Dalek

Terry Nation, the creator of the Daleks (with nods to Raymond Cusick who designed them and of course Davros himself) for Doctor Who as well as the creator of the popular British sci-fi series, Blake's 7 would had been 81 years old today (well, now yesterday (8th of August) by the time you are reading this unless you are in Hawaii for the next hour or two). Of course his credits extend further than Doctor Who and Blake's 7. There was The Survivors, and episodes of various televsion series he contributed to both in the UK and US during the course of his career.

We lost him all too soon at the age of 66 in 1997. It was about ten years (give or take) before then when I had an opportunity to sit down with him and interview him. Unfortunately, the audio of that interview has slipped through a time vortex or a crack in space. Hopefully it is re-materialize at some point. I don't even have any photographs to share from that time. Perhaps like so many other cast and crew that I was meeting at that time I assumed there will always be the next time if I didn't get a photo that time. Sadly, there was no next time in my case with Terry Nation. 

My memories of Terry Nation is that he was very open about his work. You could tell he enjoyed having the opportunity to speak about it. There was certain intensity about him. He would be quick to correct you if presented with information that didn't jive with what he knew to be the case. Not in a rude a way, by any means.

Forbidden Planet has announced the first of the Wave 2 of figures for Doctor Who Series 5.

They include the Dalek Progenitor Guardian (pictured left), Prisoner Zero, A smiler, The Son from the Vampires in Venice and an Roman Auton. See here for details and to pre-order.

More news coming out concerning the 2011 Doctor Who series (or set of series as it is now) is that we may get a reprieve from the Daleks stories. This according to what executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat hinted at the Edinburgh TV Festival:

Moffat: 'No Daleks in next Who series' - Digital Spy:

"Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the Who showrunner admitted that there are currently no plans for the famous aliens to reappear, although work on the 2011 series is not yet complete.

"Safest it gets, around me."

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 195
Running Time: 1:13:53

Doctor Who: Victory of the Daleks reviewed live over the net with live feedback (part 2 of 2). (If you haven't seen Victory of the Daleks yet, wait until you have before listening).

Hosted by Louis Trapani, James Naughton, Ken Deep, & Dave Cooper.

"Listen to me, just listen! The Daleks have no conscience, no mercy, no pity. They are my oldest and deadliest enemy. You cannot trust them."

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 194
Running Time: 1:13:27

Doctor Who: Victory of the Daleks reviewed live over the net with live feedback (part 1 of 2). (If you haven't seen Victory of the Daleks yet, wait until you have before listening).

Hosted by Louis Trapani, James Naughton, Ken Deep, & Dave Cooper.

The Title of the first of the New Doctor Who Adventure Games for Mac or PC has been anounced as,

City of the Daleks, and will be Available as a free Download from the BBC on 5th June 2010, to that point Phil Ford the Writer had this to say.

From BBC America - Doctor Who: Cast & Crew Interview: The Daleks

Matt Smith, Alex Kingston, Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger talk about the Doctors mortal enemy and why the Daleks continue to menace the galaxies.

"Before I go, I just want to tell you: You were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And do you know what?… So was I!"

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 182
Running Time: 1:59:23

The Parting of the Ways reviewed (again), Gallifrey 21 Update, news, and more.

Hosted by Louis Trapani, James Naughton, Ken Deep, and Cat @FancyFemBot

"Fantastic! Oh, fantastic! Powerless! Look at you. The great space dustbin!"

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 170
Running Time: 1:17:11

Interviews with writer Rob Shearman, actor Colin Spaull, and comedian Toby Hadoke while at Hurricane Who (special thanks to correspondents Ian Bisset ( @The6thDoctor ) and Tara Wheeler), News, Feedback, and more.

Hosted by Ken Deep, James Naughton, and Louis Trapani.

Tommy Knight (Luke) and Anjili Mohindra (Roni) of the Sarah Jane Adventures were among those on hand at Liverpool's Odeon Cinema for a special showing of the Sarah Jane Adventures there. 

Along with the Judoon walking the theater, attendees could have their photo taken with K9, and get autographs from Tommy Knight, Anjili Mohindra, and Daniel Anthony of the series. 

Dalek GirlToday was one long slog in the mud waiting for Sunday.

I did see Robert Downy Jr, Denzel Washington, Hayao Miyazaki, Cameron Diaz, John Lasseter and Gary Oldman, so it wasn't a complete loss.

No new Doctor Who news or rumors to report.

I did see a Dalek Girl

Pictured left.

Dalek Gird at San Diego Comic Con 2009

"Life depends on change, and renewal."

Outpost Gallifrey Presents:
Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 155
Running Time: 1:32:48

Review of the first Patrick Troughton story, Power of the Daleks, news, Mike Doran joins us for a Who Party 14 Toronto Report, and feedback including a review of Prisoner of the Daleks by Dave (Skaroth), and feedback (Jordan, Steve Lee, Samantha (Romana II), and Companion2B (Sarah)).

Special guests Tony Lee (far left), Paul Cornell (far right), and a Dalek join Louis Trapani and Ken Deep and the entire DWNY meet up crowd in February 2009.

On the 45th anniversary weekend of Doctor Who - Hyde Fundraisers have a Doctor Who 'Children in Need' event at Ashton-u-Lyne Library in the UK. I did an interview with Wayne Broughton for the Gallifreyan Embassy & Doctor Who Podshock. Videos and photos are also linked to on the GE site. (Looking sharp in his Doctor Who: Podshock / Gallifreyan Embassy shirt)