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Launch Date Speculation
Speculation continues over the launch date of the new series of Doctor Who, which, despite a number of Internet expectations, has yet to be confirmed by the BBC.
The return of the series was originally anticipated in the UK for the August Bank Holiday weekend, based upon the pattern of preview screenings of Let's Kill Hitler at the BFI and Edinburgh last year; this date had also been suggested by a number of US media outlets, though it seems that these reports were picked up through fan enthusiasm rather than official sources, especially with BBC America having already announced their series of four Doctor Who documentary specials over the August weekends. Also, when asked at the Asylum of the Daleks screening last week lead writer Steven Moffat would only indicate that the show will return "soon".
With the the 25th August ruled out, focus turned to the 1st September. BBC America have devoted an entire day to Doctor Who, showing the entirety of last year's series plus The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe - the latter's scheduling of two hours (8-10pm) suggested that perhaps there was a missing programme to show at 9pm. The date was also reinforced by iTunes listing the series as being available from 1st September. However, early morning viewers were treated to a trailer on BBC America earlier this week which specifically mentioned an on air date of the 8th September - however, the channel has now reverted to trailers saying the series is coming soon. It is unsure whether the trailer was a mistake or if BBC America jumped the gun on an announcement.
Meanwhile, in the UK the new edition of listings magazine Radio Times announces that "Doctor Who is back!", with the next issue (1-7 Sep) promising a free Dalek wallchart, plus interviews with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Steven Moffat - the latter also providing an episode guide to the new series. However, the magazine has in recent months carried a number of front-covers/coverage of new shows that aren't necessarily in the week of publication so it isn't clear-cut that Doctor Who will premiere in the UK on the 1st September, and the show is currently absent from the BBC Media Pack for that week, implying the series may have a later debut.
The situation is likely to be clarified later this week. Schedules in the UK for the week beginning 1st September will be finalised in the next couple of days, and the press pack for the week beginning 8th September is released on Thursday.
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​Sherlock star Martin Freeman has confirmed filming dates for the third series.
The actor - who plays John Watson - revealed that three new episodes will be shot over four months in early 2013.
Speaking at a Comic-Con press conference to promote his role in The Hobbit films, Freeman said: "[We film] in January until about April, I think."
He added: "It's a pleasure for us to do. We love it!"
Sherlock co-creator Steven Moffat first revealed to Digital Spy in May that a third series would commence filming in January.
Mark Gatiss later confirmed to DS that he will write the premiere episode, based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story 'The Adventure of the Empty House'.
Asylum of the Daleks: New York screening announced
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BBC America have announced that they will host a special screening of the new series opener, Asylum of the Daleks on Saturday 25th August.
The event will take place in New York City at 6:00pm, and will be followed by a live Q&A session with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and executive producer Caroline Skinner.
Tickets for the screening will go on sale tomorrow, 16th August, and will be announced exclusively via BBC America's Twitter feed - those hoping to get tickets have been recommended to follow @BBCAmerica in order to find out how to book!
New York event sells out in 20 minutesThe demand for tickets for the upcoming
​ New York preview of Asylum of the Daleks has been heavy enough to cause major problems for the ticketing site, where all 800 available tickets were sold in less than twenty minutes.
The special showing will take place at New York’s Ziegfeld Theater on August 25 followed by a live Q&A session with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and executive producer Caroline Skinner. Tickets were sold for the princely sum of 11c, plus a small service charge.
Comic Mix reports that shortly after the ticket release, the purchase system slowed to a crawl, with access severely limited. The site’s customer service number was also jammed as people attempted to see if aborted transactions resulted in a sale or not.
BBC America has apologized that the process didn’t go as smoothly as it could have done but have said they are pleased the event was so popular with fans.
The new Doctor Who series is due to launch on BBC America in early September, but no date has yet been officially confirmed.
NEWS
Doctor Who premieres 1st September for UK, USA and Canada
The new series of Doctor Who will premiere on Saturday 1st September, with the show being broadcast on BBC One in the UK at 7:20pm, and on BBC America in the USA at 9:00pm(ET).
United Kingdom (BBC)
For the UK, this places Asylum of the Daleks into the heart of Saturday prime time television, going head to head against the Ant and Dec ITV game show Red or Black?. The Doctor has faced the Geordie duo before, most notably for the return of the series in 2005 when Rose beat Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway by 2.5 million viewers. The Doctor faced Red or Black? last year when ITV1's HD ratings helped Red or Black? edge slightly ahead of Doctor Who, although the latter outrated the game show for the period the programmes were in direct opposition.
On BBC Two the Doctor will be up against BBC Proms 2012 where conductor John Wilson and his orchestra pay tribute to the composers and arrangers responsible for creating the Broadway Sound; meanwhile Channel 4 continues its coverage of the Paralympic Games.
The series will be preceded by a new mini-adventure, Pond Life, which kicks off online from Monday 27th August.
The time of broadcast for Asylum of the Daleks of 7.20pm is one of the latest for the series since it returned in 2005, with only Gridlock in 2007, School Reunion, and Rise of the Cybermen in 2006 being later in the evening.
Trivia: the Daleks have been used to launch the show a few times in its past, with Day of the Daleks in 1972, Destiny of the Daleks in 1979, and Remembrance of The Daleks in 1988 - Destiny also coincidentally premiered on 1st September!
BBC Worldwide 50th Anniversary Artwork revealed
Tea-Lady Design have revealed two striking pieces of artwork that have been prepared for BBC Worldwide to promote the forthcoming 50th Anniversary year of Doctor Who:
Steven Moffat we love Doctor Who but when the Holmes is Sherlock?
London - Doctor Who maybe the longest running science fiction TV series of all time but Steven Moffat admirers are awaiting the third season of his outstanding 21st century crime TV drama series, Sherlock.
Fans of Steven Moffat, the working mind behind the current British science fiction series of Doctor Who, are certainly looking forward to the start of the BBC’s season seven, 'Asylum of the Daleks' to be broadcast September 1st. For those who just can’t wait, a five-part mini-adventure Pond Life, featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, is available online on Monday, 27th August.
Although the 'Guinness World Records' lists Doctor Who as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time, Bafta award winner, Steven Moffat, has another sought after series under his belt, the BBC crime drama, first shown on TV in 2010, Sherlock - a modernised version of Sherlock Holmes.
Created by the writers Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss with Steve Thompson as part of the writing team, Sherlockis based on Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. This time Sherlock is a young 'consulting detective' for the London Metropolitan Police Service assisting the overworked and understaffed DI Greg Lestrade played by Rupert Graves.
Until now, only six episodes have been produced, each of them feature-length. Clever, snappy screen writing and sharp editing ensure the 90 minute episodes move swiftly along and allow for better plot and character development. Most of the episodes are based on stories that Conan Doyle wrote, like 'The Final Problem' and 'The Hounds of Baskerville' but are transported into the 21st century.
The show stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman both part of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey cast, due for release in December.
Cumberbatch plays the famous sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, brilliantly as a "high functioning sociopath," by his own description, and cleverly merges an eccentric 19th century character into modern day London.
Martin Freeman, soon to be seen as Bilbo Baggins, plays Sherlock’s foil, ex-military doctor, John Watson, a character who has to offset Sherlock’s need to feed his high functioning intellect and hyperactive brain with intricate puzzles by astutely trying to avoid looking like an idiot.
All six episodes are widely acclaimed huge successes receiving 9-10 million viewers receiving a high rating of 9.2 on IMDb.
Dr Who enthusiasts will watch this series and have to remind themselves that this is not Dr Who they are viewing and wonder whether Benedict will be asked to play the next Doctor at some point.
In the meantime Moffat followers are anticipating not so patiently news of the next episodes of his TV crime series Sherlock.
So, when will Sherlock series three be out? The rumour is – sometime in 2013 because the writing teams are still busy working on Dr. Who.
If you are interested in hearing about the differences between Doctor Who and Sherlock, watch Steven Moffat discussing them below. As one comment says:
One is f***ing brilliant and the other is f***ing brilliant.
