March 25, 2018

Episode 10 - The Invasion

March 25, 2018/ New To Who

NEW TO WHO and THE INVASION

Materialising in Sydney, Dan and Steven meet the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskforce, led by Brigadier Nathan Bottomley and Sergeant Brendan Jones from Flight Through Entirety.

Together, they team up to infiltrate and investigate the nefarious Tobias Vaughn and his bumbling henchman, Packer!, at the headquarters of International Electromatix; the largest computer and electronics firm in the world.

But in reality, it's just an excuse to talk about one of the most epically fun Doctor Who stories of the 1960s!

The cover of the original imprint of the 1985 Target novelisation for THE INVASION is by Andrew Skilleter and is written by Ian Marter.

Intro and outro theme by Our Colin (2017) - much love and thanks, Col ❤︎

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

February 25, 2018

Episode 9 - The Seeds of Doom

February 25, 2018/ New To Who

NEW TO WHO and THE SEEDS OF DOOM

In the desert wastes of sun-burnt Australia, a strange pod is unearthed, buried deep in the sands. Curiosity turns to alarm as the pod begins to grow - then horror when suddenly it cracks open and Dan and Steven shoot out, mercilessly seeking the nearest live victim...

In London, PAUL CORNELL is bewildered. Called in to fight this unknown horror, will he be in time to save Earth from the rapidly spreading tentacles of the KRYNOID, a giant man-eating monster from an alien world?

The last story of the acclaimed Season 13 of Doctor Who, THE SEEDS OF DOOM is a Gothic horror-inspired epic from the pen of the creator of the Zygons, the late Robert Stewart Banks. We again return to the Philip Hinchliffe and Robert Holmes era, and our director is the great Douglas Camfield. In short, it's an all-time classic Classic Who story!

Our thanks again to Chris Achilleos for his kind permission for the use of his original 1977 Target novelisation of THE SEEDS OF DOOM, written by Philip Hinchcliffe.

Intro theme by Our Colin (2017), and outro music by Bridget, as Pizza Pocket (2018).

If you enjoyed Bridget's music and would like to hear more, please check out her band Simone & Girlfunkle.

Special thanks again to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

December 04, 2017

Episode 8 - The Curse of Fenric

December 04, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"It's a bit Michael Jackson 'Thriller'"

After seventeen centuries trapped in the shadow dimensions, Steven and Daniel are reunited with Bridget, only to discover that they are all themselves descendants of the original Vikings who carry THE CURSE OF FENRIC!

The last story of the original series of Doctor Who save one, this post-modern masterpiece is written by the creator of Ace, Ian Briggs, and showcases the best qualities of the show under the script editorship of Andrew Cartmel.

Displaying an at-times dizzying bricolage of influences, references, and philosophies, this is where Doctor Who can be seen to graduate with first-class honours in every relevant field. It's such a shame that Season 26 was the last regular series of the programme until 2005, as it hints at a more mature direction very much in tune with the televisual landscape of the coming decade and beyond.

Our thanks again go to Alister Pearson for his kind permission for the use of his revised cover for the 2015 audiobook of the original 1990 Target novelisation of T HE CURSE OF FENRIC, written by Ian Briggs (and highly recommended by Our Steven).

Intro theme by Our Colin (2017), and outro music "Wolves of Fenric" by Bridget, as Pizza Pocket (2017).

If you enjoyed Bridget's music and would like to hear more, please check out her band Simone & Girlfunkle.

Special thanks again to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.

October 22, 2017

Episode 7 - Day of the Daleks

October 22, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"Two words, gentlemen: Hubba hubba"

Col, Daniel, and Steven are joined by Pete, a mysterious human from the 21st-century, to 'time-jump' back into the 20th century so as to discuss a high-ranking Classic Doctor Who episode; DAY OF THE DALEKS!

Another instance of Doctor Who being ahead of its time, this time-y wime-y plot by Louis Marks has since been cribbed by the likes of The Terminator and is inspired itself by the work of no less a sci-fi great than Ray Bradbury.

Featuring the return of the Daleks for the first time in five years and the first time in colour, sweet dorks are encouraged to seek out the 2011 special edition of DAY OF THE DALEKS to appreciate the intent if not the budget of the original production (though the original remains a great deal of fun!).

Our thanks again go to Chris Achilleos for his kind permission for the use of his cover for the Target novelisation of DAY OF THE DALEKS, written by Terrance Dicks.

Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training for her patience and expertise.

September 24, 2017

Episode 6 - Tomb of the Cybermen

September 24, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"I love testicle head!"

Materialising on a sand pit alien planet - this time in black and white - our heroic trio, Daniel, Col, and Steven, discover the ice tombs of Telos, now home to the hibernated Cybermen led by the terrifying Cyber Controller!

Perhaps the apotheosis of Doctor Who's "Base Under Siege" genre that was a staple of 1967's Season Five (aka the "Monster Season"), TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN - written by the creators of the Cybermen, Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis - is laden with atmosphere and an all-pervading sense of an impending menace. Not without its narrative and representation problems, it nonetheless remains a classic example of a story-telling blueprint from Doctor Who history that is still used to this day.

Special thanks again to Alister Pearson for his kind permission for the use of his redone cover of Jeff Cummins' original for the Target novelisation of Tomb of the Cybermen, written by Gerry Davis.

August 20, 2017

Episode 5 - City of Death

August 20, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"Who ordered the soup?"

Bridget joins Daniel, Colin, and Steven as they run through the streets and galleries of Paris in 1979, actually (more of a table wine, shall we say?) for CITY OF DEATH! Doctor Who's largest ever watching audience of 16 million people tuned in to watch this at the time, and none of them were wrong to do so.

Written by DOUGLAS ADAMS, at a time just before he became famous for his HITCHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY series, this story is widely seen as one the greatest Classic Who stories of all time, consistently rating in the Top 10. Filled with moments of comedic genius, a frisson of fun, and a lot of love in a blend of crime caper and sci-fi genres, this is also the story that saw TOM BAKER and LALLA WARD fall in love and eventually get married (but, sadly, not for long). Cité de l'amour/la mort, indeed!

Special thanks to ANDY WALKER for his kind permission for the use of his painting for CITY OF DEATH, the Doctor Who Target novelisation that never was, and that was eventually novelised by JEREMY GOSS.

July 23, 2017

Episode 4 - Remembrance of the Daleks

July 23, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"Time will tell - it always does."

If you have never seen REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS before, we envy you! Doctor Who's silver jubilee season kicked off in incredible style with a return to its very beginnings set in 1963, and a London already infiltrated by Daleks.

Written by BEN AARONOVITCH, this story established what Doctor Who could and would be in the 1990s - and beyond. The story also introduces many of the more domestic and character-driven elements we would later see when the series returned in 2005, most notably in its foregrounding of a sparky London teenage girl as the show's co-protagonist.

Special thanks to Alister Pearson for his kind permission for the use of his cover painting for the original 1990 Doctor Who Target novelisation of REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS by Ben Aaronovitch.

June 18, 2017

Episode 3 - Earthshock

June 18, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"She's like a dinner lady in space"

The Beryl Reid Appreciation Society (i.e., Colin, Daniel, and Steven) return for EARTHSHOCK, in which the new and young Fifth Doctor faces one of his deadliest and long-lost enemies. Who survives? Who doesn't? And what terrifying direction does the show's new Script Editor have in store for our favourite celery-and-cricket-uniform-wearing hero?

Written by ERIC SAWARD, this story is a highlight of Season 19, and is the first of its kind of grittier and grimmer narratives more in tune with the troubled and troubling 1980s.

The cover painting for the 1992 reprint of the Doctor Who Target novelisation, EARTHSHOCK by Ian Marter, is by Alister Pearson.

May 21, 2017

Episode 2 - The Terror of the Autons

May 21, 2017/ New To Who/ New To Who

"Who de 'eck arr you?"

New-to-Who Ed joins Colin, Daniel, and Steven for THE TERROR OF THE AUTONS, where the Third Doctor meets his companion, Jo Grant, for the first time while we are introduced to the Master, who plans to take over the world with the aid of an army of plastic men!

This is the story where the formula for what Doctor Who is today can be traced back to, and is written by Robert Holmes for the Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks production team.

The cover painting for the original imprint of the Doctor Who Target novelisation, THE TERROR OF THE AUTONS by Terrance Dicks, is by Peter Brookes.

April 24, 2017

Episode 1 - Terror of the Zygons

April 24, 2017/ New To Who

"Set your TARDIS co-ordinates for confusion!"

In the first of our adventures proper through Time and Space, arguably the definitive Doctor and companion team land in Scotland, 1975 to join forces with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and U.N.I.T to overcome the shapeshifting Zygons!

A classic from the Hinchcliffe and Holmes 'gothic horror' period of Classic Who, it's TERROR OF THE ZYGONS.

With kind permission from and great thank to Mr Chris Achilleos for the use of his cover painting for the original imprint of the Doctor Who Target novelisation, THE LOCH NESS MONSTER by Terrance Dicks.

April 23, 2017

Episode 0 - An Unearthly Child

April 23, 2017/ New To Who

"Hello, Sweet Dorks!"

Daniel, Colin and Steven nervously introduce themselves and their hare-brained idea for an intro cast to classic Doctor Who, designed for 'New Who' fans. But now that all the preparations made over pub lunches are over and they have finally hit record, can they deliver?

What better way to start this great spirit of adventure than at the very beginning with a mild curiosity in a junkyard. The first-ever episode of Doctor Who, AN UNEARTHLY CHILD... but episode one only!

Special thanks go to Mr Alister Pearson for the permission to use his cover painting commissioned for the 1990 BBC Video release and used for the reprint of the Doctor Who Target novelisation, AN UNEARTHLY CHILD by Terrance Dicks. Thank you, Alister!

Thanks also to both Brendan Jones (of Flight Through Entirety) and Clayton Hickman. Your generosity and willingness to help New To Who has been so very much appreciated.

Podcasts

NEW TO WHO and THE INVASION

NEW TO WHO and THE SEEDS OF DOOM

New To Who