Matt Smith last night proposed to his long-standing girlfriend at the Doctor Who Experience in London. The marriage offer, which Matt had been planning for weeks (with some help from BBC Worldwide), came as a complete surprise to his girlfriend who was under the impression she was visiting the capital for a shopping trip.


Matt, 22, from Rochford, Essex coincidentally shares the same name with the star of the globally successful BBC TV series and even chose to dress in a tweed jacket and bow tie for the occasion, the standard uniform of the Eleventh Timelord. He stunned his wife-to-be, Stacie-Anne Dilkes, by pretending to be an exhibit in a section of the Experience which hosts original props, costumes and monsters from almost 50 years of the programme – before bending down on one knee and asking for her hand in marriage. And happily, she said YES!

Feb Events at the Doctor Who Experience

Matt Smith, who plays the real Doctor, instead of protesting at this apparent, albeit brief identity theft, was also in on the surprise and sent a personal message of congratulations to the happy couple, commenting:

"Matt Smith proposing to his girlfriend! Firstly, being a Smith means phone calls to the bank take so much longer - there are so many Smiths!! But I bet none of them have proposed at the Doctor Who Experience! Amy and Rory would be proud. Next - babies in the TARDIS...? Congratulations to you both and many years of happiness.
Love,
Matt.”

Thanks to BBC Worldwide

RECENT POSTS
Feb Events at the Doctor Who Experience
50 Things For The 50th! [Part 1]
DVD News: Ace Adventures Box Set
REVIEW: Revisitations 3 DVD box set
DVD News: Nightmare of Eden

Labels: doctor who experience, dwe

Well, it is a looong time 'til Series 7 starts, so here is Blogtor's countdown of things he'd like to see during the 50th Anniversary celebrations for Doctor Who during 2013. PLEASE NOTE: They're not all entirely serious...

50. Ban the term "Whovian"
I bloody loathe that word. I really do. What's wrong with saying, "I'm a Doctor Who fan"? It's good enough for Star Wars fans so it's good enough for us! Or how about Who~Head?

49. A decent video game

I mean seriously, come on! Dalek Attack still remains the best despite "attempts" from Nintendo and the BBC website. The latest editions to the doomed medium, Worlds in Time and The Eternity Clock, are not inspiring confidence. Having said that, I don't play games so I don't particularly care.

48. Rose & Ten.5 sitcom

Just imagine Bill Pippette and Davey T stuck in a parallel Norway - with high~larious consequences! Each week, The Doctor tries to grow a TARDIS from a bit of coral only to find the missus has bought the wrong soil. Series finale includes a guest appearance from Adam who turns into Davros - with high~larious consequences!

47. A Brilliant Book for every year

Actually, this is a serious one (not that the others aren't *coughs*). The last two years have seen the amazing Brilliant Book of Doctor Who released (watch the Blogtor review of the latest one HERE) and one cannot help but imagine what it would be like to have one for every year of Doctor Who's existence. Helpfully, some talented people have put together The Wonderful Book of Doctor Who 1965 - check it HERE.

46. The TARDIS to change its appearance
I mean, a Police Box still? Jeez.

45. Whatever Happened To Stephen Fry?

A one hour documentary, narrated by Stephen Fry, looking at why writer, Stephen Fry, was unable to complete his Doctor Who story for Series Two in 2006. It stars Stephen Fry and finds him interviewing various cast and crew to discover the reason behind Stephen Fry ditching Doctor Who in favour of bloody Kingdom (currently residing in the "what the hell was that?" televisual archive). Also features Stephen Fry. #stephenfry

44. Official Doctor Who Convention hosted by Blogtor
Well, one can dream...

43. Doctor Who Meets Scratchman

If you read the excellent article in Doctor Who Magazine 379, then you'll know all about the proposed movie from Tom Baker and actor Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan). If not, then let's just say it's a suitably nuts idea from the former Time Lord, who hatched the idea with Marter during their time together on the show. The final moments of the film would have involved Harry, Sarah and the Doctor being buffeted about in a giant pinball machine. Nice! Anyway, let's get this baby made. What's David Yates up to? Oh, and the title brings me to my next wish...

42. Can't We Just Call Him "Doctor Who" now?
"The Doctor" is just so..., meh!

41. University Challenge

Would it be too much to see Gallifrey's finest knowledge~off against one another on BBC Two's quiz show for "brainies"? On top there's "classic" boys Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy whilst they contest "newbies" Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith on the bottom. #wow Ideally it would end in huge punch up, after Eccleston walks off 'cos Paxman was bullying two of them for being sh*t. (I'll let you guess which two).

Labels: 50th, 50th anniversary, doctor who 50th anniversary, dr who fiftieth, fiftieth anniversary

Online retailer Amazon have details about the upcoming DVD release of two Sylvester McCoy stories contained in one set, Ace Adventures. It hits the streets in the UK on May 7, 2012 whilst the two tales, Dragonfire and The Happiness Patrol, are released separately in the US on May 8, 2012. Check out the cover and extras below:

Dragonfire
• Commentary
• Deleted / extended scenes
• Trivia subtitles
• Video & audio restoration
• Coming Soon Trailer
• Radio Times Billings (PDF)
• Making-of documentary
• Photo gallery
• Danny Bang - documentary
• The Doctor's Strange Love - documentary

The Happiness Patrol
• Commentary
• "Ace" wishes Blue Peter Happy Birthday (archive clip)
• Isolated score
• Deleted / extended scenes
• Trivia subtitles
• Video & audio restoration
• Coming Soon Trailer
• Radio Times Billings (PDF)
• Making-of documentary
• Photo gallery
• Politics In Doctor Who - documentary

Labels: ace, ace adventures, Dr Who DVD Box set, dragonfire, the happiness patrol

Labels: classic dr who dvd, Dr Who DVD, fourth doctor, Lalla Ward, nightmare of eden, Tom Baker

Normally I'd have a rating out of ten for a review but this is a different kind of release to the usual fare. If you don't own any of the stories then I would uncategorically state that Revisitations 3 is an absolute must~buy - no contestation. Even if you own just one of the stories, then the box set is still a worthwhile purchase. But, in these austere times, you may have to think twice if you've previously purchased a couple of them (unless you're Mister/Missus Moneybags).

Labels: DVD Review, revisitations, revisitations 3, revisitations dvd box set, robots of death, the three doctors, tomb of the cybermen

Again, like The Three Doctors (preview HERE), I'm slightly curious as to just why this was worthy of another release. Granted, it has been remastered (again), though, I don't not a picture quality nerd - I grew up watching dodgy off-air tapes or purchased VHSs on less than excellent definition televisions. So it looks great (if that's the sort of thing that gets you going) but I'm guessing as the original release didn't feature a "making of" for Tomb, then that's why we're getting it again.

The main doc, The Lost Giants, is an excellent look at the making of the story and features actress Shirley Cooklin (Kaftan), script editor Victor Pemberton, Frazer Hines (Jamie), Bernard Holley (Peter Haydon), Deborah Watling (Victoria), Michael Kilgarriff (Cyber~Controller) and visual effects designer, Peter Day. It's superbly put together with some great computer~generated imagery to please the eye (included by itself as an Easter Egg, fact fans) - a very nice and most appreciated touch. Full marks to Rob Semenoff for his outstanding graphic work.

If I were to be critical of the piece, it's that there's no archival interviews (a point I'll return to); resulting in no input or thoughts from Patrick Troughton, for example. I would also like to add that the green screen work in this docco is a tad obvious with Watling's hair becoming distracting with its changing colours. Small points, I should add.

Bolstering these two docs is another revised piece, Cybermen – Extended Edition. This is a thirty minute look at the history of the tin men with the always VFM, Dr Matthew Sweet. It popped up originally on the Cybermen box set back in 2009 (featuring "Nu" Who Cyber~stories). It's a well produced film (though Sweet's voice is rather tinny throughout) taking in the entirety of the Cybermen's televisual adventures up until the Series 5 finale (so, annoyingly, it's already out of date). As many probably didn't get the initial box set, it's pleasing to see this released again.

The Magic of VidFIRE is a rather technical look at the process involved in bring "classic" Who to the small screen. For nerds and tech~buffs it's fascinating, though I'm too sure how a "normal" would view it (do "normals" buy Doctor Who DVDs?). There's also the television advert for the Walls Sky Ray ice lolly which features a Troughton "lookalike" and the Daleks but, even better, the discs come with a PDF which not only includes all the collectible cards from the Sky Ray lollies but also all the promotion materials. A real find, lifting this collection above your typical Doctor Who DVD release. #joy

Accompanying the original commentary (a rather dry affair from Hines and Watling) is a shiny new audio moderated throughout by Toby Hadoke. He's joined by: Victor Pemberton and Bernard Holley on Ep 1; Shirley Cooklin, Deborah Watling and Frazer Hines on Eps 2-4; whilst Cyberman Reg Whitehead joins them on the latter two episodes. It's a bouncy affair and the gang get on very well (and, being actors, it's entertaining) though there is a bit of repetition of stories with the main doc (some almost word for word).

And this is where I would humbly suggest that the classic range take a note from the Disney DVD book, as it were. No bear with me, please. On certain releases from the animated company, the audio commentary would feature archival materials, such as interviews with writers, directors, etc...; really fleshing out the entire story of a film with many voices. With the same people used in both the main documentary and the commentary for Tomb, it seems a waste that some people's thoughts and memories are absent.

Regardless, the makers of this set have packed a whole lot of love (and new features) into Tomb of the Cybermen, making it certainly worth a look - even if you already own it. Plus you've probably worn out that ancient DVD 'cos you've watched it so many times 'cos it's such a bleedin' classic*

Labels: * I respectfully disagree, Cybermen, cybermen dvd, doctor who dvd boxset, Dr Who DVD, DVD Review, Patrick Troughton, revisitations 3, revisitations dvd box set, tomb of the cybermen

Mark Sheppard is to join the stellar cast at the Official Doctor Who Convention taking place on the 24th and 25th March at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre. Sheppard was an instant hit with fans playing the role of Agent Canton Delaware III in The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon, helping the Doctor to eliminate one of his creepiest foes – The Silence. Sheppard said:

"I grew up watching Doctor Who, and the fans are a huge part of what really makes the show so very special. I can't wait to come back to Cardiff for this unprecedented behind-the-scenes event - a unique chance for fans to meet the amazing people responsible for so much of the show we all love and get to experience their talent and creativity in a totally new way."

Also announced as joining the Convention line up today are: Nick Briggs, voice of the Daleks; Neil Gorton, director of effects specialist MillenniumFX; Ian McNeice, who plays Winston Churchill; and Raquel Cassidy who played Cleaves in The Almost People and The Rebel Flesh.

They join a host of cast and crew appearing at the Official Doctor Who Convention including: Matt Smith; Steven Moffat; Arthur Darvill; Danny Hargreaves; Tom MacRae; Barnaby Edwards; Caroline Henry; Stephen Pehrsson; Michael Pickwoad; Andy Pryor; Gary Russell and Marcus Wilson with further announcements to follow in the next two weeks.

The Convention is a full day event that will reveal the inner workings of Doctor Who, showing the journey from script to screen: Live special effects and pyrotechnic demonstrations; prosthetic masterclasses and in-depth Q & A sessions with the makers of the show will give an unrivalled glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of Doctor Who.

Labels: doctor who convention, dr who convention, mark sheppard