The Day of the Doctor: 50th Anniversary Update

(pr)—With special programmes planned across the BBC the celebrations will peak on 23 November with the anniversary episode, revealed as ‘The Day of the Doctor’. Starring Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna Coleman with Billie Piper and John Hurt, the special for BBC One has been confirmed as feature length with 75 minutes of adventure.



Matt Smith, who plays the Doctor, said:



“The Day of the Doctor is nearly here! Hope you all enjoy. There’s lots more coming your way, as the countdown to the 50th begins now.”



Each channel will be home to unique content, celebrating the wealth of history and talent from the last 50 years.



BBC Two will broadcast a number of new commissions, focusing on telling the story behind the show. For one night only, Professor Brian Cox will take an audience of celebrity guests and members of the public on a journey into the wonderful universe of the Doctor, from the lecture hall of the Royal Institution of Great Britain (1x60mins). Drawing on the latest theories as well as 200 years of scientific discoveries and the genius of Einstein, Brian tries to answer the classic questions raised by the Doctor – can you really travel in time? Does extra-terrestrial life exist in our galaxy? And how do you build something as fantastical as the TARDIS?



In an hour-long special, BBC Two’s flagship arts programme The Culture Showpresents ‘Me, You and Doctor Who’ (1x60mins), with lifelong fan Matthew Sweet exploring the cultural significance of the BBC’s longest running TV drama, arguing that it’s one of the most important cultural artefacts of modern Britain. Put simply, Doctor Who matters. He’ll examine how the show has become a cultural force in its own right and tell the stories of some of the unsung cultural heroes, who pioneered its innovative music, design and storytelling.



BBC Two wraps up its coverage with the previously announced ‘An Adventure in Space and Time’ (1x90mins), which will tell the story of the genesis of Doctor Who and the many personalities involved. Written by Mark Gatiss the drama stars; David Bradley (the Harry Potter films); Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Identity), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife) and Sacha Dhawan (History Boys, Last Tango in Halifax).



Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, Doctor Who said:



"50 years has turned Doctor Who from a television show into a cultural landmark. Personally I can't wait to see what it becomes after a hundred."

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Doctor Who Script Starring David Tennant Goes Up For Sale At Charity Auction

The script 'Midnight' will be auctioned on August 3, and will benefit the charity Project Motor Mouth run by Janet Fielding - who starred as Tom Baker's companion Tegan in 1981.



The script for 'Midnight' is the tenth episode of the fourth series which aired on June 14, 2008, and the manuscript is full of annotations and drawings by Rusell Davies.



Fans of the sci-fi series will also be able to snap up scripts for 'Impossible Planet' and 'The Satan Pit' autographed by David, in addition to a Perspex panel resembling the Tardis signed by six Doctors and former cast members.



The series' 50th anniversary will see a special appearance from Tennant alongside current Doctor Who star Matt Smith, one month before his departure.



It was revealed last week that the episode will be shown as a "simulcast" in over 200 countries as global broadcasters don't want the one off special to be ruined for fans across the world.



The BBC1 show will be shown in the UK on November 23 at 8pm therefore will be shown at midday in Los Angeles and at 7am in Sydney.



An insider told the Daily Express: "The 50th anniversary special is a massive deal for fans around the world who were petrified the secrets would leak online the moment it aired in Britain."



The one-off episode, will also see the return of previous Doctor Who sidekick Billie Piper, and is expected to be watched by more than 100 million viewers.

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Prince Charles visits British Set of Doctor Who

Britain's Prince Charles has been offered a role on cult sci-fi series Doctor Who after showing off his impression of a Dalek's voice during a royal set visit in Wales.

The heir to the throne and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, traveled to the BBC's Roath Lock studios on Wednesday as part of their summer tour and met with members of the cast and crew, including writer Steven Moffat and current Time Lord, Matt Smith, in celebration of the show's 50th anniversary.

During the visit, the Prince even tried using a voice modulator to mimick the sound of the Daleks, uttering the TV cyborgs' famous "exterminate" phrase and jokingly telling the crowd, "You are now our prisoners."

His playful efforts impressed Moffat and he has invited the Prince back to the set to be a part of the show for real.

He tells the BBC, "I haven't thought about how I could weave a meeting between the Doctor and the royal family, but Prince Charles's attempt at being a Dalek was great. There would be a part in the show for him if he wanted it."

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