All of time and space via police telephone box
Join our panellists as they celebrate and critique the world's longest running science fiction show. As we approach New Who's tenth anniversary, we'll discuss the highs and lows of the rebooted show and talk about what we want to see in the future, as well as looking back at the remarkable legacy of the Doctor's adventures, and what it means to us as fans.
All in Royal C&D except Friday's workshop.
Friday
The Doctor Changed Your Life: how did that happen? - 11.45am - 1.00pm
What influence, large or trivial, has Doctor Who had on your life? Has it changed how you see the world; ignited new interests; made you unwisely stick with chemistry all the way through high school because you really wanted to be Liz Shaw when you were seventeen? What has your experience been of the fandom? What does being a fan of Doctor Who mean to you?
Panel: Simon Guerrier (mod), Amy, Sarah Groenewegen, Hamish Steele
Gallifreyan Writing Workshop: learn to write like a Time Lord! - 1.30pm - 2.45pm, Room 31
Come along to our Gallifreyan writing workshop, where you can learn how to write in the beautiful swirling circular writing of the Time Lords.
Workshop: with Shirley Procter
The Companions: they save the universe a lot - 3.15pm - 4.30pm
Our intrepid panellists discuss the companions of Doctor Who. Which ones worked best, and which ones fell by the wayside? Who's under-rated and who deserved a run of seven years? What companion storylines have been the most compelling? And going into the future: what do we want to see on-screen, what can we realistically get, and what new archetypes and new ideas would we like to see played out?
Panel: Alex Fitch (mod), Amy, Llin, Kari Sperring
Science! Why does it matter? - 6.45pm - 8.00pm
Doctor Who has often been described as a science-fantasy show rather than a science fiction one, but there's been many an attempt to get some proper science in there. Does getting the science right matter? Can we forgive the moon being a giant space dragon egg? Why doesn’t the Doctor call himself a scientist these days? Has the science, or lack of, in Doctor Who inspired or disappointed you?
Panel: Duncan Lawie (mod), Abigail Brady, Simon Guerrier, Marek Kukula
Gender Fluid Time Lords: canonical gender change at last! - 8.30pm - 9.45pm
After decades of fannish speculation, the past few years of Doctor Who have finally and conclusively revealed that, yes, a Time Lord can change gender when they regenerate. And now we've seen the second most well-known Time Lord present as both a man and a woman. How does this new reveal affect our perception of the Time Lords as a race? What difference does it make that the Master/Missy was written as and played by a woman? And how effective was that portrayal? What do we want to see going forward?
Panel: Hamish Steele (mod), Abigail Brady, Laurie Penny, Katherine Jay, Jade Rose
Saturday
The Peter Capaldi Era: new kidneys, and a Scottish accent - 1.30pm - 2.45pm
The last season of Doctor Who brought a new Doctor to our screens in the form of Peter Capaldi. He's older, crankier, and - for some fans - better looking than any other New Who Doctor. He also has one of the most complicated relationships with his companion. How has this past year of Doctor Who worked out for our panellists? Do they love Capaldi, and his smashing hair? Do we miss the plot arc, or is stronger, more nuanced characterisation the way to go?
Panel: Duncan Lawie (mod), Una McCormack, L. M. Myles, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Alasdair Stuart
Gallifreyan Writing Workshop: learn to write like a Time Lord! - 3.15pm - 4.30pm, Room 31
Come along to our Gallifreyan writing workshop, where you can learn how to write in the beautiful swirling circular writing of the Time Lords.
Workshop: with Shirley Procter
Doctor Who and Transhumanism: what are we so afraid of? - 5.00pm - 6.15pm
The Cybermen, the Daleks, the Fish People, the Wirrn, Cassandra… these Doctor Who antagonists have one thing in common: they portray humanity changing from its humanoid state as something horrifying, something that we should be afraid of and reject. Why do the villains of Doctor Who so often plot to destroy us by taking away our human bodies? Why do we see this concept explored in only a negative way? What are we afraid of, and should Doctor Who be able to look beyond that fear?
Panel: Sarah Groenewegen (mod), Paul Cornell, Una McCormack, Adrian Tchaikovsky
Sunday
The Books of Doctor Who: just how many are there anyway? - 10.00am - 11.15am
Over the past fifty years there've been a truly terrifying number of Doctor Who books published. From the Target novelisations of the classic series stories to the New Adventures of the nineties, the record-breaking Eighth Doctor Adventures, and the tie-ins of the New Series. What great stories can be found in Doctor Who books? How have the books influenced your views of Doctor Who?
Panellists: Simon Guerrier (mod), Adam Christopher, Paul Cornell, Sarah Groenewegen
The Top 5 Who Stories ... chosen to be saved from destruction - 5.00pm - 6.15pm
There's been a disaster in the space/time vortex! All of Doctor Who is about to be destroyed. Only our panellists can save five stories. Which five will they be and why? Will they co-operate with their fellow panellists to reach a compromise, or stand firm with their favourites and tut as they defend what are clearly appalling stories while all of Doctor Who is lost forever?
Panel: Amy (mod), Adam Christopher, Laurie Penny, Katherine Jay