Doctor Who Online
Encyclopedia
Doctor Who Online is a UK-based news, information, and forum site dedicated to the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who
. The website was created by actor and Science Fiction fan Sebastian J. Brook.
described it as 'one of the most popular and longest established [Doctor Who sites]'. The leading UK Science Fiction magazine, SciFiNow
cited the site as 'the web's premiere Doctor Who site'..
When it launched in 1996, there was no current series of Doctor Who and the show was not shown in a regular cycle; because of this the website detailed when previous episodes were to be repeated on television, on channels such as UK Gold. The original website had regular features including news, episode guides, magazine releases (often featuring Doctor Who Magazine
) and convention information.
In 2000, the website changed its name to Doctor Who Online in response to former Doctor Tom Baker
, who suggested the name would suit the website better. Many of the features the website used to have, such as the News section, still remain.
The news section of the Doctor Who Online website has regular news contributors who help to document Doctor Who broadcast and merchandise announcements. The section also includes news from spin-off shows Torchwood
and The Sarah Jane Adventures
.
A regular feature on the website is the Doctor Who: DWO Whocast
Podcast, which was started in April 2006. The podcast's hosts have included Trevor Gensch, Tony Gallichan, M M Gilroy-Sinclair, Marty Perrett, James Rockliffe, Tom Attah and, more recently, Sebastian J. Brook and Paul Wilson who are back in the role after two years away from it.
In November of 2010, Doctor Who Online teamed up with Blendtec
for a Doctor Who Will it Blend Doctor Who special, in which DWO Editor, Sebastian J. Brook and Blendtec C.E.O, Tom Dickson, attempt to blend an Ironside Dalek action figure. The video has proved popular on YouTube with over 200,000 views so far..
provider. Due to membership increasing, the forum was upgraded a few years later. The online community has over 32,000 members and discussion frequently takes place on the recently televised Doctor Who episodes, as well as merchandise, novels, video / audio, and past Doctor Who adventures.
The Doctor Who Online forums are frequently used by the British media to gauge Doctor Who fan opinion. For example, the announcement of the new costume for the Eleventh incarnation of the Doctor
was the subject of comments on the forum, which were picked up by the BBC News
Magazine website. The choice of actor to play the Eleventh incarnation was also heavily discussed. When the actor announcement was made, Doctor Who Online editor Sebastian J. Brook said 'I think it is the right choice. It is good that they have got a young guy with lots of energy.'.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. The website was created by actor and Science Fiction fan Sebastian J. Brook.
Main site
The site was founded as Doctor Who: The REGENERATIVE website in 1996 as a site for fans to find out news and guides for the show whilst it was off the air. A review of the website by BBC Radio 2's Miles MendozaMiles Mendoza
Miles Mendoza has been a regular contributor on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright In The Afternoon programme for several years. He presents a website review which debuted as Website of the Day but has more recently become a weekly feature - now called Website of the Week.In 2006, Miles published a book...
described it as 'one of the most popular and longest established [Doctor Who sites]'. The leading UK Science Fiction magazine, SciFiNow
SciFiNow
SciFiNow is a British magazine published every four weeks by Imagine Publishing in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, covering the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres. It launched in April 2007...
cited the site as 'the web's premiere Doctor Who site'..
When it launched in 1996, there was no current series of Doctor Who and the show was not shown in a regular cycle; because of this the website detailed when previous episodes were to be repeated on television, on channels such as UK Gold. The original website had regular features including news, episode guides, magazine releases (often featuring Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
) and convention information.
In 2000, the website changed its name to Doctor Who Online in response to former Doctor Tom Baker
Tom Baker
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is a British actor. He is best known for playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role he played from 1974 to 1981.-Early life:...
, who suggested the name would suit the website better. Many of the features the website used to have, such as the News section, still remain.
The news section of the Doctor Who Online website has regular news contributors who help to document Doctor Who broadcast and merchandise announcements. The section also includes news from spin-off shows Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
and The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
.
A regular feature on the website is the Doctor Who: DWO Whocast
Doctor Who: DWO Whocast
Doctor Who: DWO WhoCast is a weekly podcast which discusses the British science fiction series Doctor Who. This podcast is notable because it is the most popular Doctor Who Podcast worldwide as shown within the independent iTunes...
Podcast, which was started in April 2006. The podcast's hosts have included Trevor Gensch, Tony Gallichan, M M Gilroy-Sinclair, Marty Perrett, James Rockliffe, Tom Attah and, more recently, Sebastian J. Brook and Paul Wilson who are back in the role after two years away from it.
In November of 2010, Doctor Who Online teamed up with Blendtec
Blendtec
Blendtec is a company that sells professional and home blenders, with their key product being the Total Blender. It is a division of K-Tec...
for a Doctor Who Will it Blend Doctor Who special, in which DWO Editor, Sebastian J. Brook and Blendtec C.E.O, Tom Dickson, attempt to blend an Ironside Dalek action figure. The video has proved popular on YouTube with over 200,000 views so far..
Community
The original forum went live in April 2003 and were powered using the EzboardEzboard
ezboard, Inc., based in San Francisco, California, United States, is a provider of free and paid hosted Internet forums.-Description: was a provider of a free hosted message board for use by webmasters and message board administrators who have little to no experience running a web site...
provider. Due to membership increasing, the forum was upgraded a few years later. The online community has over 32,000 members and discussion frequently takes place on the recently televised Doctor Who episodes, as well as merchandise, novels, video / audio, and past Doctor Who adventures.
The Doctor Who Online forums are frequently used by the British media to gauge Doctor Who fan opinion. For example, the announcement of the new costume for the Eleventh incarnation of the Doctor
Eleventh Doctor
The Eleventh Doctor is the eleventh incarnation of the protagonist of the BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. Matt Smith plays this incarnation, replacing David Tennant's Tenth Doctor in the 2010 episode "The End of Time, Part Two"...
was the subject of comments on the forum, which were picked up by the BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
Magazine website. The choice of actor to play the Eleventh incarnation was also heavily discussed. When the actor announcement was made, Doctor Who Online editor Sebastian J. Brook said 'I think it is the right choice. It is good that they have got a young guy with lots of energy.'.