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    Richard Franklin 1936-2023
    Monday, 25 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus


    https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2023/1...1936_2023.html


    The actor Richard Franklin, who played Captain Mike Yates in 43 episodes of Doctor Who, has died at the age of 87.

    As one of the UNIT personnel, Franklin was a key character in the team which developed in the third Doctor era, led by Jon Pertwee, as a sidekick to Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and a love interest for Jo Grant.

    Richard Franklin made his debut as Mike Yates in the eighth series of Doctor Who, appearing in four of the series' five stories, Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos and the story often designated as a favourite by members of the cast The Dæmons.

    The character was back in the following year appearing in Day of the Daleks and The Time Monster before returning in the last three episodes of series 10, The Green Death

    In Pertwee's final season, the character of Yates found himself on the opposite side to the Doctor in Invasion of the Dinosaurs believing in a project to return the earth to a golden age. His final appearance in Planet of the Spiders saw the characters' redemption.

    Richard Franklin died early on Christmas morning after a long illness. His death was announced by family friend Liam Rudden on Social Media
    It is with great sadness, that the family of Richard Franklin have asked me to share news of his passing, early this morning. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared here when announced. Sleep well Richard. #rip

    Richard Franklin was born in Marylebone, London, on 15 January 1936. He was educated at Westminster School and Oxford University before training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

    His early work was in the theatre where he spent six years in repertory theatre. His break into television came in 1969 when he was cast as Joe Townsend in the soap opera Crossroads, appearing in thirty-six episodes.

    Other roles included parts in Dixon of Dock Green, The Saint, Little Women, The Borgias and Blake's 7
    He returned to Doctor Who in audio productions for BBC Audio and Big Finish and made a cameo in the 20th Anniversary story The Five Doctors.

    Katy Manning, who played Jo Grant in the series was a good friend and collogue of Franklin, paid tribute on x.
    @ManningOfficial Our wonderful brave captain Yates #RichardFranklin has gone on his awfully big adventure I'm so very grateful i saw him on Friday. smiling memories & love for him are with me & all of us whose lives he touched & enriched❤️. my thoughts are with his family.

    THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
    K-9, CLASS and much more...

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      WISHING ALLMY FELLOW WHOVIANSA
      VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

      Hope that your60th anniversary Doctor Who celebrations were enjoyable!!!!



      THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
      K-9, CLASS and much more...

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        In Memoriam 2023
        Monday, 1 January 2024 - Reported by Marcus


        https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...riam_2023.html

        Toby Hadoke has published his annual memoriam of those who have delighted us both in front of and behind the scenes of Doctor Who and its extended worlds, who sadly passed away in 2023. Remembering those whom we lost from the worlds of Doctor Who this year. Includes a small number from before 2023 whose deaths only came to light this year.

        THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
        K-9, CLASS and much more...

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          Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 599
          Thursday, 4 January 2024 - Reported by Marcus

          https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...issue_599.html
          Doctor Who Magazine: Issue 599 (Credit: Panini)



          Doctor Who Magazine Issue 599 is out today.

          In this issue:
          • An exclusive double interview with Ncuti Gatwa and David Tennant – talking about bi-generation.
          • An access-all-areas look at the making of the Anniversary Specials finale The Giggle.
          • Production designer Phil Sims takes us on a guided tour of the new TARDIS.
          • Sonic disruptors! The making of the Fifteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver.
          • A profile of new companion Ruby Sunday.
          • Join Blue Peter competition winner Verity on a tour of Doctor Who’s Wolf Studios.
          • We talk to the people who worked on post-production on the latest episodes.
          • Script editor Scott Handcock relives the anniversary month in his Production Diary.
          • Crowd Sourcing – the concluding part of our feature on the life of extras on 60s Doctor Who.
          • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies explains how the Gallifrey of the Fugutive Doctor was foreshadowed in 70s episode The Hand of Fear – now available on iPlayer.
          • Sophie Aldred – aka 80s companion Ace – remembers her time on the show.
          • The Fact of Fiction – we scrutinise Eleventh Doctor mid-series finale A Good Man Goes To War.
          • A brand-new comic strip featuring the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday!
          PLUS!
          • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
          • A new-look reviews section – covering radio, books, soundtracks, and audio dramas.
          • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
          • Win a copy of the Anniversary Specials Blu-ray, the new Target adaptations and the latest audio releases.
          Doctor Who Magazine Issue 599 is on sale Thursday 4 January from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK).

          Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99

          THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
          K-9, CLASS and much more...

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            ​ ​ Season Fifteen Comes to Blu-ray
            Thursday, 11 January 2024 - Reported by Marcus


            https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...o_blu_ray.html
            The Collection: Season Fifteen (Credit: BBC Studios)







            The BBC has announced that the next season of Doctor Who to be released on Blu-ray is Season Fifteen first broadcast in 1977.

            The seven-disc box set stars Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor alongside Louise Jameson as Leela.
            This limited-edition set contains six classic stories packed with hours of new and exclusive material.

            Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15

            HORROR OF FANG ROCK
            THE INVISIBLE ENEMY
            IMAGE OF THE FENDAHL
            THE SUN MAKERS
            UNDERWORLD
            THE INVASION OF TIME




            These stories include the character of trusty robot dog K9, voiced by John Leeson and builds to an epic showdown on the Time Lords’ home planet Gallifrey with the Doctor pitted against his old adversaries the Sontarans.

            All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media.

            The Collection: Season 15 Blu-ray box set also includes extensive Special Features including:
            • UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS
              Exclusive to Blu-ray, on Horror Of Fang Rock.
            • BEHIND THE SOFA
              New episodes with Louise Jameson (Leela), Colin Baker (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Betsan Roberts (wife of director Pennant Roberts) and comedian and presenter Toby Hadoke.
            • BLU-RAY TRAILER
              A brand-new scripted trailer to announce the Season 15 Boxset of Doctor Who.
            • DARKNESS AND LIGHT
              A look at the life and career of producer Graham Williams.
            • IN CONVERSATION
              Interviewer Matthew Sweet chats to Louise Jameson.
            • INSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE
              Making Horror Of Fang Rock.
            • TOM TALKS
              Tom Baker muses on life, the universe and everything.
            • AUDIO COMMENTARIES
              Exclusive new Audio Commentaries from Tom Baker.
            • 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX
              On Horror Of Fang Rock.
            • RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE
            • TOM BAKER BLACKPOOL EXHIBITION LINKS
            • RARE ARCHIVE TREATS
            • HD PHOTO GALLERIES
            • INFO TEXT
            • PDF ARCHIVE
            • PLUS LOTS MORE!
            This seven-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Updated Special Effects, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.

            The set is available to preorder on Amazon. ​​​​

            Leela vs the Time War | The Collection: Season 15 Announcement Trailer
            Even a warrior as brave as Leela knows when it's time to leave the battlefield... ???? #DoctorWho: The Collection returns with Season 15, the Fourth Doctor's fourth season, as the next Blu-ray release
            Last edited by Alan; 12 January 2024, 03:07 AM.

            THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
            K-9, CLASS and much more...

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              Happy 90th Birthday Tom Baker!!!
              No Sam w/o a Jack and no Jack w/o a Sam.
              It's like and immutable law of the multiverse.

              Comment


                January 22nd, 2024​
                Doctor Who Fugitive Doctor and Tardis Collector Figure Set


                https://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite...or-figure-set/

                Available to order from www.character-online.com

                Online Exclusive announced by Character Options

                Character Options is excited and delighted to announce that, for the first time, the Fugitive will join her esteemed other incarnations with her own figure set in this latest Online exclusive Doctor Who Figure set.

                The set will be solely available for sale via www.character-online.com




                Inspired by the Doctor Who episode entitled “Fugitive Of The Judoon”, Character Options is proud to present this figure of the mysterious Fugitive Doctor along with her very own TARDIS! Both are presented in this specially designed 60th Anniversary window packaging, which has been designed to wow even before it’s opened.

                Set Contents at 5.5 Inch Scale:
                • 1 x Fugitive Doctor Figure.
                • 1 x Division Blaster Accessory
                • 1 x TARDIS with opening doors

                This incarnation of the Doctor is shrouded in mystery. The Thirteenth Doctor first met the Fugitive Doctor (played by Jo Martin) when she was hiding out as ‘Ruth Clayton’, a tour guide living in Gloucester. Using a Chameleon Arch, she’d re-written her DNA to appear human and buried her TARDIS below ground where it could never be found. She was hiding from her former employer, a mysterious Time Lord agency called ‘The Division’, who had hired the Judoon to track her down. With the arrival of the Judoon and Thirteenth Doctor, the Fugitive Doctor’s secret couldn’t be kept for much longer.

                Ruth flees with the Thirteenth Doctor to a lighthouse she remembered as a child, but what they discover there only deepens the mystery. Sensing something familiar, the Thirteenth Doctor discovers her own TARDIS from the long past, and when Ruth breaks the fire alarm within the lighthouse it triggers a reversal of the Chameleon Arch. Instantly the Doctor once more, she teleports herself and the Thirteenth Doctor into her TARDIS and takes off to confront the ‘Division’. The Thirteenth Doctor is hugely disturbed by the fact she cannot remember being this incarnation but recognises the truth that she undeniably had been. Now free, this no longer fugitive Doctor leaves for further adventures and would go on to meet her Thirteenth self a handful of times, as a projection of the Matrix, and then again as a holograph.

                The full story of the Fugitive Doctor remains undisclosed and only time will reveal the full truth… as it always does.

                Al Dewar, Creative Director, commented:
                “Well, it’s finally out there! And safe to say this is one of the most special Doctors I’ve ever worked on. It’s been under wraps for well over a year and a half which helped keep the secret. Jo Martin, who was utterly delightful to work with when creating this set and we also give her rather lovely TARDIS a wee overhaul as well, with the original flat roof being replaced by a slightly angled one, with replacement lamp and nice little undercuts between the roof pillars. There is also one neat little easter egg in the pack we hope collectors enjoy. All in all, this is a truly great set.”



                The online exclusive costs £39.99 and will include postage to UK addresses. It will be available to order 22nd January 2024 from www.character-online.com and dispatch will be within 3-4 days. 8AD6FD86-22B8-4BCD-8FBC-FCADD8F4F65C-e1705923364725.jpg


                THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                K-9, CLASS and much more...

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                  DWM Special - The 2024 Yearbook
                  Thursday, 25 January 2024 - Reported by Marcus


                  https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0..._yearbook.html
                  DWM Special - The 2024 Yearbook (Credit: Panini)



                  The latest special from Doctor Who Magazine, the 2024 Yearbook is released today.
                  Included in the issue
                  • A year in the life of the stars of Doctor Who.
                  • A look back at the 2023 Specials.
                  • The producer of Tales of the TARDIS discusses this nostalgic series.
                  • A summary of various instalments of the Doom’s Day multi-media event!
                  • Wrarth Warrior actor Robert Strange speaks to the magazine about his role in The Star Beast.
                  • A special feature on Goblin celebrity Janis!
                  • A report from the Doctor Who at 60 musical celebration at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre.
                  • We talk to BBC Audio, Big Finish, Silva Screen and AUK Studios about the various audio offerings over the past year.
                  • Doctor Who writers discuss the last 12 months of books and comics.
                  • Follow the journey of young fan Piper as she is crowned The Ultimate Whovian by Blue Peter!
                  • Alan Barnes and Lee Sullivan discuss their epic Fourteenth Doctor strip, Liberation of the Daleks.
                  • We visit a new exhibition of Who props and memorabilia at Gunnersbury Park Museum.
                  • A look at the new version of The Daleks… in colour!
                  • Archivist Helen Randle on making the BBC’s vast catalogue of information available to the public.
                  • A tribute to the Doctor Who luminaries who passed away in 2023.
                  • Coming soon… A look ahead to 2024!
                  Doctor Who Magazine Yearbook 2024 is on sale Thursday 25 January from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £8.99 (UK).

                  Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £7.99.​​

                  THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                  K-9, CLASS and much more...

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                    Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600
                    Thursday, 1 February 2024 - Reported by Marcus


                    https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...issue_600.html
                    Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600 (Credit: Panini)




                    Doctor Who Magazine marks its 600th issue this month with a celebratory issue which includes a 16-page supplement, an exclusive art card, a specially commissioned diorama featuring figures from the recent series and a four-hour-long Sixth Doctor audio drama for every reader.
                    Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600 (Credit: Panini)




                    The Magazine, which started as Doctor Who Weekly in 1979, has been covering the ups and downs of Doctor Who for over 40 years, ever since the era of the fourth Doctor.
                    Inside this issue
                    • Millie Gibson checks in with DWM following the debut of companion Ruby Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road.
                    • UNIT regulars Jemma Redgrave (Kate Lethbridge-Stewart), Alexander Devrient (Colonel Ibrahim) and Ruth Madeley (Shirley Anne Bingham) face questions from the TARDIS Tin.
                    • Production designer Phil Sims takes us on a guided tour of UNIT’s central London HQ!
                    • We talk to DWM writers about their experiences interviewing the stars of Doctor Who for early issues of the magazine.
                    • International Who! A special report on how the series has become a hit in Spain!
                    • Meet Christina Rotondo – the singer who gave voice to Janis Goblin!
                    • We pay tribute to Richard Franklin who died on Christmas day – and examine the impact he had as UNIT officer Captain Mike Yates.
                    • We talk to production runner Thani Subkhi about his vital work on the upcoming series.
                    • Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies gives us an update on the progress being made on the next two series!
                    • Time-Space Visualiser – discover the secret recipe for sky-high ratings!
                    • The Fact of Fiction – we examine the opening episodes of 1973’s Planet of the Daleks.
                    • The adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday continue in the comic strip!
                    PLUS!
                    • Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
                    • Reviews – covering books, audio dramas and games.
                    • Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
                    • Win The Daleks in colour, Blu-ray box sets, books and audio dramas!
                    Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600 is on sale Thursday 1 February from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK).

                    Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.​​

                    THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                    K-9, CLASS and much more...

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                      Michael Jayston 1935 - 2024
                      Monday, 5 February 2024 - Reported by Marcus


                      https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...1935_2024.html
                      Michael Jayston



                      The actor Michael Jayston has died at the age of 88.

                      Michael Jayston is best known to Doctor Who fans for playing the Valeyard in all fourteen episodes of the 23rd season The Trial of a Timelord. The script describes the character as an amalgamation of the Doctor's darker sides between his twelfth and final incarnations.

                      Jayston played the character opposite the Sixth Doctor as played by Colin Baker in the series that aired in the autumn of 1986. He later recreated the character in many Big Finish audios.

                      Colin Baker today paid tribute to his old colleague
                      My dear dear friend, Michael Jayston has left us today. I am absolutely devastated. He was warm witty, clever naughty and a very fine actor & wonderful man. My thoughts and love go to his wife Ann and daughter Katie. Heartbroken Goodbye my friend


                      Michael Jayston was born in the town of West Bridgeford in the English Midlands. He trained as an accountant before switching careers and enrolling in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

                      One of his best-known movie appearances was as Tzar Nicholas II in the film Nicholas and Alexander, the film that featured an unknown Tom Baker as the monk Rasputin, a role that helped Baker to win the role of The Doctor.

                      He was a familiar face on television throughout the last 60 years. His first appearance was in 1962 in the series Suspence. By 1970 he was taking leading roles playing Macbeth alongside Barbara Leigh-Hunt. He played Mr Rochester in the 1973 version of Jane Eyre and Peter Guillam in the acclaimed 1979 version of the spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

                      In 1975 he headed the cast of a detective series playing the title character Quiller.

                      He has appeared in a number of long-running series including Coronation Street, EastEnders, Only Fools and Horses, The Bill, Heartbeat Casualty and Midsomer Murders.

                      Michael Jayston's death was announced earlier today. A statement on behalf of his family said:
                      Michael Jayston sadly passed away this morning after a short illness.

                      Those who knew Michael will know he was full of love, laughs and happiness. He adored meeting his fans all over the world.

                      THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                      K-9, CLASS and much more...

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                        Pamela Salem 1944-2024
                        Friday, 23 February 2024 - Reported by Marcus


                        https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2024/0...1944_2024.html




                        The actress Pamela Salem has died at the age of 80.

                        Pamela Salem appeared in three Doctor Who stories. In 1977 she played Toos in the acclaimed Fourth Doctor story The Robots of Death. Her voice was used as one of the voices of Xoanon in the previous story, The Face of Evil. She returned to the series in 1988 playing Rachel Jensen alongside the Seventh Doctor in Remembrance of the Daleks. She later reprised her role as Jensen in the Big Finish audio spin-off series Counter-Measures and 1963: The Assassination Games.

                        Pamela Salem was born in Bombay, India, and educated at Heidelberg University in Germany and later at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England.

                        Film work included the role of Miss Moneypenny in the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again, starring Sean Connery.

                        Other television appearances included parts in EastEnders, where she played mafia affiliate Joanne Francis, and as the evil witch Belor in ITV's Into the Labyrinth.

                        Other television guest appearances have included roles in the third episode of Blake's 7, The Onedin Line, The Professionals, Howards' Way, Ever Decreasing Circles, Tripods and All Creatures Great and Small

                        She later moved to the United States where she continued her career in series such as Magnum, P.I., Party of Five, ER and The West Wing where she played a British prime minister.

                        THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                        K-9, CLASS and much more...

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                          Doctor Who Season One Premieres 11th May 2024
                          March 15, 2024


                          https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-fe...-11th-may-2024

                          A simultaneous global premiere date is revealed as the Doctor launches into the Whoniverse on BBC and Disney+.

                          Doctor Who is set to make an explosive return on 11th May as the TARDIS will make its global premiere around the Whoniverse.

                          No time travel required! Doctor Who returns 11th May 2024.


                          For those in the UK, for the first time ever, the Doctor will land with two episodes premiering on BBC iPlayer at midnight, before arriving on BBC One later that day right before the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.

                          At the same time, those outside of the UK can watch the Doctor and Ruby on their epic adventures as the TARDIS is set to land on Disney+ where available. Viewers in the UK will now be able to watch whenever and wherever they choose, with the option to stream at midnight on BBC iPlayer or tune in at primetime on Saturday nights on BBC One.

                          The new season of Doctor Who will see Ncuti Gatwa return as the Fifteenth Doctor, alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, it comes after they made their highly acclaimed debut on Christmas Day in The Church on Ruby Road.

                          Within the upcoming series, audiences will see the Doctor and Ruby travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, to the Regency era in England, to outer space worlds and the sixties. This season will also see the return of Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday, Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood as well as featuring an array of special guest stars including Jinkx Monsoon, Aneurin Barnard, Yasmin Finney, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush and Indira Varma with more to be announced soon.


                          Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:
                          “At last, it’s my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together. Monsters! Chases! Villains! Mysteries! And a terrifying secret that’s been spanning time and space for decades. Don’t miss a second!”

                          The BBC is the exclusive home of Doctor Who in the UK as it premieres at midnight on May 11th on BBC iPlayer and will then air on BBC One that evening. Outside the UK, Doctor Who begins streaming 10th May at 7:00 p.m. ET on Disney+ where available, giving audiences a simultaneous global launch.

                          An episode will continue to drop on BBC iPlayer at midnight, followed by a primetime slot on BBC One each week following that.

                          No time travel required! Doctor Who returns 11th May 2024.

                          THE TARDIS DATA CORE - Encyclopaedia and reference site covering DOCTOR WHO, K-9 AND COMPANY, TORCHWOOD,THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES,
                          K-9, CLASS and much more...

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