Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Steven Moffat has announced that the next series of Doctor Who will be split in two with a 'gamechanging' cliffhanger in episode 7.

"The split series is hugely exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!"

The BBC press office describe the split transmission as the result of a request from Steven Moffat to write a new Doctor Who story arc which involves a big plot twist in the middle of the series. "By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens."

The Guardian, who host the annual television festival, have uploaded a video clip of Moffat making the announcement here.

Posted by Andy on Sunday, 29-Aug-2010 16:46 PM

BBC Worldwide have announced that Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) will be joining the cast for the forthcoming audio/visual spectacular – Doctor Who Live.

Planer will play the part of Vorgenson, an ‘inter-galactic showman’ who is the Doctor’s biggest fan. The character has been exclusively adapted for the tour by Executive Producer and Lead Writer Steven Moffat. The new character is described as an ‘inter-galactic showman’ who is the Doctor’s biggest fan.

In a further, exciting announcement, the producers have revealed that Nick Briggs, famous for voicing some of the scariest Doctor Who monsters including the Daleks and Cybermen, is set to appear before the audience to replicate his voice talents live on stage every night as Winston Churchill, set to be summoned by Vorgenson through his Minimiser.

This isn’t Nigel Planer’s first dalliance with Doctor Who – he previously appeared opposite Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith in the exciting Big Finish audio Hothouse.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Doctor Who Live and this role is something of a boyhood dream come true. My character Vorgenson is the Greatest Showman in the Galaxy and using his incredible invention, ‘The Minimiser’, he can make any Doctor Who character appear on stage as part of his traveling show dedicated to his hero. This live tour brings all the magic of the TV show together with a host of incredible effects. I hope that I can survive visiting nine cities in October sharing a stage with eleven Doctor Who Monsters and a flying Dalek in tow!”

The stage show will follow Vorgenson on an inter-galactic journey as he summons monsters in his Minimiser for the audience to see. Matt Smith will appear as the Doctor in specially filmed sequences to be shown on a giant screen on stage.

Craig Stanley, Doctor Who Live’s Producer says: “This show has something for everyone – Doctor Who fans, of course – but also anyone with a love of incredible illusions, immersive storytelling, magical music, scary monsters, and intergalactic heroes.”

Tickets for the fantastic experience that is Doctor Who Live are available here at Ticketmaster – the 9 city tour of the UK plays on these dates:

* Oct 8-10 – Wembley Arena
* Oct 12-13 – Sheffield Arena
* Oct 14-17 – Glasgow SECC
* Oct 18-20 – Birmingham NIA
* Oct 22-24 – Manchester MEN Arena
* Oct 25-26 – Notts Trent FM Arena
* Oct 28-31 – Cardiff Int Arena
* Nov 2-3 – Liverpool Echo Arena * Nov 6-7 – Belfast Odyssey Arena

(Tickets are priced at £38.50, £34.50 and £25.00 and subject to booking fees. Belfast Odyssey Arena tickets are priced at £42.50, £37.50 & £27.50 and may be subject to service charges.)

Posted by Andy on Thursday, 26-Aug-2010 07:11 AM

The picture is shaping up on Steven Moffat’s promise for this special to be the most “Christmassy Special yet”. There’s snow-lots of snow and the Doctor and the TARDIS. And that’s it.

Plot and details of this years special are being kept under wraps (and, one imagines, being kept under lock and key in a Pandorica-style jail guarded by Steven Moffat dressed as a Roman centurion) but if the rumours are anything to go by we could be seeing a return of the Yeti, last seen in the London Underground system causing trouble for the Second Doctor and his friends in The Web of Fear. At this point though, nothing has been confirmed at all.

Filming on Matt Smith’s very first special has pretty much finished now so the TARDIS team should be moving forward shortly to commence shooting on season 32 (how strange that still is to type considering that five years ago Doctor Who was considered a rusty old show).

As far as we’re aware both Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill are back to play Amy Pond/Williams and Rory Williams respectively but how long either one remains aboard the good ship TARDIS is anyone’s guess.

You can see the full sized Christmas Special picture by visiting DenOfGeek. The Doctor Who Christmas Special is expected to broadcast on 25th December 2010.

Posted by Andy on Wednesday, 25-Aug-2010 09:37 AM