Dutchman's Blog

The next series of Doctor Who will air in two parts, it has been announced.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival this morning, showrunner Steven Moffat confirmed that the sixth run will start in Spring 2011 and return in the Autumn.

A statement from the BBC explained: “The split transmission is the result of a request from Steven Moffat to write a new Doctor Who story arc which involves a big plot twist in the middle of the series. By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens.”

Moffat added: “The split series is hugely exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!”

This decision can be discussed here: New ‘Doctor Who’ series split in two

Taio Cruz has blasted his way to the top of the singles charts with new single ‘Dynamite’.

From album Rokstarr, the dance-pop number succeeds his previous number one hit ‘Break Your Heart’.

Flo Rida and Eminem managed to keep their second and third places, while Roll Deep were knocked to fourth position.

Katy B debuted her dubstep tune ‘Katy On A Mission’ at five, ahead of Yolanda Be Cool & D Cup’s ‘We Speak No Americano’, which fell two places to six.

Elsewhere, Brandon Flowers’s first solo single ‘Crossfire’ landed at number eight, unable to outperform Travie McCoy’s ‘Billionaire’, which moved down only one place to seventh. Ne-Yo and B.o.B finished at nine and ten respectively.

The top ten in full:
1. (-) Taio Cruz: ‘Dynamite’
2. (2) Eminem & Rihanna: ‘Love The Way You Lie’
3. (3) Flo Rida ft. David Guetta: ‘Club Can’t Handle Me’
4. (1) Roll Deep: ‘Green Light’
5. (-) Katy B: ‘Katy On A Mission’
6. (4) Yolanda Be Cool & D Cup: ‘We No Speak Americano’
7. (6) Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars: ‘Billionaire’
8. (-) Brandon Flowers: ‘Crossfire’
9. (5) Ne-Yo: ‘Beautiful Monster’
10. (8) B.o.B ft. Hayley Williams: ‘Airplanes’

Source: Official Charts Company

Steven Moffat has insisted that any cut in the licence fee is likely to hurt Doctor Who.

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, the showrunner admitted that the sci-fi drama would be “rubbish” without a sizeable budget from the BBC.

He explained of the proposal to axe the licence fee: “It sounds like a punishment rather than a saving.

“Are licence fee payers protesting hugely? No. They shouldn’t, we give them lots of rubber green people in Doctor Who.

“Alien invasions are accomplished by at least three of them. Any cut in the licence fee and we’d have solo invasions. That’d be rubbish.”

This subject can be discussed here: ‘Doctor Who needs licence fee’

Sherlock has been recommissioned for a second series, it has been formally announced.

BBC One controller Jay Hunt confirmed today that the modern-day drama adaptation, which wowed viewers and critics, will return for three more 90-minute stories in autumn 2011.

Meanwhile, Luther has also been renewed, after earning a respectable audience over its six-part run.

Hunt said of the two programmes: “Sherlock was the hit of the summer; Luther, the most memorable new detective on the block. I am delighted they will both be returning to BBC One.”

(more…)

Only 2% of British consumers are planning to purchase a 3D-ready television set in the next 12 months, a new report has claimed.

According to research conducted by YouGov for Deloitte, only 89 out of the 4,199 respondents surveyed said that they intended to buy a 3D-enabled TV set over the coming year, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The biggest proportion of consumers willing to invest in a 3D set hailed from the 25-to-34 age group, while over-45s were the least likely to take the plunge.

The limited demand for 3D TVs will be a big blow to manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, LG and Panasonic, which have all recently launched 3D TVs into the UK market.

(more…)

Two Doctor Who games have been announced for Nintendo systems.

Doctor Who: Return To Earth and Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth are currently in development by Asylum Entertainment for Wii and DS respectively.

Published by Koch Media, the titles will be available this winter in the UK, Australia and several European territories.

“We are incredibly excited to be collaborating with BBC Worldwide on these two new games,” said Asylum Entertainment managing director Simon Bailey.

“It is our firm belief that the franchise has massive potential on the Nintendo DS and Wii formats and it’s an honour to be bringing Doctor Who video games to the show’s huge fan base.”

While details of the titles have yet to be revealed, the covers for each game show that Daleks and Cybermen will make an appearance.

The BBC has also been collaborating with Sumo Digital for free downloadable PC titles using the franchise. The third episode was announced last week.

The Expendables has claimed the number one spot at the UK box office.

Sylvester Stallone’s action movie, co-starring Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger, holds off competition from Angelina Jolie spy thriller Salt to land in first place in the UK.

Toy Story 3 slips to number three, bringing to an end its month-long reign at the top of the chart. Two new entries, horror remake Piranha 3D and family film Marmaduke, round out the top five.

Elsewhere, Inception drops to number six, while The Last Airbender and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice are the biggest fallers. The summer blockbusters both plummet five spots to land at numbers eight and ten respectively.

The UK box office top ten in full:
1. (-) The Expendables – £3,910,596
2. (-) Salt – £2,166,715
3. (1) Toy Story 3 – £2,090,277
4. (-) Piranha 3D – £1,487,119
5. (-) Marmaduke – £1,243,789
6. (2) Inception – £1,063,679
7. (4) Knight And Day – £825,692
8. (3) The Last Airbender – £586.576
9. (6) Step Up 3D – £507,942
10. (5) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – £439,527

Modern Warfare 2 has sold more copies than any other game released in the UK.

Last week, it surpassed sales of Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training on Nintendo DS.

The achievement was reached in 41 weeks. The game has spent only three weeks outside the all-formats top ten chart.

By comparison, it took Brain Training 36 months to overtake previous record holder Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The title had sold over 20 million copies worldwide by June 2010.

The Government has responded to defence secretary Liam Fox’s call to ban Medal Of Honor.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has distanced itself from Fox’s comments made earlier today, labelling it a “personal viewpoint” and backing the rating certificate given to the game.

“Dr Fox was expressing a personal view and we understand why some people might find the subject matter of the game offensive,” read a statement issued to Eurogamer.

“There is a ratings system in place which exists to categorise games appropriately. In this case the game in question is rated 18 so should only be sold to, and played by, adults.

“There is a clear choice for consumers which they can exercise when making decisions about purchasing video games.”

(more…)