Matt Smith

A new Doctor Who logo is to be revealed on Tuesday at 8am BST (UK time) on the BBC Doctor Who website. We had been expecting this to come with the new series starring Matt Smith. Internally the new series is being reset to series 1. It is a fresh new start for Doctor Who once again, a new logo seemed only natural.

The logo has changed numerous times over the last 46 years. We seen changes from the Hartnell era to Troughton to Pertwee (first time in colour and instead of just standard type, it uses a custom font). The final season of Jon Pertwee introduced the diamond logo which was used through Tom Baker's era until John-Nathan Turner refreshed it with a neon style logo. It was updated once again several years later when Sylvester McCoy took the role.

Will the 2010 series of Doctor Who with Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor be starting earlier than we originally expected? Traditionally, each new series of Doctor Who has debuted in the spring (March or April) since the series returned in 2005.

BBC News published a video of Richard Curtis on writing for Doctor Who today (see here). Under the video on the page, it includes the following in regards to Curtis' episode he is writing:

Filming is due to start in November and the episode is likely to be shown in February.

BBC America announces the U.S. premiere of Doctor Who featuring Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor. 

On the heels of returning from San Diego Comic Con where BBC America saw a strong reception to its Doctor Who programming and panels (including appearing in person, David Tennant, John Barrowman, and Russell T Davies), and with the strong ratings that the recent airing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead brought in, BBC America has announced the acquisition of 13 episodes of the new upcoming Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor series. The new series shot in HD will be shown on BBC America shortly after the UK in the second quarter of 2010.

The Sonic Newsdriver 20090806
Selected Doctor Who related news delivered sonically.
For Earth-date: Thursday the 6th of August 2009

In this episode: New Threads for 11, New TARDIS Too, No Spoilers, Revealed: John Simm and Timothy Dalton, Waters of Mars Trailer, San Diego Comic Con, Exclusive Figures Announced, Actor Harry Towb Dies, John Barrowman Made it Through, What's The Big Chill?, Doctor Who: Podshock 158 Coming Soon, and Get Your Sonic Gear, plus more!

Hosted by Louis Trapani

"Renewed? Have I? That's it, I've been renewed. It's part of the TARDIS. Without it I couldn't survive."

Outpost Gallifrey Presents:
Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 157
Running Time: 1:26:39

Quasi-live coverage of San Diego Comic Con 2009, 11th Doctor's New Threads and New TARDIS, Special Reports from Tara Wheeler at SDCC, Jarrod Cooper of Hurricane Who interviewed, and more.

Hosted by Ken Deep, James Naughton and Louis Trapani.

Cover art for Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 157. San Diego Comic Con photo by Tara Wheeler

Please Note: There will be spoilers in this blog entry if you haven't seen the UK press in the last week, or the reports out of San Diego Comic-Con.

The last week has been a fantastic time to be a Doctor Who fan - and the proof of how great this show is, could be seen in the thousands of screaming fans in San Diego yesterday morning, as the celebrated the coming end of an era - And what a ride that ending looks like its going to be. Frights on Mars with water and who knows what else, and then "The End of Time" itself, with Wilf, Donna, the Master, Timothy Dalton and the last days of Planet Earth!!!! It all looks very dark indeed! Whatever happened to Russell's promise not to scare the kids on Christmas Day??!!!!

Hitchhiker's Guide to British Sci-Fi - Episode 5
Running Time: 1:32:09

Torchwood: Children of Earth review (located towards the end to avoid spoilers, the rest of this podcast proceeding the review is spoiler free), Blake's 7 Audio Books, Doctor Who's 11th Doctor's New Threads and TARDIS, Torchwood Radio Dramas, Mike's Comics Winners, feedback and more.

Hosted by Louis Trapani, Ken Deep, and James Naughton.

"My dear Miss Shaw, I never report myself anywhere, particularly not forthwith."

Outpost Gallifrey Presents:
Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 156
Running Time: 1:10:05

We break away from our usual format for a casual, loose conversational discussion on Doctor Who news covering everything from the Waters of Mars, San Diego Comic Con, Dragon*Con, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and more.

Hosted by Ken Deep, Tara Wheeler and Louis Trapani.

The Sun and Daily Mail (among other tabloids we imagine) have additional photos of Matt Smith (as the 11th Doctor) and Karen Gilan (companion Amy Pond) shooting the new Doctor Who series set to appear on BBC One in spring 2010. The photos in The Sun also reveal a bit of a spoiler, which we will not mention here. The redesigned TARDIS exterior reflects back to the early days of the series. Notice the return of the St. John Ambulance Cross emblem to the right door.

The Daily Mail includes a photo which reveals that the Doctor's new costume also include braces (suspenders), perhaps another nod to the Troughton era.

For the referenced photos and articles see:

The BBC Press Office has posted a press release concerning the start of shooting the new Doctor Who series starring Matt Smith as the 11th Doctor in Cardiff starting today through March 2010. Thirteen 45 minute episodes are being produced by BBC Wales for BBC One.

Below is the press release:

BBC News has posted an article along with the first published photograph of Matt Smith in his new threads that he is wearing as the 11th Doctor. 

Shooting of the new series began today, Monday in Cardiff. In this photograph (see below for large photo) of Matt Smith along with new companion, Amy Pond played by Karen Gilan can be seen wearing dark rolled up trousers, tweed jacket and bow tie, along with black shoe-laced boots. 

The new series slated to debut in the spring 2010 features Matt Smith as the Doctor taking over the role after David Tennant (whose term as the Doctor comes to an end later of this year). It also features Steven Moffat as the new Executive Producer and Lead Writer for the series, taking over after Russell T Davies completes his term ending at the close of this year with the last of the specials.

The Sonic Newsdriver 20090717
Selected Doctor Who related news delivered sonically.
For Earth-date: Friday the 17th of July 2009

In this episode: Mars is the Place to Be, Torchwood Week in America, Russell T Davis is Coming to America, Look Closely at the Torchwood Ratings, One of These Days Alice, A Fabulous Idea, McCoy Lends His Support, Doctor Who: Podshock 156 Coming Soon, and Get Your Sonic Gear, plus more!

Hosted by Louis Trapani

The Daily Mirror is reporting that all eleven Doctors will be coming together for a special one-off special for Children in Need this November. It reports that the 15 minute episode will be included in BBC1 annual Children In Need appeal in November and shooting of it will begin in September.

This is not the first time a rumour of this nature appeared in the tabloids. The same thing was said to be happening last year for Children in Need except with 10 Doctors which did not happen.

The article states that "images from their original shows, stretching from 1966 to 1974" will be used for the actors William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee who have since passed away. They will make cameo appearances through footage from these previous episodes.

"During all the years I've been taking care of you, you in return have been taking care of me. You are still my grandchild and always will be. But now, you're a woman too."

Outpost Gallifrey Presents:
Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 151
Running Time: 1:37:24

News (including special announcement of new companion Karen Gillan), rumours, announcements, and feedback from: José, Rev. Craig Beeman, Amy Krell, Elizabeth Jackman, Benjamin Elliott, Shawn, Jill, ?, Fox Cutter (x2), Dan, Steve Small, Brian, and Chris.