Time Made Of Strawberries – Un Temps De Fraises

BBC ramps up Doctor Who promotion and unveils air date

By Mélissa M Azombo

The BBC have officially confirmed that Doctor who will return to screens at 18:45 on Sunday 7^th October on BBC 1.

This was released amidst increasing promotion of the show leading up to the air date, starting with the Sheffield première of the 11^th Series of the show on Monday 24^th September. The invite-only event attracted an array of fans to the red carpet (lucky fans received tickets to attend the red carpet event but not to see the episode itself, via BBC ballot), keen to meet the new Doctor Who team: Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor), Mandip Gill (Yasmin Khan), Tosin Cole (Ryan Sinclair), Bradley Walsh (Graham), showrunner Chris Chibnall and new composer Segun Akinola. The star-studded event did not disappoint, as critics acclaim the show in a truly positive light.

Over the past few days, further promotional video clips have been released featuring The Doctor and her new best friends. They inject colour, glee and wonder into the viewer – a promotional approach like never before for Doctor Who.

The cinematic approach to the timing of promotion runs parallel with the approach in the promotional content itself. Film releases feature heavier promotion in the recent run-up to the release date, as opposed to trickling throughout the year, as Doctor Who has done in previous years. The most recent trailer too has a very cinematic feel to it, informing tone and character more heavily than plot or villains. This brand-new approach and brand new look is the face of a brand new team behind the show.

The Doctor Who team have been very secretive over any information surrounding the show but has released the names of some of its new recruits. Jamie Childs whose notable work includes Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, has directed the first episode of the upcoming series. Other directors this series include Sallie Aprahamian (Worst Witch), Jennifer Perrott (Hollyoaks) and Mark Conderai of Gotham.

The series has also gained a host of brand new writers including Ed Hime (Skins), Vinay Patel (Murdered By My Father), Pete McTighe (Wentworth), Joy Wilkinson (The Life and Adventures Of Nick Nickleby) and Malorie Blackman, renowned for her novel Noughts and Crosses – a fictional story about a world where Africans had the technological advantage and had had Europeans as their slaves.

Fans are set to uncover more about what the next series of Doctor Who has in store for us as Jodie Whittaker joins The Graham Norton Show sofa for the launch of its new series, tonight. She will discuss how she found out she got the role, before taking us to a clip of the next episode. Within just a few seconds, Jodie embodies the role of The Doctor. The companions seamlessly fit into the storyline. Audiences will be gripped and if they are not already, will grow impatient for next Sunday by the end of the clip.

Jodie will be joined by Ryan Gosling, who is promoting First Man, a film about the late Neil Armstrong as he prepares for the moon landing. Guests on the sofa also include Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper who had their London première of A Star Is Born yesterday. Rod Stewart will also be on the sofa. The Graham Norton Show starts on Friday 28^th September at 22h35 on BBC 1.