Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro

Radio Free Skaro #291 – Click here to listen!

A simple commentary about “Closing Time,” which gave the Three Who Rule ample time to discuss the great chemistry between Matt Smith and guest star James Corden, instead devolved into a simply rancid discussion on babies and their propensity to poop on this episode of Radio Free Skaro. Our choice of topic says more about us than it does about the episode at hand, which was a delightful romp penned by Gareth Roberts and not at all a treatise on infants and their digestive habits. But leaving the puerile giggling aside for the moment, weighty matters as fictitious awards, possibly crappy video games and the life and quick death of Doctor Who Insider were also covered. All this and backhanded compliments aimed at Eric Roberts, and you’ve got yourself approximately an hour of a podcast of some sort!

Show Notes: - Radio Free Skaro…And The World Of Tomorrow! - Gallifrey…One! - Doctor Who Insider…Shutting Down! - The Eternity Clock…Trailer! - The Eternity Clock…Not On PC? - Upper Boat…Studio Tour! - National…Television Awards! - Virgin Media…TV Awards! - April 2012…Region 1 DVD Releases! - Nightmare of Eden, Dragonfire & Happiness Patrol…DVD Extras! - Personal…TARDIS?! - Aliens Vs…Wizards! - Hugo Award…Nominations Open! Commentary: - Closing…Time!

Check-in on GetGlue!

Radio Free Skaro #254 – Click here to listen

In one of most keenly anticipated Doctor Who episodes in some time, legendary fantasy writer Neil Gaiman finally got the keys to the TARDIS and presented us with a gloriously affectionate love letter to Doctor Who, the series that he has adored since before time itself. The Doctor’s Wife was one of the more unique stories ever presented, yet its heart (or hearts) was in the right place. What did The Three Who Rule think, you may well ask? Listen in to find out…

Show Notes: - Skaro Shop…North America! - Skaro Shop…UK! - Radio Free Skaro…on GetGlue! - Radio Free Skaro…on Tumblr! - The Doctor’s…Wife! - The Doctor’s Wife…overnight ratings! - The Curse of the Black Spot…Appreciation Index! - The Curse of the Black Spot…final ratings! - Day of the Moon…final ratings! - The Impossible Astronaut…final ratings on BBC America! - The Rebel Flesh…6:45pm on May 21! - The Almost People…synopsis! - The Hand of Fear…May 9 ratings! - The Hand of Fear…May 10 ratings! - Donations in memory of…Elisabeth Sladen! - Steven Moffat…lashes out! - Character Options to release…Junk TARDIS Playset! - Torchwood: Miracle Day…episode titles! - New Torchwood audio drama…coming this summer! - Big Finish Doctor Who…on BBC Radio 4 Extra!

Check-in on GetGlue!

Radio Free Skaro #249 – Click here to listen

For the first time in what seems like a very long while, the Three Who Rule tackle a Miniscope segment all on their own without the aid of a special (and probably much better informed) guest. The subject? Musician Tristram Cary, whose moody melodies and bouncy ballads helped underscore many a 1960s Doctor Who serial. Even the most taciturn of individuals could find something to say about Cary’s iconic work. And if that wasn’t enough to fill an episode, there’s a bundle of press launch news from both sides of the Atlantic to help form another jam packed, spoiler-free episode of Radio Free Skaro.

Show Notes: - Skaro Shop…North America! - Skaro Shop…UK! - BBC Doctor Who…Press Launch! - BBC America Doctor Who…Press Launch! - Doctor Who Premiere Screening…in Chicago! - Series 6 Episodes 1-7…Titles! - The Impossible Astronaut…No Broadcast Time Yet! - Doctor Who Series 6…Striking New Images! - Doctor Who Panel…At WonderCon! - Torchwood: Miracle Day…Press Launch at MIPTV! - Earth Story DVD Box Set…Details! - Series 6…Part 1 On Region 2 DVD! - Doctor Who…Upcoming Region 2 DVD Release Schedule! - Death To The Daleks…Coming To DVD! - Dalek Film Soundtracks…On Vinyl! - Another Clip Of…The Final Cut Documentary! - First Big Finish Fourth Doctor Title…Revealed! - The Fourth Doctor’s…Sonic Screwdriver! - DWIN’s Open Letter… To Doctor Who Insider! Miniscope – Tristram Cary: The…Daleks! Marco…Polo! The Daleks’ Master…Plan! The…Gunfighters! The…Mutants!

Check-in on GetGlue!

In a stunning move that surprised absolutely nobody, it has finally, formally been announced that Doctor Who will have an April 23 UK start date for the next series. Previously the BBC only publicly stated the series would begin at Easter; Doctor Who Magazine issue 433 has now said the series will begin April 23 on BBC One.

The news was of course widely expected once BBC America announced an April 23 start date, and then SPACE followed suit, but it’s nice to have the speculation entirely out of the way.

Check out the four special DWM 433 covers, featuring the announcement, here!. Note there’s what some might consider a spoiler on the cover, so you’ve been duly warned!

Radio Free Skaro #246 – Click here to listen

After an almost three month wait, there was some new Doctor Who content to discuss in the form of two short scenes written for the BBC’s Red Nose Day coverage. As well, news hit the wire we’ll be getting a little extra Who in the form of prequel mini-episodes for a few Series 6 stories. Such an occasion always attracts guests, and so Luke from TMDWP drops in to share his two cents, while also ably aiding the Three Who Rule in slicing, dicing and dissecting the Doctor Who career of director Richard Martin. Martin directed several early Hartnell stories, but whether he directed them well or not was the main point of the discussion…

Show Notes: - Skaro Shop…North America! - Skaro Shop…UK! - The Minute…Doctor Who Podcast! - Red Nose…Day! - Series 6…Prequel Snippets! - Series 6…Episode 1 and 2 Titles! - Series 6…Episode 3-7 Titles! - Michael Sheen…in Doctor Who! - Lords…Of The Red Planet! - Spearhead From Space…Revisitations DVD Extras! - Terror Of The Autons…DVD Extras! - Target Books…Republished! - Tom Baker…Joins Big Finish! - Sarah Jane Adventures…Fictitious RTS Award! - Steven Moffat…Fictitious RTS Award #1! And Fictitious RTS Award #2! - Fictitious…Eagle Awards! - Colin Baker And Nicola Bryant…Join Twitter! - Michael Gough…Dies. - Nicholas Courtney…Charity Appeal! Miniscope (Richard Martin): The…Daleks! The Edge…Of Destruction! The Dalek Invasion…Of Earth! The Web…Planet! The…Chase!

Check-in on GetGlue

Today on twitter, BBC entertainment reporter Lizo Mzimba announced the titles of the first two Series 6 episodes as The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon. Given we know the episodes are set in late 1960s America, one wonders if there might be a tie-in with a certain space-related event near the tail end of that decade…

In addition, Doctor Who Magazine tweeted that the titles for the following five episodes would be released in issue 433, due in early April.

Doctor Who Magazine #430 published a list of the Top Doctor Who twitterers to follow, and Radio Free Skaro made the list! We join the esteemed company of others such as TV critic Charlie Brooker, TV/radio presenter Jonathan Ross, late night TV host Craig Ferguson, nerdist Chris Hardwick and the crew from fellow podcast Podshock.

Many humble thanks to everyone who suggested Radio Free Skaro, it’s our privilege and pleasure to have earned your eyes and ears with what we do – and a big thanks to Benjamin Cook for compiling the list!

Doctor Who Magazine #430 hits newsstands in the UK on 13 January.

Photo courtesy Tim Drury

As we at Radio Free Skaro first discussed earlier this year, Matthew Graham has indeed been confirmed as a writer for Series 6. Doctor Who Magazine 428 reports that Graham will be penning episodes 5 & 6, which comprise a two-part story.

On a (likely) related note, Doctor Who Spoilers is reporting the casting of Sarah Smart for an upcoming two-parter to be directed by Julian Simpson. The first filming block comprising episodes 3 & 4 has wrapped and the current filming block comprising Episodes 1 & 2 is underway, and currently filming in America, so we anticipate episodes 5 & 6 to comprise the next filming block. (UPDATE: Graham has himself confirmed this on Twitter.)

Graham, whose previous Doctor Who credit is 2006′s Fear Her has also had great success with Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes. While Fear Her may not be a lauded classic for most, having Graham on the Series 6 writing team definitely excites the Three Who Rule!

Radio Free Skaro #192 – Click here to listen

The Three Who Rule were joined by Neil from Hartlepool (and Tachyon TV, tangentially) to celebrate the return of Doctor Who to our screens and to fete the debut of Karen Gillan, Matt Smith, and showrunner Steven Moffat in their respective roles of awesome, awesomer and awesomest. There was much discussion of “The Eleventh Hour,” which other than an atrocious new theme tune (and lack of a McCoy era sex wink) was deemed near perfect. All that and news, tomfoolery and a very strange extra feature on the upcoming Planet of Fire DVD round out this episode of RFS. Geronimo.

Show Notes: - Skaro Shop…Buy Our Stuff! - Episode One…The Eleventh Hour! - The Eleventh Hour…overnight viewing figures! - Series Five…Coming Soon Trailer! - The Beast Below…on April 10! - Victory of the Daleks…synopsis! - Episode 7 title…revealed! - Radio Times…Doctor Who Episode Guide! - Neil Gaiman writing…Series 6, Episode 3! - Tom Baker…In Confidence! - Doctor Who Magazine…Guinness World Record Holders! - Kamelion Box Set…Extras! - BBC Trust says…no more iTunes apps! - Behind the Sofa…Doctor Who blog! - Tachyon TV…on BBC Tees! - BBC…Shownar!