Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to Perform a Doctor Who Spectacular!

The BBC have confirmed that the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from Australia is to perform as part of the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend, read on for more details:

History will be made this weekend as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ben Foster, performs Murray Gold's thrilling music from the two most recent series of Doctor Who.

It's the first time such an event has occurred outside the UK and the first and only Australian performances of the show will be this Saturday, 4th Feb at 2pm and 7pm at the Plenary Hall, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Both shows are sold out.

Inspired by the BBC Doctor Who Proms at Royal Albert Hall in London, the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular will be an exhilarating live event, accompanied by a big screen presentation of key moments and specially edited sequences showcasing Matt Smith's portrayal of the Doctor. BBC Wales' Paul Bullock, who produced the previous Doctor Who Proms and the seminal Doctor Who: A Celebration back in 2006, is producing this latest extravaganza.

The performances are hosted by Mark Sheppard, best known as Canton Everett Delaware III in The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon. He'll be joined by his old friends the Silence with a host of other monsters including Daleks, Cybermen and Judoon invading the auditorium!

Mark is clearly delighted to be back in the world of everyone's favourite Time Lord. "Doctor Who is such a fantastic show and the fans' loyalty is incredible,' he commented. 'The music has been a key component in the success of the show; it's instantaneously identifiable and spine-tingling. I can't wait to hear the sounds of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - and the Tardis - filling Plenary Hall."

Matthew Van Besien, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Managing Director, was equally enthusiastic. "The response from the Australian public to this concert has been overwhelming and I know the Orchestra are really looking forward to being a part of such a unique and world famous production..."

In other news: Alex Kingston has rumoured that River Song "may" return in the next series of Doctor Who this Autumn, more details coming soon...