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| publication = Sunday Express 
| file = 2005-03-27 Sunday Express Review p3.jpg
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| date = 2005-03-27
| author = Roddy Ashworth and Simon Belgard
| pages = Review, p. 3
| language = English 
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| text = 
BBC's crucial relaunch marred by Graham Norton 'voice-over'	


THE BBC was last night probing an embarrassing technical blunder which allowed the voice of Graham Norton to drown out Dr Who's triumphant return to the small screen.

But fans of the cult TV show were last night hoping the difficulties could be a timely omen - as the first broadcast of the hugely successful programme in 1963 also suffered from technical difficulties.

Around the country last night tens of millions of fans gathered in front of screens for the BBC's most heavily hyped new show of the year.

But they were baffled to keep hearing the voice of comedian Graham Norton running in tandem with the action.

One who called the Sunday Express said: "It would have been hilarious if it wasn't so awful. I could clearly hear Graham Norton. During the exciting action scenes it was especially irritating."

The mistake takes the gloss off what was otherwise considered to be a triumphant return by the much-loved Time Lord. A spokesman said last night: "It was a technical problem that meant the voice of Graham Norton - who had been presenting Strictly Dance Fever on BBC1 - continued faintly when his show transferred to BBC3 on digital.

"It only affected the first few minutes of Dr Who and we apologise to any viewers whose enjoyment was in any way impaired." However, last night's technical problems echoed technical difficulties with the first showing of Dr Who, which led to the Doctor's debut being repeated a week later.

Not only was the first episode of the epic sci-fi series [[broadwcast:An Unearthly Child|An Unearthly Child]] - on November 23 1963 - overshadowed by the death of John F Kennedy the day before, but a widespread power blackout meant that thousands of viewers were unable to see it.

TV chiefs solved the problem by repeating the opening episode a week later, directly followed by the second, The Cave of Skulls.

Last night fans of the series broadly welcomed the new version. Paul Eisinger, 36, of Berkshire said: "I thought it was really good. It's brilliant they have invested so much money in it and seem to be taking seriously.

"I think it's great they havt remained truthful to the original idea of Dr Who. Everyone's got their own favourite Dr Who they like because they've grown up with that Doctor.

"Mine is Tom Baker but I think the new series is great with lots of suspense."

Sara Shuttleworth, 37, from Brighton, East Sussex said: "All the family sat down to watch it, we've been looking forward to it all week.

"I've got two young children and they were behind the sofa on several occasions.

"I thought it was good and I really enjoyed Billie Piper."

Richard Morgan, 41, a teacher from Surrey said: "I was really disappointed because as an avid Dr Who fan I loved the original series. I'd have like to have seen some Daleks."

Last night a spokesman for the national grid said a power surge after Dr Who had been equivalent to about half of that following EastEnders or Coronation Street.

David Stephenson reviews the acclaimed new Dr Who: PAGE 62


Caption: SPOT THE DUMMY: The Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston, and his sidekick Billie Piper In last night's show
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Beeb cashes in as Tardis fever engulfs the television universe

DR WHO is set to rake in a Tardis-ful of cash for the BBC writes TV Editor David Stephenson.

The Corporation is expected to make up to £75million in the next five years from merchandising and selling TV rights abroad - a substantial profit on the £12million cost of making the series.

So far it has been sold to Italy, Canada and New Zealand but the biggest windfall will come from merchandising. The first toys, including a radio-controlled Dalek and a sonic screwdriver, will be on the market in October. Books, CDs and DVDs are already on sale.

Jon Diver of Character Options, the company which has won the lucrative merchandising contract, said: "We are producing an innovative range of products to complement Doctor Who. The show is simply awesome."

Dr Who fans welcomed back the show they have waited for years to see again. Clayton Hickman, editor of Dr Who Magazine, said: "Nothing official was planned but you can bet there were thousands in front of the TV with their scarves on."

Smart collectors are already laughing all the way to the bank as they watch their Dr Who items rocket in price on internet site eBay, fetching up to £500 within minutes.

Last night a life-size replica Dalek had a bidding price of £510, you could get a "genuine cardboard Tardis door" for £5, Dr Who scarves were £21 and a limited edition Dalek teapot with "exterminate" written on the spout was going for £30.

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