±«Óãtv

Matt Smith and Karen Gillan host Doctor Who extravaganzas this weekend: Saturday 24 July, 7.30pm-c9.30pm and Sunday 25 July, 11am-c1pm.

Doctor Who returns to the ±«Óãtv Proms for two family spectaculars, bursting with Daleks, Weeping Angels and of course, the famous TARDIS. The concerts will be hosted by stars from the current series – Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) and special guest Matt Smith (The Doctor).

The ±«Óãtv National Orchestra of Wales, who record the soundtrack for the series, present a selection of intergalactic music – including Murray Gold’s music from the TV show, plus a selection of classical favourites including Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Mars from Holst's The Planets and Orff's Carmina Burnana.

Matt Smith says of the Doctor Who Proms: "Utterly nerve-wracking... I think that Murray Gold is incredible, totally incredibly – a genius – and to hear all that in the Royal Albert Hall will just be one of the most soaring experiences."

More than 1,000 standing tickets are released on the day and families are encouraged to come along and Prom for £5. Seated tickets are now returns only.

Doctor Who first came to the Proms in 2008 and the concert dedicated to the hit series proved to be one of the hottest tickets that season. This year the concert returns not once, but twice, as part of the ±«Óãtv Proms rich programme of family-friendly events throughout the 2010 season. The Proms Plus events on Saturday 24 July give families the opportunity to learn to play the Doctor Who music, and also to learn about the series from the behind-the-scenes staff.

The can be viewed on the Proms website, providing full details of the concert, the performers' biographies and an interview with Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.

Live pictures will be available on the day.

Doctor Who Prom – Programme to include:

Murray Gold
Music from the Doctor Who series*

John Adams
Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Holst
The Planets – Mars

Orff
Carmina Burana – O Fortuna

Wagner
The Ride of the Valkyries

Karen Gillan – host
Matt Smith – host
London Philharmonic Choir
±«Óãtv National Orchestra of Wales
*Ben Foster – conductor
Grant Llewellyn – conductor

The Doctor Who Prom on Saturday 24 July is broadcast live on ±«Óãtv Radio 3 and recorded for broadcast in early September on ±«Óãtv Three and ±«Óãtv HD. It is audio-streamed live via the ±«Óãtv Proms website at bbc.co.uk/proms and available via the ±«Óãtv iPlayer for on-demand listening for seven days after broadcast.

Notes to Editors

The ±«Óãtv Proms is the world's largest classical music festival, with more than 90 concerts – featuring many of the world's greatest artists and orchestras – as well as a host of extra events including talks, workshops, free performances and family events.

The Proms runs until Saturday 11 September 2010, and full information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

MC4