!), chat to series guest star Annabel Scholey and look over the latest Who news. And of course, once again we delve into the difficult topics with Controversial Question of the Week – TARDIS edition. View oEmbed on the source website What else can I expect from episode 5? Alongside our Doctor Who: Flux Chapter Four review, we caught up with clairvoyant Claire herself, Annabel Scholey. “I was approached, which was absolutely lovely,” Scholey tells us. “And Chris [Chibnall] sent me an email, because he'd seen Salisbury Poisonings and The Split, that had just luckily come out. And he liked them. I don't know how he got from my character in Salisbury Poisonings to this, but I'm very happy that he did. And yeah, he just asked if I'd like to play it. View oEmbed on the source website “I just thought 'I definitely have to do this.' And I'm mates with Jodie, we did a play together. We played sisters at the National. And I just had the best time working with her. “And frankly, it was mid-lockdown. It was last December when I got approached. And the idea of going and having fun doing that with Jodie, I thought 'Yes, please, I will. I'll do that.'" Plus, we ask: what are the best (and worst) TARDIS interiors of all time? When and where can I listen? Find Doctor Who episodes on Spotify. Join us on Sunday nights for our reaction to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and the biggest discussions about Doctor Who’s past, present and future. View Riddle on the source website Next week, we’ll be back to review episode five, aka Survivors of the Flux. Find every episode here. Read more about Doctor Who: Doctor Who: Village of the Angels' 10 biggest questions Village of the Angels may be the Empire Strikes Back of Doctor Who series 13 Doctor Who: Flux star opens up on "shocking" episode 4 twist - "But she can’t die!" Doctor Who's Village of the Angels includes surprise mid-credits scene Are the Time Lords returning to Doctor Who? Kate Lethbridge-Stewart makes shock Doctor Who return – but is UNIT back? Doctor Who airs on BBC One on Sundays. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Doctor Who – War of the Sontarans podcast review
We chat with John Bishop about joining Doctor Who series 13 as we take a look back at the latest episode.
Sontar-HA! The potato-headed warriors were in full force in this week's Doctor Who - but what did we think of Flux's second chapter War of the Sontarans? In this week's episode of the Radio Times Doctor Who podcast we give our review of Flux: Chapter Two, delve into the latest Who news and fantasy-cast the next multi-Doctor special for Controversial Question of the week. Plus, we catch up with Liverpool's number one wok n' roll legend, Mr Dan Lewis... View oEmbed on the source website What else can I expect from episode 3? View oEmbed on the source website This week, we caught up with series newcomer John Bishop to find out how he got involved with Doctor Who, what it's been like to adjust to a world of green screens and monsters and whether he'd be up for returning to the series after the departure of Jodie Whittaker next year. "I think the official line is you say you don't know, but I genuinely don't know," he tells us. "And for lots of reasons you know, for me, personally, this just was almost so good, I wouldn't want to risk it, trying to do it again. I just feel so lucky to have had that time with those people. "I don't know what's going to happen next with me career, because I'm getting back to the thing that you know, me day job if you like. But then someone phones up and says Dan Lewis has got a place with the news Doctor, you think... it's a conversation to be had innit? You know what I mean?" View oEmbed on the source website We also give our verdict on series 13 episode two – which slightly divided opinion – and theorise about what's next for the Doctor and her friends, what the Mouri are all about and what on Earth (or any other planet) is going on with that weird floating house... When and where can I listen? Join Huw and Morgan on Mondays for their reaction to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and the biggest discussions about Doctor Who’s past, present and future. View Riddle on the source website Next week, we’ll be back to review episode three, aka Once, Upon Time. Find every episode here. Read more about Doctor Who: Why does Doctor Who: Flux keep ruining its own cliffhangers? Doctor Who's War of the Sontarans featured nod to a classic Jon Pertwee serial Doctor Who: War of the Sontarans’ 12 biggest questions Did Doctor Who just reveal a clue about the Doctor’s secret origin? Doctor Who airs on BBC One on Sundays. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Our Doctor Who podcast returns for series 13 – listen now
The RadioTimes.com team give their preview of Doctor Who: Flux ahead of Jodie Whittaker’s return.
The Doctor Who podcast from the RadioTimes.com team is back! Ahead of series 13’s debut (aka Doctor Who: Flux) on 31st October, Huw and Morgan deliver a preview of what we can expect from first instalment The Halloween Apocalypse. Apparently featuring Sontarans, a dog-faced alien called Karvanista, the Weeping Angels and John Bishop’s new companion Dan, Flux chapter one looks set to be a particularly action-packed instalment – but how will it all fit together? What beef do the Ravagers have with the Doctor? And do rumours of “time windows” have something to do with it? Plus, new regular features on the latest Doctor Who news and our “controversial question of the week,” which this week focuses on the identity of the best Doctor of all time... View oEmbed on the source website What else can I expect from episode 1? Ahead of series 13 we’re previewing the entire series, including our theories about the nature of the Flux itself, and where things could be going overall. We also touch on the biggest Doctor Who news stories in recent weeks, including the redesign of familiar monsters and the surprise return of ex-showrunner Russell T Davies for the 60th anniversary special. And, in classic fashion, there's a lot of talk about acid oceans and The Keys of Marinus. Check back on Monday 1st November for our review of the first episode! View oEmbed on the source website When and where can I listen? Find our podcast episodes on Spotify. Join Huw and Morgan on Mondays for their reaction to the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and the biggest discussions about Doctor Who’s past, present and future. Find every episode here. Read more about Doctor Who Doctor Who series 13's Flux is "the biggest nemesis the Doctor has ever faced" Doctor Who star Mandip Gill shares her "relief" that Russell T Davies is taking over Chris Chibnall reveals new Doctor Who monsters The Ravagers "have a history with the Doctor" Doctor Who producer hints at follow-up to Timeless Child reveal in series 13 Doctor Who airs on Sundays on BBC One. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or visit our full TV Guide.
Doctor Who podcast: Are John Bishop and Mandip Gill leaving the series?
Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor is on the way out, but could her companions stay on?
Unless you’ve been living in some sort of hole (or don’t follow Doctor Who, in which case this article isn’t for you), you’ve probably heard that current Time Lord Jodie Whittaker is handing in her sonic screwdriver, with the Thirteenth Doctor set to depart the series in autumn 2022. Alongside Whittaker, showrunner Chris Chibnall is also waving goodbye to the Whoniverse, making for a veritable Who exodus – but questions still remain about just how empty the TARDIS will be at the end of the Doctor Who centenary special. Or, to put it another way – will Whittaker’s companions Mandip Gill and John Bishop be leaving the series with her? View oEmbed on the source website Based on past experience (most notably Pearl Mackie, who appeared in Peter Capaldi’s final series and departed alongside him) most fans would be forgiven for assuming their days are also numbered. But notably, so far there’s been no official word on whether longtime fam member Yaz could help welcome a new Doctor to the universe, or whether newcomer Dan (Bishop) will really bow out so quickly. In fact, all we have so far is speculation. Luckily, here at the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast that’s our specialty, so tune in above to hear our theories about Yaz and Dan’s imminent(ish) future. Does John Bishop’s current stand-up tour hint that he’ll be gone before Whittaker’s now-filming final episode? Could the series come up with a convincing reason for Yaz to leave her best friend behind? And if they did stay on, how would this TARDIS team respond to an all-new, unfamiliar Doctor? We have our theories, and you can hear them all above. For now, in lieu of any proper confirmations from the BBC, that’s all you’re getting. Sorry! Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s episode about the “radical” changes the series could or should implement, or Jodie Whittaker’s plans for her post-Who life. Doctor Who returns to BBC One this autumn. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or visit our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Let’s get radical
Doctor Who could be in for some big changes after Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall’s departure.
What’s next for Doctor Who? Well, er, we have no idea – at least past Jodie Whittaker’s upcoming series and specials – with no Fourteenth Doctor or new showrunner currently lined up to replace the star or series boss Chris Chibnall. Our only clue at the moment is a quick comment by BBC Drama Controller Piers Wenger, who hinted that big change could be on the way for the longstanding sci-fi series. In fact, that’s more or less just literally what he said. “As with any change of Doctor and showrunner, it will be ambitious and radical,” he said during a talk at the Edinburgh TV festival. “We will have to look at the TV landscape in which it will play. So, change is ahead!” View oEmbed on the source website See? We told you. Anyway, in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we take a few guesses as to what these “radical” changes could or should be, from the drastic (a rumoured multi-year rest for the series) to the old-school (a return to multi-part serials, as with the upcoming series 13, rather than a collection of standalone episodes). And in the end we have to ask – did 1970s Who boss (and Morbius Doctor) Philip Hinchcliffe have it right after all when he suggest the modern series could learn from multi-part classic stories? "So the whole idea was that every week, there's an episode with a cliffhanger, and the audience talked about it during the week, and then they came back,” he recently told RadioTimes.com. "Four half-hours, or four 25 minutes, is pretty much the length of a movie. And so that that was the ideal story arc, over four half-hours. "[Doctor Who showrunner] Chris Chibnall and I talked about this when I met him a couple years ago – we had our natural cliffhangers. He said that he's trying to construct within his story structures to have 'cliffhanger moments', if you know what I mean, going through. But it all happens much faster, at a much faster pace." He added: “I don't think that the 45 or 50 minutes story is as satisfying in some ways, because you don't get to know the characters much, or as well as in my stories.” Who knows? Going back to the 25-minute serial format would certainly be pretty… radical. Want more? Check out last week’s podcast speculating about the Doctor Who centenary special, or our full chat with Philip Hinchcliffe. Doctor Who returns to BBC One this autumn. Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide for more details.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: What's coming in the BBC Centenary special?
Jodie Whittaker’s final adventure will be part of the Beeb’s 100th anniversary – but what should we expect?
Jodie Whittaker’s final Doctor Who appearance has been revealed, with the Thirteenth Doctor set to bow out in a special released in autumn 2022. However, this is no ordinary special, with the feature-length adventure set to tie in with the BBC’s 100th anniversary after the production team were asked to squeeze in one last TARDIS outing. “With a six-part Event Serial announced for the autumn, and two Specials already planned for 2022, BBC One has now asked for an additional final feature-length adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor, to form a trio of Specials for 2022,” the BBC said in an early release, with showrunner Chris Chibnall filling in more detail in his Doctor Who Magazine column. View oEmbed on the source website “We could have finished our time here: eight episodes, filmed under strict, efficient COVID protocols,” he wrote. “Then earlier this year, BBC Director of Content Charlotte Moore asked if we’d consider finishing Jodie’s era with an additional special, for the BBC’s planned centenary celebrations in Autumn of 2022. “So numbers were crunched, conversations were had, deep breaths were taken, more testing kits were ordered, and contracts were extended. Onwards to the Centenary Special.” But what should fans expect from this unusual Doctor Who outing? So far all we’ve heard is that this will be a “Special to remember,” with no details given about casting (beyond Whittaker herself), setting or storyline. Could it be a historical adventure that ties into the BBC’s own past? A story that pays tribute to Doctor Who’s half-century-plus on the broadcaster? Or should fans expect another multi-Doctor special in the mould of The Day of the Doctor, complete with (rumoured) appearances from the likes of David Tennant? For now, the truth’s a mystery – but that won’t stop us from having a good guess in this week's RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s podcast about mysterious “Swarm” comments, or our exclusive chat with Philip Hinchcliffe about the ever-mysterious Morbius Doctors. Doctor Who returns to BBC One this Autumn. For more news and features, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: What is the “swarm”?
Series boss Chris Chibnall dropped an intriguing series 13 hint a few weeks ago – but what could it mean?
There’s been plenty of big Doctor Who news of late, whether it’s the earth-shaking confirmation of Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker’s departure (and all the ensuing speculation) or the latest clues mystifying fans in the #FindTheDoctor virtual treasure hunt. And in all the excitement, it’s been easy to miss some of the smaller Doctor Who series 13 details revealed by the production team, including a rather telling detail that series boss Chibnall let slip during the virtual San Diego Comic-Con session he was part of in July. When asked to describe the series in one word, Chibnall went for the oddly offbeat (and non-adjectival) “swarm” rather than the usual “epic” or “exciting” platitudes we’ve come to expect from such hardball questioning. View oEmbed on the source website But what could “Swarm” mean in relation to Doctor Who series 13? In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we examine the possibilities, from the return of a classic foe from The Invisible Enemy or a fan-favourite River Song episode to a super-group of insectoid villains and a metaphorical collection of enemies facing the newly-minted TARDIS trio (i.e., what if the real swarm was the friends we made along the way?) Are we right? Are we completely barking up the wrong tree? Or somewhere in between? Until the series airs (and, probably, concludes) this Autumn there’s no way to know for sure – but if you have your own ideas, please do keep them swarming in. Want more? Check out last week’s podcast and our new feature about who the next showrunner of Doctor Who could be following Chibnall’s departure. Doctor Who returns to BBC One this autumn. For more details check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast – who will be the next showrunner?
Chris Chibnall is leaving with Jodie Whittaker, but who could be next to get hold of the TARDIS keys?
Change is coming to Doctor Who, with Jodie Whittaker’s confirmed departure sparking a wave of debate about who could succeed her as the time-travelling, face-changing Doctor. But an even bigger change is coming behind-the-scenes, with showrunner Chris Chibnall also on the way out and no-one yet announced to be taking over as head writer, producer and all round Who boss. “I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!” Chibnall said in a press release, notably implying that the next showrunner has yet to be chosen. “I wish our successors - whoever the BBC and BBC Studios choose - as much fun as we’ve had. They’re in for a treat!” View oEmbed on the source website The BBC added: “We will announce plans for the new generation of Doctor Who in due course – watch this space!” So who could be the next Doctor Who showrunner? In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we wade into the issue, debating the respective merits and likelihood of various candidates for the top job. Could old hands like Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Sarah Dollard or Peter Harness finally get to take the reins themselves? Will talented newcomers like Pete McTighe or Vinay Patel get their shot at the crown? Or will the BBC look elsewhere to the likes of Jack Thorne, Sally Wainwright and Joe Barton – or dismantle the showrunner model as we know it altogether? The only person to officially rule themselves out so far is author, screenwriter and producer Neil Gaiman, so there’s everything to play for… Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out our explainer of the Sally Wainwright rumours, or our initial reaction to the Chibnall/Whittaker exit in an earlier edition of this podcast. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall's exit confirmed
In this special episode of the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we share our initial reactions to the news that Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall will be leaving the TARDIS behind.
It's not exactly been a quiet week when it comes to Doctor Who news. On Sunday (25th July), we heard the announcement that the upcoming thirteenth series would be taking the form of one serialised story, with Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson set to join the cast as recurring character Vinder. And then on Thursday came bigger news still: the confirmation that Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall would both be stepping down from the show at the end of the new series, after a trilogy of specials. "Jodie and I made a ‘three series and out’ pact with each other at the start of this once-in-a-lifetime blast," Chibnall explained in a statement. "So now our shift is done, and we’re handing back the TARDIS keys. "Jodie’s magnificent, iconic Doctor has exceeded all our high expectations," he added. "She’s been the gold standard leading actor, shouldering the responsibility of being the first female Doctor with style, strength, warmth, generosity and humour. She captured the public imagination and continues to inspire adoration around the world, as well as from everyone on the production. I can’t imagine working with a more inspiring Doctor – so I’m not going to!" View oEmbed on the source website Whittaker added, "In 2017 I opened my glorious gift box of size 13 shoes. I could not have guessed the brilliant adventures, worlds and wonders I was to see in them. My heart is so full of love for this show, for the team who make it, for the fans who watch it and for what it has brought to my life. And I cannot thank Chris enough for entrusting me with his incredible stories. “We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side, and pass on the baton together. So here we are, weeks away from wrapping on the best job I have ever had. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express what this role has given me. I will carry the Doctor and the lessons I’ve learnt forever. “I know change can be scary and none of us know what’s out there. That’s why we keep looking. Travel Hopefully. The Universe will surprise you. Constantly." Given the magnitude of the news, we've recorded a special extra episode of the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast (above) in which we recorded our initial reactions to the shock news and discuss what it might mean for the future of the show – in series 13 and beyond. Want more? Head to our Sci-fi hub to check out our reaction to the departures, or listen to this week’s earlier podcast in which we discussed the serialisation news and the casting of Jacob Anderson. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Find something to watch now with our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Big changes for series 13
New cast! New trailer! New format! Let’s get down and detailed as we discuss all the news from Comic-Con@Home.
Rejoice, Doctor Who fans! We finally have some official news about Doctor Who series 13, with the team behind the BBC sci-fi series releasing loads of new details about the upcoming episodes. Depending on your viewpoint, the biggest news released during the Comic-Con@Home panel was either the casting of Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson as Vinder (a new recurring ally for the TARDIS team), the first-look teaser trailer or the reveal that the series would have a new serialised format, as explained by series boss Chris Chibnall. "The big thing we're going to be doing this year is that it's all one story - so every episode is a chapter in a bigger story," he said. "And so we've changed the shape of the series for this year. View oEmbed on the source website "It's very much not a business as usual time," he added, explaining the role that coronavirus restrictions had made on the decision. "And I think the challenges of getting the show up and running.. [...] there were two ways we could go. You could go 'we're just going to do lots and lots of tiny episodes in one room with no monsters. Or we can throw down the gauntlet and say we're gonna do the biggest story we've ever done, and we're going to go to all kind of different places, and have all different characters and monsters, and it's all gonna be part of a bigger whole. "I think it's definitely the most ambitious thing we've done...it's epic and ambitious and we do go to a lot of places." In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast (above) we delve into this and all the other news from the panel, speculating about how this unusual series could fit together and what the production team are still keeping secret from us (including the “old” monsters hinted at during the panel). Want more? Head to our Sci-fi hub to check out our reaction to the serialisation news, the trailer and Anderson’s casting, or listen to last week’s podcast for a look back at Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor Who debut. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Find something to watch now with our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: 4 years since the big reveal
Where were you when Jodie Whittaker was announced as the first female Doctor?
Happy birthday, Jodie Whittaker’s black hoodie! Yes, it’s been four years (and a few days) since the world met the first female Doctor, and Jodie Whittaker was revealed as the future of Doctor Who – and, as rumours persist that she’s soon to step down from the series, it seemed like the perfect time to look back at how we first heard about her casting. Because of course, this was no ordinary announcement. Hyped for days and scheduled right in the middle of the summer’s biggest sporting event, Jodie Whittaker’s reveal trailer was watched by millions and talked about around the globe – and not just by those people wondering if David Tennant’s presence in the Wimbledon crowd was actually a secret message. View oEmbed on the source website In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we travel back to 2017 to revisit how the casting news was revealed, dissect the original trailer and the impact Whittaker had as the first female Doctor. "It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you're told you can and can't be," Whittaker said at the time. She also reassured fans to "not be scared by my gender". "Because this is a really exciting time, and Doctor Who represents everything that's exciting about change," she said, adding: "The fans have lived through so many changes, and this is only a new, different one, not a fearful one." We also look at whether Whittaker has lived up to the heights of her unveiling, and what her groundbreaking casting could mean for any future Doctors waiting in the wings. Want more? Check out last week’s podcast about Doctor Who series 13’s special surprise guest, or the latest news from Big Finish (spoiler – it’s about Freema Agyeman’s Martha Jones). Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. For more, check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Who is Doctor Who’s “special surprise”?
A new Doctor, a returning character or a shocking guest star? Place your bets…
The Doctor Who series 13 publicity train is leaving the station! C(w)hoo c(w)hoo! Yes, after months of fan complaints and demands for teasers it looks like we’re finally going to get some Doctor Who news about Jodie Whittaker’s next collection of adventures, with the BBC announcing a special panel during the virtual Comic-Con@Home later in July. Featuring stars Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill and newcomer John Bishop alongside showrunner Chris Chibnall, it seems likely that the panel will grant fans their first look at series 13 images or footage, and maybe even a proper trailer – but that’s not what caught many people’s eyes about the announcement. No, they were more intrigued by the “special surprise guest” joining the panel – and what exactly this mystery presence could mean for the new series. View oEmbed on the source website Here at the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we love a mystery, so in this week’s episode we took it upon ourselves to solve it, checking out some of the key fan suggestions as well as our own ideas for what the BBC might be unveiling. Could it be the next Doctor (no), an expected return like Sacha Dhawan or Jo Martin (maybe), or even a big surprise comeback like Alex Kingston’s River Song (stranger things have happened…). Or more likely, is this mysterious extra person just a guest star currently filming in Cardiff, who was free for a filmed panel? Truly, anything is possible. Whichever way, it’s an exciting hint at what’s to come… and all the better for being a mystery that is guaranteed to be solved in the next couple of weeks. Check out last week’s podcast about Doctor Who trailers past and present, or our tribute to Jon Pertwee. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want more? Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Series 13 trailer speculation
As fans clamour for a trailer, we take a look at when we’re likely to get one – and what it could show us of Jodie Whittaker’s new adventures.
Where is the Doctor Who series 13 trailer? It’s the question that’s been on many Whovians’ lips over the last few months, with fans desperate to see what’s next for Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and her TARDIS team. Currently, it seems unlikely that the BBC will sneak a trailer inside another big sporting event like the ongoing Euros or the Wimbledon 2021 tennis tournament (as they did in 2016 and 2017, pictured), but looking at past press rollouts fans might not to wait as long as they expect to get a glimpse of new footage. Could we be in for a July drop, in a similar timeline as we had for the autumnal series 9 and series 11 (which both aired around the time series 13 is expected to)? Or could we have to wait until September as the BBC keep their cards close to their chests? View oEmbed on the source website In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we crunch the numbers, make our predictions and cross our fingers, while also looking back at the rich history of trailers in modern Who and picking our all-time favourites (which obviously feature Matt Smith’s initial teaser – come on). Since time of recording, the BBC has also revealed that 25th July could be the date to watch as the Doctor Who cast assemble for a virtual panel, so keep an eye out – a trailer could be winging its way to us very soon. Want more? Check out our tribute to Jon Pertwee on what would have been his 102nd birthday, or check out last week’s podcast about those Olly Alexander rumours. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide for more details.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast – Olly Alexander, Doctor no more
Rumours rose again over the weekend that the Years & Years singer would follow in Jodie Whittaker’s footsteps, but they’ve already been debunked.
Well, that was quick. Barely a few hours after reports confidently predicted that actor and singer Olly Alexander (he of It’s a Sin and Years & Years fame) was set to replace Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who, the rumour was emphatically debunked by Alexander’s manager, who delivered a pun-filled putdown to try and stop the story in its tracks. His representative Martha Kinn told RadioTimes.com: “Even though Olly is often contacted by Cybermen, I’m afraid I have to exterminate this speculation. As nice as it is to see interest in this story regenerate, it just isn’t true." She added: "As Ood as it might sound, Olly is focusing on his music, for the time being.” View oEmbed on the source website So where did this story come from, and could it still be true? In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we take a look at the origins of the Olly Alexander rumour, putting them in the context of “fake next Doctors” of the past (who else remembers dead cert Kris Marshall back in 2017?) and trying to puzzle out when we might actually learn who’ll be next to take over the TARDIS. Plus, we reminisce about the unveilings of other modern Doctors and the times that people did predict a major Who casting correctly, which are fewer and further between than you might realise. Want more? Here’s our latest update on the Olly Alexander story, or you can listen to last week’s podcast where we reviewed new immersive experience Doctor Who: Time Fracture. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi Hub or our full TV Guide for more.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Time Fracture review
We take you through our experience of the new immersive Doctor Who theatre show – but should you pick up a ticket?
Is Doctor Who: Time Fracture worth the price of admission, or should it be consigned to the depths of the Void? Worth braving the darkest corners of time and space, or better left to the real Time Lords? Take a walk through the event with us, and find out what to expect... View oEmbed on the source website In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we’re joined by journalist – and noted interactive theatre sceptic – Stephen Kelly to talk all about the new immersive Who experience, which sees audience members recruited by the Doctor to travel through time and space and save the universe. Unfortunately, in practice this wasn’t quite the free-flowing adventure we’d hoped – but could COVID be to blame for the downsides? And were the exciting moments (including some cameos from chilling Doctor Who villains, cool Doctor cameos and impressive set design) worth the long stretches where you watched actors try out their improv on you or listened to sirens blaring? Listen to our extended podcast to find out, featuring a slightly spoilery discussion (leaving out a few key points) of the theatrical production, what worked and what didn’t in Time Fracture. Want more? Check out our full review of Doctor Who: Time Fracture (where we described the night as "chaotic" with "glimmers of glory") or our interviews with the creatives behind the project to find out everything you can about the adventure. Alternatively, check out last week’s podcast about the latest series 13 rumours to see what’s next for Doctor Who on television. Doctor Who will return to BBC One later this year. Check out our Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide for more.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Jodie Whittaker’s Special exit
Is Jodie Whittaker really leaving Doctor Who behind? New rumours suggest that she could depart after a double special.
It’s official – Jodie Whittaker’s exit from Doctor Who is… still unofficial. But that hasn’t stopped a new crop of rumours arising about her next series, with the latest reports suggesting the Thirteenth Doctor will bow out after a pair of specials that may air in 2022. Whether those episodes would be part of the eight-episode series already announced or something extra isn’t clear, but if true these new rumours could mean Whittaker is staying in the role longer than initially thought to end her Who run in the BBC’s centenary year. Assuming of course, that these special rumours – and the reports of her leaving at all – are actually true. Because if they’re not, this is all meaningless. Though she could still be in 2022 specials even if she was staying? Honestly, this story remains quite confusing. View oEmbed on the source website To try and make sense of the whole thing, in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we attempt to unpick these latest Who whispers, delve into the unusual structure of series 13 and imagine what different storytelling techniques could be found through the show’s new limitations. Plus, we look ahead to the BBC’s centenary in 2022 and Doctor Who’s own 60th anniversary a year later to try and work out how (if at all) these celebrations could tie into Jodie Whittaker’s final (rumoured!) adventure. For more Doctor Who chat that may or may not be scurrilous rumourmongering, you can check out our full speculation about the latest series 13 rumours, the new reports of Jodie Whittaker’s exit or last week’s podcast about why the Daleks need a rest. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want more? Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi Hub or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Do the Daleks need a rest?
New rumours suggest the Daleks are back for Jodie Whittaker’s next series, but is their comeback too soon?
If you have a passing acquaintance with Doctor Who, pop culture or human society in general it’s possible you’ve heard of the Daleks, the terrifying alien foes of the Doctor (currently Jodie Whittaker) who’ve cropped up in his or her adventures more often than TARDIS parking tickets. Now, rumour has it that the tinpot terrors (obligatory alliteration there) are about to return for Doctor Who’s next series – but is this too soon after their last invasion in Revolution of the Daleks? Can you have too much of a good (or monstrously evil) thing, or is it time the Daleks were benched? Well, as much as you can bench anything without the ability to sit on one. View oEmbed on the source website To find out, in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we took a look back through recent Dalek stories to find a pattern of good, less good and downright diabolical episodes, and assess whether they Daleks truly are a bit overused in the BBC sci-fi series. Going from the Daleks of the classic series and their grand reintroduction in 2005 through the slightly obviously-named Cult of Skaro, the New Paradigm Daleks and Rusty the Oddly Important, it’s a whistle-stop tour through the highs and lows of the Daleks’ deadly war on the cosmos – as well as what we’d like to see them get up to in the future, if the rumours really are true. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s podcast behind-the-scenes of the immersive Time Fracture event, or see what David Tennant had to say about his old co-star Billie Piper. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Visit our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide for more.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Behind-the-scenes of Time Fracture
We went to the site of the new immersive Doctor Who adventure to catch up with the creators, and find out what’s in store for fans.
New Doctor Who immersive experience Time Fracture has finally thrown open its TARDIS doors – but what can fans expect when they head over to UNIT HQ in Holborn, London? To find out we went along to the site of the upcoming attraction to check out what was in store ourselves, with a whistle-stop tour of an alien market, an outer-space dive bar, the court of Queen Elizabeth I, a Cyberman Tomb and much more, while also chatting to the creatives behind the project to find out more. View oEmbed on the source website And now, in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast you can hear those interviews yourself, including cast member (and sometime Tudor Queen) Charlie Burt, production designer (and crafter of David Tennant hands) Rebecca Brower alongside writer and director Daniel Dingsdale and Tom Maller. “You can walk in off the street, having never seen an episode of Doctor Who or done any research and come in and have this adventure,” Dingsdale tells us during the conversation. “Because it's set in its own little pocket universe. Due to the time fracture, creating habit with the dimensions. It's got a solid beginning, middle and end so you can walk in off the street and just go on this adventure. “However, if you are a Whovian and if you are a Doctor Who fan, everything within the show, it will be familiar to you. Everything that is hidden somewhere it is nodding to or paying homage to the last 60 years nearly of Whovian canon. So if you are a Whovian, you're gonna have a wonderful night. “And there's a lot of fun in this. I think there's nearly 1000s of Easter eggs now because every prop every costume, every location, bit of lore, the plotlines, they're all things that will be familiar to those who love Doctor Who.” “The audience is the heart of the story,” Maller adds later. “We want the audience to feel like they have agency they have a purpose. They're playing a role. And they matter and what they say means something. “And so it's really important that our actors are trained to know that. They listen to the audience, which is amazing. And they react to their audience. And that is how you kind of pick your choose your adventure, form of theatre, which we think is the most exciting.” Want more? Check out our full preview of Doctor Who: Time Fracture or catch up with last week’s podcast about 13 years of River Song. Doctor Who: Time Fracture is open now, and you can find out more about it here. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page for more stories, or our TV Guide for something new to watch.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: 13 Years of River Song
Ahead of the anniversary of Alex Kingston’s Doctor Who debut, we take a look back at the life and twisted timeline of River Song.
July 2021 marks the 13-year anniversary of River Song in Doctor Who, with Alex Kingston’s time-travelling trailblazer continuing to delight Whovians long after her debut in 2008’s Silence in the Library. And ahead of that significant milestone, in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we took a look back at the life and times of River Song from her first introduction and early mystery through the years of teaming up with Matt Smith, the shocking revelations of her true identity and then that touching farewell alongside Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor in 2015. View oEmbed on the source website Assuming, of course, that The Husbands of River Song can be counted as River’s swan song. Since then, Big Finish have continued to fill in the gaps in River’s backstory (especially when it comes to David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor), and hopes remain high that fans could see River team up with Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord in the latter’s (rumoured) final series. Given her enduring influence, it’s not hard to see why some consider River one of Doctor Who’s greatest companions – assuming, of course, that she can be counted as a companion at all… Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out our most recent interview with Alex Kingston about (you guessed it) the return of River Song, or last week’s podcast about Auton rumours for series 13. Read more: Alex Kingston wants Doctor Who’s River Song to meet Missy and the Cybermen Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide for more.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Will the Autons return in series 13?
The shop-window dummy villains are rumoured to face off with Jodie Whittaker's Doctor later this year.
Rumour has it that Doctor Who's biggest plastic peril (apart from whatever was going on in Praxeus) could be set for a comeback, after fans spotted a film crew working on some sort of project involving “Autons” earlier this year. So far, the return of the iconic monsters (who first appeared opposite Jon Pertwee’s Doctor in 1970’s Spearhead from Space, and made a memorable return for the 2005 series reboot) hasn’t been confirmed – but after plenty of years off-screen, we think it’s high time that the Autons staggered back into the Whoniverse. View oEmbed on the source website But are the Nestene-controlled shop window dummies of death really about to face off with Jodie Whittaker? Will this be the bona-fide Autons story fans have been waiting for? And what new take on the monsters (potentially tying into body image or fast fashion) should we be expecting? In this week's RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast (above) we try our best to find out, while also delving into the surprising history of the Auton menace, the pros and cons of classic monster returns and our own pitches for a new adventure starring the possessed shop-window dummies. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out the latest news about the Time Fracture immersive experience, or catch up on last week’s podcast review of Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor Who return. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. For more, visit our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Hear our first reaction to Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor Who return in RadioTimes.com podcast
On this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we give an exclusive (and spoiler-free) preview of Big Finish’s Ninth Doctor Adventures Volume One, aka Ravagers.
He’s back! After 16 years, plenty of doomed attempts (remember Steven Moffat’s alternate Day of the Doctor script?) and half-measures, Christopher Eccleston has slipped back into the world of Doctor Who, bringing his short-lived Ninth Doctor to life once more for a series of Big Finish audio adventures. First up? The Ninth Doctor Adventures Volume One: Ravagers, which sees the Doctor team up with a chef to stop a species of terrifying monsters on a frantic journey through time and space – and if you can’t wait until the proper release on Thursday 13th May, on this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we’re able to give your our (spoiler-free) first reaction to Eccleston’s return. View oEmbed on the source website “When I listened to him throughout the whole thing, I thought yeah - that's the Ninth Doctor,” RadioTimes.com Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor Huw Fullerton says. “He sounds right. In my head I'm picturing 2005-era Christopher Eccleston, running around in a leather jacket.” “But there's other moments where there are slightly different shades to his performance,” adds Executive Editor Morgan Jeffery. “I think especially because he's talked about how looking back, he wasn't entirely satisfied with how he played the lighter moments, and the bigger moments for the Doctor. “I think that's where his performance differs slightly here – I think maybe he sounds a bit more comfortable doing that stuff. But your general Doctorishness moments – in those moments, yeah, he does sound exactly as he ever did.” In conclusion, the whole adventure is a real treat for fans of Eccleston’s too-short tenure in the TARDIS – especially those who’ve been holding a candle for his return this whole time. “I had this real nostalgic moment when the 2005-era opening theme started playing, and then Christopher Eccleston's there - I had a little flashback to being really excited for that first series,” Huw Fullerton concludes. Want to hear more about Christopher Eccleston’s grand return? You can listen to the full podcast above, and check back for our full review later this week. Last week’s podcast about some suspicious Doctor Who series 13 leaks can be found here, and our latest Big Finish poll continues here. The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Ravagers is available for physical and download purchase on the Big Finish website from Thursday 13th May. Want something else? Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Series 13’s “time windows” leak explained
We delve into the latest Doctor Who series 13 rumours, and what they might mean for Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord.
Doctor Who series 13 remains something of a mystery at the moment, with little officially released to tell fans what they can expect from the upcoming episodes, leaving speculation to run rampant. However, a recent leak has now teased an intriguing potential storyline in Jodie Whittaker’s next outing, possibly tying in to a fan favourite character or a truly universe-shaking plot twist. Not bad for a graphic novel synopsis that wasn’t supposed to be out yet. In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we take a closer look at this particular leak, drilling down into the language of what was released and how it could relate to what we already know about the next series. View oEmbed on the source website “A thrilling new Doctor Who Graphic Novel which stars fan-favourite Captain Jack Harkness as he goes up against the insidious Torchwood institute!” the synopsis (which was freely available to read on official sites before being taken down) reads. “In the midst of kicking alien butt – and looking good doing it – Captain Jack Harkness is suddenly transported through a time-window to 19th Century Cardiff… again! Realising there’s more than one thing afoot, he sets out to uncover what the Victorian-era Torchwood Institute team are up to behind closed doors, hoping to solve the mystery of why time-windows are cropping up everywhere. “But what he finds is very unexpected, and will certainly leave him needing a hand from some old friends… “Bursting straight out of the long-running hit television series, this bold new tale ties in directly with episode two of the hotly-anticipated series 13. Buy it, read it, then travel back in time to read it for the first time all over again…!” So what’s so special about series 13, episode two? Does the reference to “old friends” suggest a team-up for John Barrowman’s Jack Harkness and Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor? Or is it the mysterious “time windows” – mentioned before in 2007 episode The Girl in the Fireplace – that will be the key crossover element, and a story arc in the main series? For now, the truth remains a mystery – but that won’t stop us indulging in some good old baseless speculation. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s podcast interview with the team behind Big Finish, or our in-depth dissection of this Doctor Who leak elsewhere on RadioTimes.com. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want something else to watch? Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: What’s the future for Big Finish?
As the Doctor Who audio play maestros make a big change, we catch up with them to take a look back – and forward – at their unusual journey through space, time and soundwaves.
Doctor Who audio storytellers Big Finish recently hit a major milestone, landing a Guinness World Record for “longest-running science-fiction audio play series” after 22 years (aka 275 consecutive months) of releases. Now, Big Finish is looking to shake things up with a new way of cataloguing their stories – and so to find out more we invited Big Finish Chairman Jason Haigh-Ellery and Big Finish Creative Director Nicholas Briggs to join this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast. Talking through the history of the company from first getting a BBC licence and convincing wary Doctors to sign on through the company’s darkest hour (which also happened to be Doctor Who in general’s brightest), Nick and Jason give us the inside track on why Big Finish has continued to be such a success, and also lift the lid on their newer projects coming soon. View oEmbed on the source website With new Christopher Eccleston stories looming and plenty more exciting ranges besides, it seems clear that even after more than 20 years Big Finish is just getting started – even when it comes to signing on more modern-era Doctors like David Tennant. Watch this space… Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes guide to how Vincent and the Doctor came to be, or the latest leaks from series 13. You can also find more Big Finish coverage elsewhere on RadioTimes.com, including the first trailer for The Ninth Doctor Adventures starring Christopher Eccleston and new details on Russell T Davies' lost Doctor Who story that's finding new life as an audio drama. Doctor Who returns to BBC One in late 2020. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide or our dedicated Sci-Fi page.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: David Tennant’s Doctor Who future
As the former Tenth Doctor turns 50, we take a look forward at what’s next for his incarnation
Once you’ve played the Doctor in Doctor Who, you’re never truly free of the character – but for some actors, that doesn’t seem like too much of a hardship. And chief among those has to be former Tenth Doctor David Tennant, who has continued to keep a toe in the Whoniverse with regular appearances in audio dramas despite officially departing the role onscreen in 2010. Now. he looks set to reprise the role once again in upcoming videogame Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality, which may unite him with Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor for the first time. View oEmbed on the source website With this in mind and in honour of Tennant’s 50th birthday this week, in the latest edition of the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we don’t take our usual look back at his time in the series, instead opting to look forward at what other Who crossovers that Tennant might find himself involved in. What can we expect from The Edge of Reality, and how involved in the story will he be? What’s coming up in the world of the Tenth Doctor’s Big Finish audio adventures? And as Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary creeps closer, is it possible that we’ll see Tennant’s Doctor onscreen with his successors once again? Listen in to hear what we think, as well as a few of our own ideas for what such a TV return could actually look like. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s podcast about Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor, or the latest news about the Ninth Doctor’s Who future elsewhere on RadioTimes.com. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want something else to watch? Check out our dedicated Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Happy birthday Peter Davison
As the Fifth Doctor star turns 70, we take a look back at his best episodes.
Happy 70th birthday to Peter Davison! Well, happy birthday week anyway – because following the former Doctor Who star’s notable milestone on Tuesday 13th April, we’re taking a look back at the Fifth Doctor’s greatest moments and his legacy on the series as a whole. Following on from the near-legendary Tom Baker was never going to be an easy task but Davison (already known for his starring role in All Creatures Great and Small) tackled the part with aplomb, delivering a younger and more energetic Doctor that set the template for the modern series. View oEmbed on the source website And in this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we look at just how closely Davison’s influence can be seen in performances by Matt Smith and David Tennant, the latter of whom Davison also shared the screen with in one-off crossover sketch Time Crash. Not to mention the fact that Davison is now Tennant’s father-in-law… Plus, Fifth Doctor fan Morgan gives fans a quick guide to the highs of Davison’s tenure, including stories like Earthshock, The Five Doctors, The Caves of Androzani and much, much more. If you’re looking for somewhere to start with Davison’s packed two-year tenure, this isn’t a bad place to start looking. Want more Doctor Who content? Check out last week’s podcast about a potential River Song return, or fans’ latest tribute to returning Doctor Christopher Eccleston ahead of his Big Finish debut. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want something else to watch? Visit our Sci-Fi page or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Could River Song return for series 13?
Alex Kingston is opening to reprising her role in the main series, but how would she react to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor?
Doctor Who fans love the prospect of an old favourite character making a surprise return to the series, whether it’s rumours of Catherine Tate making a cameo as Donna Noble (now debunked) or hints that John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness will be making an extended appearance (which turned out to be true!) But what about River Song? Ever since Peter Capaldi’s Doctor regenerated into Jodie Whittaker’s incarnation, fans have wondered how the Doctor’s wife (played by Alex Kingston) would react to her other half’s new identity – and with rumours swirling that Whittaker could be leaving after the next series, those eight episodes could be their last chance to meet. In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast we discuss how likely it is that we’ll see River return to the main series, partially inspired by a recent chat we had with Kingston where she said she remained keen to meet the Thirteenth Doctor onscreen. View oEmbed on the source website “It would be a great shame if it were not to happen. Let’s put it that way,” she told RadioTimes.com. “I’m open to anything. I don’t have an idea about how we should meet or anything like that. But I would like River to meet her, and plant a big, fat kiss on her!” Plus, we discuss possible storylines for the Doctor and River’s reunion, as well as other factors that could prevent their meeting. Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s episode about Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor Who return, or read our Alex Kingston interview elsewhere on RadioTimes.com. Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. For more Sci-Fi fun check out our dedicated Sci-Fi Hub or our full TV Guide.
Listen to the RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast: Jack is back….again!
As John Barrowman’s fan favourite hero is announced for the Doctor Who festive special, we take a look at his past and future in the series.
Unless you’ve actually been locked in a Judoon prison, you’ll probably have heard the latest big Doctor Who news – John Barrowman is making a big return to the BBC sci-fi series, with his fan favourite character Captain Jack Harkness set to join the action for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special (or New Year’s special…we’re still not quite sure yet). But what will Jack get up to in Revolution of the Daleks? What’s he been doing since we last saw him, how will he help battle the Doctor’s greatest foes, and will he finally actually get to meet Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor this time? View oEmbed on the source website In this week’s RadioTimes.com Doctor Who podcast, we try our best to find out, taking a look at Jack’s past, present and (possible) future in the series, including rumours that he could be sticking around for season 13. Plus, we investigate one of the greatest mysteries never solved within the wider Whoniverse – just what did happen to Rex Matheson from Torchwood? “Putting on Jack’s coat and setting foot back on the set of Doctor Who was just like going back home,” Barrowman previously said of his return. “It’s always thrilling to play Captain Jack. He’s a character very close to my heart who changed my life, and to know the fans love him as much as I do makes his return even sweeter. I hope everyone enjoys Jack’s Heroic adventure with Thirteen.” “A Doctor Who Festive Special means treats galore, and there’s no bigger treat than the return of John Barrowman to Doctor Who, for an epic and emotional feature-length episode,” added showrunner Chris Chibnall. “If anyone can blast away the sheer rubbishness of 2020, it’s Captain Jack. Daleks beware!” Sounds like Who fans are in for quite the treat this festive period… Want more Doctor Who chat? Check out last week’s podcast about series 13 filming now, as well as out piece about whether Captain Jack in season 13 is likely (spoiler alert: we’re not so sure). Doctor Who returns to BBC One in late 2020/early 2021. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide.