Monday 8 March 2010

BBC Press Release: New Series Promotional Tour/Screenings

The BBC have issued a press release about a promotional tour for Doctor Who leading up to the broadcast of the series at Easter:

The 11th Doctor embarks on his maiden voyage... with a whistle-stop tour presenting five regional premieres across the UK

Doctor Who will begin an exciting national tour across the UK in March, introducing the new Doctor to fans of the series in five different locations spanning the length and breadth of the British Isles.

The tour will introduce the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, and his Companion, Karen Gillan, to fans of the BBC One show and offer them a unique chance to meet the stars.

Each location will also host a regional premiere of episode one, The Eleventh Hour, for local children, working alongside BBC Outreach to enable kids to get a first look at the new Doctor in action.

Matt and Karen will travel around the UK on a specially themed Doctor Who tour bus, featuring the new TARDIS logo and iconic imagery.

BBC Outreach proactively takes the BBC into specific communities and sections of society, and has been integral in organising and supporting the tour.

The focus of the tour is to reach relatively under-served communities by the BBC.

The Doctor's maiden voyage will commence on 29 March in Belfast, and then travel to Karen Gillan's home town, Inverness, for a screening on 30 March.

The bus will then move on to Sunderland that afternoon and Salford on Wednesday 31 March before finishing later that day in Northampton – Matt Smith's hometown.

Following the tour, from 1 to 3 April, the BBC will also hold events for three days at selected BBC Big Screens across the UK giving Doctor Who fans in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Plymouth and Swansea the chance to interact directly with the show in their home towns.

The events will feature exclusive footage – including the chance to see the Doctor Who trailer in 3D – and giveaways, and fans can also get their photo taken tumbling through the giant vortex.

Visitors will be able to meet some of the scariest monsters that have had viewers watching from behind their sofa for generations as well.

Piers Wenger, Executive Producer, and Head of Drama, BBC Wales, said: "This is a great opportunity for the new Doctor and his Companion to interface directly with the people who matter most to Doctor Who: the fans.

"The chance to visit them in their hometowns will ensure that the 11th Doctor's maiden voyage is an utterly magical one."

Alec McGivan, Head of BBC Outreach, added: "Outreach is all about getting face to face with people so they can get involved and experience the BBC in a different and exciting way – we're delighted to be able to take one of the BBC's best loved brands out to its audience."

Media Coverage:
BBC News - Doctor Who tour for Matt Smith
CBBC - Doctor Who to tour the UK
STV - The Doctor travels across UK
TV.Com - New Doctor Who In UK Regional Tour
Digital Spy - 'Doctor Who' UK tour, premiere announced
Monsters & Critics - 'Doctor Who' fever grows in UK and US, new timelord Matt Smith on UK tour
How Do - Doctor Who comes to Salford
STV - Doctor Who’s new assistant is bringing theTime Lord to Inverness
Highland News - New Dr Who's big city date!
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Eleventh Doctor Who in earthly visit
Northampton Chronicle - Doctor Who star Matt Smith set for home town visit
UPI - 'Doctor Who' star Smith going on bus tour
Coventry Telegraph - New Doctor Who Matt Smith to go on UK tour with premiere screening
Sunderland Echo - Doctor Who coming to Sunderland
Inverness Courier - New Dr Who team to materialise in Inverness
Fly Belfast - Dr Who coming to Belfast
About My Area - Matt Smith to give Northampton children an advanced screening of new Dr Who
Aberdeen Press and Journal - Eleventh Doctor Who in earthly visit
All Headline News - The New Doctor To Go On U.K. Tour
Mirror - Doctor Who star Matt Smith going back to hometown of Northampton on Time Lord tour to promote new show
Northern Echo - Who vadis?