The Snowmen

First things first - how cool are the new titles? almost like a megamix of everything since 1963.

And while we're on the subject, how bout the new TARDIS interior? Clara enters to the strains of "The Majestic Tale of  Mad Man in  Box" and it's like "Hello Sexy!" (the  TARDIS, but I guess you can include Jenna-Louise in that too!).

But while we're on the subject of the new companion, I think Jenna-Louise lived up to the potential she showed in Asylum of the Daleks. And in typical Moffat fashion he can't just give us a straight-forward introduction to the new companion can he? Hopefully we'll get some answers next year about just who Clara Oswald Oswin really is.

Matt was... well Matt. We all knew the Doctor sulking after the events of The Angels Take Manhattan wouldn't last long and the interplay between him and Jenna-Louise was a joy to behold.

I'm trying to decide if The Snowmen has replaced A Christmas Carol in my affections as the best Christmas special. Maybe not but it was still an enjoyable, action packed hour. Richard E. Grant finally make it into the world of official Doctor Who and it was nice to see (or rather hear) a blast from the past with the Great Intelligence making a comeback (I think there might be some unfinished business there what with the Doctor trying to remember what the intelligence was at the end of the episode. Does that mean the Yeti are making a comeback?). And we get a preview of what next year will bring (for the first half anyway). Roll on April 2013!

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular - the Sydney concert

After I attended the original Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular held in Melbourne earlier this year I thought, wouldn't it be amazing if they re-staged it in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House? Having the music on one of the most iconic TV series ever made performed in one of the most iconic buildings ever constructed. Maybe they'll do it next year for the 50th anniversary.

Eleven months later... and where did I find myself last night? (bet the BBC didn't think they've have to extend the original run of four performances to twelve because of demand!)

Essentially it was the same programme as last time, with some music from series 7 thrown in. We didn't get the Doctor again either (though Matt did send a video message), but we got the next best person. "Hello sweetie!" Yep, the Mrs! Alex Kingston took to the stage to thunderous applause and was one of the best things of the night (Mark Williams aka Rory's dad wasn't took bad either!). And of course there were Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians, Silence. There was even an Angel...

So was it better then the Melbourne concert? Different, but the same. But who cares? We were there to enjoy the music and celebrate the most iconic TV series in the world (in the most iconic concert hall in the world!). Can't wait for the next one.

The Great Detective and The Snowmen

Chrildren in Need was on the other night and that means either a minepisode or the trailer for the Chistmas special. This year it's both.

So first, the miniepisode The Great Detective

And the trailer for The Snowmen

Roll on Boxing Day!

The Complete Sixth Series

Things to love about the complete sixth series.

• The Doctor's Wife. Easily the most beautiful and astounding episode since... ever?
• Let's Kill Hitler. The most mental episodes
• Matt Smith
• Amy. As ever
• The opening episodes where the Doctor actually dies. As you spend the rest of the series thinking, how the hell are they going to get out of that???
• The revelation of who River Song is. I didn't see it coming and it nearly had me falling off my chair in shock.
• Closing Time. And the moment where you think are they really going to turn Craig into a Cyberman?
• Rita in The God Complex. Another to add to the list of companions who, sadly, never were.
• The loving tribute to The Brigadier in The Wedding of River Song
• Rory coming into his own.
• Alex Kingston. Need I say more?
• The Night and the Doctor mini-episodes
• Knowing it's sadly the last we'll see of Doctor Who Confidential (damn BBC cutbacks!)

And many more.

Behind the Sofa

Doctor Who is a show that's touched the lives of many. One of whom is the editor of this volume Steve Berry. And he's used his love of the show to raise money for a very worthy cause - the proceeds of this book go towards the work of Alzheimer's Research U.K.

A whole range of celebrities speak of how Doctor Who has effected their lives. This includes many familiar names such as Richard Briers, Bill Oddie, Katy Manning, John Challis, Shaun Digwell, Nicola Bryant, Stephen Merchant, Sophie Aldred, Neil Gaiman, Al Murray, Jon Culshaw, Janet Fielding, Lynda Bellingham, Terrance Dicks, Frances Barber, Julian Glover, Anneke Wills, Hugh Bonneville and (of all people) Michael Grade.

It's a wonderful and, a times, touching read. Recommended.

P.S.

Ever wonder what happened to Brian, Rory's dad, after the events of The Angels Take Manhattan? This video fills in the gap.

Dare anyone to watch it without crying.

The Angels Take Mahattan

"Oh, I always rip out the last page of a book. Then it doesn't have to end. I hate endings"

Oh God, where do I start? The best episode of the series? The most emotional farewell to a companion since Rose in Doomsday? Is this Steven Moffat's best episode to date, surpassing even Blink? Does Nick Hurran have a fetish for creepy hotels? (this is the same guy who directed last years The God Complex)

From the opening revelation that the Statue of Liberty is a Weeping Angel to the final moments with Amy and Rory (the longest running companions since the series came back - I'd never realised that before!), The Angels in Manhattan is a fitting swansong for them and this current series of Doctor Who. Oh, and River's in it too. And bring the tissues.

"This is the story of Amelia Pond - and this, is how it ends."