New Film Style Doctor Who Wallpaper by Lee Binding

The official Doctor Who website have just released 3 stunning new film style Doctor Who wallpapers by the overly talented artist Lee Binding.

Why? Because the BBC are commemorating nine years since Ninth Doctor Christoper Eccelston first burst on to our screens with Doctor Who's television revival back in 2005.

Geek Art on Society6

 I've been searching high and low for some wall prints to decorate my new place. We all know what we like when we see it, but searching and trawling on the web for art with a film, sci-fi or geeky twist is a mine-field, as there is simply SO much out there. One site I came across that is a great starting point if you are after a limited-run print is Society6. Based in USA (keep an eye on the shipping costs), I've complied this blog post on my favourite pieces and artists on Society6 which might help speed up your search for a new artistic talking point, ready for when your neighbour pops over to borrow your Game Of Thrones boxset or spare controller pad.

Doctor Who: A location guide

From caves to castles, I had great fun researching and writing this feature gallery for the fantastic Rough Guides travel website.

Spanning a beautiful array of earthly locations from Croatia to Colchester, with not a quarry in sight please enjoy the gallery and maybe take a trip and walk in the good Doctor's footsteps yourself...

The original Dalek?

Since the dawn of The Last Great Time War has the origin of both the Dalek form and name been discussed by Whovians across our tiny little globe.

The BBCs most feared pepper pots of hate designed by Raymond Cusick, were supposedly mocked up in under an hour from a very short brief by Terry Nation, who wanted a legless antidote to the commonplace Doctor Who 'man in a suit' monster.

Nine Worlds of geekdom

When I got the call asking me to host some panels at the debut fan oriented convention Nine Worlds Geekfest, it was really hard to form an idea of what to expect. I’ve been to the vast cross section of the UKs convention and expo offerings in the science fiction, pop culture and film veins, but this was the first large-scale fan-driven residential festival I’d gone along to.

Colin Baker Q&A panel at the SFX Weekender 3

The sixth incarnation of that medicinal Timelord, Colin Baker gave us his views on the 'new golden era of Doctor Who', why he praises Matt Smith's performance in the show, as well as his acting career highlights.

Interviewed by SFX Magazine's Online Editor, Dave Golder at the third SFX Weekender, give the recording a listen if you couldn't make it up to North Wales or just want to relive his anecdotes and musings.

Just click on the orange 'play' button below for the Q&A recording. Enjoy!

Eve Myles Q&A panel at the SFX Weekender 3

Couldn't make the third SFX Weekender event? Hopefully this recording will help.

The fantastic and funny Eve Myles, Torchwood's feisty and fearless leading lady Gwen Cooper, talks Wales Vs America, motherhood Vs bazookas and John Barrowman and his erm, 'little Barrowman'.

Interviewed by SFX Magazine's Reviews Editor, Ian Berriman, Eve proved to be a total natural at addressing the masses, exceptionally appreciative of her peers and fans, with a natural knack for making a full-to-capacity auditorium blush and laugh in unison.

Just click on the orange 'play' button below for the Q&A recording. Enjoy!

SFX Weekender 3; Survived.

Just a quick post to say that yet again, third year running, the team at SFX Magazine put on an event for the geek masses, and did us all proud.

Full post to follow, with a few snaps, but in the mean time, keep an eye on my next posts where I'll be popping up a couple of audio recordings I made of the Eve Myles (Torchwood) and Colin Baker (Doctor Who) Q&A panels.

BBC Worldwide launching major new Doctor Who gaming franchise

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

"BBC Worldwide today released the first details of a major new gaming development for the Doctor Who brand. Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock will be the first of a series of Doctor Who console games developed by BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games marking a significant movement into gaming for this business. Two further Doctor Who console game titles are planned to follow this release with details to be announced next year. Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock is being created in full high definition for digital download platforms and is set for release in early 2012, initially on Playstation 3 ®; Playstation Vita ® and PC platforms.

INTERVIEW: Doctor Who's Carole Ann Ford

The year is 1963 and a young girl of just 23 years of age embarks on a journey of a life time. In a little blue box, accompanied by authoritative actor William Hartnell, both sign up to what is pitched as a children's series so influential, over 40 years later, is still going strong around the globe. Of course I am referring to Doctor Who; that cult British television staple. 

On 16th July 2011, I interviewed actress Carole Ann Ford after she paid her Doctor Who DNA dues, carrying out a signing session for Doctor devotees of all ages, celebrating the release of four new Doctor Who classic novelisations. Despite the soggy London air, the queue of fandom well surpassed the alloted one hour, concluding that said 'childrens series' had definitely shed it's blue stabilisers. I discovered that Carole will be joining the rest of us as new episodes are aired, with a fervid layer of reverence, even a sonic screwdriver couldn't penetrate...

INTERVIEW: Author, Alwyn W Turner

As part of my reporter/ contributor role as Geek Girl on the radio show The Geekend, I was really chuffed to get Alwyn W Turner as my first on-air interview. I'd like to thank him for being a wonderful guest and for writing his latest book; 'The Man Who Invented the Daleks: The Strange Worlds of Terry Nation', which I devoured and also reviewed on the live broadcast. I think I can now remove my supportive third wheel, as my journalistic vehicle steps up a gear. After reading my interview with him, I would also highly recommend popping over to his personal website, which is a really good read in itself.

DOCTOR WHO SIGNING @ FORBIDDEN PLANET, LONDON

I love Forbidden Planet. The magical hive of merchandise from the 'cult cream of movies and television' makes my heart flutter a little every time I step foot in one of their stores. From the beautiful to the bizarre, I wish to covet 90% of what they sell. But I'd never taken advantage of one of their exclusive signing events until this weekend. Mainly because a signature is just that; a signature. Instead I have always personally treasured the value of holding a conversation with said luminary, perhaps also a photo to capture that megapixel memory vividly; the setting, the clothes, the facial expressions, that moment of (I hope) happiness. It's just how I roll.

So I hopped, skipped and tripped the Brighton-to-London fantastic with the aim of meeting Carole for a time more generous than fleeting. I travelled up with friend and presenter of The Geekend (radio show that I contribute to weekly) Wayne. It took me a whole hour to realise when he says 'I know exactly where we are, we are just 2 minutes away', that he is indeed, navigationally challenged, and an impressive bluffer. Not the best discovery when the heavens decide it is time to water the mortals. So we eventually arrived, on time (just, as we set off super early, we both hate being late), looking like drowned rats. A secondary dowsing of juice all over my dress (clumsy moment) and a snaking-queue-of-doom later, I was soon stood in front of an all star Doctor Who line-up:

LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON 2011

Oh what fun. It's definitely convention fever what with Kapow! popping it's cherry back in April and fan boy mecca San Diego kicking off on 21st July.

London Film and Comic Con 2011 sandwiches nicely between the two, held at London's Earls Court over the course of three days.

Now, I've been to a few conventions now, and I am happy to report that LFCC was, by far, the medal winner for star access and star turnout. Row upon row of desks, row upon row of stellar sci-fi and fantasy names, I honestly didn't have time to meet them all! The only exceptions to this rule were Doctor Who hot property Karen Gillan and Alex Kingston, who were strictly shepherded to and from the stage, with no brazen photo ops in between (unless you paid the princely sum of £15+).

It wasn't all pleasure for me though as I worked hard, running a live Twitter feed for all who couldn't attend, with as many of the juicy exclusives and surprise moments to come out of the panels that my typing ability would allow. Any faster and there may have been smoke.

My highlight's included:

• Voice of Doctor Who's K-9; John Leeson doing his finest K-9 for me
• Having Brent Spiner wave finger guns at me as we passed each other
• Singing 'Happy Birthday' (along with the rest of the audience) to Corey Feldman, who celebrated his 40th birthday on the day of his panel
• 7th Doctor Sylvester McCoy showing me to my seat as I budged up to get closer to the action.
• The life size R2D2 replicas that were scooting around causing mischief 

John Nathan-Turner: A time lord in his own right

I love antique shops. I love to nose behind stacks of ancient bric-a-brac, the smell of old books, the feel of cosy oxford armchairs with weathered patinas, the fun of snooping in a microcosmic paradise of years gone by.

Wandering around my latest little shop find, amongst all the tea sets and old photographs, oil paintings of moody landscapes and down-trodden woodworm items of furniture, I stumbled across a hand painted picture, which caught my eye.

Initially because it instantly stood out as far too colourfully modern to be in a shop of this kind, and secondly because it looked Doctor Who related. Now, I’m a little bit of a geek, I admit it. In the corner of the frame there was a name, scrawled in the shop keeps finest handwriting, and could just make out the name ‘John Nathan-Turner’.

Not one for just ignoring such a discovery, I thought I’d take a snap, and hopefully even get in touch with said Mr. Nathan-Turner and hopefully bring a little smile to his face knowing he was being hung in such glory, in a little shop in Brighton.

Once home, I tapped his name into the computer, and ecstatically found out that the name was correct and that he did indeed exist. And that he was very much linked with the great televisual feast of history that is Doctor Who. However, so sadly, I was also eight years too late. For John Nathan-Turner sadly passed away in 2002.  He had also been a resident of Brighton during his last years.

Not for letting this sad news just pass, I read on and discovered what an extraordinary man he was. He shaped Doctor Who as we know it. Quoting the extremely reliable source of Wikipedia, he not only cast 3 of the past 11 Doctors, but he also (allegedly) introduced the lighter comedic side of the Doctor Who we know today.

So I thought what a fitting homage to this man, a little reminder to anyone else out there googling that name, this man, a lord of time in his own right, still lives on. Evidently in the heart and hand of the pictures original creator, and now in mine. I hope, a fitting true fin-de-sicle to both a time of telecasting mastery, and the man who shaped that time. Wish I’d met him.