Good News for Sci-fi fans...

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

Doctor Who is soon to return to the airwaves, in an all-new series of adventures for BBC-1 debuting in 2005. The story broke in the Friday morning London Daily Telegraph newspaper, whose webservice featured a headline article (already released to their web service) entitled Doctor Who ready to come out of the Tardis for Saturday TV series by Tom Leonard, Media Editor - an article that hit shortly before midnight UK time Thursday evening. Shortly after 0400 GMT, BBC News confirmed the story, which has now been carried on most major UK, US and Australia news services (including CNN, MSNBC, ITN News, Associated Press and Reuters).

 

The Telegraph article, which was first on the story, said that "in a move that heralds the most eagerly anticipated comeback in television history, BBC1 said yesterday that it is developing a new series of the sci-fi classic," which BBC News confirms will be produced by BBC Wales for BBC-1 Television. But, says the article, "in a development that may alarm purists, the new series is being written by Russell T Davies, the creator of Queer As Folk, the controversial Channel 4 drama about gay life in Manchester, and Bob and Rose, an ITV drama about a homosexual man falling for a straight woman," among his many other television credits, which also include "Second Coming," "Touching Evil," "Springhill" and "The House of Windsor"... and, of course, the Doctor Who: The New Adventures novel "Damaged Goods" for Virgin Publishing. (Davies was also mentioned several years ago as a possible bidder for a new series, a prospect that obviously stayed a possibility...) Davies says he wants to 'introduce the character to a modern audience'. It will also be limited, at this time, to one six-part series, says at least one report.

Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC-1 and a recent champion of Doctor Who, is apparently completely supportive of the whole thing (though she makes note that the Doctor will not be gay, despite the subject matter of the writer's previous material, noting that Davies was chosen because of his knowledge of Doctor Who and experience in television. Heggessey also apparently says in the article that it is "too early to say which of the Doctor's most famous enemies, who include the Cybermen, the Master and the Sea Devils, would return, but insiders said it was unthinkable that the Daleks would not be trundling back into action." Casting has not been undertaken at press time but the article mentions Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann and Alan Davies as possible choices. Heggessey then discusses the rights issues. "Worldwide has now agreed," she says, "that, as they haven't made the film and I've been waiting for two years, it's only right that BBC1 should have a crack at making a series." The series is not likely be be broadcast before 2005. Says Davies: "The new series will be fun, exciting, contemporary and scary."

 

For more information go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

Edited January 18, 2004 by TransporterMalfunction

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

In my opinion this is absolutely great news and certainly can't do the British television industry any harm to venture back into the sci-fi genre after such a long time.

 

For those unfamiliar with the show, here are a few pics of some of the villians of the show:

 

Click for Spoiler:

 

The Daleks

 

Click for Spoiler:

 

The Cybermen (Very similar to the Borg but created 30 years before!)

 

Click for Spoiler:

 

An Auton

 

Click for Spoiler:

 

The evil Master

 

Click for Spoiler:

 

How I feel in the mornings!

[barry 0]

I used to watch the TV series when I was younger,it should be interesting to see how the film does.

[Captain Jean-Luc Picard 1]

A shame it won't air here in the US...

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

I used to watch the TV series when I was younger,it should be interesting to see how the film does.

I believe that this is going to be a new series not a film of Doctor Who, but I agree it will interesting to see how modern audiences take it.

 

What was the Doctor that you watched?

 

A shame it won't air here in the US

 

I'm sure it will air in the US, although a little later.

[barry 0]

I used to watch the TV series when I was younger,it should be interesting to see how the film does.

I believe that this is going to be a new series not a film of Doctor Who, but I agree it will interesting to see how modern audiences take it.

 

What was the Doctor that you watched?

 

 

The Doctors I have watched have been:

 

William Hartnell (I think that was his name)

Tom Baker

Sylvester McCoy

Peter Cushing (In the film)

Peter Davidson

 

I have seen them all but I just can't remember the other names.

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

I used to watch the TV series when I was younger,it should be interesting to see how the film does.

I believe that this is going to be a new series not a film of Doctor Who, but I agree it will interesting to see how modern audiences take it.

 

What was the Doctor that you watched?

 

 

The Doctors I have watched have been:

 

William Hartnell (I think that was his name)

Tom Baker

Sylvester McCoy

Peter Cushing (In the film)

Peter Davidson

 

I have seen them all but I just can't remember the other names.

By personal favourite was Patrick Troughton, although I like any of the show from the 60s and 70s.

[Data 0]

That is great news. I have enjoyed all the Doctors. There were some really great stories. My all time favorite story was "War Games". It was an old B&W, but who needs great effects when you have a great story.

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

That is great news. I have enjoyed all the Doctors. There were some really great stories. My all time favorite story was "War Games". It was an old B&W, but who needs great effects when you have a great story.

Great story and one of my favourites too. Have you ever watched Tomb of the Cybermen? It in volves the same Doctor and is my personal favourite, if you like The War Games then you will love Tomb.

[cyphrx 0]

It's about bloody time this show comes back. My personal episode have been "The Five Doctors." "The Pirate Planet," which was writtten by Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy author Douglas Adams and a lot of others (including the fore mentioned War Games and Tomb of the Cybermen. Also I really liked the tv movie that came out around the late ninties and starred Paul Mcgann. Hoepfully they'll air the new eps on the BBC digital cable channel.

[TransporterMalfunction 1]

Four professional writers, all with careers linked to Doctor Who - Steven Moffat, Terrance Dicks, Nev Fountain and Marc Platt - have been giving Cult their thoughts about the forthcoming TV series.

 

Find out what they had to say here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/featur...reactions.shtml

[DrWho42 13]

I, too, shall enjoy the new "Doctor Who" in 2005 (obviously). But I wonder what went wrong with the 1996 TV Movie "Doctor Who", starring Paul McGann as "The Doctor". I wonder still...

doctorwho42avenger@hotmail.com

:P :P