The Doctor Who Podcast

Sponsored by Jacktar Rum, presumably… nobody is going to get that reference, nobody… Season 6 keeps barrelling along and with a yo ho ho we come to the third episode – Curse of the Black Spot. Trevor, James and Tom discuss the merits and otherwise of this story. We also play some feedback we have already received about this very episode!

I know what I think, but what do you think? It is all very well and good for the fine folk in the DWP Campervan to rabbit on about the episodes, but what do you out there think? Trevor has the campervan all to his own this episode and covers the fan reaction to the first two episodes of the season. And something a little different this episode we eavesdrop on a few fellow podcasters shows to find out what they thought of the episodes as well. So, if you like what you hear, please check out these fine shows – Two-Minute Time Lord, DWO WhoCast, Radio Free Skaro and The Oodcast. Well worth your time for a download and listen. In this episode we read out and listen to the amazing amount of feedback we have received from you over the past few weeks – keep it coming everyone!

The resolution (or is it?) to many of the perplexing questions raised by the season opener are within Day of the Moon.James and Tom try to make sense of it all and pass judgement on this episode.

Nearly typed “planet” there…. What else would any self-respecting Doctor Who podcast be doing straight after Easter. Why, reviewing The Impossible Astronaut of course! The DWP is no different, and it is with a spring in our step and a thrill coursing our entire bodies that we review the season opener. We also announce the winners of a couple of competitions we have had going over the past month.

With the premiere of Season 6 just around the corner (my gosh it’s exciting, isn’t it?) Tom and James sift through the mountain of rumours, heresay, facts, whispers and information surrounding what we are in for. Needless to say, this episode is crammed with spoilers, both confirmed and unconfirmed. If you are in any way allergic to them, play this episode in about six weeks time. This episode was recorded shortly before we learnt about the sad passing of Elisabeth Sladen. A proper tribute episode will be released in a few weeks.

Fresh from their victory and humiliating defeat at the Gallifrey 22 convention, the DWP team decided it was time to pit their wits against each other again, and hence the DWP Quiz 9 was born. Trevor is quizmaster this time around and he has come up with some fiendish questions to pit against Tom and James. The arena is set, the players are ready, the half time oranges are cut and ready to go. The only question is, are you, the listener, ready for this goliath-like battle?

The Big Finish Machine keeps on rolling…..and so does The Doctor Who podcast! Join James and Tom as they take a look at the recent 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex trilogy, Project Destiny, A Death in the Family and Lurkers at Sunlights Edge. James also interviews Steven Hall, the writer A Death in the Family – the most talked about Big Finish play in recent years. We also launch yet another competition with a rather nifty little prize and go through some of the oodles of feedback all you nice listeners have been sending in. Let us know what you think of the episode by getting in touch with us at [email protected] – and be sure to join us next week for our Season Six preview!

Well, The Aztecs stand even today as one of the most shining examples of Doctor Who. It is a story that fulfils Doctor Who’s original mandate to educate, whilst at the same time it entertains. This story has always been a firm favourite of the DWP, and we devote our episode to talking about it. We also have an interview with one of the cast from, Ian Cullen, who played Ixta.

In this episode we look at a side of Doctor Who that isn’t discussed very much – the partners of devoted Doctor Who fans. Whilst we are all away at conventions, producing podcasts, watching DVDs, knitting scarfs and submitting scripts, just what do our partners do and what do they think of our obsession? We bring in opinions from all over the globe, courtesy of podcasting friends.

We like talking about Big Finish audios here in the DWP Campervan – over the years they have produced some fantastic stories, featuring the vocal talents of the 5th-8th Doctors. We thought it was about time to talk about Big Finish themselves. How have they fared since there beginnings during the Doctor Who “wilderness” years in 1999, through to their triumphant releases today. What do Big Finish do well, what can they do better, and what do we want more of. A lively discussion indeed on a company that has truly carried the flag for Doctor Who for nearly 12 years. To cap the show off, Tom was lucky enough to interview David Richardson, line producer on the Big Finish range. Tom talked to him about his work for Big Finish.

In what is the DWPs last bit of Gallifrey 22 coverage, we present the epic quiz showdown between the DWP and the Oodcast. It was early on Sunday morning, and a hushed silence fell over the convention area as the arena was set for the epic battle of wills between the two mighty podcasts. Presented by master of ceremonies Clayton Hickman have a listen now to what is a truly memorable chapter in not only DWP quiz history, but will go down in the annals of Gallifrey history as something rather special. Laid it on thick enough for you?

Just what is the description for lots of cos-play Amy’s? A reservoir of Ponds? Trevor and James made it back safe and sound to Australia and the UofK after their mammoth Gallifrey 22 convention experience, which took place in LA in late February. They shared with an eager and incredibly jealous Tom their experiences over that weekend. Did any of you attend Gallifrey and want to share your thoughts? Send them in to [email protected].

No sooner had the recent Gallifrey 22 convention finished that we heard of the sad passing of Nicholas Courtney, most famous for playing Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge Stewart in the classic series of Doctor Who. Nicholas gave so much to the program whilst playing the Brig that it would be remiss if we did not spend some time looking at the his contribution to Doctor Who. Join us as we reminisce over the life and times of Nicholas Courtney.

WhilstJames and Trevor were at the Gallifrey convention recently, they challenged the fine folk at the Staggering Stories Podcast to a quiz showdown. So, in the early morning of a typical Gallifrey convention day, the stage was set. Two teams, a set of microphones, and a willing and eager audience ready to cheer their side on to victory. Hosted and presented by quizmaster Chip from the Two-Minute Time Lord Podcast, listen now to the two leviathians going head to head to claim the ultimate prize of quiz champion.

This week it is our great pleasure to bring you an interview with a man you may be familiar with. He holds the record as the longest serving editor of Doctor Who Magazine. He has written for Big Finish, The Sarah Jane Smith Adventures and Comic Relief. When he isn’t writing, he is contributing covers to the Big Finish audio range, or the 2Entertain range of DVDs. In his spare time he moderates the DVD commentaries on such releases as The Time Meddler and Frontier in Space. He found time in his diary to speak toJames on an incredible variety of subjects, presented here in an hour long interview. This is the last episode of the Doctor Who Podcast for the next two weeks or so. Trevor and James will be in Los Angeles this week at the Gallifrey 22 convention. As well as meeting each other face to face for the first time, they hope to secure interviews for you with the guests. For those going to the convention, come up and say hi and get a Doctor Who Podcast ribbon (today at the convention, tomorrow on eBay!).

Tom and Trevor go over your feedback on a variety of subjects such as, who is River Song, The Christmas Special and just how awesome is Trevor (note – one of those topics may be incorrect).

“I must know what happens when The Doctor Who Podcast touches human flesh” When we are not recording the latest amazing episode of The Doctor Who Podcast, the titanic trio are on the DWP forums marvelling at a thread that has grown, Krynoid like, since Matt Smith took over the reigns as the Doctor. The thread in question is the Who is River Song thread. In this magic part of the forum, our members have been wondering, discussing and disecting various theories, information and flights of fancy over who the character of River Song really is. We thought it was time the podcast weighed in our ideas as well as discussing the ideas already present. To round off the episode, James and Trevor review the DVD release for a classic Tom Baker story, The Seeds of Doom. Keep those questions for the Gallifrey convention quiz showdown, details of who to send them to are in this episode.

The Mott is in the house! (campervan) It is our great pleasure to bring you at The Doctor Who Podcast an interview with Wilfred Mott himself, Bernard Cribbins.James was lucky enough to speak to him recently. Bernard’s time with Doctor Who stretches back as far as the second Dalek movie – Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150AD, all the way up to his most memorable Who role as Wilfred Mott, grandfather and sometime comapnion to the David Tennant Doctor. In the rest of the podcast, Tom and James geek out about companion mix ups. What if Adric was a companion to the 9th Doctor? How would Nyssa fare alongside the Matt Smith Doctor? Gallifrey 22 is not far away, and the DWP team needs your help! Full details are in the show.

Boy, these boys can talk, can’t they? When is a news episode now a news episode? When its a DWP news episode! Tom and James look over the news from the world of Doctor Who, but find plenty of time for some divergence into other topics as well.

Just how wrong will they be in 2012? We warm up our crystal balls and get our tarot cards ready – it’s the DWP predictions for 2011! Trevor, James and Tom have come armed to the campervan with three predictions on what will occur in the Doctor Who world in 2011. Save this episode for this time next year, when you can play it again and laugh at how wrong each of the team are!

With Trevor now firmly ensconced back in the campervan, it was time to take a dip into the mailbag and read out and listen to the feedback we have received concerning the latest Christmas special. Our thanks to all the listeners that took the time to send in their thoughts.

Well, its certainly turning into a busy week at the DWP Campervan! Trevor is back, and he has some things to say about the Christmas Special! Stay tuned also later this week for an episode devoted to your feedback on the Christmas Special.

The first offering from the DWP Campervan for 2011 is the latest instalment in the mighty tussle that is the DWP Quiz. Trevor, the perennial loser, is quizmaster again, relishing with gleeful delight his temporary power ofJames and Tom. A titanic struggle of the wills not to be missed. Please note – this episode was recorded in late December 2010.

Now what else would any self-respecting Doctor Who podcast be doing this time of year? Apart from fighting over the last scraps of christmas turkey and filling the recycle bins to overflowing with paper, James and Tom also review the Doctor Who christmas special for 2010, cunningly titled A Christmas Carol

Where everyone wears a silly paper hat Xmas comes early to the listeners of the Doctor Who Podcast as we present to you our little bit of Christmas cheer, all wrapped up in a bite size mp3. This episode is extra special – we invited along some special guests to help pop some crackers and eat some turkey. It is our great pleasure to welcome to the campervan the members of the Oodcast along with comedian and Doctor Who fan Ashley Frieze. We hope you enjoy the simply wondeful offerings in this special episode of the DWP. And if you are still hungry for more, make sure you check out the Oodcast, and the comedy stylings of Ashley Frieze, you will not be disappointed! Merry Xmas and a happy and bountiful new year to all the listeners of the Doctor Who Podcast. We hope you enjoy Matt Smith and Co in a few short days!

Chip and James are in the campervan this week reviewing the stories that comprise the first half of the new 8th Doctor season of stories from Big Finish. Listen in as they review Situation Vacant, Nevermore, Book of Kells and Deimos. All these stories are available for purchase now via the Big Finish website. Get a great Xmas gift for that special Doctor Who fan in your life!

How old can must it be before you have to stop calling it news? James is in the campervan with Chip from the 2 Minute Timelord podcast this week to discuss what has happened on the Doctor Who news front.

Toby and Rob are really nice people A very exciting episode this week for you. We have managed to secure an interview with Rob Shearman and Toby Hadoke, authors of a new book from the fine bods atMad Norwegian Press. It is called Running Through Corridors, and it chronicles the adventures of two insane Doctor Who fans who decided to watch one episode of Doctor Who, per day and is available now, from Mad Norwegian Press. Listen in the episode for your chance to win a copy of the book! All the way from the beginning. The very beginning, in 1963. Watch them all, then say something nice about every episode. No small feat I am sure you will agree! Toby and Rob chat with Chip from the 2 Minute Timelord podcast, who stepped in to help us out with the interview. Thanks Chip! As a companion piece to this episode, hop on over to the 2 Minute Timelord website and listen to Chip’s review of the book in his show, Episode 178.

Do we *have* to say the welcome return of Tegan? Tom and James continue to dominate the caravan this week and take the opportunity to wrap their ears around some of the latest offerings fromBig Finish. This episode sees the boys review the Turlough/Tegan/Nyssa trilogy of stories – Cobwebs, The Whispering Forest and The Cradle of the Snake. This trilogy sees the return of the trio of companions that delighted us during the Black Guardian trilogy of stories of the classic series. Just one question… where’s Trev?

We crack open the mailbag, see it is empty, and crack open our email inbox instead Tom and James are the dynamic duo in the campervan this week as they crack open the mailbag and cover the feedback we have received over the past month or so. A lot of subjects to cover, and added to that a lot of the usual witter, urbane banter from the boys! Thank you so much for all your feedback, we love hearing from you. Keep it coming!

This one is the real… deal. It certainly has been a busy week here at DWP Towers, quizzes and commentary tracks keeping the 50th episode celebration week ticking nicely along. We have saved the best for last though – episode 50 is now yours to enjoy, and there is a lot to enjoy in this little file! First up is an interview with the Seventh Doctor and soon to be Lord of the Rings Wizard, Sylvester McCoy. Tom was lucky enough to have a bit of a chat with McCoy in his recent trip to the Big Finish studios. We think you will find this interview unlike any other you have heard from him. Back in the studio, the boys review the Seventh Doctor’s first adventure, now unleashed on DVD – Time and the Rani. This much maligned story has been given the 2Entertain deluxe DVD treatment and we look at the release and the story itself. Thank you to all our amazing listeners out there who have stuck with the show since it began. You are what makes this show what it is and we thank you. Here’s to another 50! 100! 200!

Our 50th episode celebration week continues with another fifty-flavoured offering – this time the fiftieth episode from new Doctor Who – Midnight. First screened on the 14th June 2008, this very different story for Doctor Who was heralded at the time for being a very atmospheric, tense, gripping episode. Hear what the DWP boys have to say about this story. For those unfamiliar with downloadable commentary tracks, here is a quick primer. Once you have downloaded the file, load up your copy of Midnight into your DVD player. Have it queued up ready to go. Listen to the MP3 track on your Ipod or whatever device you use. In the file, there is a clear signal from us when to press play on your DVD player. This will enable you to sync our commentary track with the onscreen action of the episode itself, enabling you to see what we were seeing when we recorded. We hope you enjoy this exciting new offering from The Doctor Who Podcast as part of our 50th episode celebration week.

We promised you a big week for our 50th podcast celebrations, and my goodness we are going to give you a big week! Our next release is something new for the Doctor Who Podcast. We present to you a commentary track for The War Games, Episode 10. Why this episode you may say? Well, The War Games just happens to be… the 50th story of classic Who!First transmitted 21st June 1969, this episode is an important milestone for so many reasons in the history of Doctor Who. It saw the end of the second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe, the end of the black and white era, and the beginning of a whole new era for the program. Trevor, James and Tom are waiting to guide you through our own personal journey with this episode. For those unfamiliar with downloadable commentary tracks, here is a quick primer. Once you have downloaded the file, load up your copy of War Games episode 10 into your DVD player. Have it queued up ready to go. Listen to the MP3 track on your Ipod or whatever device you use. In the file, there is a clear signal from us when to press play on your DVD player. This will enable you to sync our commentary track with the onscreen action of the episode itself, enabling you to see what we were seeing when we recorded. We hope you enjoy this exciting new offering from The Doctor Who Podcast as part of our 50th episode celebration week.

And so begins the first part of our week long party here at DWP Towers, celebrating the release this week of our 50th episode! Everything this week has a distinctly fifty flavour, well, most of it does… First up for your enjoyment is Quiz No. 5 – Trevor and Tom go head to head against a dazzling array of user submitted questions. Stay with us all this week, more releases this week to mark our 50 podcasts in the business! It all culminates at the end of the week with our 50th episode, an episode we can guarantee you will not want to miss.

It would be a lie to say it is nothing but the news. Tom is back in the campervan this week withJames and Trevor and ready to tackle the mountain of news occurring in the Doctor Who world of late. Also, for attentive listeners, there is a super extra complimentary bonus bit of content this episode! Gosh we treat you guys well!

Took us a while to review this set as the box kept changing shape AfterJames and Trevor discuss a bit of news that took their fancy recently, they switch to review mode and take a look at the Kamelion Tales box set, a box set comprising The Kings Demons and Planet of Fire. By a staggering coincidence, these two stories chronicle the sum total contribution the fifth Doctor companion Kamelion provided to Doctor Who during his entire year. We talk about these two stories and also what you can expect in this release.

“What temptuous contortions of the gyrating kind!” Big Finish have expanded their already impressive range of Doctor Who-related audios with the release of Jago and Litefoot – Season 1. Henry Gordon Jago and Professor Litefoot are two characters fondly remembered from the Tom Baker story The Talons of Weng-Chiang. So popular were they that they have been given their own audio series to explore the seedy underbelly of Victorian England. James and Trevor review the four story first season. We also have an interview with Henry Gordon Jago himself, Christopher Benjamin. Our thanks go to Luke from the The Minute Doctor Who Podcast for stepping in at the last minute and helping us out with this interview.

Storm in a very large teacup The DWP couldn’t let the recent BFI screening of the Sarah Jane Adventures story Death of the Doctor pass without comment. The media frenzy and associated fan reaction to the revelations in this episode need to be discussed, clarified and explained. Delve within to find out what the fuss is about.

It’s NEW Who, not Nu Who! A very big episode for you this week, focused entirely on New Who. First up is a review of the audio book The Runaway Train, read by Matt Smith and given away free with the Daily Telegraph a few months back.James got a day pass and went to see Doctor Who Live, and he shares his experience with us. To round off the episode, we have a fantastic interview with Ian McNeice, the man who brought Winston Churchill so vividly to life in the Matt Smith story Victory of the Daleks.

It is time once again to pit the mighty minds of the DWP against each other and see who is victorious. With the help of our listeners, Trev poses 10 mighty questions to James and Tom. Who will be the winner and who will be left crying into their warm milk?

After spending a few very fruitful weeks in the 1960s the campervan lands back in the present with a resounding vworp vworp and covers the news from recent times. Also stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special request for any of our listeners that live in the San Francisco area…

“It is the end, but the moment has been prepared… hang on… wrong Doctor…” Part 3 of our Troughton retrospective brings us to the conclusion of our look at the mighty second Doctor. In this episode, Tom and Trevor cover Troughton’s last regular season as the Doctor, and also the anniversary stories Three Doctors, Five Doctors and the Colin Baker team up Two Doctors. We also talk about the depiction of the Troughton Doctor in books an audio. Come join us for the conclusion to this incredible look at the second Doctor.

Fresh from his decisive victory in the last quiz, Tom acts as quizmaster for this episode and pits his devilish questions for Trevor and James. Who will win, who will lose? Thanks to all the listeners who sent in questions so far, keep them coming!

“When I say run, run!” Last time, on the DWP…. Trevor and Tom began their look at the second Doctor, and got as far as the end of his first season. In this episode we move onto his second, and arguably most popular season to see what lies within. We also hear fromJames, and Luke from theMinute Doctor Who Podcast with a review of the DVD release of the Troughton story, The Dominators.

Oh my giddy aunt! If there was a Doctor that many commentators said inspired Matt Smith in the creation of his Doctor’s persona, it was one Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor. Trevor and Tom explore the era of this most brilliant of Doctors in the first part of our retrospective of his work before, during and after his time on Doctor Who. In this first part, we look at his time before Doctor Who, and cover his first season in 1966. Stay tuned, for later in the week we release the second part of our series on Patrick Troughton, the cosmic hobo.

or.. Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with some companions Tom and James went on a works outing last week up to the wilds of Derbyshire to see what was going on at Whooverville 2, the convention that boasts being the only such event run in an engine shed. And they are right (we checked). Tom was lucky enough to be the on-stage interviewer for second Doctor companion and all round screamer Deborah Watling. Deborah played Victoria Waterfield alongside the 2nd Doctor from 1967-1969. With the kind permission of the Whooverville bods we bring that interview to you in this episode. The boys also managed to back Sophie Aldred (or Ace to her legions of fans) into a corner and ask her some questions. And to round off the day, Tom intimidated a Dalek.

The DWP Quiz – Number 2 What better way to continue on after Quiz No. 1 and move onto Quiz No. 2? The team had so much fun doing the first one, that we recorded another one. In this quiz Trevor is the quizmaster for Tom and James. Who will win? Who will shout rigged the most?

Oh god, not another one! Back for another episode of geeking out at the DWP. The trio muse over a ton of interesting subjects in this podcast. To reveal them here would be cheating. Dive in, the waters warm!

The DWP Quiz – Number 1 Something a little different from the DWP. Today marks the release of the first of the DWP quizzes, a semi-regular release in addition to our regular podcast. In these episodes, the mighty brains of the DWP Campervan (Trevor, James and Tom… no really, it is Trevor, James and Tom) will take turns at being master of ceremonies and pose questions to the other two. In this episode, James quizzes Trevor and Tom. The winner of this titanic tussle playsJames in the second round. See how many questions you can get right! And you the listener can help out by sumbitting questions for future contests. Listen to the episode to find out more details

A sliver of silver James and Tom are in the campervan this week and take the opportunity to review a recent 2Entertain release, the Cybermen box set. This set contains two classic era Cybermen stories – Revenge of the Cybermen and Silver Nemesis. Tune in to find out what the boys think of this release.