In Doctor Who Magazine 611, writer Steven Moffat previews the Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World, starring Ncuti Gatwa and Nicola Coughlan. Issue 611 also includes: • Four exclusive art cards • Russell T Davies’ traditional Twelve Days of Christmas column • Phil Collinson and the team behind the colourisation of Second Doctor … >
The wolves are running in high definition this year! For readers of a certain age, the BBC’s six-part dramatization of The Box of Delights firmly imprinted on their childhood. With haunting opening credits and lots of (then) cutting edge effects, the show aired in the run up to Christmas 1984. Adapted from John Masefield’s 1935 novel, … >
Sir Derek Jacobi chats candidly to Big Finish’s Scott Handcock about his life and career. The latest in their occasional ‘In Conversation’ series, audio producers Big Finish have sat down with Sir Derek Jacobi. The legendary actor, best known on television for shows such as I, Claudius, Cadfael and Last Tango in Halifax, has also … >
Audio producers Big Finish have announced another of their ‘Big Finish in Conversation’ interviews, where one of their stars sits down for an in-depth chat. Joining producer/director Scott Handcock, Sir Derek Jacobi will discuss his long and distinguished career of stage, screen and audio; from his beginnings with Sir Laurence Olivier as a founding member … >
For viewers of a certain vintage, The Box Of Delights was and is a flat-out Christmas treat. The BBC adaptation of John Masefield’s magical Christmas tale first screened in 1984, and quickly won audience hearts. The final of the six episodes screened on December 24th 1984, and in recent years, it’s become a Christmas tradition … >
The wolves are set to start running again. This time in the direction of Wilton’s Music Hall in London. An adaptation of John Masefield’s novel The Box Of Delights, which in turn was turned into a much-loved 1984 Yuletide BBC adaptation, is heading to Wilton’s this Christmas, and tickets for the run are now on … >
Although each Christmas invariably presents a fine array of quality new programming (and Mrs Brown’s Boys), there’s plenty of quality drama and comedy to be found by rummaging through the TV and radio archives. Here we look at five of our favourites… Hancock’s Half Hour: ‘Bill and Father Christmas’ ‘And, when he complained it … >
‘This house is full of eyes … all looking at me.’ What was it about? Adapted from the first of Lucy M. Boston’s series of novels, The Children of Green Knowe is a sedately-paced ghostly period drama which was originally shown on BBC One in December 1986. 1950s public schoolboy Tolly goes to spend … >
One thing that characterises the greatest British children’s television dramas of the 1980s is fear. Without ever crossing the line into the kind of adult shockers that were popular in the cinema at the time, programme makers knew the best way to engross young audiences was to scare the shit out of them – not … >
In 1984, the BBC produced one of the most memorable and ambitious children’s television programmes of all time. Based on the novel by John Masefield, The Box of Delights was a tick-all-the-boxes psychedelic alchemy that combined captivating story, superb ensemble performance and special effects that transcended the clunky, pre-digital technology of the age to create … >