60 years of Doctor Who is to be celebrated with impressive programme of talks, panels, and performances at this year’s Bluedot festival.
Cheshire’s multi award-winning celebration of music, science, and cosmic culture will once again be taking over the grounds of the iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory from Friday 20 – Sunday 23 July – with Grace Jones, Pavement, Roisin Murphy, Max Richter, and Leftfield among the names lined-up to take to the stage over the three-day festival.
BBC Concert Orchestra, Young Fathers, and Annie Mac also form part of this year’s already-announced lineup, alongside a series of hands-on science workshops, exhibitions, and so much more.
And now, you can add a massive Doctor Who anniversary celebration that list.
It’s pretty fitting that Bluedot’s Jodrell Bank home would host the 60-year celebrations to the long-running BBC sci-fi show, as fans will know that the Observatory is rightly-renowned in Whovian lore for having provided the backdrop to the fourth Doctor’s transition to the fifth back in 1982 – when Tom Baker handed the role over to Peter Davison.
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Taking place on the Sunday of the three-day festival, with a full programme of events curated by the Bluedot festival team – who are self-confessed Who superfans – actor and renowned Doctor Who expert Toby Hadoke, and the charity Delia Derbyshire Day, 60 Years of Doctor Who – A Celebration promises festivalgoers a spine-tingling experience.
Radiophonic Workshop will be the event’s very-special guests with the premiere of brand-new live show, Dawn of the Doctors.
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60 years of Doctor Who to be celebrated Bluedot Festival with talks, performances, and more / Credit:
Aside from that though, Toby Hadoke’s series of talks and panels include a conversation with BBC Radio 4’s Robin Ince for a “fascinating and hilarious deep-dive into life as a Whovian”, a talk with Dr Tom Attah, Dr Emma Alexander, and comedian and Doctor Who actor Bethany Black titled ‘Why Do We Love This Silly Programme So Much’.
One of the stand-out talks in Toby’s lineup is ‘Doctor Who Made Me’ – which will be made up of prolific TV scriptwriter and producer Stephen Gallagher, who wrote the Doctor Who stories Warrior’s Gate and Terminus, and actor and writer Dan Starkey, who has played the fan-favourite Strax the Sontaran character in numerous episodes.
Bluedot 2023 is taking over the grounds of Jodrell Bank on Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July / Credit: bluedot
Further panels include ‘Reversing the Polarity of the Timey Wimey Flow: The Changing Portrayal of the Scientist in Doctor Who’ with David Butler, Jen Gupta, and Simon Guerrier, and ‘Doctor Who and the Current Crisis; The Role of Drama in Imagining Futures’ with Sashwati Mira Sengupta.
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Another one of the event’s highlights is ‘Conversations in Space, Time, Science and Music: Doctor Who at 60’ – which is a fascinating programme of panels featuring Dick Mills, who was Delia Derbyshire’s tape assistant during the production of the original theme, and Mark Myers of the Radiophonic Workshop Band.
Both final day and weekend tickets for Bluedot 2023 are on sale now, and you can find out more and grab yours here.
Featured Image – Lucas Sinclair
What's On
Parklife has ALREADY put 2024 tickets on sale at a bargain price – but there’s only 1000 available
Daisy Jackson
Parklife has barely begun, with thousands pouring into Heaton Park for the first day of the festival – but for the first time ever, tickets for next year are already on sale.
The massive music event has made a surprise announcement that it’s putting its 2024 tickets on sale while the 2023 edition is underway.
Tickets for Parklife 2024 are on sale at a discounted price too, until this year’s wraps up tomorrow night.
So that means you have until The 1975 finish their Parklife Stage performance at 11pm on Sunday to secure your entry for next year.
There’s a really limited number of tickets available – only 1,000 – in the super early-bird sale.
Anyone who books their ticket now will be able to lock in their festival for next year for just a £15 deposit.
From 11pm on Sunday, that deposit price will jump up by £25.
2024 let’s go, super early birds onsale for 48hrs — £15 deposit
Parklife announced the new on Twitter this afternoon, writing: “2024 let’s go, super early birds onsale for 48hrs — £15 deposit.”
The festival added on their website: “For the first time ever we’re putting Parklife 2024 on-sale while the 2023 festival is underway.
“We’re offering a SUPER early-bird 2024 ticket prices for 48hrs that go live on Saturday as soon as the gates open at 11AM and increase by £25.00 on Sunday when last headliner The 1975 finishes at 11PM.
“There are only 1,000 available, so get them from a £15 deposit while you can!”
Payment plans are available – you can pay £15 now, then pay off the remainder of your ticket in 11 monthly instalments finishing in May 2024.
Drinks prices at Parklife 2023 as thousands party in the sunshine
Daisy Jackson
There are few situations that will fill people in Manchester with as much joy as dancing in the Parklife fields beneath blue skies and sunshine with a cold drink in hand.
And the weather forecast for this weekend has delighted ticket-holders, with temperatures hitting as high as 29 degrees on Saturday.
Parklife attendees are in for an absolute scorcher and are being encouraged to stay hydrated.
Festival-goers are allowed to take in an empty 500ml clear water bottle to refill at water points on site.
But if you’re looking to buy drinks at Parklife, this is what the bar prices are looking like.
You’ll be facing prices of £6 and above for anything alcoholic, while soft drinks start from £2.50.
As well as the main festival bars, there are several bars sponsored by drinks brands, including Jagermeister and Bacardi.
It’s pretty standard pricing (sadly) these days for a huge festival like this. Below is a breakdown of all the drinks prices for Parklife 2023.
Beer and cider
San Miguel – 440ml can – £6.20 Somersby Cider – 440ml can – £6.50
Ready-to-drink cans
Bacardi Mango Mojito – 250ml can – £7.50
Wine
Rose – 375ml half-bottle – £15 White – 375ml half-bottle – £15
Alcohol-free and soft drinks
0% Erdinger can – £6 0% grapefruit paloma – £6 0% Moscow mule – £6 Pepsi Max/7Up Free – £2.50 Red Bull (various flavours) – £3.50 Still water – £2.50
Spirits and mixers
Bacardi Spiced – £10.50 for 50ml doubles, £7 for 25ml singles Bacardi Carta Blanca – £10.50 for 50ml doubles, £7 for 25ml singles Bombay Sapphire – £10.50 for 50ml doubles, £7 for 25ml singles Eristoff Vodka – £10.50 for 50ml doubles, £7 for 25ml singles Jack Daniels – £10.50 for 50ml doubles, £7 for 25ml singles
Cocktails
Vodka and Red Bull – £11.50 for 50ml doubles, £8 for 25ml singles Tropical Rumbull – £11.50 for 50ml doubles, £8 for 25ml singles Watermelon Ginbull – £11.50 for 50ml doubles, £8 for 25ml singles
Shots
Patron Silver Tequila – £9.50 Jagerbomb – £6 each, or four for £20 Jagermeister Cold Brew Coffee – £7 Jagermeister ice cold shot – £6
Emily Sergeant -
26th May 2023 
