Gallifrey One – More 2013 Guests Announced!

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Two months (has it already been that long?) since the first guests were announced, Gallifrey One, the longest-running North American Doctor Who convention, has released the second batch of guests for its next iteration, running February 15-17, 2013. One very familiar face leads the pack along with a number of other fantastic guests making their first appearances, including one of the most celebrated actors to ever appear in Doctor Who.

Sir Derek Jacobi is one of the most accomplished actors to ever appear on stage, television, and in film. Famous for I, Claudius (1976), and several BBC Shakespeare productions, Jacobi left an indelible mark on Doctor Who with his memorable performance as Professor Yana/The Master in 2007’s “Utopia”. He also appeared as The Master in 2003’s “The Scream of the Shalka”. Sir Derek will be making his first appearance at Gallifrey One in 2013.
Frazer Hines is practically a Gallifrey One mainstay and is always a welcome addition to the event. Best known to Doctor Who fans, of course, as Jamie McCrimmon, companion to second Doctor Patrick Troughton, Frazer unfortunately had to miss the last Gally and we’re glad to see him back for 2013.
Frances Barber was seen in Doctor Who last year as the mysterious eyepatch lady, Madame Kovarian. A veteran of the stage, music, television and more, Barber will be making her Gallifrey One debut in 2013.
Also making his Gallifrey One debut, Bruno Langley played Adam Mitchell in two episodes of the 2005 series alongside Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. He is also widely known for his portrayal of Todd Grimshaw on Coronation Street, the first openly gay character on the long-running soap.
Neve McIntosh has played multiple roles in Doctor Who over the past two series, all under heavy makeup as a Silurian, including the role of ally to The Doctor, Madame Vastra. She is also a veteran of film, theatre and television and is making her first appearance at Gallifrey One.
Madame Vastra’s companion in A Good Man Goes to War, Jenny, was portrayed by Catrin Stewart, and we’re happy to learn the actors will be reunited at Gallifrey One. Stewart, like McIntosh, is making her first Gallifrey One appearance.
Finn Jones portrayed Jo Jones’ grandson, Santiago, on The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2010. He is also well known for his role of Ser Loras Tyrell in the HBO mega-hit Game of Thrones. As with many others in this batch of guests, Jones is making his first appearance at Gallifrey One.
Last, but certainly not least, Dan Starkey will also be making his first Gallifrey One appearance. Starkey is known to Doctor Who fans for playing multiple Sontarans in five different episodes, as well as two episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures and one of the Doctor Who Adventure Games.
Memberships for Gallifrey One are available from the convention website, and currently cost $75 for the entire weekend of programming. We’ll be there as usual, again opening the convention with a live show, and we hope to see you there too!

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Radio Free Skaro #322 – The Horse Eaters of Traken

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Radio Free Skaro #322 – Click here to listen!

A bumper length episode of Radio Free Skaro awaits you this week! The lengthy news list contains a discussion on the new trailer for Series 7 that came out this past week, as well as speculation on what big name actor will be announced as a guest star! (Of course, by the time you all hear this, this information will be already out there, and we’ll look like right idiots. Again.) After we cover some DVD news, we move on to our commentary for Tom Baker’s penultimate story The Keeper of Traken, possibly Doctor Who’s most valid stab at stagey Shakespeare productions that happen to take place on different planets. But on the bright side – less than a month until new Doctor Who!
Show Notes:

Big name guest actor…to be announced!
New Series 7…Trailer!
Doctor Who, Series 7, premiering on BBC America…on September 1 at 9PM?
New Series 7…iconic promo image!
Production on the Christmas special…about to begin!
Jack Lothian…to write for Series 7!
Christopher Eccleston…not done with Doctor Who?
The BBC America specials…airing on SPACE!
Terror of the Zygons DVD extras…cleared by the BBFC!
More Terror of the Zygons DVD extras…cleared by the BBFC!
Even more Terror of the Zygons DVD extras…cleared by the BBFC!
The Claws of Axos Special Edition DVD coming to North America…November 13!
Doctor Who Series 7a DVD/BD…coming November 12!
The Ambassadors of Death DVD coming to North America…October 9 (not October 2)!
Who Girls 2013…Calendar!
“Whovian” is…a word!
Big Finish extends Doctor Who license to…December 15!

Commentary:

The Keeper of…Traken!

Check-in on GetGlue!]]>

November 2012 North America Doctor Who DVD Releases

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Potentially the final classic series DVD release of 2012 has been announced for a North American release on November 13, and it is a special edition of a previously released story.

The Claws of Axos, which was previously released in 2005, will be getting a picture upgrade this time around, along with a whole host of new special features. The first edition was the first using a process known as Reverse Standards Conversion to convert the existing 525 line NTSC masters to 625 line PAL (the format used by the BBC during its original broadcast). This process has been refined and improved for the new version.

Also on the same day, North America will see the release of the first box set for Series 7, comprised of the first five episodes (Asylum of the Daleks, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, A Town Called Mercy, The Power of Three and The Angels Take Manhattan). As with recent years, the box set will be released both on DVD and Blu-Ray. Full extras likely haven’t yet been announced but The Science of Doctor Who and Doctor Who at Comic-Con have been listed; it seems logical some or all of the other three BBC America specials will make their way onto the release, along with the 5-part Pond Life prequel.

UPDATE: BBC Home Entertainment has released the list of extras for the Series 7 Part One set. Pond Life is included, as expected, however only the one Doctor Who special, The Science of Doctor Who, is on the final list, not all four of the recent specials. The iTunes-only prequel to Asylum of the Daleks is on the box set; lastly, what appears to be an extra related to A Town Called Mercy will also be included.

The Claws of Axos – Special Edition is a double disc release with an SRP of $34.98 while the two-disc Series Seven, Part One set will list for $29.98. More details about Claws of Axos or Series Seven, Part One can be found at TVShowsOnDVD.com. Click the cover art for larger versions.

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Video Free Skaro 009 – Dalekphonic Workshop

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On this edition of Video Free Skaro, we talk to Tom Pickles, who has not only built a full-size functional Dalek but also a TARDIS, a Weeping Angel, K-9 and more! You may have seen his handiwork in Blue Meanie and Skaromantic Comedy…now meet the man behind the monsters.

Please leave us a comment, subscribe, and if you like the t-shirts Warren wears on the show, head to www.damask.ca for all your Whovian sartorial needs!]]>

Radio Free Skaro #321 – Wareing Thin

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Radio Free Skaro #321 – Click here to listen!

Whenever anything from the Sylvester McCoy era is the focus of an episode of Radio Free Skaro, there is bound to be disagreement. Chris and Steven are usually staunch defenders of the Seventh Doctor; Warren, to be polite, not so much. But the stories that director Alan Wareing claimed stewardship of, “The Greatest Show in the Galaxy”, “Ghost Light”, and “Survival” cause all three of those who Rule to convey pretty firm opinions about not only the direction of said stories, but the overall successes and faults of each one. But before Wareing’s judgement in the Miniscope, we remember the eloquent and beautiful Mary Tamm who sadly passed away this past week, as well as speculate on what’s to come in Doctor Who and when we will see it. Have a listen!
Show Notes:

Mary Tamm…Died.
Multiple 50th Anniversary…Specials?
BBC America…Schedule!
New Series 7 Trailer…Coming Soon!
Doctor Who…Covers Entertainment Weekly!
Doctor Who…Cut From The Olympics!
BBC…VFX Book!

Miniscope:

Alan…Wareing!

Check-in on GetGlue!]]>

Radio Free Skaro #320 – Floriani Requiem

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Radio Free Skaro #320 – Click here to listen!

The latter part of our commentary of the Tom Baker classic “The Seeds of Doom” dominates this week’s episode of Radio Free Skaro as, once again, our friend Josh Zimon from The Memory Cheats joins us to talk over the dastardly exploits of the vile Harrison Chase. Before that, though, the Three Who Rule hash over last week’s Comic-Con, serial dramas, bleeding sheep (possibly?), and the possible ennui that’s setting in regarding the buildup to Series 7 of Doctor Who. It’s a longer episode this week, but we promise a shorter, more rage filled episode next week as Warren will be forced to watch three stories from the Sylvester McCoy era…
Show Notes:

The Doctor Who Experience…is open in Cardiff!
BBC Television Centre…sold!
Doctor Who…mini vinyl figures!
Doctor Who not Lego…dematerializing TARDIS!
Doctor Who not Lego…Let’s Kill Hitler playset!
Doctor Who not Lego…The Girl Who Waited playset!
Doctor Who…bathrobes!
Doctor Who…The Memory Cheats!

Commentary:

The Seeds of…Doom! Parts 3-6!

Check-in on GetGlue!]]>

Video Free Skaro 008 – Geeks After Dark

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It's nerdlesque insanity at Video Free Skaro this week, with a peek at Geeks After Dark, the raucous monthly event featuring nerds, booze, burlesque and costumes. This month's theme was Star Wars, with many a sexy Ewok and Hawaiian shirt clad Boba Fett in attendance.

We interviewed Fairlith Harvey, the organizer of Geeks After Dark, as well as her co-conspirator Cam Russell.

But that's not all, we've also got news from Comic-Con! Truly, it is a great time to be a nerd.

If you like the shirt Warren is wearing, go to damask.ca, and if you’d like to check out Geeks After Dark yourself, head to their Facebook page..]]>

Radio Free Skaro #319 – Where In Time Is Comic-Con San Diego?

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Radio Free Skaro #319 – Click here to listen!

San Diego Comic-Con has become a huge event for the team behind Doctor Who, and this year is no different, with the cast and crew descending upon San Diego to promote the upcoming Series 7, believed to be premiering on BBC America (and most likely BBC One and SPACE) on Saturday, August 25! Stephen Prescott from the Mad Man With A Box podcast drops by to give us his report from the trenches at SDCC. Later, our old friend Josh Zimon (of The Memory Cheats fame) joins the Three Who Rule for the first part of our commentary on The Seeds of Doom. All this and more on another jam packed edition of Radio Free Skaro!
Show Notes:

Doctor Who panel at San Diego Comic-Con…recap!
Asylum of the Daleks…premiering August 25?
Mark Gatiss writes…two episode for Series 7!
Episode 2…title!
Clip synopsis from Episode 3…A Town Called Mercy!
Sonic Screwdriver remote control…coming August 31!
The Ambassadors of Death …coming to Region 2 October 1!
The Ambassadors of Death …coming to Region 1 October 2!
The Claws of Axos Special Edition DVD…coming October 22!
The Claws of Axos…Making Of documentary!
A Mad Man With A Box…Podcast!

Commentary:

The Seeds of…Doom! Parts 1-2!

Check-in on GetGlue!]]>

October 2012 North America Doctor Who DVD Release

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The first (and potentially only) Doctor Who DVD release for October in North America has been announced, and it is a doozy.

The Ambassadors of Death, the only remaining Season 7 story yet to be released, will hit the streets on October 2. Long championed by we here at Radio Free Skaro, The Ambassadors of Death has had to go through a tumultuous restoration process. Initially released on VHS in 2002, only episodes 1 and 5 were in colour, while the other five episodes were a combination of colour and black and white. This DVD release, which was initially slated to come out last year alongside The Sun Makers, will feature all seven episodes in full colour after literally years of restoration work has been applied to it.

A full list of features has yet to be announced, but a commentary track was recorded in 2009 featuring Terrance Dicks, director Michael Ferguson, stunt arranger Derek Ware, and three actors who have sadly passed on since the recording: Caroline John, Nicholas Courtney, and Peter Halliday. Stay tuned to Radio Free Skaro for further details about the rest of the special features.

The Ambassadors of Death is a double disc release with an SRP of $34.98. More details about this release can be found at TVShowsOnDVD.com. Click the cover art for larger versions.

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