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How Much Would it Cost to be The Great Gatsby?

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May 9, 2013 By In Entertainment, Humour, Lifestyle, Saving Money

With the long awaited Baz Luhrmann adaptation of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel, The Great Gatsby, opening in cinemas tomorrow we decided to take a deeper look into Gatsby’s roaring 20′s life and, more specifically, his mind-boggling bank statement. Here at MyVoucherCodes, obviously we love a bit of frugal living but even we can’t help but be drawn in by the appeal of Jay Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle. Tragically for most of us dreams of exuberant partying in magnificent mansion grounds will remain exactly that…dreams.

If you wanted to live like The Great Gatsby, how much money would you need to fund your lavish lifestyle? We took a look at the book, made a list of key elements of his lifestyle, and estimated how much each element would cost if you wanted to live like Jay Gatsby today. The prices reflect what it would cost to buy modern day equivalents of what Gatsby has…

• Most of the cost to be Jay Gatsby comes from his mansion, which serves as the basis for attracting the attention of Daisy. Modern day mansions on the Gold Coast of Long Island cost at least $10 – $15 million. Kind Point Estate, one of the inspirations for Gatsby’s house, was recently listed for $39.5 million.
• High-end modern hydroplanes cost anywhere from $150,000 to $6 million. We assume that Gatsby had a very high-end hydroplane.
• One of the most expensive motorboats in 1922 came from Chris Smith and Sons and cost $7,500, $103,916.52 in today’s money.
• To calculate the cost of the parties, it’s assumed that each party costs $50,000 and that there are 5 of them. According to Richard Market, the President of the Association of Wedding Professionals International, the cost of a wedding reception in the upper crust neighbourhoods of Long Island, NY can average $40,000 – $50,000.
• The cost of the personal shopper assumes that Gatsby had 7 of each suit, one for each day of the week, from the Brooks Brothers collection coming in at a staggering $470,610 on fashion alone. Perhaps Mr Gatsby should maybe check out our latest frugal fashion posts for a bit of thrifty style inspiration?
• A yearly salary of $800,000 was used to approximate the cost of the gardener and 8 servants.
• The cost of the champagne and fruit alone racked up a whopping $81,300 to fuel Gatsby’s fun loving party guests. This assumes 500 guests for each weekend, that he bought fruit from The FruitGuys, and that he used Korbel champagne.
• The infographic assumes that if you really want to live like Great Gatsby, you’re going to have to live like him for a very short period of time. The book is set in 1922 and prohibition began in 1922, giving Jay Gatsby only a couple of years to amass his fortune through bootlegging.

Believe it not but that’s NOT ALL! After running the numbers on the cost of being The Great Gatsby the total figure came in at $34,320,880! That’s an astounding £22,033,162. For the full breakdown on the Jay Gatsby lifestyle take a look at the infographic below.

Feature Image From http://thegreatgatsby.warnerbros.com/

The Best Book to Screen Adaptations

the great gatsby
May 4, 2013 By In Entertainment

With Baz Lurhman’s much anticipated adaptation of ‘The Great Gatsby’ finally set for release in May, we’re eager to find out how such an iconic novel will fare under the creative eye of a famously over-the-top director.

When it comes to literary adaptations, creativity can be a fine line – there’s always going to be the danger of disappointing the book’s most dedicated fans, but if executed correctly, a movie has the power to bring to life some of the greatest stories ever told.

In celebration of Gatsby’s imminent release (and with our fingers firmly crossed for a big screen triumph), here’s a quick run-down of a few book to screen adaptations which managed to pull off this tricky feat with aplomb!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest | Book £6.89, DVD £3.98 | Available from Amazon


Ken Kasey’s ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ is a rather unique case; despite being critically acclaimed as a novel, Milos Foreman’s movie adaptation has overtaken it as the version most people remember, despite differing greatly from the actual story of the book. Whichever form you prefer, it’s undeniable that with Jack Nicholson’s Oscar winning performance and its particularly smart depiction of human frailty: the film is a truly memorable cinematic moment.

Great Expectations (1946) | Book £1.99, DVD £6.11 | Available from Play


In one of the finest literary adaptations ever made, David Lean’s Great Expectations succeeds where most fail… by simply sticking to the story. Instead of including details which aren’t in the book or casting wildly inappropriate people, Lean concentrated on bringing the characters we all envisioned in our minds to life. From the terrifying Miss Havisham to the kindly Joe, the characters are perfectly cast and the story beautifully told – it remains the definitive Dickens film!

Bridget Jones’s Diary | Digibook £9.99 | Available from Sainsbury’s Entertainment


When it was announced that a skinny American film star would be playing our beloved “Bridge”, many people scoffed. However, due to Renee Zellweger’s evident dedication to the role – from her English accent to her much discussed weight gain – the movie managed to retain the sweet, endearing and funny and nature of the original. In fact, we reckon it’s probably even more enjoyable!

Little Women | DVD £6.45 | Available from Zavvi


With brilliant characterisation at the heart of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, any movie version would have to involve an outstanding cast. Luckily, thanks to performances from the likes of Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Kirsten Dunst and Claire Danes, it turned out to be a cracking line-up, as well as a who’s who of future Hollywood! Despite some discrepancies regarding the storyline (in particular Jo’s sudden romantic turnaround), it’s one of those films that remains the perfect Sunday afternoon flick.

Trainspotting | Book £6.49 | Available from Tesco Direct


With Danny Boyle at the helm, Trainspotting was always going to be a vibrant and daring movie; however, you might be surprised to learn that the cinematic version is actually a lot tamer than the original set of short stories. It’s a good thing too, as with Boyle’s sensitive yet brutally honest treatment of Edinburgh’s underworld; he managed to create one of the seminal movies of the recent decades.

Harry Potter | Complete DVD collection, £22.68 | Available from Amazon


Many people shout about Lord of the Rings (and, dare we say it, Twilight) as great movie adaptations, and sure, they probably are. But due to a feat even Rowling herself wouldn’t have dared predicted, our heart belongs to Harry. We can’t think of any movie franchise which comes close – a whopping eight films, during which the cast’s performance and the general commitment to telling the story improved as time progressed. Sure it’s far from perfect, but as movie adaptations go, it’s given a lot of fans a lot of pleasure.

Have we missed out your favourite movie adaptation? Tell us in the comments section below! And for brilliant discounts on books, DVD’s and so much more, check out the entertainment category on MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.

The Worst Movie Sequels Ever

Movie Sequel Feature
April 27, 2013 By In Entertainment

Isn’t it just the worst when the good name of your favourite movie is tarnished by that of an awful sequel?

It always seems to happen. Even though you think there might be a minuscule possibility that it will be as good as, or dare you dream, even better than the original – ninety-five per cent of the time you just know it’s going to be a big fat let down.

As Bruce Willis and his crazy gun-toting ways have taught us, a dodgy sequel can strike at any time. Whoever’s in charge of the follow-up to ‘Finding Nemo’ better be ready to put the hours in, that’s all I’m saying…

But in the meantime, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest movie bombs ever to hit the silver screen!

Grease 2


As the biggest selling musical of all time, it was only natural that some clever clogs would decide to make a second Grease. But whoever decided to go ahead without John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John or the majority of the original cast was clearly still suffering from the effects of too much summer lovin’. It’s a shame because you’d think it would work, Michelle Pffieffer and all, but it simply lacked the chemistry, spark and narrative of the first.

Evan Almighty

Regardless of how bad it was or how poorly received, Evan
Almighty deserves a mention for being the most expensive comedy ever made. With an almost obscene budget of 174 million dollars, not only did it come in for some scathing reviews, but it managed to make a loss overall. It really was a terrible choice by Steve Carrell, but thanks to his overriding success in other movies, I suppose we can forgive him!

Batman & Robin


Despite some film franchises improving with age (like Harry Potter, for example), some can only push their luck so far. Case in point: the fourth in the Batman series. Starring George Clooney, Chris O’ Donnell and Alicia Silverstone, it had the potential to be light-hearted and fun, but due to its blatant toyetic approach and cringey innuendo, it took a nose-dive and brought the entire franchise down with it. Worst of all? The Bat-suit doesn’t even allow Clooney to do his usual, handsome Clooney thing.

Sex and the City 2


Despite a few objections, the general consensus seemed to be that the first Sex and the City film seemed to work quite well. The sequel on the other hand, was terribly misjudged. Instead of sticking to the emotional heart of the original series, they decided to go bonkers with a movie that turned out to be a camp, in-your-face, bizarre caricature of itself. Sure, we still love Carrie and Co, but for the love of Louboutin just stick to the proven formula!

Godfather III


No one can deny the brilliance of the first two films, yet a lot of people seem to agree that the third and final installment of the Godfather was the pits. Whether it was due to poor acting, a rushed script or merely the fact that it took fifteen years to convince Coppola to do a sequel he clearly didn’t want to do, it’s a real bugbear to think the trilogy fell short at the final hurdle.

Have we missed out the sequel which disappointed you the most? Let us know in the comments section below! And for loads of bargain DVD’s, Blu-rays and more, check out the entertainment category on MyVoucherCodes.

Feature image courtesy of IndieWire

The Best of All Summer Music Festivals

Feature Image
April 19, 2013 By In Entertainment, Lifestyle, Travel

Perhaps you’ve missed the bus on Coachella as the second weekend of music madness gets well under way today in Indio, California but that doesn’t mean that you’re not spoiled for choice when it comes to spectacular music festivals this summer. It’s no secret that the UK is home to some of the most mind-blowing musical events on the planet however you might be feeling the need to swap the British mud and rain for something a little warmer and further-a-field. So here at MyVoucherCodes we’re looking to expand your musical horizons and open your eyes (and ears) to the cornucopia of line-ups on offer the world over!

THE FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE BENICASSIM

Where and when? In a small seaport town in Spain from 18th July to 21st July 2013.

Headliners? Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age and The Killers.

How much will a ticket set you back? A standard 4-day ticket with camping costs £180.

GLASTONBURY

Where and when? On Worthy Farm in Pilton, UK from 28th June to 30th June 2013.

Headliners? Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones and Mumford & Sons.

How much will a ticket set you back? A weekend ticket will cost you £205.

ROSKILDE

Where and when? Held south of the Danish town of Roskilde from 29th June to 7th July 2013.

Headliners? Queens of the Stone Age, Rihanna and Slipknot.

How much will a ticket set you back? A full weekend ticket’ll cost you about £220.

LOLLAPALOOZA

Where and when? Grand Park somewhere in downtown Chicago from 2nd to 4th August 2013.

Headliners? The Cure, Mumford & Sons, The Killers and Nine Inch Nails.

How much will a ticket set you back? A regular 3-day festival pass will cost you around £155.

EXIT

Where and when? The unique Petrovaradin Fortress of Novi Sad in Serbia from 10th to 14th July 2013.

Headliners? Atoms for Peace, Bloc Party, Cee Lo Green and Snoop Dog aka. Snoop Lion.

How much will a ticket set you back? A full 5-day festival ticket is a bargain at just £95!

OXEGEN

Where and when? At Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Kildare in Ireland from 3rd to 4th August 2013.

Headliners? Still a mystery – to be confirmed on Monday 22nd April 2013.

How much will a ticket set you back? A 3-day ticket plus camping’ll cost you about £190.

SAVE: For 24 hours pnly (8am Friday 26th April to 8am Saturday 27th April 2013) get €75 off 2011 ticket prices, meaning you pay around £130!

ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Where and when? In Seaclose Park near Newport from 13th to 16th June 2013.

Headliners? The Stone Roses, The Killers and Bon Jovi.

How much will a ticket set you back? A weekend ticket with camping costs £185.

PUKKELPOP

Where and when? Held near Hasselt in Belgium from 15th to 17th of August 2013.

Headliners? Eminem, The XX and The Prodigy.

How much will a ticket set you back? A 4-day early bird combo ticket’ll cost you £140.

INMUSIC

Where and when? On a pretty idyllic island in Lake Jarun in Croatia from 24th to 26th June 2013.

Headliners? Arctic Monkey, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Basement Jaxx and Bloc Party.

How much will a ticket set you back? A festival ticket (approx. £45) and camping ticket (approx. £15) costs a mere £60!

Are any of these fine festivals taking your fancy? Let us know! And remember for fantastic money saving deals on all things festival from fashion to tickets, camping gear to flights check out amazing offers online at MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Leonardo Da Vinci

10 Interesting Facts About Da Vinci
April 15, 2013 By In Entertainment, News, Other, Top 10

Born on April 15th 1452, Leonardo Da Vinci is a huge figure in the history of human civilisation, but as a new TV portrayal hits our screens, how much of the myth behind the man is true?

The word genius is often banded around these days (Simon Cowell, really?) but for Da Vinci there is no doubt that the title fits.  He defies categorisation as his talents were boundless, whether painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist or writer.  But for someone with one of the most famous names in history, there is so much that still remains a mystery about the man.  And perhaps this explains his enduring appeal.

There is more to Da Vinci than the Mona Lisa, or a Dan Brown Book; and it’s this that a new TV Drama looks to explore.  Da Vinci’s Demons which premier’s on the FOX channel on 19th April promises to explore the secret life of the man during his early years.  Ultimately the drama is entertainment so it remains to be seen how factual the programme will actually be, but one thing is for sure, our thirst for Da Vinci has never been stronger.

With a record breaking exhibition of his works last year, a recent Sky documentary and endless conspiracies, the appeal of the great Renaissance man looks set to continue well beyond his 561st birthday.

Here are 10 things that you might not know about Leonardo Da Vinci.

1. Born illegitimate

Born outside of marriage, he was the love child of Caterina, a peasant, and Ser Piero, a lawyer and landlord.  Leonardo also didn’t have the best of starts with a limited home-schooled education, something that makes his achievements all the more impressive!

2. He was probably gay

Leonardo never married nor had any children, which has led historians to question his sexuality.  He also narrowly beat a sodomy charge (possibly involving one of his male models) brought against him by Florentine officials.

3. Ambidextrous Ability

Although dyslexic, Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.  Plus Leonardo could draw forward with one hand while writing backward with the other, producing a mirror-image coded script.

4. Part-time painter

Although it is probably what he is best known for, Leonardo was far from a prolific painter.  Upon his death Da Vinci left fewer than 30 paintings, and not all of those were finished.  He did however leave hundreds of drawings, sketches, and pages of notes.

5. Sculpture mystery

There are no known pieces of sculpture that can definitely be attributed to Leonardo, even though art historians know he learned sculpture whilst an art apprentice.  Strange considering sculpture was one of the key arts in Renaissance Italy.

6. Vegetarian

Unusually for the era in which he lived, Leonardo was a vegetarian.  Da Vinci did this for humanitarian reasons, all the more remarkable given his thorough dissections of the human body and this time spent as a military weapons designer.

7. Father of Robotics

In the 15th century Leonardo constructed what is thought to be the first ever humanoid robot.  His creation was simply used to entertain people, but his concept endured.  In fact, his notes have been used by NASA to help design their planetary exploration robots.

8. Bitter Rivalries

Da Vinci didn’t always have the best of relationships with his Renaissance contemporaries, especially Michelangelo.  Such was the bitter animosity between the two, that it has been recorded that they would regularly exchange insults in public.

9. Mona Lisa Smile

It took Da Vinci about ten years to paint Mona Lisa’s lips, which may explain that magic smile.  The Mona Lisa has captivated and intrigued historians in equal measures for centuries, with the most unusual theory being that the painting is a self-portrait of Da Vinci as a woman.

10. The Wrong Name

Leonardo da Vinci was born before modern naming styles emerged in Europe. What appears to be his surname “Da Vinci” is actually just the place he is from.  The great man’s real translated name is therefore “Leonardo from Vinci.”

Main image courtesy of http://www.nfohump.com

What Barbie Would Really Look Like Without Makeup?

Barbie-3
April 9, 2013 By In Entertainment, Lifestyle

A viral image of Barbie without make-up got me thinking: is this what Barbie would really look like without make-up? Ken is a pretty good looking doll. So, surely Barbie without make-up can’t be too different.

Sure enough, Barbie still looks pretty, even au naturel…


The viral image was an exaggeration, which got a lot of people talking. However, it was an exaggerated image which was not based on the real characteristics of the doll.

The real Barbie without makeup brings up a new point: if Barbie can look good without makeup, why doesn’t Mattel make dolls with a more natural look?

The Most Annoying Adverts on TV

Brad Pitt
April 6, 2013 By In Entertainment

From Ant and Dec promoting supermarkets to meerkats taking up residence in Coronation Street, when it comes to adverts, you tend to either love them or hate them. However, with just a few marketing campaigns really hitting the spot nowadays (we’re thinking dancing ponies and mariachi bands) the majority of what we see during the ad break is enough to make us reach straight for the remote.

The question remains: why do companies feel the need to annoy us rather than entertain? With celebrity names and big budgets at their disposal, you’d think there’d be more scope for variety, however, when broken down: a lot of adverts tend to fall into rather a predictable pattern. Whether stereotypical, celebrity-lead or downright odd, here’s a quick run-down of the most annoying types of adverts on the box…

‘Cool’ Celebrities


Alongside their own brand, celebrities just love to sell us stuff. When  they aren’t busy on chat shows, they’re popping up on adverts for everything from weight loss campaigns to broadband providers. In our fair opinion, one of the most irritating celeb ads has got to be Capital FM’s braggy self-promotion vehicle featuring the likes of Jessie J, Rihanna and Katy Perry. Fair enough, they’re just reading off an autocue, but why do they have to do funny dances and faux accents at the same time? “Listen up London”? Hmm, maybe if you were XFM I would.

Patronising Yoghurts


Now we don’t know who decided that only young, perky, weight-obsessed women like to eat yoghurts… But apparently, it’s an unwritten rule of life. Naturally, all adverts point to the fact that by buying certain types of ‘fat free’ yoghurt we will automatically become beautiful, interesting, skinny angels with perfectly functioning digestive systems. Do they think we were born yesterday or something? Oh shut up and pass us a Muller Corner…

Jingle Bells


In a very scientific poll (of our office) we found that most people tended to specify a few select adverts as the most obviously annoying. Confused.com, Go Compare, We Buy Any Car…. that kind of thing. So what do all these have in common? An irritatingly catchy tune or ‘character’ that is impossible to escape, ignore, forget or remotely like. Whether they are destroying a perfectly good disco song or are patronising us to within an inch of our lives, they are designed to infiltrate our brains and our cultural conscious. Job done then.

Filmic Fragrances


You’ve probably experienced that nice feeling after putting on your perfume or aftershave. You know, the one where you feel a bit fresher, a bit sexier even? But we bet you’ve never turned into a drop-dead movie star, one who possesses the power to attract the opposite sex without so much as a coherent sentence. From Brad Pitt talking a load of nonsense to that guy who is so full of fine smelling torment that he’s “not going to be the person I’m expected to be anymore”… fragrance adverts are ever so misleading. We long for the day where a perfume advert sees a woman vaguely sniffing a man and saying: “You smell nice”. THE END.

Have we missed out your most maddening advert of the moment? Tell us in the comments section below! And for the stuff you actually want to watch, check out the entertainment category over on MyVoucherCodes.

Top 5 Kids Books That Adults Will Enjoy Reading

Top 5 Kids Books That Adults Will Enjoy Reading
April 2, 2013 By In Entertainment, Lifestyle

For book lovers everywhere, you may be interested to know that Tuesday 2nd April is International Children’s Book Day. And to mark the occasion here are the children’s books that adults just can’t resist reading.

Everyone’s first exposure to literature comes in their childhood, so it’s hardly surprising that the appeal of books for younger readers continues to endure into adulthood. There is something universally appealing about the morals and sense of adventure that exist in children’s books that make them instantly accessible, and relatable for readers of all ages. There is something about a rip-roaring yarn that just can’t be beaten; think Peter Pan instead of War and Peace!

Much of the stigma of reading age-related material has also been removed over the last few years, which can only be a good thing given the slow decline in adult literacy. Reading can be such a rewarding experience, so it’s pleasing to see that book snobbery is becoming a thing of the past. It’s also great to revisit some treasured readings from your past to discover extra layers that only now with life experience are you able to appreciate, because the very best children’s and teen books are actually packed with adult issues.
So if you are looking for a good read, why not consider these books. Not just young fiction, but all round good reads for everyone!

Harry Potter

Chief amongst the books that have changed attitudes to reading are the Harry Potter books. Such was the demand among adults that special covers were introduced that would camouflage better on trains and buses. This marked a real shift in how books are targeted by publishers, because it was recognised that as well as kids reading Harry Potter, the parents were also joining in. The fantasy world of Harry Potter created by JK Rowling successfully managed to inhabit the books with characters that can be related to, no matter the age. Real people have flaws and make mistakes and so do the Harry Potter characters. Ultimately the book series offers us hope, and survival; very real adult concepts that we can all recognise.

Leviathan

Set amongst the backdrop of fictional industrialized world war 1, the Leviathan books by Scott Westerfeld deal with some very adult issues like genetics, betrayal and death. The Leviathan of the books title refers to the British airship that takes the book’s heroes on fantastical, around-the-world adventures. Although the novel represents us with an alternate history story of events around World War I, we the reader know enough about the period to create mental pictures of the hostile atmosphere and horror of some of the events. This is even more so the case for adults who have a much greater wealth of knowledge to draw upon. With the trilogy yet to be completed, Leviathan is sure to continue to rise in popularity.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why is a 2007 New York Times best-selling young-adult fiction novel written by Jay Asher that has really caught the imagination of teens and adults alike. The story revolves around Clay Jensen, a somewhat shy high school student who returns home from school one day to find an anonymously-sent package sitting on his doorstep. Upon opening it, he discovers that it is a shoebox containing seven cassette tapes recorded by the late Hannah Baker, his classmate and emotionally damaged crush who recently committed suicide by taking a handful of pills. What follows is an exploration of the consequences of our actions and the nature of the relationships we build. The discovery of Hannah’s tapes change lives forever!

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is a science fiction series written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen who lives in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem (formally North America) where youths are chosen to compete in televised battles to the death. You may be familiar with the premise from the blockbuster film of the same name, but the books are far richer than what is presented on screen. The themes of poverty, oppression and self-preservation are brilliantly represented, as the moral debate on televised violence that is very much part of the on-going social conscience. The follow up books Catching Fire and Mockingjay successfully build on the mythology of the first to create a truly immersive world.

A Monster Calls

Fantasy books are hugely popular, and the best fantasy stories tend to be aimed at youngsters like A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. The book tells the tale of a boy struggling to come to terms with news of his mother’s terminal cancer, and as a result gets visited by a monster storyteller late a night. The novel was conceived by Siobhan Dowd, who died of terminal cancer; something that adds to the resonance of the story. The monster of the title eventually helps 13 year old Conor come to terms with the illness that will take his mother’s life. Like a lot of adult books A Monster Calls doesn’t have a happy ending, which if you think about it is actually more reflective of real life. Simply a powerful story that transcends age.

If these titles have sparked your interest, take advantage of a fantastic exclusive The Book People discount from the money saving website MyVoucherCodes. Get 5% off childrens books, valid until 15th April 2013.

Main image courtesy of www.erikaliodice.com, Book images courstesy of The Book People

Easter By Numbers: The Infographic

Easter-Easter-Eggs
March 28, 2013 By In Easter, Entertainment, Humour, Lifestyle

The majority of folks would assume that, for most, Easter is all about one thing…chocolate! And for the best part they would probably be right. However, here at MyVoucherCodes we wanted to take a deeper look into what Easter truly means to us Brits. Is it all about sweet treats and fuzzy animals in bonnets? Or is Easter’s original religious meaning still significant in 2013? To find out more we surveyed 2,512 Easter loving Brits to discover what Easter really means to us as nation…

 

Easter TV – The Return of Doctor Who

Return of Doctor Who
March 26, 2013 By In Easter, Entertainment, Gifts

The line-up of Easter TV looks like being one of the best yet with The Voice returning to our screens, a brand new Jonathan Creek adventure and the return of the much anticipated Doctor Who.

2013 is a big year for Doctor Who.  Not only does it see the return of the series for the remainder of its seventh run (since it’s revamp or 33rd overall) but this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the programme that began way back in 1963.  Much is planned for the 50th celebration including a 3D special, a show at London’s Excel exhibition centre and a one off TV Drama recounting the events of the show’s genesis.

This latest run of stories begins on Saturday 30th March and sees the new Doctor’s companion Clara (as played by Jenna-Louise Coleman) make her official introduction; although in a twist she has already been seen in 2 previous episodes? Elsewhere Matt Smith continues his reign as the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord, and classic monsters like the Cybermen and Ice Warriors are waiting in the wings to take their bow over the next few weeks.  But first, there is something strange going on with the Wi-Fi…

With it being the 50th anniversary, Doctor Who merchandise has gone into hyperdrive, with everything from stamps, kitchenware, clothing and much more besides.  Here is a selection of some of the best, focusing on 3 of the core elements of the hugely successful programme.

The Tardis

An ever present staple of the show since its very first episode, the Doctor’s amazing craft is permanently stuck in the form a 20th century police box due to a broken chameleon circuit.

Key Fact: Tardis stands for ‘time and relative dimension in space’.

Boxed Bi-Folding Wallet 50th Tardis – £10.99 from Forbidden Planet | Doctor Who 3D Tardis Teapot – £22.99 from BBC Shop | Doctor Who Tardis Dressing Gown – £42.99 from Menkind | Framed – Doctor Who Tardis sign – Photographic Print – 40cm x 30cm – £24.99 from Amazon.co.uk

The Daleks

The Daleks have been a constant menace of the Doctor since the early 1960s, and remain a potent symbol of retro-chic science fiction. The exterminating pepperpots are always hell bent on conquering the universe.

Key Fact: Dalek is actually an anagram of Kaled; the race they originally were before mutation.

Doctor Who Home: Teapot Dalek Orange – £42 from BBC Shop | Men’s Dr Who Critical Dalek T-Shirt – £13.99 from Play.com | Doctor Who 2011 Talking Plush – Blue Dalek – £15.99 from Forbidden Planet | Doctor Who – Daleks Pewter Belt Buckle – £24.99 from Forbidden Planet

The Doctor

The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, and has existed in 11 incarnations via the Time Lord gift of regeneration. Mysteriously his real name is not known, or why he fled his home world in a stolen Tardis?

Key Fact: Although an exact age isn’t known, in earth years the Doctor is thought to be over 1000 years old.

Doctor Who: Official BBC Fourth Doctor Scarf – £49.99 from BBC Shop | Doctor Who – 3D Figural Mug – 2nd Doctor – £8.99 from Forbidden Planet | Lego Doctor Who Hoody – £19.99 from Amazon.co.uk | Doctor Who – Masterpiece Collection Maxi Bust 10th Doctor – £49.99 from Forbidden Planet

The official Doctor Who store at BBC Shop has a huge choice of merchandise including some exclusive lines. Get Free Delivery on all orders with the discount code website MyVoucherCodes

Main Image courtesy of www.independent.co.uk