Doctor Who has been added to the list of official English icons. Voted by the public, but selected by academics and arts experts, in a project that celebrates England's heritage, Doctor Who joins 56 other national icons.

"We are all honoured and delighted. The public have taken the Doctor to their hearts," stated Russell T Davies, the producer of the current series yesterday.

Doctor Who nominated by thousands of fans as a "classic symbol of Englishness" was added to the list of icons along with 20 others including: Winnie the Pooh, the Thames, Wimbledon, cheddar cheese, red telephone boxes, Rolls-Royce, Westminster Abbey, and Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album by The Beatles among others.

(Source: Sun Online: Timelord joins best of British)

Episode 57 of Doctor Who: Podshock is now available.

"What's wrong with being childish? I like being childish."

Note: This is a special extended length podcast, we will return to our 80-90 min format next time..

Doctor Who: Podshock
Episode 57
For the Week of the 30th of October 2006
Running Time: 2:03:21 - Extended Episode!

Special Edition: Jon Pertwee Interview

In this episode:

News: Children in Need Concert Sold Out, Peter Barkworth "Leader Clent" Dies, Stewart Bevan Switches with Deborah Watling.

Features: We chat with Joey Reynolds of American Who and Interstellar Overdrive radio shows, Torchwood reviewed (the first two episodes: Everything Changes and Day One), from the archives - our interview with Jon Pertwee (recorded in April 1986 on the Destinies radio show on WUSB 90.1 FM).

Announcements: Second Life Anniversary Celebration Virtual Meet-Up, Create a Podshock Promo.

Feedback: Dan "Danger Mouse" and Ari from Boston impressions on Torchwood.

Promos: Doctor Who Sea Cruise, Cinemaslave podcast.

Guests: "Sci-Fi Radio Guy" Joey Reynolds joins us as a guest host on this episode, with recorded guests Jon Pertwee, Dr. Howard Margolin, Ralph Schiano, and "The Anti-Doctor".

Doctor Who: Podshock features the latest Doctor Who news and discussions from both US and UK perspectives. Hosted by Ken Deep and Louis Trapani in the US and James Naughton in the UK, with segments by correspondents in Australia and Canada.

Below are links to both the Enhanced Podcast format AAC version of the show as well as the MP3 format version of the same show.

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 57 (AAC Enhanced Podcast format, 59.3 MB)

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 57 (MP3 format, 56.5 MB)

If you are subscribing to our podcast via one of the feeds, you will get it automatically. If not, you can also grab it manually using the links above. Available in both Enhanced Podcast format and MP3 format.

For extended show notes (with links) click the "read more" below ((coming sometime - (we hope)) Remember all the links mentioned in this podcast are embedded in the Enhanced Podcast format version of our podcast).

Doctor Who: Podshock is now searchable using Podzinger. This technology will actually allow you to search for spoken words within our podcasts, both audio and video podcasts. If you need to find a particular review or a mention of a certain Doctor Who character, episode, event, etc., that may not be listed in the show notes of the given episode, you can now search for it using Podzinger. Plus, once you find what you are looking for, you can play that podcast at the exact point of what you have referenced.

To search our podcasts using this technology, simply go to Podzinger and use the search field on the top of the page on the site.

Episode 56 of Doctor Who: Podshock is now available.

"Our destiny is in the stars, so let's go and search for it"

Note: Recorded just prior to the first transmission of Torchwood.

Doctor Who: Podshock
Episode 56
For the Week of the 23rd of October 2006
Running Time: 1:28:45

In this episode:

News: Boyzone star Stephen Gately in new Doctor Who radio drama, New North American Licensing, K9 Toy Top Xmas Gift, etc.

Features: Promotion and Launch of the 2006 series ("Series 2") on CBC, Ratings on CBC, Updates on DW in North America.

Announcements: SETI@home Team, Podshock Catch-Up, Second Life Virtual Meet-Up, Create a Podshock Promo, etc.

Feedback: Wayne of Central Illinois (asks about the Valeyard and Susan), Bruce in Massachusetts (speaks about David Tennant in the Harry Potter film), Scott on Torchwood, Romeo on encoding video for the iPod, and Skaro Mel concerning the Doctor Who Blue Peter competition.

Promos: Torchwood, MMM Commentaries podcast, Podcast Pickle.

Guests: Canadian Correspondent Mike Doran of DWIN.

Doctor Who: Podshock features the latest Doctor Who news and discussions from both US and UK perspectives. Hosted by Ken Deep and Louis Trapani in the US and James Naughton in the UK, with segments by correspondents in Australia and Canada.

Below are links to both the Enhanced Podcast format AAC version of the show as well as the MP3 format version of the same show.

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 56 (AAC Enhanced Podcast format, 43.9 MB)

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 56 (MP3 format, 40.7 MB)

If you are subscribing to our podcast via one of the feeds, you will get it automatically. If not, you can also grab it manually using the links above. Available in both Enhanced Podcast format and MP3 format.

For extended show notes (with links) click the "read more" below ((coming sometime - (we hope)) Remember all the links mentioned in this podcast are embedded in the Enhanced Podcast format version of our podcast).

Peter Barkworth who played Leader Clent in the 1967 Doctor Who story The Ice Warriors has died while in hospital at the age of 77 after suffering a stroke and bronchopneumonia two weeks ago according to the Mirror.co.uk.

Best known for his role as Mark Telford in the 1979 series Telford's Change, he has also appeared in The Avengers and has won 2 BAFTA Best Actor awards for his television work.

He was unmarried and is survived by his sister.

Peter Barkworth - Wikipedia Entry
Peter Barkworth - IMdb

Link: BBC Worldwide Press Releases - BBC Worldwide appoints Most Management as the North American licensing agent for Doctor Who (Canada)

BBC Worldwide announced today the appointment of Most Management as the exclusive North American licensing agent for Doctor Who.

MOST MANAGEMENT LLC, a Los Angeles based agency, will act as the licensing agent for the Doctor Who franchise, including the new Doctor Who series, currently airing on The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in Canada, as well as the classic Doctor Who library. Classic episodes of Doctor Who air on BBC Kids.

The CBC will broadcast the second season of Doctor Who this fall beginning on 9 October. Season one and the "Christmas Invasion" episode aired in Canada to critical acclaim and impressive ratings last year.

"We are excited to work with MOST MANAGEMENT on new and unique products for one of BBC Worldwide’s longest-running and most successful franchises," said Julia Posen, Sales Director, Children's, BBC Worldwide.

Episode 55 of Doctor Who: Podshock is now available.

"Hmmm? What's that, my boy?"

Note: No comment at this time.

Doctor Who: Podshock
Episode 55
For the Week of the 16th of October 2006
Running Time: 1:20:43

In this episode:

News - Win a part in Doctor Who, Cavern Update, Thelma Barlow cast, Piper Autobiography, BBC Profiteering from DW Toys, CiN Concert, Soundtrack Due in Nov., Torchwood Launch Update, etc.

Features - Doctor Who: The Stone Rose novel/audio-book review, (DarthSkeptical) Skeptical Dairies reviews Doctor Who: Space Museum.

Promos - Doctor Who Sea Cruise.

Doctor Who: Podshock features the latest Doctor Who news and discussions from both US and UK perspectives. Hosted by Ken Deep and Louis Trapani in the US and James Naughton in the UK, with segments by correspondents in Australia and Canada.

Below are links to both the Enhanced Podcast format AAC version of the show as well as the MP3 format version of the same show.

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 55 (AAC Enhanced Podcast format, 39 MB)

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 55 (MP3 format, 37 MB)

If you are subscribing to our podcast via one of the feeds, you will get it automatically. If not, you can also grab it manually using the links above. Available in both Enhanced Podcast format and MP3 format.

For extended show notes (with links) click the "read more" below ((coming soon - (or sometime we hope)) Remember all the links mentioned in this podcast are embedded in the Enhanced Podcast format version of our podcast).

All are welcome to join us in the newly formed Gallifreyan Embassy (Doctor Who: Podshock) team at the SETI@home project.

What is SETI@home?
SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data.

Use this link to join the SETI@Home Team - Gallifreyan Embassy (Doctor Who: Podshock). It is free. Who knows, perhaps it will be your computer that discovers the first TARDIS visiting Earth (and you don't have to be living in Cardiff either!).

Episode 54 of Doctor Who: Podshock is now available.

"And you may think on this, also... That I am NOT amused!"

Note: Since the time this episode was recorded, it has been confirmed that Torchwood will transmit at 9pm on Sundays..

Doctor Who: Podshock
Episode 54
For the Week of the 9th of October 2006
Running Time: 1:19:03

In this episode:

News - Torchwood Start Date, BBC America Comes Around, Rent DW downloads on Amazon.com, "Series 4" Plans, North America DVD Releases, Convention Updates, etc.

Features - Ian Bisset reviews Doctor Who: Tooth and Claw.

Feedback - Ashley, Kevin, Scott, Steve, Billy, and Suzaur.

Promos - Torchwood (BBC Three).

Is James leaving? Find out in this episode.

Doctor Who: Podshock features the latest Doctor Who news and discussions from both US and UK perspectives. Hosted by Ken Deep and Louis Trapani in the US and James Naughton in the UK, with segments by correspondents in Australia and Canada.

Below are links to both the Enhanced Podcast format AAC version of the show as well as the MP3 format version of the same show.

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 54 (AAC Enhanced Podcast format, 38.4 MB)

-> Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 54 (MP3 format, 36.2 MB)

If you are subscribing to our podcast via one of the feeds, you will get it automatically. If not, you can also grab it manually using the links above. Available in both Enhanced Podcast format and MP3 format.

For extended show notes (with links) click the "read more" below ((coming soon - (or sometime we hope)) Remember all the links mentioned in this podcast are embedded in the Enhanced Podcast format version of our podcast).

It was one year ago, in October 2005 when mysteriously on the BBC Doctor Who web site that we first saw the Doctor Who logo with the letters rearranged to spell out "Torchwood"... which was the first official public announcement of this new spin-off series being written and produced by Russell T Davies. Starring John Barrowman reprising his role from Doctor Who of the character Captain Jack Harkness. We learned that the new series would focus on a team of investigators targeting extraterrestrial threats here on Earth.

The 2006 series of Doctor Who had been littered with Torchwood references which built momentum not only for what was to come at the conclusion of the 2006 series, but for this new spin-off series as well.

The long wait will be over next week when the new Torchwood series will make its debut on BBC Three at 9pm on Sundays starting on the 22nd of October. The Gallifreyan Embassy and Doctor Who: Podshock will continue our coverage of this new Doctor Who spin-off series as it unfolds here on our site and the podcast. Stay tuned.

According to an article on CBBC (Dr Who soundtrack coming to shops), the long awaited and much anticipated new Doctor Who soundtrack by Murray Gold is being projected to go on sale around the third week of November of this year, just in time for the holidays. The album, still in production will include music as recent as selections from The Runaway Bride Christmas special which won't even be transmitted until the following month after the album's release (if it is does indeed hit the stores towards the end of November). Other tracks on the album will include the main theme and highlights from the first and second series (2005 and 2006 series), including "Song for Ten" and the favourite melody of the Doctor and Rose separated from the episode Doomsday.

No definite release date has been set as of yet. No word on whether it will be available to purchase digitally via the net either at this time (i.e. iTunes).