The Doctor Who Thread

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Cybermen returned to Doctor Who following a two year absence for the 2008 Christmas special The Next Doctor.

[Susan Foreman]

Doctor Who: Exclusive guide to the new Dalek design / Radio Times

"Getting a-head

Apart from slightly altered proportions (which we’ll get to later) and some aesthetic changes that Chibnall describes as “different layers around the dome,” the most notable change to the upper part of the new Dalek design is just how much light it gives off.

Initially glowing blue in the episode, in later scenes the lights change colour as the Daleks turn on humanity, with Chibnall hinting that this could be caused by the environment as much as any murderous intent.

“They light up at night with red lights, and look very interesting,” he told us.

A similar lighting affect was notable on the battered self-made Dalek debuted in 2019 New Year’s special Resolution (of which, more later), though the light appeared less regularly and was always red.

Their body is ready

Speaking of the Resolution Dalek, one of the main criticisms levelled at that particular design was that it looked too “skinny”, with the central portion of the Dalek drawn in so far as to look like a corset.

The Doctor Who team appear to have taken the feedback on board, with Strevens noting that the design seen in Revolution of the Daleks is a little more bulked out.

“The gun carousel, the central section there, has been fleshed out a bit more,” he told us.

“The gun carriage was much tighter, even the skirt of the Dalek was slimmer in 2019. All in all we’ve broadened it out — we wanted to make it look more muscular.”

Notably, the famous Dalek sink plunger (in reality known as the “manipulator arm”) is also absent from this section. While the whisk-like gun is present and correct the plunger has been replaced by a spikier all-purpose tool that we’re sure will be used to deadly effect in the festive special…

The Dalek “skirt”

Some of the more notable changes to the Dalek can be seen on the lower body or “skirt” of the Dalek, which boasts some flat panels and lines (all of which glow with the same blue or red lighting) as well as a different arrangement of the iconic spheres (or bumps) dotted around the area.

“There are just small, different details, like the number and shape of whatever you call those things on the side of the Daleks… which I suppose in a festive special you’d call baubles!” Chibnall told Radio Times.

“And changes to the little things adorning the Daleks — new slats and so on.”

Fans may note in this section in particular that unlike the bronze Daleks seen in recent years these new Daleks are rather slim, which led to a major production change.

Yes, after decades of Daleks with human operators inside, these Daleks (like the Dalek from Resolution) are remote-controlled with nary an actor hidden within them.

“Unlike older models, this particular Dalek is remote-controlled,” Strevens confirmed.

“Although it’s slightly filled out, it still would have been difficult to get a human operator inside this particular model.”

And of course, that’s far from the only way this Dalek is different from the versions we’ve gotten used to."

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Picked these two sets up today. Reduced to £12.99

[Susan Foreman]

Who: Before And After #259a

Name: Raymond Llewellyn
Year(s): 1967
Stories: The Abominable Snowmen episode 1 - The Abominable Snowmen episode 6
Character(s): Sapan

Before Who:
Films - None
Television - Curtain of Fear: The Rassilov Code / 199 Park Lane - [3 episodes as Sparks]

After Who:
Films - Edge of Love (2008)
Television - The Elusive Pimpernel [2 episodes as Lebrun] / The Newcomers [2 episodes as Glyn Owen-Davis] / The Owl Service [7 episodes as Huw] / Z Cars: The Vigilance / Cadfael [4 episodes as Madog] / Doctors: Shoulder the Blame

Who: Before And After #259b

Name: David Baron
Year(s): 1967
Stories: The Abominable Snowmen episode 2 - The Abominable Snowmen episode 6
Character(s): Ralpachan

Before Who:
Films - The Reptile* (1966)

Television - The Infamous John Friend [2 episodes as Lord Combleigh] / Orlando: The Gold Plated Football

After Who:
Films - The Tamarind Seed (1974)
Television - The Troubleshooters [5 episodes as Mike Szabo] / The Avengers: Love All* / Hine: Everything I Am I Owe / Kate: You Can't Condemn Them All / Dead of Night: Death Cancels All Debts / The Professionals: Heroes / House of Caradus: Illuminations / Minder: Aces High - And Sometimes Very Low / Foyle's War: The Hide

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Mickey (Noel Clarke) and Rose (Billie Piper) in a festive still from The Christmas Invasion (2005)

[Susan Foreman]

Who: Before And After #260

Honourable mention

Name: Pat Gorman
NOTE: One of England's most prolific extras / background actors. Within the Whoniverse, he appeared in 73 roles over 105 episodes, mostly uncredited. He is currently ranked #7 in terms of appearing in the most stories
Year(s): Too many to mention
Stories: Credited: The Invasion (as a Cyberman) / The War Games (as a Military policeman) / Doctor Who and the Silurians (as a Silurian/Silurian Scientist) / Inferno (as a Primord) / Terror of the Autons (as an Auton leader) / Colony in Space (as a Primitive, Voice, Long and a colonist) / The Sea Devils (as a Sea Devil) / Invasion of the Dinosaurs (as a UNIT corporal) / Planet of the Spiders (as a soldier) / Genesis of the Daleks (as a Thal soldier) / The Masque of Mandragora (as a soldier) / The Invisible Enemy (as a medic) / The Armageddon Factor* (as a pilot)

Stories: Uncredited: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (as a rebel) / Mission to the Unknown (as an unknown alien delegate; credited as "Planetarian") / The Myth Makers (as a Greek Soldier and the double for Achilles) / The Massacre (as a Guard) / The War Machines (as a Worker and Soldier) / The Highlanders (as a Seaman) / The Abominable Snowmen (as a Warrior Monk) / The Enemy of the World (as a Guard on Fire Escape) / The Seeds of Death (as a technician) / The Ambassadors of Death (as a technician) / The Dæmons ( as a Coven Member) / Day of the Daleks (as a cameraman & guard) / The Three Doctors* (as a UNIT soldier) / Frontier in Space (as an Earth Guard and Sea Devil) / The Green Death (as a Security Guard & Wholewealer) / The Monster of Peladon (as a Guard) / Planet of the Spiders (as a villager) / Robot* (as a Gate Guard) / Revenge of the Cybermen (as a Cyberman & dead crewman) / The Seeds of Doom (as a Guard) / The Masque of Mandragora (as a Brother) / The Deadly Assassin (as a Guard) / The Ribos Operation (as Kro) / City of Death* (as Thug 1) / Warriors' Gate (as a Gundan) / The Keeper of Traken (as a Foster) / Time-Flight (as a Policeman) / Enlightenment (as Grogan) / The Caves of Androzani (as a Soldier) / Attack of the Cybermen (as a Cyberman, Rogue Cyberman & a worker)
Character(s): See above

Before Who:
Films - Siege of the Saxons* (1963), The Girl in the Headlines (1963), The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964), A Hard Day's Night* (1964)

Television - The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre: Time to Remember

After Who:
Films - Operation Crossbow (1965), I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), The Mummy's Shroud (1967), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Trog* (1970), Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Playbirds (1978), The Big Sleep (1978), The Plank (1979), The Elephant Man (1980), Ragtime (1981), Top Secret! (1984), The Woman In Black (1989), Batman* (1989)

Television - Danger Man: Such Men Are Dangerous / Gideon's Way: The Ladykiller / Adam Adamant Lives! [5 episodes (1966-1967)] / Z Cars [41 episodes (1967-1978) / Softly, Softly: The Jackpot / The Prisoner: Hammer Into Anvil / Department S: A Small War of Nerves* / Roads to Freedom: The Reprieve / The Doctors / The Goodies: The Greenies / The Moonstone / Villains: Belinda / War and Peace: New Beginnings / The Public Eye: The Man Who Said Sorry / The Edwardians: The Reluctant Juggler / The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes: The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway / Lord Peter Wimsey: The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club / Hawkeye, the Pathfinder [3 episodes as Sentry] / Spy Trap: April Sixty-Seven / Fawlty Towers: The Builders / The Tomorrow People [5 episodes (1975-1979)] / The Sweeney: Thou Shalt Not Kill / I, Claudius: Reign of Terror / Porridge: The Desperate Hours / Target: Hunting Parties / The Professionals [5 episodes (1978-1982)] / Pinocchio [3 episodes as Constable] / Blake's 7 [10 episodes (1978-1981)] / Secret Army [7 episodes (1978-1979) / Bloomers [5 episodes as Pub Landlord] / Minder [3 episodes (1979-1982)] / BBC Shakespeare: The Winter's Tale / Sorry!: Does Your Mother Know You're Out? / The Nightmare Man [3 episodes as The Killer] / The Chinese Detective: Hammer and Nails / Day of the Triffids / Beau Geste [4 episodes as Legionnaire] / The Young Ones: Interesting / 'Allo, 'Allo: Pigeon Post / The Bill [3 episodes as Constable] / Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Case of the Missing Will

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna Coleman) explore the settlement aptly called Christmas on the planet Trenzalore in The Time of the Doctor (2013)

This is one of my favourite images from the entire run of Doctor Who.

[Susan Foreman]

Its not exactly a trailer, but there is a new promo for 'Revolution of the Daleks', showing more of the Dalek

[Susan Foreman]

Who: Before And After #261

Name: Wendy Gifford
Year(s): 1967
Stories: The Ice Warriors episode 1 - The Ice Warriors episode 6
Character(s): Jan Garrett
NOTE: Was married to Who actor John Cater

Before Who:
Films - The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966)
Television - ITV Play of the Week: Birds in the Wilderness / The Plane Makers [11 episodes as Laura Challis (1963-1965)] / No Cloak - No Dagger [3 episodes as Alice] / It's Dark Outside: One Man's Right / Love Story: I Love, You Love, We Love / The Flying Swan [2 episodes as Irene Starke] / The Man in the Mirror [6 episodes as Maggie Jones] / The Troubleshooters [3 episodes as Hilary Dawson] / Out of the Unknown: Time in Advance / The Public Eye: It Had to Be a Mouse / Adam Adamant Lives!: The Resurrectionists / Room at the Bottom / Softly, Softly: The Linkman / The Wednesday Play: The Playground

After Who:
Films - The Medusa Touch* (1978), Champions (1983), Harry's Kingdom (1987)

Television - The Public Eye: It's Learning About the Lies That Hurts / Out of the Unknown: Liar!* / The Gold Robbers [3 episodes as Jo Miller] / Counterstrike: All That Glistens / Special Branch: Inside / The Doctors [4 episodes as Heather Coker] / Sentimental Education [3 episodes as Madame Dambreuse] / Paul Temple: The Specialists / Saturday Night Theatre: Some Distant Shadow / Spy Trap: Lorna / Man at the Top [2 episodes as Alison Gowling] / Upstairs, Downstairs: The Fruits of Love / Harriet's Back in Town [4 episodes as Sally Ward] / Churchill's People: O Canada / Couples [3 episodes as Woman] / Nobody's House [7 episodes as Jane] / Love for Lydia [7 episodes as Mrs. Sanderson] / Disraeli: The Great Game 1858-1872 / A Family Affair [10 episodes as Marjorie Barnes] / Wilfred and Eileen [4 episodes as Mrs. Stenhouse] / Death of an Expert Witness / Shine on Harvey Moon: Baby It's Cold Outside / Them and Us [2 episodes as Prosecutor] / ChuckleVision: Party Planners

[Susan Foreman]

This doesn't look good

"🚨 NEWS 🚨
A new scene has been filmed and inserted into Revolution of the Daleks, which airs on New Year’s Day. "