February 2006

According to Play.com, release dates for the first two volumes of the second series batch of DVDs in the UK are now finalised. Volume One, featuring "The Christmas Invasion" and "New Earth," will apparently be released on May 1, and Volume Two, with "Tooth and Claw," "School Reunion" and "The Girl in the Fireplace," is reportedly due out June 5. Both are currently available for pre-order. (Thanks to Martin Hoscik at UNITNews)

Now on the website of America's Sci-Fi Channel - on the front page, in fact - is the new trailer being shown on the network in anticipation of the March 17 launch date of the new series in the US. The video is available on the site via Flash animation (so you need to have the proper plug-in).

"What is it that makes you a Doctor Who fan?" asks MEV Productions, which is currently seeking fans of Doctor Who to contribute their thoughts, experiences and stories "for a new feature length documentary about the weird, wacky and wonderful world of Doctor Who fandom. With the impact of the new series, it has never been a better time to embrace the affection the programme generates." Says their release, "This independent production is being produced by Director Marq English and Doctor Who historian David J Howe (Telos Publishing) and covers the vast spectrum of fandom such as conventions, fan fiction, fan films, artwork, merchandise, dressing up, organised fandom, the internet, meeting the stars and fans turned professional - plus a few surprises. If you would like to contribute to the documentary for interview, have video footage (conventions, fan groups etc.), or creative works (fan films, artwork, audios) that you would like to have included, please contact the producers by March 31st 2006 telling them a bit about yourself, where your from and why you're a Doctor Who fan." You can reach them via email. (Thanks to Marq English)

The People says of "Kidulthood," Noel Clarke's new film, "I'm vexing, oh yes! Like a lot of smallscale features, Kidulthood has a pretty small, woolly storyline, and a pretty big cast - and most of them are first time actors. Essentially this is a look at the lives of a few lads and lasses, living in London and coping with sex, violence and bullying. It's hard not to feel you've seen something very similar before (say, Bullet Boy, which is quite a bit more accomplished). There are some nice bits though, and there's a fight at the end which looks as good as any I've ever seen in the cinema. Special mention to Noel Clarke, as the thuggish Sam, who seemed like a terrifying movie villain stuck in the middle of a long episode of Grange Hill. Kidulthood never quite gets you hooked, but I quite enjoyed it. Easy now, bruv, respect is due." Meanwhile, yesterday's Observer says that it's "a refreshing slice of urban life" and says, "Slicker and less worthy than last year's acclaimed Bullet Boy, Kidulthood has been described as London's City of God: it's not quite that, but it's a good sight closer to that kinetic portrait of street life than Love Actually. Kidulthood and its talented team of actors showcase what this country is really good at - anti-authoritarianism, music and lust. The fact that there's a mobile phone or two in there has led some (the Sun) to label Kidulthood the 'happy slapping movie' but, in fact, it examines every current teenage media cliche you'd care to name, from hoodies to unwanted pregnancy. ... Kidulthood has had some criticism, from those who accuse it of being unbelievably bleak or, weirdly, voyeuristic (as though we're only allowed to watch films that directly depict our own lives). But for Corrine, from Streatham, south London: 'The film definitely felt real to me. I mean, all that stuff wouldn't have happened in one day, they crammed it in. But the way everyone in that film is, that's how everyone I know is. And the talk is perfect, to be honest.' ... When I talk to Kidulthood's writer, Noel Clarke (Mickey in Doctor Who), who also plays Sam, the film's bullying bad guy, he agrees with Corrine. 'It seems like sex isn't a big deal these days. There's a weird hippy attitude, like all bodies are the same ... and everyone knows a girl like Becky, just dirty.' Clarke wrote the screenplay three years ago and based the trio of central male characters - Trife, Jay and Moony, played by Aml Ameen, Adam Deacon and Femi Oyeniran - on himself and his schoolfriends. He says that some of the film's action came from his own life (taxis refusing to stop for him, being falsely accused of shoplifting) and some from friends' experience or the media. ... It also captures another part of west London, the part the Japanese tourists have missed out on so far. 'Yeah, so far we've only seen one side of the road in films,' says Clarke. 'If you walk out of that nice house and cross that road, there's a council estate bang opposite.'" The film is released this Friday.

Canada's National Post says of the DVD release of the first season of the new series there that "The box set of the newest season of Doctor Who missed a great advertising opportunity: It could have been labelled 'Official purveyors of DVDs to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.' The story is that the first set of discs was ordered last summer by Her Royal Highness, a fan of the Doctor since the series premiered on the BBC in 1963. She thought her vacation at Balmoral in Scotland would be a good time to catch up with the Time Lord's latest adventures. The news appeared in Britain's Daily Mirror under the headline "Ext-EIIR-minate!", which is pretty funny if you're up on royal nomenclature as well as Doctor Who bad guys. In any case, every peasant and colonial can now enjoy the first new season of Doctor Who in 17 years; the five-disc set was released last week." The article then reviews the first season.

This past weekend's Daily Express said of Bonnie Langford, currently a finalist on ITV1's "Dancing on Ice", "For 30 years she has had to live down the legacy of her child star image and come to terms with the death of her best friend. Now Bonnie Langford is skating back to the big time as hot favourite in Dancing On Ice. Page-boy petite, eyes and teeth as bright as fog lamps, showbiz trouper Bonnie Langford gets her skates on tonight as hot favourite to win ITV1's Dancing On Ice. At 41, she is eerily reminiscent of the precocious child actress who, as lisping Violet Elizabeth Bott, used to shriek at poor Just William ... One source said: "Bonnie's every inch the professional. She was born to act, smile and dazzle. But this is all about her great comeback. She's had some terrible knocks. Bonnie may giggle and swoon like a schoolgirl and, even at 41, she still looks like one. But there's damage there – she's had more than her fair share of tough breaks." .. She may be a wee slip of a thing but in a catfight I'd back her over anybody, even Pete Burns." She has already seen off her Dancing On Ice arch rival Dame Kelly Holmes and Dr Who's John Barrowman. Olympic gold medallist Kelly, 35, was so incensed to lose to Bonnie that she stormed offstage without a word." The article discusses Langford's history in film and television including her role as Mel on Doctor Who during the 1980's.

Saturday's Financial Times - oddly - uses the fact that David Tennant's Doctor will not be wearing a scarf to introduce an article about scarves; more oddly, the article is headlined 'The scarf-clad Dr Who era dawns again'.

Nicola Bryant is interviewed at the Rainbow Network regarding her new role in the play "Taboo". Some of the questions regarding Doctor Who: "You're perhaps best known for your role in Doctor Who as Peri Brown, the companion of two Doctors (Colin Baker and Peter Davison). What do you think of the new series of the show? 'I love it.' ... So, Colin Baker or Peter Davison? 'As if I'd say!' ... Which of the Doctor's enemies would you secretly most like to have seen succeed? 'Probably the Rani. I loved Kate O'Mara in the role and I like the idea of a female adversary for the Doctor.' ... There's a rumour that in the new series of Doctor Who we'll get to meet one of the Doctor's past companions. Would you go back into the show if you were offered the chance? 'Just try and stop me.'"

Pauline Collins is featured in a mini-interview in this month's edition of BBC Good Food magazine. It states she's back in Doctor Who after nearly forty years (having appeared both in "The Faceless Ones" in the original series and as Queen Victoria in the forthcoming second season's "Tooth and Claw") and that, if she had a TARDIS, she'd travel forward 2000 years and have dinner with H G Wells, eating stardust sundaes.

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's has started selling a Doctor Who celebration cake with soundchip. Priced at 7.99, it is a Genoese sponge coated with sugarpaste and filled with buttercream and strawberry jam. The cake is in the very rough shape of a Dalek and has a (presumably edible) image of a new-series Dalek on it. To the side of the cake, inside the box, is the (presumably inedible) soundchip. The box has the phrase "Exterminate" emblazoned across it, which may or may not be a clue as to what the soundchip emits. On the reverse of the box is a simple dice game a la ludo called Race To The Tardis and featuring counters depicting a Slitheen, the Moxx of Balhoon, Cassandra and a Dalek. It is unknown if Sainsbury's has the sole concession for the cake.

This months edition of the UK Model and Collectors Mart magazine features a full four-page feature on the new Doctor Who merchendise, as well as a full color cover dedicated to it, depicting several items from the range such as the foot tall David Tennant figure, and the Slitheen and Sycorax figures.

BBC Focus Magazine is offering a free copy of Paul Parsons' book "The Science of Doctor Who" to new subscribers; click here for details.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, John Bowman, Steve Tribe, Paul Armstrong, Peter Weaver, Chris Winwood)

The US-based Sci-Fi Channel has made a sudden change to its schedule for the premiere date of the new series on March 17: not one but two episodes will screen that night. Now scheduled at 9pm on Friday, March 17 is Rose (episode 1) with The End of the World (episode 2) scheduled at 10pm the same night. Both episodes then repeat that night at 11pm and midnight, respectively, as well as at 11pm and midnight on Sunday, March 19. A rebroadcast of "The End of the World" also airs at 8pm on Friday, March 24, with the debut of episode 3, The Unquiet Dead at 9pm in the show's usual slot; "The Unquiet Dead" is repeated at midnight the same night as well as at midnight on Sunday, March 26. Finally, Aliens of London (episode 4) airs on Friday, March 31 at 9pm with a repeat at midnight (and, presumably, on Sunday, April 2, but no schedule is yet available for April).

Additionally, the Sci-Fi Channel has launched its new Doctor Who mini-site featuring a brief "about" section with basic facts about the series; a "characters" section with biographies of the Doctor, Rose, Captain Jack, Mickey and Jackie (and the actors who play them) as well as the TARDIS; an episode guide to the first series; a photo gallery; and the channel's bulletin board about the series (which, not too surprisingly, contains an overwhelming number of Outpost Gallifrey Forum posters!) More will obviously be added if the show does well and continues to a second year.

Many websites are reporting on the casting of Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper in the new "Torchwood" spinoff series (reported yesterday); among the sites featuring stories about this are icWales, Brand Republic, WaveGuide, The Great Link. Also, the BBC Press Office has also posted the press release (with identical wording to what's on the official Doctor Who site) here.

Radio Times has put up a gallery of cover party shots that the magazine didn't have room for here, the first and last being Doctor Who related.

The latest issue of Forbidden Planet international home shopping (the quarterly mail order catelogue run by the large Forbidden Planet chain of UK Sci-fi shops) have a number of new Doctor Who products listed that we haven't previously mentioned, including a TARDIS Zipperobe (a wire frame wardrobe with cloth robe print of TARDIS to cover, making it appear that there is a TARDIS in the corner of your room, due out in August); a Sonic screwdriver LED torch (replica model torch, release date TBA); Dalek-shaped moneybox; Whographs, an autograph book with 80 blank pages; a Dalek shaped electronic alarm clock, a sculpted Dalek wall clock, a Dalek shaped webcam and a chrome wallclock with an image of the TARDIS in the vortex.

The Evening Standard has some feedback on the new film "Kidulthood" written by series star Noel Clarke. "Kidulthood is designed to lure a youthful audience. There's a soundtrack by cool British artists, and a young and attractive cast whose performances have the tang of authenticity. It shows how city teenagers today divide along issues of power - sexual, physical and economic - rather than of ethnicity, and how they are united in pursuit of kicks and 'respect'. There have already been calls for Kidulthood to be banned. Others have dismissed it as mere voyeurism. Director Menhaj Huda and the film's screenwriter-star, Noel Clarke, say Kidulthood is 'on the pulse' and 'real'. But is it? And if it is, doesn't putting such subject matter on screen automatically glamorise it?" Reactions include the wife of slain headmaster Philip Lawrence, who was killed by one of his pupils in west London: "I think I was expected to dislike this film, to be shocked at the violence, the sex, the 'bad language'. I think I was expected to protest that it should not be shown to young people because they might emulate the (undoubtedly) atrocious actions. Perhaps I would even call for it to be banned. But I didn't dislike it. I'm not shocked by it (I should as soon be shocked by scenes in EastEnders or Coronation Street). I'm not protesting at it. And rather than calling for its censure, I'm more inclined to think it should be compulsory viewing. I don't imagine that Noel Clarke, the writer and lead actor, was attempting to say that all young people live like this. He was showing us what it is like for some young people at a particular time, in a particular place. The subject matter may be unpalatable but there are moments of supreme tenderness. If there is a message, then it is a moral one; what goes around, comes around. The bullies become the losers. Even the vicious drug baron is shown as a vacuous, pathetic bully whose life has no semblance of warmth or happiness. It does not justify, and is no more likely to promote, a life of impersonal sex and drugs and happy-slapping than, for instance, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Indeed the ending, perhaps unconsciously, parallels that play. A young boy lies dying, having discovered for a few sweet moments that love is what matters. In the pleas of his pregnant girlfriend it is impossible not to also hear the cries of other young people who wake every morning to a dark and brutal dawn. Who can pretend that these things don't happen? If we turn away, aren't we are as bad as the oh-so-liberal mother who calls through her daughter's bedroom door, 'Use a condom, sweetheart' -- oblivious to the fact that her daughter is not making love but is being abused. It's about time a film like this was made. As Clarke says: 'You can wear all the blue wristbands you like, but unless we bring it to people's attention, right in their faces, I don't think enough is gonna get done.'"

Also, MTV.co.uk is giving away tickets for the film.

Tom Baker was on this afternoon's BBC Radio 1 Colin and Edith Show, and the interview can now be heard again from this page.

The official Doctor Who website notes that "the Cardiff Doctor Who Exhibition stays open. Originally due to close at the end of February, the Doctor Who Exhibition in Cardiff's Red Dragon Centre will now be extended through March at least. The Exhibition, which is currently free, will start charging from 1 March 2006. It'll stay open as long as the demand is there. 1 March will also see a new exhibit on display, the Sycorax Leader from The Christmas Invasion. More new exhibits are promised after the 2006 series starts airing."

IGN has a review of the First Series Boxed Set release for Canada.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Peter Weaver, William Gallagher, Chris Carabott, Dan McGrath)

A new trailer debuted tonight on the US cable network, the Sci-Fi Channel, which will be showing the new series.

The channel's promotional campaign is entitled "Who Is..." and it features glimpses of the new series including the Doctor and Rose, the TARDIS (but not any clear shots of the interior), the Daleks, and scenes from various episodes, ending with a shot from "The End of the World" with the tagline "...coming in March."

This is the first sign of promotion for the new series, which debuts on March 17 on the Sci-Fi Channel, an NBC/Universal cable network airing in most of America.

BBC News today reports that Welsh actress Eve Myles, who appeared as Gwyneth, the waifish servant girl who saved the world in the first series' episode "The Unquiet Dead," will be joining John Barrowman to star in the forthcoming spinoff series Torchwood. The official Doctor Who website gives her the name of Gwen Cooper. "I'm thrilled to be playing the part of Gwen. To get the chance to do a 13-part series under the watchful pen of Russell is amazing," says Eve. "It's such a compliment to have been chosen for the part - I can't wait. I'm also looking forward to working with John. It'll be the perfect opportunity for the both of us to show everyone what we've got." Eve Myles guest-starred in the first series of Doctor Who and has recently finished filming Soundproof for BBC TWO. Her credits also include a highly successful run at the National Theatre when she appeared alongside Michael Gambon in Henry IV Parts I & II. Russell T Davies says: "I've admired Eve's work for years, and when she was able to guest-star in Doctor Who last year, it just confirmed to me that she was one of Wales's best-kept secrets. The part of Gwen in Torchwood was written specially for her - so it's a good thing she said yes! Eve and John Barrowman have already met up, and the combination is going to be electrifying." John Barrowman adds: "I'm really looking forward to working with Eve. We've had a good laugh on the occasions we've met and the fact that she's already been in Doctor Who means she knows what she's getting into. Head of BBC Wales Drama, Julie Gardner, says: "We are delighted to announce the casting of Eve Myles in the central role of Gwen, alongside John Barrowman's Captain Jack in Torchwood. Eve is an intelligent and versatile actress, who has done exceptional work in a number of BBC dramas, including our local series Belonging." The 13-part drama series starts filming in the Summer and will transmit on BBC Three and BBC One.

Also noted in the article is that the series is written by Russell T Davies and Chris Chibnall, with contributing writers including P J Hammond and, in a new announcement, series two writer Toby Whithouse. Additionally, Richard Stokes is noted to be the series' producer.

According to the official site, Will Thorp, "best known for his role as heroic paramedic Woody in Casualty, will play Toby in two-parter The Satan Pit. Explaining why Will was chosen for the part, Russell T Davies said, 'This two-parter is just about as tense and scary as Doctor Who can get, so we needed a stellar cast to grip the audience. Will's proved his popularity with audiences in his long-running role as Woody in Casualty - but if he thought Holby General was dangerous, then we can guarantee that we're about to throw him into some truly terrifying situations.' Will's also recently appeared in serious drama Friends and Crocodiles, and strutted his stuff on Strictly Come Dancing. Paired with Latin American dancer Hanna Haarala, he made it through to the sixth round of the competition."

Issue 367 of Doctor Who Magazine has started to reach subscribers - ten days early - and has more news of Series Two, as well as some extra content for mobile users:

According to DWM, mobile phone users will be able to download exclusive additional content before each episode of Series Two airs on BBC One. With scripts by Gareth Roberts, the thirteen instalments of 'Vortext' (the working title) will contain "exclusive footage, state-of-the-art special effects and new material directly linked to the following episode". Russell T Davies reveals that "new material is being shot alongside the regular crew" for each episode, while Gareth Roberts says, "These are proper, full-on productions", which are being made by the team responsible for 'Attack of the Graske' at Christmas.

The new issue suggests that April is the most likely start date for Series 2 and, although the magazine has no news yet of a more definite date, its next issue (368) will carry previews of the first two episodes and is published on 30 March. DWM also reports that Ron Cook (as Mr Magpie), Debra Gillett (Rita), Rory Jennings (Tommy), Marie Lewis (Mrs Gallagher), Sam Cox (Bishop), Jean Challis (Betty) and Jamie Foreman (Eddie) will all be guest starring in 'The Idiot's Lantern'. The guest cast for Episode 11 will include Erica Eirian (as Neighbour), Tim Faraday (Dad), Stephen Marzella (Policeman) and Richard Nichols (Driver).

The director for Episode 10 has also been announced: Dan Zeff, who has previously worked on Linda Green with Phil Collinson.

The title of Episode 6 is confirmed as The Age of Steel.

This month's 'Production Notes' column in DWM is by James Goss, who is in charge of the BBC's official Doctor Who site. He reveals that there will be "dozens" of fictional tie-in sites this year, "not an enormous in-joke for fans - it's a game. Each week you've got a mission. Perhaps it's Mickey needing help after he's accidentally switched off the Earth's satellite defence system..." Goss also states that there will be more content available for video, mobiles and iPod, as well as more commentary tracks (as for 'The Christmas Invasion'); there will also be more video diaries, this time provided by the Doctor Who Confidential team.

Doctor Who has been nominated in the Best Drama Series category at this year's Royal Television Society Awards, according to the MediaGuardian today. The Awards, the winners of which will be announced at the Grovesnor House Hotel on March 14th, are one of the most prestigious in the British television industry, probably second only to the BAFTAs in terms of importance within the industry itself, with winners selected by a jury of industry professionals. There are three nominations in each category at the RTS awards, and Doctor Who's rivals for the Drama Series title are Channel 4's Shameless and BBC Three's Bodies. A full list of nominees is available at the RTS website. (Thanks to Paul Hayes, Steve Tribe, Scott Wortley)

A press releases from the BBC Press Office discusses a host of new Doctor Who releases from BBC Books and BBC Audio this year:

Confirmed for 18 May are the latest batch of novels, The Resurrection Casket by Justin Richards, The Feast of the Drowned by Stephen Cole and The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner as well as Justin Richards' second large-format book Aliens and Enemies. Previously announced on Outpost Gallifrey, the covers for "Aliens and Enemies" and "The Stone Rose" can now be found below (click on each for a larger version) courtesy the official Doctor Who website and the Amazon.co.uk site, respectively. Also noted in the press release: the Quick Reads book I Am A Dalek by Gareth Roberts.

All three of the novels will be released in audio format, as we previously reported: "Fresh from his Christmas regeneration, the tenth Doctor himself David Tennant narrates three new Doctor Who novels for BBC Audiobooks. These abridged readings feature the escapades of the Doctor and Rose as they take the TARDIS on adventures not seen on TV. In a special ‘bonus' feature, the Doctor reveals all in an exclusive question and answer session with his fans. The Resurrection Casket, The Stone Rose, and The Feast of the Drowned are released on 3 July 2006."

BBC Audio has confirmed the release on 1 May of The Dalek Conquests, reported on Outpost Gallifrey on 29 January and listed on Amazon. According to the official Doctor Who website, "The Dalek Conquests covers every encounter the Doctor has had with his hate-filled nemeses. Through extracts from their many TV appearances, and linking narration by Nick [Briggs], The Dalek Conquests finds out where the Daleks come from, who was behind their original creation, and just why they are so bent on universal domination."

On the classic series front, The Tomb of the Cybermen will be released on audio on 1 May. "Patrick Troughton stars in this digitally remastered soundtrack of a classic TV story , in which the dreaded Cybermen are released from their ice tombs on the planet Telos. The Doctor, Jamie and Victoria encounter a party of Earth archaeologists who are intent on uncovering the mythical 'Tomb of the Cybermen'. Only the Doctor seems aware of the folly of this venture, but suddenly it's too late - the tomb is open, and the Cybermen are coming back to life... Trapped in a confined place with the Cyber Controller and his acolytes, can the humans avoid being turned into Cyber fodder? What's more, can the Cyber menace be made dormant before it spreads out to the galaxy once again? The Cybermen return to Doctor Who in the latest TV series." This is interestingly an audio release of a story that exists on video and DVD.

Also noted are groups of toys including Five-inch Action figures ("See the characters come to life with the new range of 5" action figures. The Doctor is dressed in his new signature outfit with long overcoat and Sonic Screwdriver accessory, while Rose Tyler is teamed with canine hero, K-9. Evil intergalactic warlord, the Sycorax Warrior comes complete with two imposing weapons. The Cassandra action figure shows Lady Cassandra O'Brien, the last human, stretched out on her moving frame. Blue-skinned Moxx of Balhoon is featured on his travelling base while Slitheen stands tall with full joint articulation and extendable claws"); Twelve-inch Action figures ("The twelve-inch action figure range features the new, more deadly breed of Cybermen, as well as the Doctor himself, suited exactly as seen on the screen. Every detail in his pinstripe suit, plimsolls and overcoat has been incorporated into the figure to reflect, down to the very last pinstripe, the Doctor's classic look"); Radio Controlled Toys ("The new 5" radio controlled Dalek is set to be just as popular as the 12" debut model launched last year . Like its predecessor, it features 360-degree travel, flashing lights and utters the words: "Seek, locate, exterminate!" The 5" Doctor Who action figure appears again in a double pack that comprises radio controlled K-9 with authentic speech and sound effects. On command, K-9 can turn a full 360 degrees, his eyes light up and he also has a button-activated gun"); Cyberman novelty range ("The Cyberman Voice Changer Helmet is a must for anyone daring to deceive the Cybermen as they carry out their mission to convert humanity to their own deadly kind. It will change your voice into true Cyberman speak, leaving your real identity undetected. For added protection, the Cyberman Room Guard will help you ward off intruders attempting to trespass on forbidden territory"); and Playsets and games ("The TARDIS Electronic Playset features authentic light and sound effects and its console is a faithful reproduction of the one seen on screen. Its motorised 'time column' rises and falls (with lights) when the TARDIS is in 'flight' and it has 'lift out' access panels in the floor to reveal the mechanisms and circuitry hidden in the floor. The LCD Game has a smart stylised Dalek case front and comes with an LCD game display, authentic sounds and two levels of play that allows players to hunt out and fire at the Doctor's most feared adversary. The new additions join the existing Doctor Who toy range which includes the Talking TARDIS Money Box and Sonic Screwdriver. The TARDIS Money Box, a replica of the Doctor's Time Capsule, has an opening front door which reveals the Doctor, Rose and a money slot. As each coin is delivered, the Money Box plays phrases including, "Did I mention it travels in time?" A replica of one of the Doctor's most essential tool, the Sonic Screwdriver is an invisible writing pen featuring button activated lights and sounds.")

Finally, below we have three additional visual items, all from amazon.co.uk: the revised final cover of Paul Parsons' book The Science of Doctor Who, and two TV tie-in books, the Intergalactic Activity Book (second volume) and the Regeneration Sticker Guide. Click on each for a larger version.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, due out officially next week, carries a new free CD, The Veiled Leopard. The audio stars Nicola Bryant (Peri), Caroline Morris (Erimem), Philip Olivier (Hex) and Sophie Aldred (Ace). Says the blurb: "Monte Carlo, 1966: Four time travellers. Two missions. One costumed ball. The Doctor has sent Peri and Erimem to prevent the fabulous Veiled Leopard diamond from being stolen. Which is odd, seeing at the Doctor has sent Ace and Hex to steal the diamond. How will the two teams cope with this contradictory task? Will Peri's asp slip? Why does Ace have to pretend to be a French maid? How will Erimem cope with Pharaoh Rammalamadingdong? And can Hex really 'do posh'?"

The new issue of DWM has details of Big Finish's plans for the second half of 2006. The monthly Doctor Who releases continue with The Nowhere Place by Nicholas Briggs (Sixth Doctor, July), followed by Red by Stewart Sheargold (Seventh Doctor, August); The Reaping (Sixth Doctor, September, formerly "Dead Man Walking"), which features a trip to Baltimore to meet Peri's mother, and The Gathering (Fifth Doctor, September), both by Joseph Lidster; Memory Lane by Eddie Robson (Eighth Doctor, October); We Are the Dead by Martin Day (Seventh Doctor, November); and Circular Time, featuring four "seasonal tales" by Paul Cornell and Mike Maddox (Fifth Doctor, December). There will also be a subscribers-only single-CD release at the end of the year, Return of the Daleks by Nicholas Briggs, which will be "a crossover of sorts" with Briggs's earlier Dalek Empire series.

A few notes also came up at the recent Gallifrey 2006 convention about the year's earlier items: The Kingmaker by Nev Fountain is "a comedy". Something Inside was altered to use that title instead of the original "The Cube" because Trevor Baxendale decided he didn't want to have any associations with the cult film "Cube," which he hadn't heard of when he wrote the story. The next series of Gallifrey will be the last one, for creative reasons (producer Gary Russell says it will have reached its logical conclusion). Down the road, there will be eventually a story set in the trenches of WW1, a story based around the assassination of Lincoln and a pseudo-historical set around the British occupation of India.

Big Finish has just recorded two Bernice Summerfield audios. There are eight Benny Summerfield audios planned for release this year. Series star Lisa Bowerman will be directing an installment of Big Finish's other series, "The Tomorrow People".

(Thanks to DWM, Big Finish and John Hutton)

The latest edition of Radio Times reports on its annual Covers Party (an event we mentioned early this month on Outpost Gallifrey) with a strong contingent of Doctor Who stars in evidence thanks to the show's three RT covers last year. In attendance were David Tennant, Billie Piper, Russell T Davies and a Dalek, as well as Anna Maxwell-Martin, writer Stephen Fry and Auton favourite Graham Norton. Actress Helen Mirren is pictured with Tennant, Piper and the Dalek ("I just had to be photographed with it"). The report includes a brief interview with Billie Piper, in which she mentions that she'd "like to do" Series 3, "but it's a huge commitment [...] hopefully it will all work out." Piper is quoted as saying on the subject of Doctor Who: "I honestly don't think my career will get any more exciting. It's done the most amazing things for me both personally and professionally." She says of co-star David Tennant: "He is just the most straight-down-the-line bloke you could wish to meet. He's your best friend, your brother and your boyfriend kind of rolled into one" And on being in series three, she says: "I'd like to do it, but it's a huge commitment. After this finishes I'll be working on another BBC drama [a dramatisation of Phillip Pullman's "The Ruby in the Smoke"] and then I'll look at things. But hopefully it will all work out" RTD and Tennant are also in a separate photograph with RT covers for both Doctor Who (cover for the Episode "Dalek") and Casanova. (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Andrew Ford)

Issue 367 of Doctor Who Magazine will be out on 2 March and the press release and cover are below; click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Tom Spilsbury/DWM)

Below is a new set report from last week from the production of The Idiot's Lantern as reported by fan Timothy Farr; click on the spoiler link to read the details.

Issues 72 and 73 of Time Space Visualiser (TSV), the fanzine of the New Zealand Doctor Who fanclub, kick off 2006. In TSV72 (February 2006), Adam McGechan talks to John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith), Corey Johnson (Henry van Statten), and Dalek voicemaster Nick Briggs in a set of exclusive new series interviews; Chris Skerrow begins his retrospective look at the BBC Past Doctor Adventures; Paul Scoones examines deleted scenes from the 2005 series; David Ronayne weaves a Ninth Doctor tale with Night of the Butterfly; as well as the latest news on series two and reviews of the latest toys, audios, DVDs, book and magazines. All packed into 100 pages, TSV72 is available now. In TSV73 (March 2006), Andrew Pixley examines missing moments from The Invasion; Jon Preddle uncovers new information on the censorship of Doctor Who on New Zealand television; David Lawrence starts his reassessment of the BBC's Eighth Doctor Adventures; Zoltan Dery analyses classic series title structure and comes up with his own random title generator; and we present The Complete Ninth Doctor Dictionary, an A-Z encyclopedia of the 2005 series of Doctor Who; plus the latest news and reviews. An action-packed 100 pages, TSV73 will be available next month. Visit nzdwfc.tetrap.com/order.html for ordering information.

Series Two Items

New! Magazine (issue 151) has a two-page article (mostly pictures) of "Billie and David's TARDIS trip to the 50s!" The article reads, "Billie Piper and David Tennant get to rock around the TARDIS in the next series of Doctor Who! Our snaps were snatched on the set of the popular BBC1 drama in a street in Cardiff, Wales, last week, where the pair were in the midst of filming David's first series in the lead role. Billie looked a lot more excited by her retro costume than her co-star, but we don't blame her - she looked fantastic! She'd swapped her 21st century daywear for a fantastic flared pink skirt, matching heels and quirky pink shades, while David was wearing The Doctor's usual suit, jazzed up with a funky rockabilly quiff and sideburns. Still, David got to swap the time-travelling TARDIS for a zippy blue Vespa, which explains why he was recently spotted taking motorbike lessons. Billie, 23, seemed to enjoy riding on the back as much as David, 34, enjoyed driving, and she recently revealed, "Screen kisses? I love them. Especially with David." No wonder the actress, who recently received a breakthrough gong at the prestigious South Bank ShowAwards, insists on three takes to get their on-screeen snogs right. The pair were filming an episode in which their TARDIS lands in the 1950s, where they battle aliens who travel thoughTV airwaves. Filming took place in a residential street bedecked with bunting, retro adverts and lined with vintagcars, while diversions were in place to stop modern-day cars beign caught on film. The new series is expected to air in April. We can't wait!"

Actress Michelle Ryan mentioned the series in a brief interview in the Metro magazine. "There are rumours you're going to be Dr Who's new assistant. Are they true?" asks the paper, to which she replied, "Everyone's been rumoured to be up for that. The media speculate as to who they'd like to see in the role but as far as I know, no offers have been made. I'd consider it if it came up, though."

The Sun on 16 February asked "Who's my Valentine?" "Shirley Valentine star Pauline Collins gets her teeth into the role of Queen Victoria in Doctor Who - before being bitten by a werewolf! Actress Pauline, 61, below, stars in an episode called Tooth and Claw in which the Queen meets the Time Lord (David Tennant) and his sidekick Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in the Scottish Highlands. The trio spend the night with a Royal pal - who turns into a beast when night falls. Pauline - who first appeared in the sci-fi show in 1967 - said: 'It's really a tale of good against evil.'"

Series two guest star Maureen Lipman was on "Wogan Now and Then" on UKTV Gold on 14 Septemberr. She talked briefly about her episode in the new series, couple of minor spoilers about how it is set before the Coronation in 1953, that she is an alien, that she filmed her part separately from the main cast at Alexandria Palace studios, and scenes like "15 seconds having all the energy sucked out of (her)".

The South Wales Evening Post notes that "Swansea Valley's landmark Craig y Nos has been transformed from a 19th Century gothic pile into a dark and dour Scottish castle for the latest Dr Who sci-fi adventure set in Victorian times. A caravan of 30 BBC trucks descended on the castle to film the new series of adventures featuring the time travelling Doctor, in the shape of David Tennant, and his feisty companion, played by Billie Piper. Most of the filming was done over three days in the outer courtyard of the castle. The appearance of the castle facade needed changing to give it a bleak, period feel and security lights and other modern fittings had to be camouflaged. Martin Gover, managing director of Selclene, the domestic cleaning agency which now owns the castle, said: "The highlight of one of our overnight hotel guest's stay turned out to be the moment Billie Piper accidentally trod on her dog's tail between scenes." Mr Gover, who has put 1.2 million of his own money into renovating Craig y Nos, said: "The storyline concerns someone with a werewolf in their cellar. "Aside from that, we know as little about the plot as anyone else. All the shots of the castle were of the front entrance and the atrium block. We had all the windows painted black to give the castle a mediaeval look." The Dr Who cavalcade arrived during the worst of the autumn rain. "It bucketed down with rain," said Mr Gover. "We asked what they were going to do about the remaining daylight scenes as it got dark. One of the technicians said 'You haven't seen our sun, mate'. A huge crane arrived and hoisted an immense lighting array some 70ft above the castle, bathing the hamlet of Craig y Nos in bright 'sunshine'. The rain, however, continued sheeting down. 'Not even the BBC could control the weather," he added.

The South Wales Evening Post notes that "a child actor from Swansea is to grace the big screen with two very different types of Doctor. Parklands Primary School pupil Lara Philippart, aged eight, will appear on television this weekend with a role in BBC's Casualty. But she is also due this week to star filming the latest series of Dr Who, which is underway in Cardiff. Lara, who attends Centrestage Drama School in Sandfields, is following in the footsteps of big sister Millie, aged 13, who recently returned from travelling Europe filming Crusade in Jeans, a children's film about time travel set for general cinema release later this year. Dad Kneath Philippart, from Sketty, said: "They just seem to get picked for these roles. But credit really has to go to the staff at Centrestage for all the work they do." Lara will be appearing in Casualty on Saturday."

A 16 February article in the Daily Star says that "Doctor Who bosses have gone monster mad after a script for the new series was left on a park bench. The top secret document was abandoned by someone who works on the BBC hit, which stars David Tennant, 34, and Billie Piper, 23. And the script for a forthcoming episode called The Idiot's Lantern could already have been read by passers-by and even posted on the internet. TV chiefs were left fuming when a member of the public rang the Beeb to say the weather-beaten script had been found in a central London park. Producers are said to be furious that someone working on the programme could have been so careless as to leave the script lying on a bench. A BBC source said: "They were stunned that anyone could just leave a secret script just lying around for all the world to see. These things are sacred because so few are given out and the ones which are often have the names of the cast or crew member printed on the top. The last thing we want is leaks on the internet. It can ruin the story and surprises for fans before the programme even goes on air. As yet we have no idea who left it there and so far no-one has owned up to us that they've lost their script. But everyone's been given a talking to about security issues." The Idiot's Lantern - said to be one of the spookiest-ever episodes - will feature in the new series which begins in April. It was written by League of Gentlemen star Mark Gatiss, 39. Only scant details are known about the plotline but we can reveal that the Doctor and Rose land back on Earth in the 1950s, only to find the planet being invaded by ghosts who travel through soundwaves in TV sets. The show is set to include guest appearances by comedy actress Maureen Lipman, 59, and telly psychic Derek Acorah, 55."

More articles about Trisha Goddard being a guest star in series two can be found at Sky.com, the Mirror (updated article) and Ananova. We should note that it appears that "I'm In Love With a Ghost" is actually the episode of the celeb's talk show within the Doctor Who episode...

Noel Clarke's Kidulthood

RWDMag interviews Noel Clarke about his forthcoming film "Kidulthood" coming out in March. "Basically it all started with a case of sitting down in front of the computer and writing it," says Clarke. "The reason I started was, I feel in terms of a lot of things that are happening today in society (with young people) - I didn’t think things were being told right. I wanted the film to be something that people haven’t seen before. The fact that a certain newspaper was trying to attack it, is just a testament to… people don’t like it when situations are told the way they really are. ... Young people do have sex; I mean this country has one of the highest youngest pregnancy rates in Europe. Young people do take drugs. The film doesn’t highlight, promote or justify any of this – I’m not a drug taker and never have been – BUT, it’s happening. You need to bring circumstances like this to people’s attention. The bullying in the schools and the workplaces needs to be brought to people’s attention. You can bring out all the blue bands you want, kids just wear them as a fashion accessory and children get bullied anyway. ... We tackle bullying, teenage suicide, drug taking and other major issues, what I want is the Government to figure out ways that young people can address these issues; with workshops and more money spent on these things that youth culture go through. I’m not saying I know the answers but if we shine light on the actual situation, kids relate to the characters and then someone (in power) can see what’s going on and deal with it. ... In terms if the writing, I mostly scripted it. Even though I’m a bit older I still know what’s goin on. I still go to the same barbers in Ladbrook Grove. Certain words never change. The actors helped a great deal, so they used some updated/ ad-libbed words. ... Basically the three main characters, Jay, Trife and Mooney are based on people, me and two of my friends from college. I was there for the casting and the Director [Menhaj Huda ‘Huds’] chose an excellent bunch. With the main characters everyone can relate to them. Working with all the cast was great and we had loads of joke on set. ... My character [Sam] is based on bullies I saw around the neighbourhoods. In school they’re all big but now when you see them on road they’re all silent. They only have the power with a weapon or with their crew around them. Once I knew I was playing that part (I didn’t know at the start); I had to make sure he was intimidating enough. ... The reactions have been 96% positive, which is alright ya know. I didn’t write/ make the film for people to like it. I made/ was involved because it was real and if you do things for OTHER people’s approval all the time, that’s the wrong reason. Go watch the film and you’ll see how things go down."

The 19 February edition of the Independent says that the film "shows what children really get up to when mum and dad aren't looking. ... It promises to be the most controversial British film of the year. The Sun has already called for it to be banned and The Times has accused it of pandering to middle-class voyeurism in its portrayal of crime, bullying and sexual abuse. Set among a group of white and black teenagers in west London, from working-class and middle-class families, and based entirely on true stories, Kidulthood claims to be the first feature film to accurately reflect what life is like for urban kids. There are graphic scenes of drug-taking, violence, casual sex and organised crime. The characters are all 15. The film opens with a middle-class schoolgirl being horrifically bullied in a classroom. When her preoccupied businessman father picks up her from school, he fails to spot the bruises. Ten minutes later, she has hanged herself. In another sequence two girls trade sexual favours with older men for pocket money to spend at Topshop. A young black boy cuts a man's throat to impress his drug-dealer uncle. Running parallel, however, are story- lines about coping with bad skin and how to choose your friends wisely. Not surprising then that the film, out in two weeks, has divided critics. But is it an unflinching portrayal of teenage life, or a manipulative assault on the paranoid anxieties of Middle England? For one thing is sure - this film is certain to put the fear of God into parents everywhere. ... Noel Clarke, who wrote the screenplay, insists it is the essential truth of his work that makes the film so controversial. 'It touches a raw nerve,' he says. 'It's on the pulse of what's happening in society right now. Kids these days are growing up too fast.' Clarke, 30, best known for playing Billie Piper's boyfriend in Dr Who, is sure of his material. He grew up in the Ladbroke Grove and Harrow Road area of London where the film is set. His childhood bedroom is used in one scene. For a year he collected newspaper articles about teenagers in trouble, then condensed them into a 90-minute storyline, seen from their point of view. With a cast that includes Clarke, Jamie Winstone - the teenage daughter of Ray Winstone - and Rafe Spall, son of Timothy Spall, and a "hip-hop and grime" soundtrack by Dizzee Rascal, The Streets and Lady Sovereign, Kidulthood is seriously hip. It also looks fantastic: the director of photography, Brian Tufano, shot Trainspotting and Quadrophenia. Some are predicting it will join the ranks of cult films such as City of God and La Haine. But the film-makers are adamant that style shouldn't get in the way of substance. 'You have a bullying storyline, young people coming up against issues of sex for the first time, taking drugs, dealing with teenage pregnancy,' says Hannah Jolliffe of the youth website www.TheSite.org, which gives advice to young people on everything from drugs to sexual health. 'What is impressive is it doesn't try to moralise.' The highly multicultural film shows that in the new Britain, all kids face the same temptations." More at the website.

The Telegraph also says of the film that "There's a new kids' film on the block. Hardly a scoop - barely a week goes by without the release of another movie featuring some plucky youngster battling good and evil with their pals. Kidulthood, out in a fortnight, is no exception: it follows 15-year-old Trife and his schoolfriends getting up to all sorts of adventures one day in December. But Harry Potter it ain't. Not for these teenagers tutorials in wizardry and bashful blushes across the Quidditch field. The only time we see a blackboard is when a girl gets her face smashed against it by a classmate. The only time we see a science lab is when Trife uses the equipment to customise his gun. And the only time we see someone pick up a pen is to write a suicide note. Playing fields are for sex, mobile phones are for videoing fights, coke is for snorting, cabbies for fleecing, babies for getting rid of in case they make you look fat. Parents barely figure - they're dimly liberal at best, at worst completely absent. The real authority figures are an ageing drug-dealer, who trades pills for sexual favours, and Trife's gangster uncle, who gets his nephew high on heroin, then forces him to maim a business associate he is torturing in the cellar. It's a shocker all right, and intentionally so. The more adults who tut, the more teenagers who will buy tickets. With a soundtrack featuring cutting-edge home-grown talent, such as The Streets and Dizzee Rascal, Kidulthood is a film of formidable grit that aims to expose the tough-nut centre of chocolate-box London. It is set on the council estates bordering Ladbroke Grove, a landscape of grim towers and graffiti-scrawled underpasses rarely visited by film crews, despite being cheek by jowl with some of the most expensive postcodes in town."

More about the film can be found on its official website.

David Tennant Items

icWales notes that "IT MAY not be an issue at the forefront of people's minds as they are sizing up their favourite celebrities, but the owners of the sexiest pair of famous ears have been named. The RNID, the charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, today picked singer Charlotte Church, also a former winner of Rear of the Year, and Doctor Who actor David Tennant as having the best set of lugs. Others shortlisted for the female prize were actress Keira Knightley, singer Jamelia and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, while the men who just missed out on the prize included presenter Jonathan Ross and singer Robbie Williams. The RNID has now launched a search for the nation's sexiest pair of ears, with members of the public invited to send in a picture to be judged by the charity." Also reported at the Belfast Telegraph, Edinburgh News, GM.TV, Daily Record.

Tennant appears as the Doctor on the front cover of the 'Equity Review of the Year 2005' (the annual report of the British actors' trade union). There's no reference to him or the series inside, however.

Stuff.co.nz reviewed "Casanova" starring Tennant, saying it "was an engaging romp, in the tradition of Vanity Fair, Barrie Lyndon and Moll Flanders -- only updated, into a sort of Minder in costume. ...It was initially disappointing that a rather scrawny and average-looking actor, David Tennant, was the chosen young Casanova. He didn't look remotely like our modern idea of an Italian dreamboat. He was barrow-boy common, and when seen in bed, had those nasty spaghetti arms which we're so unaccustomed to seeing on TV since the advent of Les Mills. But he imbued the role with enough grating charm, impishness and gallows self-deprecation, that in the end he seemed acceptable. Tennant has a nice, Everyman face and surplus eye-twinkle, and will doubtless become as ubiquitous as Robson Green in time. But for my money, he was outshone comedy-wise by his manservant Rocco, played with stoical, eye-rolling sullenness by Shaun Parks."

Tenannt is also said to be backing a fundraising drive for a cash-strapped Scots hospice in his home town of Paisley according to the Daily Record of 14 February. "The ACCORD Hospice have just six weeks to buy their buildings from Argyll and Clyde Health Board. Tennant has stepped in to give the buy-a-brick campaign celebrity backing. David said: 'Coming from Paisley, I'm very proud of the ACCORD Hospice and the care they provide.'"

The official website asks, "If you've ever wondered what going on a date with David Tennant would be like, and let's face it, who hasn't, the BBC Film Network has the answer. They've just published romantic comedy Nine and a Half Minutes on their site. Made back in 2002, it stars the Tenth Doctor actor alongside Zoe Telford. They play Charlie and Heather, a couple who meet on a blind date and then go on to imagine a whole relationship in just under ten minutes. Warning - the film does contain some very strong language, alongside images of David Tennant pretending to be a crocodile wrestler."

More People

John Barrowman is listed to appear on Loose Women Friday 3 March, ITV1 1.30-2.30 (along with one of the Dancing on Ice judges Jason Gardiner) (according to DigiGuide).

BBC News reports that "Actors Joanna Lumley and Tom Baker own the UK's best voices, according to a Radio Times poll of nearly 5000 people. Users of the magazine's website were asked to choose the nicest and the most grating tones from 50 of the most distinctive voices in TV and radio. Julian Clary and Janet Street-Porter topped the worst voices list. Lorraine Kelly and Jeremy Clarkson made both the best and worst line-ups. Other favourite voices included Des Lynam, Davina McCall and Mariella Frostrup. ... 'His voice is so fruity and dark,' [Dead Ringers star Jan Ravens] said of Tom Baker, who is currently the voice of BT's talking text message service. 'But I think it would be hard work to carry his voice round with you all day.'" Also reported at Brand Republic.

The 18 February Birmingham Post featured their "Saturday Interview" with Tom Baker. "You can't deny it's a neat idea. For the next three months, whenever you send a text to a landline number, thanks to computer technology and a mammoth stint in a recording studio, the recipient will hear former Doctor Who Tom Baker reading out your message. "I think I'm a good choice," chuckles the 72-year-old actor, "because here's the voice of Little Britain, now the voice of BT." Holed up in a hotel suite in London's Fitzrovia, Tom is in top form and seems genuinely amused by his latest project. "It took about 60-odd hours over 11 days to record every sound and combination in the language they need to make the service work," he says. "In many ways it could have been a very boring job, because a lot of the stuff I was saying was phonetic. They were looking for sounds and not the sense. Despite the fact it was all nonsensical, I had to read it with aplomb. "I said to the engineer, 'I don't know how I can do this', to which he replied, 'Well, I just heard you talking a load of rubbish in the entrance. It was fantastic, just do that'. I thought, 'Gosh, that's a sharp observation'. "It was a nice job because most of the messages that are going to go out being read by me will be rather pleasant. I'm looking forward to people in the street saying, 'I had a call from you last night!'."

Tom Baker has made a lot of money for BT -- over 500,000 pounds in less than three weeks! "The actor, 72, has been the voice of BT Text since the start of February," says the Daily Star on 19 February. "The service allows mobile phone users to send an SMS to a landline, with the words then being converted into a spoken message by Baker. And already millions of Brits have been plagued by cheeky messages left on their answering machines by the narrator of the hit comedy. Little Britain catchphrases including "I want that one", "bitty" and "I'm a laydee" have been booming out in homes across the UK. The actor, who played Dr Who between 1974 and 1981, earned himself new-found cult status after being signed up to narrate Little Britain. And he has proved so popular that BT, which has cashed in on the 10p-atime service since the start of the month, is now ready to extend his three-month contract. A BT spokesman said: "Within the first week, the number of people using the text-to-landline service soared. There was a 71% increase as people jumped at the chance to play pranks on their friends and have a bit of fun." Prankster Ryan Sloan, 27, said: "I'm a great fan of Dr Who and Little Britain, so getting Tom Baker on my answering machine is always funny."

Baker will be heard on the Colin and Edith Show on Radio 1 on Friday 24 February from 1-4pm according to the official website.

Director James Hawes says he "wants to be reincarnated as a Timelord," according to an interview in Broadcast. Says Hawes to several questions: "What's the cruellest thing you've ever done? Use an air rifle to shoot holes in my sister's David Soul album. ... What's the worst rejection you've ever had? Esther Rantzen turned me down as a director for That's Life. ... Who would you like to play you in a movie? Ronnie Corbett. ... If you could be reincarnated who or what would you be? A Timelord."

The Eastern Daily Press says that Colin Baker will appear at "a Midsummer Invasion at Holt on June 25. It will feature more than 100 daleks and cybermen, and guests also include Terry Molloy, who played Davros, the evil creator of the daleks. Organiser Nigel Pearce said people from across the country were interested in attending, which was good news for the town. Fun events, including parades, and other visiting sci-fi characters from Star Wars and action comics, will be in the town on the Sunday. There is a meet and greet session involving the actors the previous evening. More than 350 people attended a recent event launch, and there would be another "incident" with a red dalek at Budgens super-market at 9am on Friday."
Yahoo News notes that Tracy-Ann Oberman, who appears in the final episodes of series two, "has landed her first major TV role since leaving EastEnders in 2005. The actress, who played murderous former Queen Victoria landlady Chrissie Watts in the serial, will appear in the BBC's new comedy drama Sorted. Written by Daniel Brocklehurst, it follows the lives and loves of six Manchester postmen. Tracy-Ann stars as Amy, who is dating Dex, played by Shameless star Dean Lennox Kelly. The couple are living together and he has become a father to her kids, but they are unsure whether they are ready to take the next step and tie the knot. She's not the only soap veteran in the cast. The show also features Will Mellor, who first found fame on Hollyoaks before going on to serve a two-year stint on Casualty. Eva Pope, who played scheming Tanya Pooley in Coronation Street, will also appear as one of the posties' wives. Other cast members include Hugo Speer, Mark Womack, Cal Macaninch and Neil Dudgeon. The six-part series is currently being filmed, and is due to be screened on BBC One before the end of the year."

The 23 February edition of the Wembley and Kingsbury Times mentions Nicola Bryant's new play "Taboos". "Sally and Harriet, a lesbian couple in San Francisco, each have a child using sperm from their partner's brother, while one of the brothers uses an egg from his sister's partner to help his wife get pregnant. Sounds like a Jerry Springer biological special, but, in fact, it's the latest play by Carl Djerassi, the scientist turned dramatist who invented the contraceptive pill. During the past 15 years he has turned to fiction and the theatre, with a series of science-in-fiction novels and plays, An Immaculate Misconception, Oxygen, Three on a Couch, Calculus and last year's Phallacy. In Taboos, Djerassi returns to what he describes as 'the impending separation of sex and reproduction' to explore the ethical complications of parenthood in an era where social and legal structures lag behind scientific advancement. Djerassi said: "Assumptions that marriage must be heterosexual and that a child cannot have two parents of the same sex were never even considered assumptions, because they were beyond questioning. Some would blame in vitro fertilisation technology during the past three decades for these developments, but major social and cultural changes, primarily in the USA and Europe, were even more responsible for the monumental shift that's caused so much fear and antagonism. So why not write a play about a situation where 'family' and 'parent' have assumed disturbingly fuzzy meanings?" Sally, Notting Hill's Nicola Bryant, best known for her role as Dr Who assistant Peri Brown, and Harriet believe they can invent a family with the necessary biological ingredients, but find it proves a more emotionally involving process than expected."

Merchandise

Doctor Who is currently on the cover of the Sci-Fi Channel magazine (website here) which it says has "a sneak peak at David Tennant, the latest incarnation of the immortal Doctor Who." Also, the channel's website has a review of the Radio Controlled Dalek.

Issue #343 of the American genre TV magazine Starlog features a four-page article about the show which notes the February 14 Canada release date.

Canada's Brandon Sun briefly reviews the Doctor Who series one DVD package, as do Metronews Canada, Brooks Bulletin, News1130 and the Globe and Mail of Canada.

Scifi.com says that "Classic SF franchises such as Doctor Who, Space: 1999 and Lost in Space are still very much alive in 2006, with new collectible lines based on the classic shows debuting at the American International Toy Fair in New York this week. Product Enterprise, Ltd., a British-based toy manufacturer specializing in cult TV and films, showed off an expansive line of new products coming to stores this year. Company designer Graham Humphreys told SCI FI Wire that the company will offer a 12-inch talking Doctor Who, based on actor Tom Baker's 1974–81 version of the immortal character, as well as a Talking Cyberman from the 1975 story "Revenge of the Cybermen." "We've had the classic license for six years, and there's always been a huge market for [Doctor Who]," Humphreys said. "The new items are coming out in October. We also have Micro-action Daleks, radio-control Daleks and the inflatable Daleks available now.""

Miscellaneous

The Scotsman says that "a Dalek built by a Penicuik paramedic has raised almost 300 pounds for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation's appeal which aims to open a family support centre. The cash was raised when the "life-size" creature, which was built by Jeff Dunn, 40, appeared at the Cameron Toll Shopping Centre in Edinburgh last weekend. The Evening News-backed Drop-in Centre appeal aims to raise Ł100,000 to establish a centre near the Sick Kids Hospital for the parents of ill children. If you want to raise funds for the appeal, call 0131-668 4949."

icWales says that "fans will be spending more time getting up close and personal with Doctor Who. The Time Lord exhibition in Cardiff Bay has proved so popular that it will now be open to the public for longer than its planned two-month run. More than 80,000 visitors have already come face-to-face with Daleks at the Red Dragon Centre's free behind-the-scenes show, Doctor Who Up Close. Now fans will be able to see the props and costumes for at least another month, but they will have to pay a fee after February 26, when it was due to close. Martin Wilkie, spokesman for organisers Experience Design and Management, said: "We will keep the admission charge at a modest rate to enable us to welcome as many visitors to the exhibition as possible. We are very happy for school groups to come on an organised basis free of charge. We have been overwhelmed by the response to the exhibition so far." New displays featuring props, costumes and monsters from the forthcoming series starring new doctor David Tennant are set to be featured. Last month exhibits from the Christmas special, including evil Santas and the killer Christmas tree, were introduced. Emma Sandrey, 18, a Cardiff University film and media student, from Llanedeyrn, said: "I think it's fantastic that they're keeping it open. I've been there a few times and really enjoyed it. I don't think paying will put people off going and I'd go again." Doctor Who Up Close is open throughout half-term week from 11am until 8pm, and admission will still be free."

Biz.Yahoo.com on 21 February notes that Nuance Communications' RealSpeak technology has been used to develop the voice for BT's new Voice Text Service, including that of Tom Baker;

This Is Hertfordshire covers a Labour Party leaflet which "shows a Dalek chasing Councillor Brian Salinger. Hendon MP Andrew Dismore is refusing to apologise after labelling the borough's Conservatives as far right extremists' in a Labour Party leaflet delivered to hundreds of homes in the borough. The A4 leaflet, which has been posted to residents in Hale and West Hendon wards, pokes fun at the internal fighting among Tory councillors. It reads: 'There's nothing worse than seeing old friends fall out unless it's the Conservative far right extremists.' The text is accompanied by a mock picture of a Dalek chasing council leader Brian Salinger, with the headline EX-TORY-MATE! EX-TORY-MATE!' Hale Conservative councillor Brian Gordon said the comment was offensive and provocative."

The Brentwood Gazette notes that "One of television's best-loved characters will be making an appearance at Billericay's Mayflower High School next week. K9, Doctor Who's robot dog, will accompany owner Mat Irvine, former judge and advisor on TV programme Robot Wars, who will be judging the school's family learning day. Children and parents will work together on several science projects, including a chance to build robots together to enter into a Robot Wars-style arena competition. K9, who accompanied Tom Baker's Doctor Who during the 1970s, will be making a reapperance when the show returns later in the year."

BlogCritics discusses the arrival next month of the first season of the new Doctor Who series on SCI-FI in America, giving a synopsis of the show and then noting, "Based on what I have provided here, I hope everyone tunes in to Doctor Who mid-March. In many respects, it is the best space opera show out there. And yes, I believe it even surpasses the new Galactica in cliffhanger endings and complexity of storylines. In fact, the entire first season is one gigantic story that is highly reminiscent of the Tom Baker "Keys to Time" and the Colin Baker "Trial of a Time Lord" expansive serials on the classic show. Let's show SCI FI that intelligent viewers like us desire Who for a long time to come. So tune in after Galactica ends, and plan to be surprised! Oh, I forgot to mention the Doctor's name. It's...I forget now. You just have to check out the show yourself to get that question answered. Be seeing you in March." Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times mentioned the series in answer to a question about whether or not the show would ever make it to the US.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Elaine Shanks, Chris Megson, John Bowman, Peter Weaver, Ryan Piekenbrock)

The magazine section of the BBC News website has a Doctor Who-related rarity - Jon Pertwee's appearance in the Splink road safety public information film, which aired on TV. It is one of a series of shorts being shown to mark the 60th anniversary of the Central Office of Information. You can reach the Splink feature at the BBC News website where there is also the opportunity to watch the 30-second film. The site says: "It's got everything you could want from a public information film - a slogan, dated costumes, a bit of nostalgia - but is also unintentionally amusing. It's an attempt at improving road safety for children, and came a year after Dave Prowse (later Darth Vader) had first played the Green Cross Man. The film dates from 1976 and stars the late Jon Pertwee, then just two years after having left the role of Doctor Who. He is essentially playing the same part, though - a curious uncle figure who is explaining the world to his young charges. Unfortunately the message of this film seems so complicated one almost needs the Tardis's translation software to understand what he's going on about. Where the Green Cross Man's approach was simple ("look and listen all the way across"), it must have been decided that children needed the rules of safe crossing spelling out for them more precisely. Which is where the problems start." Accompanied by screen grabs, the site features a transcript of Pertwee's spot and continues, "In fact, of course, what people were more likely to remember was the last second of this film, when Pertwee shouts Splink. It's a remarkable shot, not least for his outfit. But his expression is absolutely bizarre, presumably by design. It is very funny. Well, it would be funny, if the subject wasn't so serious. The Green Cross Code was introduced in 1971, with 'splink' as a supposedly handy mnemonic. But surprise, surprise children found it too complicated. The Times of 10 July, 1974 (before this Pertwee film was released) reported that in a survey of 595 children aged between seven and 15, precisely none could remember the drill in full. Furthermore, only 18% of children chose the safest place to cross the road." More general information and statistics then follow. Dave Prowse also played the Minotaur in the 1972 Jon Pertwee story The Time Monster. (Thanks to John Bowman, Andrew Holmes, Chris Winwood)

According to today's Mirror, UK television chat show icon Trisha Goddard will star in the new series in an episode soon to be filmed that, according to a Mirror 'insider' is entitled I'm In Love With A Ghost. "Television chat queen Trisha Goddard is to star in Doctor Who...as herself. The Time Lord, played by David Tennant, will discover that Earth is overrun by ghosts in the new series before stumbling upon Trisha's show. ... Trisha asks, 'Can you trust him if he's always appearing and disappearing?' It's hilarious." Goddard currently stars in her own series on Five. (Thanks to John Freeman, Peter Weaver)

Outpost Gallifrey today has a collection of set reports and photographs from the location photography done late last week on The Idiot's Lantern, episode seven of the second series of "Doctor Who" now being filmed in Cardiff at several locations. In the 'spoiler' tag are reports from all three days from correspondents Emma Sandrey, Paul Robinson, Ian Golden, John Campbell Rees, Gordon Plant and Philip Dore, while there are also photographs attached by Emma Sandrey, Ian Golden, John Campbell Rees, Neil Ingleson, Gordon Plant, Philip Dore and Anna Roberts. Click on each photo for a larger version, and on the spoiler tag for the reports.

An overview of press coverage the past few days:

Series Two

icWales says that "Pupils from Marlborough Junior School couldn't contain their excitement when they saw actor David Tennant filming scenes for the TV series near their school in Penylan, Cardiff. Deputy headteacher Robert Cook, who brought the group to watch, said: 'Lots of the children are big fans. Ever since they found out it was being filmed here, they've been unable to talk about anything else.' TV star Tennant posed for photographs, signed autographs and chatted with the children. Alice Fogaty, nine, said: 'I like seeing how the actors do their job.' Fellow pupil Mehrnaz Vaizirian, said: 'I got an autograph. It was really exciting.' Yomna Gharib, said: 'I'm looking forward to seeing it on television. It was cool seeing the filming.' Part of Bleinheim Terrace and nearby roads were closed to traffic and transformed into a scene from the 1950s. One shop on the junction with Amesbury Road was converted into a shop called Magpie Electricals. To fit in with the coronation-era scene, David Tennant was sporting a quiff, and stunt doubles for the actor, and sidekick Billie Piper, were involved in a chase on a scooter.'"

The Western Mail features another story on filming in Florentia Street in Cardiff, which we noted was taking place last week. "It was the original name for Coronation Street, but was rejected for sounding too much like a disinfectant. Now, 46 years later, Florizel Street will finally make an appearance on our screens as the setting for an episode of Dr Who. In a nod to the classic ITV soap, Welsh writer Russell T Davies, who briefly worked as a storyliner on Coronation Street, changed the name of Cardiff's Florentia Street for filming the new time-travelling series with stars David Tennant and Billie Piper. The street, in the Cathays area of the city, was decked out in 1950s bunting, with vintage cars parked along the roadside, and an advert for HP Sauce on a wall. The scene will see the Doctor, played by Tennant, and his assistant Rose, played by Piper, emerge from the Tardis into the street. The pair are then seen dressed in '50s rock'n'roll gear to blend in with their surroundings, with Piper dressed in a dark blue anorak with pink pleated skirt and headband, while the Doctor dispenses with his usual geek chic in favour of a sharp suit, quiff and sideburns. But while making the scene's stars look the part was easy enough, managing to avoid other signs of modern life was a significantly more difficult task for the show's producers. Arrangements were made for diversions around the newly- christened street and nearby Monthermer Road to avoid catching modern cars in shot, while all traffic in the area was made to stop for a minute at a time to avoid the sound or sight of modern vehicles. Local residents received scant warning that they were about to be taken back in time." Read the full article at the website. Other papers noting the filming include the Daily Record.

Books and Audio

Amazon is listing Doctor Who: The Ark for release on 7 August. It's listed in Books and Audiobooks, and has an ISBN sequential with that for BBC Audio's 'Tomb of the Cybermen'... we're not sure if this is a new product or not. The link is here.

People

Today's Observer in the Guardian calls Noel Clarke one of its "ten on the verge of big success." "Clarke won the Olivier Award for the most promising performer in 2003. But now he has truly arrived, starring in his own west London street drama, Kidulthood. 'Sometimes you get scripts, you know, and you read them and think, "I can do better than this." But that was never my job. I'm an actor, so I thought you just let the writer do his job. But then I sat down and I remembered a lot of stories from when I was younger and it seemed to me that nobody was telling these stories.' He has done The Bill, Casualty and Holby City. He mixed it with stage productions, including Where Do We Live at the Royal Court, which earned him his Olivier. But until he wrote his own script, there was nothing really that reflected the reality he knew. 'I had all these scenarios in my head but I needed to write a thread, so I thought of this guy, his girlfriend, a day off from school, hanging out with mates and going up into town. The rest is all just incidents around that.' When casting for the film, Clarke insisted they return to his own Ladbroke Grove roots. 'I reckoned you can't get [actors] who are more real than real kids... so we got some of our characters like that. One guy, Femi, went to my college and now he's in the film and he's got an agent, so I feel really good about helping the people who helped me.'" Clarke's film "Kidulthood" is due out on 3 March.

The Daily Record says that Bonnie Langford is now the bookies' favorite to win ITV's "Dancing on Ice". "Bonnie has also revealed that she was only chosen as a reserve for the show and was a late replacement for funnywoman Arabella Weir, who pulled out after breaking her wrist. And flame-haired Bonnie thought she'd be out in the first week. The Just William and Doctor Who star said: 'Literally three months ago, I had never put an ice skate on in my life so it's all down to my training and my skating partner Matt Evers, who is getting me through. It's the most challenging thing I've done in many, many years.' Bonnie has come under fire for being a professional dancer, with some critics claiming this was an unfair advantage. But the entertainer, who won Opportunity Knocks at six and in more than 30 years in showbiz has been a dancer, actor and singer, stresses that when she first tried skating she was like Bambi on ice. 'As a dancer, I'd never skated. It was a forbidden fruit in case you fell. More importantly, it uses different muscles to ones you do as a dancer. I wish they'd show the footage of me when I first started skating. If you'd seen it, you'd have thought there'd be no way this woman is going to be able to do this. I found the whole thing hysterical. There was I standing on a piece of ice with Christopher Dean and I could barely move. If I did, I screeched with laughter. When they first asked if I wanted to do this, my husband (actor Paul Grunert) said it would make good telly but for all the wrong reasons.'"

The Australian Queensland Sunday Mail has an article about Katy Manning. "As much as Barry Crocker and Katy Manning seem to love each other -- this year marks their 16th year as an item -- they also respect and demand their own artistic space and personal freedoms. From the moment they got together, there was no way the one-time assistant to Dr Who and the cabaret star, now 57 and 70 respectively, were going to adopt the role of lovesick teens. 'We had met briefly a couple of times in the early 1980s, but nothing really got started until we were touring together in an ensemble piece called Mother's Day, which also starred the late June Salter,' recalled Crocker. 'Katy and I hit it off more or less straight away but it took June Salter in the role of match-maker to point out that we were meant for each other. I think it was as much about good timing for both of us as anything else.' ... Says Manning, 'I came from a theatrical background where you were at the theatre at least half an hour early -- and, in my case, an hour -- and you didn't leave yourself stranded on stage as the clapping faded away.' ... The professional and personal relationship blossomed when Manning and Crocker toured together again in Willy Russell's Educating Rita, and today Manning is confident enough to let her beau direct her in the one-woman show Me and Jezebel, at Brisbane's StageDoor Dinner Theatre until March 25."

ABC Australia Radio National yesterday broadcast an interview with former Doctor Who composer Tristram Cary. It is available on their website in RealAudio; scroll down to 11 February.

John Barrowman appeared last week in "The Wright Stuff" and stated that in fact, contrary to the report in The Sun, he hadn't actually given them an interview... noting that the comments they chose to state as coming from the actor regarding his departure from "Dancing on Ice," especially the comments about the other contestants, were faked. The Daily Record mentions that the actor will be starring in "Cinderella on Ice," yet another skating-related performance. Digital Spy also briefly comments on this, as does today's Sunday Mail which says that Barrowman insists he won't have anything further to do with the show.

Bruno Langley will soon start rehearsals for "Life Imitates Art: The Love Trilogy, Part One", a play running from March 8 through March 26 at the Camden People's Theatre. Further details are available at the theatre website.

Other Items

High Street retailer Marks and Spencer are now carrying two exclusive Doctor Who-branded easter eggs. The first egg comes in new series Dalek packaging, the second and larger egg is packaged in a TARDIS-shaped box.

Newspapers mentioning the placement of the classic Doctor Who series on Orange mobile phones (reported last week in a separate story here) were the Inquirer, TechSpot; also noting the Tom Baker/BT connection in the past few days were This is Money, The Independent; and the Edinburgh Evening News has a brief story about the Dalek Builders Guild;

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Anna Price, Joanna Pinkney, Chuck Foster, Martin Hoscik, Peter Weaver, Daniel Bowen)

Below are two additional photos from today's location photography on The Idiot's Lantern, taken by Neil Ingleson; the two photos show David Tennant with a 1950's slicked-back hair style. Click on each for a larger version.

Books

At right is a thumbnail-type image of the cover of The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner, due out 13 April. "The Stone Rose" is the only book of the four BBC Books Doctor Who fiction releases that month (which also include "The Resurrection Casket" by Justin Richards, "The Feast of the Damned" by Stephen Cole and "I Am A Dalek" by Gareth Roberts) for which a high-resolution copy of the cover has not yet been released. As soon as it is, we'll let you know.

On Television

Doctor Who was featured on the ITV show 100 Greatest Websearches this past Monday. Tracey Ann-Oberman (guest starring in the forthcoming second series) talked about her expectations of the series coming back without Chris Eccleston and said that she'd worried it might not be done well, but in fact it was and she praised the series' return. The piece showed clips (including one from 'Dalek') and also discussed Doctor Who's "cyberspace life" including mentioning the multitude of websites out there on the Internet.

Series Two

icWales today has a brief report on yesteerday's filming at Florentia Street in Cathays, Cardiff (for which we featured two set reports yesterday). "Residents of a city street were faced with a blast from the past when they opened their curtains to see Doctor Who being filmed outside," says the article. "Florentia Street, in Cathays, Cardiff, has been decked out with bunting and turned into a scene from the 1950s. Vintage cars were parked on the street and on a wall was an old advert for HP sauce. Curious passers-by were amazed to see the television series stars Billie Piper and David Tennant and the Tardis itself made an appearance. Evan Chapman, 39, of nearby Tewkesbury Street, who works at the National Museum and Gallery, said: 'I didn't know what was happening so I came down for a look. I'm surprised to see all the bunting, I'd presumed the road was closed for the gas board. It will be curious to see the area on television.' Gareth Jones, 28, from Llanedeyrn, said: 'It's all good fun - although it does look a bit strange.' Florentia Street, which was changed to the fictional Florizel Street, and parts of adjoining Monthermer Road, have been closed to traffic while the filming, due to finish tomorrow, takes place. Diversions have been arranged and traffic is being made to stop for a minute at a time so modern vehicles don't get filmed.'" At left is an image of Billie Piper that was included with the article.

Interestingly, it has been pointed out on our Forum that Florizel Street was the original working title for the long-running soap Coronation Street.

Yesterday's South Wales Evening Post said that "Eight youngsters have become the envy of their friends after going on a journey with Doctor Who. They are all taking part in the highly-anticipated second series of BBC Wales's smash hit. The first series, starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, was a regular Saturday night hit. Now youngsters from Neath and Port Talbot will be able to watch themselves on screen in the second series, now being filmed. But despite being understandably excited about their big break, the youngsters cannot say much about it. Such is the secrecy surrounding the smash sci-fi show, they have had to sign confidentiality agreements with the BBC. The second series of the revived drama is due for transmission in the spring, and stars David Tennant as the new Doctor, with Billie Piper returning as Rose. All eight children, whose ages range from nine to 15, are members of the TDM Stage School, which runs classes in both Neath and Port Talbot. It is the latest success for school founder Terry Michael, who has also seen one of his young proteges, Thomas Drewson, appear in new British movie Route 66 and another, Dominic Wood, in an Asda advert. He said: 'I took a group of 25 children up to the Doctor Who auditions and I was really delighted when eight of them were chosen.'"

Miscellaneous

The Sun says that "John Barrowman has blasted the Dancing on Ice judges for talking 's**t' after giving him the chop. In the latest round of bitching to hit the show, he launched a scathing rant after losing a skate-off with Hollyoaks star Stefan Booth. Gay Doctor Who actor John, 38, moaned: 'I gave the judges what they wanted and they slapped me in the face with it. I felt I was wrongly judged. To me, the three judges — Nicky (Slater), Karen (Kresge) and Robin (Cousins) — were just talking s**t.' He also had a dig at Stefan, saying: 'It’s a bitter-sweet thing for him because he’s got a lot of pressure on him now. One of the better skaters has gone and he’s now got to prove that he’s worthy of staying.'" The article says that Barrowman "also had a pop at the other remaining contestants on the ITV1 show: Kelly Holmes, Bonnie Langford, David Seaman, Gaynor Faye and Sean Wilson. He said: 'What may happen now is that it could leave the competition with two skaters who are incapable of doing the Bolero.' However, John, who is due to film Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood as bisexual Captain Jack Harkness, was nice about bitchy judge Jason Gardiner -- a friend of his. Jason told the show’s 11 million viewers Kelly was like a man in drag and accused GMTV weathergirl Andrea McLean of dancing like a 'giraffe having sex'. But John said: 'Jason tells the truth.'"

Another mention of Tom Baker's BT job at icLiverpool.

(Thanks to Matt Gaynor, David Rafer, Peter Weaver, Paul Engelberg and Steve Tribe)

Outpost Gallifrey has now received the following synopsis and information about Dalek I Love You, a forthcoming audio drama story that we mentioned in yesterday's TARDIS Report as being broadcast this weekend on the BBC7 Digital Radio channel (and available thereafter on their "Listen Again" service). Details on the program are below. (Thanks to Martin Montague/BBC7)

Today the Orange mobile phone company announced that customers would soon be able to experience wireless access to a range of popular BBC television programmes on their phone, including Doctor Who. "Some of Britain's best-loved shows including The Office, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Little Britain, The League of Gentlemen, Goodness Gracious Me and classic-series Doctor Who will now be available to watch on mobile phones following a breakthrough deal between Orange and BBC Worldwide. From this month, Orange World users will be able to watch video clips of classic scenes and use famous catchphrases from the shows as ringtones. Images of characters from the shows can also be used as wallpapers for phones. Mark Hird, Director of Multimedia Operations for Orange, said: 'Delivering great broadcast content on mobiles is central to our plans for 2006 and beyond, and there's nobody bigger and better than BBC Worldwide as a partner to get our customers excited. Orange customers will now be able to access some of their favourite programmes from the BBC on their mobile. Beyond watching scenes from the shows, they'll also be able to use classic catchphrases as ringtones.' Jason Blain, Director of Business Development, BBC Worldwide, said: 'For the first time, we're giving mobile customers the chance to watch their favourite shows on their phone. More and more, BBC Worldwide is looking to move toward non-traditional broadcasting vehicles, and this partnership with Orange is a testimony to that.' The first wave of content is live on Orange World from 9 February. The range of BBC Worldwide content available will include video clips, ringtones and still images from The Office, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Little Britain, The League of Gentlemen, Goodness Gracious Me and classic-series Doctor Who." There is currently no word on which episodes can specifically be found, although the image at right does show Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee in "The Three Doctors". More details as we get them. (Thanks to Stuart Jackson)

Here is today's second set report from the filming of The Idiot's Lantern, this time with a small collection of photos, courtesy correspondent John Campbell Rees. Click on each thumbnail for a larger version of each photo (which go along with the set report in spoiler tags!)

We have a report today from fan Emma Sandrey witnessing the filming of episode 7 of the new season, The Idiot's Lantern today in Florentia Street, Cathays, Cardiff. As always, our set reports are hidden within the spoiler tags, so click on the spoiler link below to read it.

Radio Play: Dalek, I Love You

On Saturday 11 February, BBC7 will be broadcasting a new drama, Dalek, I Love You at 6pm and midnight, as part of its regular "Seventh Dimension" sci-fi strand. (There is currently no information on casting or production.) The thirty-minute programme is described on the BBC7 website: "A young Dr Who obsessive gets more than he bargains for when he meets his very own Dr Who Girl. But is she real or imagined?" It can be heard online at the BBC7 website and will be available for seven days on the BBC's Listen Again service.

Other Items

Tom Baker wrote a short column for the Sunday Times this weekend. "When I was in the army as a young man I was in the medical corps and saw some terrible consequences of car crashes. It turned me into a timid driver, although I've had a few knocks over the years. About five years ago I was driving near my home in Kent in my Citroen Berlingo Multispace. It was bright daylight and as I came round a corner I saw a car coming towards me on the wrong side of the road. There was no time to do anything so the car banged into me with a sudden jolt. It was clearly the other driver's fault, but she hopped out of her car in a blinding fury. But her fury evaporated as soon as she saw me. She said: 'Don't worry about the crash -I've loved you all my life.' I often have things like that said to me. There's a whole generation of fortysomethings who were sweet on me when they were kids and I was playing Doctor Who. The front of my car was banged in and headlight glass was scattered over the ground. But when I said: 'What are we going to do about this?' she seemed so enamoured with me she said she didn't really care, so we put it down to the insurance. We later became pals."

The drama series Life On Mars made a reference to Doctor Who this past Monday in a story surrounding a football match between Manchester United and Manchester City. "Y'know the whole time travel, out of body experience thing," says one character, to which the other replies, "Well, I went to see Doctor Who, he err prescribed me some pills..."

John Barrowman was briefly interviewed on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat on Tuesday 7 February. With filiming on Torchwood "about to start", the short piece concentrated on Barrowman's laughing assertion that, with so many beautiful cast members, he'd be asking for more sex scenes - "Wouldn't you?!"

The first wave of five-inch action figures from Character Options have begun to appear in small numbers in a few UK shops (and, of course, on eBay). The available figures so far are: the Tenth Doctor (with coat and sonic screwdriver), the Tenth Doctor (in suit), Rose and K9, a Slitheen, and a Sycorax. The main arrival of stock into high street stores is apparently expected later in February or early March.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chris Moore, Daniel O'Malley, Peter Ware and Stuart Ian Burns)

Australia's ABC Network has confirmed in emails sent out to fans today that they at last have negotiated rights to show the series' second season and Christmas special to Australian audiences some time this year. "The ABC has secured the rights to broadcast the second series of the (new) Doctor Who and The Christmas Invasion," says the email announcement. "A broadcast date has not been set. Please check you local television guide on a regular basis for scheduling information." Previously, the network said they were looking into the rights but had not secured them; this is the first indication that they will indeed be showing the second series and special. (Thanks to Adam Kirk, Kerry Hewitt, Brad Truran)

The official Doctor Who website has revealed the cover illustration for the forthcoming UK DVD release of Genesis of the Daleks, due out on 10 April (with extras previously announced). Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.

Update: We now have a much higher resolution image courtesy Tenth Planet (originally from 2Entertain).

Series Two

Noted in last week's release of Doctor Who Magazine: the title presumed for episode 8, The Satan Pit, is actually the title for the second half of the story, episode 9. No idea, though, about the first episode's title.

This Is Plymouth has a feature on Jessica Atkins, an eleven-year-old actress from Looseleigh who will be in the forthcoming episode "The Girl in the Fireplace" (which the article says will be airing in March, but other rumors suggest a series two start date of mid-April). "Filming for the episode took place in Newport in Wales last October, where Jessica, who also goes to Widewell Primary School, took the fame game in her stride, chatting with David Tennant and hob-nobbing with the other stars. She said: 'Everything was really cool and fun. I'm a big fan of the series - I love it and have watched all the episodes. At first it was a bit nerve-racking meeting all the stars. But David Tennant was lovely. He showed me around, we had a long chat and he was really friendly. Mum was more scared than I was anyway. When David took me on to the set, mum was walking behind us just speechless. The whole experience was just amazing. I saw the inside of the Tardis which was really weird - it looked unreal. And a Dalek without a head, which looked a bit spooky. Each morning a car picked us up from our hotel in Cardiff and we'd travel to the set with Noel Clarke who plays Mickey - Rose's boyfriend. He was my favourite. When it was finished and they said 'that's a wrap, that's the end of Jessica's part' they all clapped. I couldn't say anything because I thought I might cry. But it's a good feeling to get home and know you've done it.'" The article notes that she got the part through being a member of the national Italia Conti Agency and had to audition for the part at BBC Broadcasting House last September. "A week after the audition they called to say I'd got it. My brother was the first to tell me and I didn't believe him. Then mum said 'You've got the part' and I was so happy I just rolled around on my bed screaming. ... I had 13 lines and there's a big bit where just me and the Doctor talk. The episode is really quite scary - it was a little frightening just filming it." More at the website. Interestingly, this is the first item to mention that Noel Clarke might also be in this episode.

The news last week about the casting updates printed in Doctor Who Magazine were picked up by The Mirror, The Daily Record, Monsters and Critics.

Dancing On Ice

The Dancing on Ice competition heats up this weekend as series one star John Barrowman and classic series star Bonnie Langford continued to compete on the popular UK series. Here's the recap:

Readabet took their first four-figure bet on the series late last week with a 1000 pound wager reported on Barrowman (whose odds were said to be 10/11). Langford was their second favorite at 7/4. "'At this stage it looks like a two horse race between John Barrowman and Bonnie Langford but don't write off David Seaman, he has pulled off some great saves in the past,' said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams."

The Mirror featured verdicts on the remaining contestants, noting that Barrowman was "a wonderful showman, one of my favourites to reach the final. Last week he fell on his arse. I can't believe the others gave him such high marks." They also said of Langford, "Absolutely brilliant. Despite being the oldest and a busy mum she's doing amazingly death-defying routines. She pushes herself the hardest - a potential winner." The Daily Record also featured, in their 'Crockomter', "John Barromwan - put his back out and injured his ankle. He also sliced partner Olga 's hand open with his blades. But he's 10-11 favourite to win, say bookies William Hill, who took a 1000 bet on him this week. ... Bonnie Langford - The former child star of Just William took to wearing a helmet while training after bashing her head. She also slashed her partner Matt Evers' face with her boot blade during a spin."

On Friday the Daily Star interviewed Barrowman: "Barrowman says he is so scared before he steps on the rink he's worried he'll wet himself on live TV. The 38-year-old, who starred as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, is more petrified of leaving a puddle of pee than taking a tumble on the slippery surface. And the US actor, who's hot favourite to win the ITV1 show, says the spangly-tight costumes he has to wear as he whirls around only add to his predicament. He said: 'As we're about to go on, I get totally emotional and feel like bursting into tears. Millions of people are watching and it's terrifying. I always feel like peeing myself - especially as the costume is so ridiculously tight. It feels like I'm going to spring a leak and have a big wet stain on my costume.' John, who will start filming Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood in April, also revealed he got on the good side of new Time Lord David Tennant, 34, when the pair met recently. He said: 'David showed up at my dressing room and I thought, 'Oh my God, it's Doctor Who'. I said to him: 'David, you're even more handsome in real life'. And he replied: 'You know what? I think you and I are going to get along just great.'"

Saturday's Edinburgh News asked, "Who would ever have thought that Bonnie Langford would one day become a cool (quite literally) trend-setter north of the Border? And yet apparently that's exactly what's happened thanks to her battling performances on ITV's Saturday ratings-winner Dancing On Ice. For the past few weeks, the quintessential English rose, who first achieved fame as the precocious Violet Elizabeth Bott in Just William way back in 1976 (although she made her TV debut long before that in Junior Showtime), has been attracting a whole new generation of fans with her never-say-die approach to the show, in which celebrities are paired with ice-skating professionals who teach them a new routine each week. Now, while the one-time Doctor Who girl is no stranger to dancing - she also starred in the Hot Shoe Show in the 80s - it's the ice part of Dancing On Ice that has been causing her problems. Twice now, Bonita (as she was billed in the movie Bugsy Malone) has cracked her head after a fall. Despite this, however, her exploits, along with those of her fellow contestants John Barrowman, ex-Corrie star Sean Wilson, The Bill's Stefan Booth and Gaynor Faye of Fat Friends, have sparked a boom in the number of people taking skating lessons at Murrayfield ice rink. As delighted rink manager Billy Dunbar said this week: 'It's been amazingly busy in here, and our professional coaches are almost struggling to keep up with the demand.' ... Of course ice-skating isn't without its dangers, as fans of the show, and in particular David Seaman, found when he fell on his partner and almost flattened her. In fact, with the fourth round of Dancing On Ice going out live tonight it remains to be seen if his partner, Pam O'Connor, will be fit enough to take to the ice having damaged her shoulder in the fall. And that's the reason the nearest you'll get me to an ice rink these days is a seat in front of the telly tonight, phone in hand getting ready to vote for Bonnie. Be honest, if she doesn't win, could you really bear to hear her thweam and thweam and thweam until she's thhick?"

Finally, Saturday night, the results were in: Yahoo News reported that Barrowman was the latest celebrity to be voted off "Dancing On Ice". "Despite coming third overall out of seven after the judges' vote, John and his partner, world junior gold medallist and three times Russian champion Olga Sharutenko, were forced into a skate-off after the public phone in. They went head to head with soap star Stefan Booth and his partner Kristina Cousins in the skate-off after both pairs received the lowest public support. The judges were divided over the two performances with two votes apiece and the deciding vote going to Olympic gold medal skater Robin Cousins. He chose to save Stefan from the chop and said: 'I have gone with the showman who has delivered technical skating tonight.' After his performance John said: 'I had a little bump but I got through it - it's very nerve wracking.'" Langford now continues as the only Doctor Who representative on the show.

People

The BBC's internal magazine Ariel has featured obituaries for two Doctor Who personages who recently passed away: former production manager Gary Downie and former visual effects designer Tony Oxley. Says the magazine about Downie in an obit written by former Doctor Who director Fiona Cumming, "His career was multi-faceted -- dancing, choreography, tv production, writing, stage production and psychotherapy. I first met Gary in BBC drama serials, where he worked on a variety of programmes -- I, Claudius, Poldark, Nicholas Nickleby, Wuthering Heights, All Creatures Great and Small, Star Cops and, of course, Doctor Who. He was production manager on Underworld, Silver Nemesis, Black Orchid, Dimensions in Time and The Two Doctors, working with a variety of Doctors and companions. He and his long-term partner, John Nathan-Turner [former Doctor Who series producer], formed Teynham Productions, together with Ian Fraser and myself, to present Pantomime, which took us all back to our roots in theatre. Gary, who contributed time and money to supporting charities in Brighton and abroad, developed a late interest in psychotherapy, which afforded both his clients and himself a deep satisfaction. The loss of JNT in 2002 was a dreadful blow to Gary, followed as it was by the onset of cancer which he fought for two years. He was fortunate to have the support of a nucleus of caring friends to help him through the illness. In December, he and Barry Hannam celebrated their civil contract. Shared by friends of both John and Gary, it was a joyous occasion. We shall miss him." Of Oxley, former series visual effects designer Michealjohn Harris noted that he "had an extraordinary range of interests and abilities which he applied to a diversity of work in the course of a long and successful life. Tony acquired an interest in machinery of every imaginable kind early in life, spending boyhood hours finding out how all manner of machines worked on a war department machinery dump. After the war, he began work for City Display, a company specialising in film and display models. This work expanded into making animated models, including a model whale for Moby Dick – designed and built by Tony himself. He joined the BBC as a visual effects design assistant and soon became much in demand, especially by Doctor Who and light entertainment productions. Despite his dreams of a quiet retirement, Tony found, almost overnight, that he had become a freelance special properties designer. He worked as a contractor for the BBC with the same interest and dedication until, because of changes in BBC management, this work came to an end. Tony was a singular man of huge talent and ability. His passing is a great loss to his family and to all those in tv and film who admired him."

David Tennant has been voted onto a list of the world's "100 Sexiest Men" by the readers of New Woman Magazine. While such notables as Brad Pitt (#1), Jake Gyllenhaal (#2), Johnny Depp (#4) and David Beckham (#14) were obvious choices, Tennant made the list at #20. Reported at the Daily Record, Daily Mail, UTV, The Independent, 24 Dash, MI6, The Age Australia. Also, Tony Head (soon to be seen in the series 2 episode "School Reunion") was #81 on the list. Says the Bath Chronicle, "Tony, who kept the nation guessing throughout the 1980s as the Gold Blend man, has hung on to his sex symbol status thanks to his role as Giles in cult show Buffy The Vampire Slayer. ... He is also a vice-president of the Royal United Hospital's fundraising appeal, Forever Friends. 'We are thrilled that Tony features as a winner in this list,' said Ruth Wilkinson, from the appeal. 'As well as being a very attractive man Tony is a wonderful person and we are extremely grateful to have him on board. From fundraisers, such as last year's Valentine phone call auction, to singing on stage with Clare Teal at the Jamie Cullum concert, Tony is a totally pro-active supporter of the appeal and therefore we would rate him over Brad Pitt any day.'"

Tennant also appeared on Virgin Radio in early January on a call-in show during their "Who's Calling Christian?" segment; listeners are urged to have their favorite celebrities call into the show, and Tennant obliged. The website has an audio clip.

Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and actor Jeremy Bulloch ("The Time Warrior," "The Space Museum") will lock swords in an episode of the popular BBC1 daytime series Doctors this Wednesday, 8 March at 2:05pm. "The stars play two men who prepare to settle an old score by fighting a fencing duel to the death! Can Boba Fett call upon his bounty hunting skills to beat the time travelling Dr. Who? Which one will end up at the Riverside Surgery? Colin Baker plays Charles Dillon and Jeremy Bulloch plays Victor Hendon, two foolish old men who decide it is time to settle a long standing feud originating back to how Victor treated Charles’ sister, Betty, with his philandering ways when the two were married. Victor now wants to remarry his ex-wife much to Charles’ disgust so they decide to battle it out in a traditional and gentlemanly way. But there’s not a Blaster Pistol or a Tardis in sight!"

Says icWales today, Tom Baker is "tongue-tied" and "will get Welsh lessons after the voice of BT's new call service was caught out by Wales on Sunday. The stripey-scarfed Doctor Who legend has been signed up by the phone company to front BT Text, which allows mobile users to send messages to landlines. ... So Wales on Sunday put it to the test, sending 10 messages containing Welsh place names and common Welsh words. And the result - the former Dr Who became Dr What?! Names like Llanrwst and Llanfairfechan came out garbled while he gave up on words like cwtch, opting to spell them out instead. And when we put him to the test with Britain's longest place name -- the Anglesey town of Llanfairpwllgwyngy- llgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch -- the star sounded like he had been enjoying a night on the tiles! Now 72-year-old Tom is to return to the studio to record some Welsh pronunciations after BT bosses were confronted by our dossier of disappointing diction. The star had already spent 11 days recording every sound in the English language - 11,593 phrases, which covered every single sound in each of their different contexts. 'These did not cover every word or place name, but instead the aim was to create a soundbank of all the sounds in the English language, which could be stuck together by the computer to create new words,' explained BT's voice-text supremo Wendy McMillan-Tiller. 'As part of this process we also took into account a long list of exceptions, including numerous Welsh place names, which each needed an individually crafted pronunciation to be created and loaded onto the system.' But she admitted that even Doctor Who struggled when confronted with the mighty foe of the Welsh language. 'As far as possible, we will do our best to amend words that are pronounced incorrectly and welcome feedback on any commonly used words that the voice cannot currently recognise, along with their correct pronunciation,' she said. 'We will certainly try our best to take on board the most frequently used words such as cwtch and Urdd Eisteddfod, but cannot promise to amend every single word. Indeed, part of the fun of the service is testing the voice to see if you can catch it out.' The service will see the Liverpool-born legend reading out texts for the next three months including common abbreviations like b4 - and, for the juvenile amongst you, even swear words! 'What appeals to me most is the thought that I will be bringing good news to people whether it is a cheeky message, a birthday greeting or just a quick hello,' he said. 'Whatever it is, hopefully my voice will bring a smile to people's faces.'"

The Independent mentioned Tom Baker's gig for BT but asked, "who are his rivals behind the microphone?" The article then mentions Michael Jayston, who played The Valeyard during Season 23, "The Trial of a Time Lord". "Tom Baker has paid tribute to the 'wonderful warmth' of the voice of this classical actor, who was once considered for the part of James Bond. Like Baker, Jayston has played Doctor Who, although, unlike Baker, he was an evil doctor. The 70-year-old played Raquel's dad in Only Fools and Horses and provided the voice-over for Finisterre, the first film made by the UK pop trio Saint Etienne, for which he describes in his narration as 'a quick glance at the London nobody knows'. His voice can also be heard between tracks on their album of the same name."

Also... says Friday's The Sun, Tom Baker "wants to be a transvestite in Coronation Street. The eccentric former Dr Who star, 72, said it would be the 'ultimate' role. Speaking on ITV1's Today with Des and Mel yesterday, he said: 'I would be mysterious, not made-up well and in need of a shave.'" BBC News also called Baker one of their "faces of the week".

The Mirror features an interview with Mark Benton, who played Clive during series one. "His cheeky face and bulky frame are instantly recognisable. Strangers shout after him in the street and hail him as a longlost friend. Yet few people actually know his name. Mark Benton has found a strange sort of notoriety, thanks to his starring role in the popular TV ads for the Nationwide building society. He plays the infuriating bank clerk who flogs 'Cracker-Jacka-Tracker' mortgages to 'brand new customers only' - a catchphrase that has started to follow him around." Doctor Who is mentioned only very briefly.

Paul McGann will be starring in a lavish production of the classic Agatha Christie tale "Sleeping Murder" for ITV this evening, according to both ITN and Channel 4. McGann will be featured alongside Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, along with Dawn French, Sarah Parish and Una Stubbs.

Books

Trade magazine The Bookseller this week reports on the forthcoming BBC Audio releases of David Tennant reading the first batch of Tenth Doctor novels, noting that Tennant's work will be released on CD in July. Also, Ben Dunn, former BBC Books commissioning editor and now editorial director at Fourth Estate, is profiled in the magazine, briefly dealing with his experiences at BBC Books: "He also commissioned the hugely successful set of tie-in novels to the new Doctor Who series, as well as a number on non-tie-in Doctor Who books. But the Beeb was going through a period of great upheaval while he was there and it was, he says, a demoralising place to work." The Bookseller's diary column, 'Bent's Notes', also has a small piece noting comments by Ben Dunn: "Fourth Estate's popular culture guru Ben Dunn... has revealed the slightly unsavoury side of his previous role commissioning "Doctor Who" novels at the BBC. He was deluged with submissions for novels from 'Doctor Who' fans, and, after the inevitable rejection letters, often featured in online fiction as an evil overlord who eventually gets his come-uppance. In one classic, The Revenge of Fanwank, Dunn's brain is taken over."

Miscellaneous

Auditions for Big Brother this week included one of the contestants auditioning as a Dalek! Says BBC News, "More than 1000 people have turned up to audition for the next series of Channel 4's reality TV show Big Brother. Would-be contestants, some in fancy dress, queued for up to four hours to get a chance to impress the producers of this year's seventh UK series. One participant dressed as a Dalek in an attempt to get noticed by the programme-makers."

Silicon.com has more to add on the Tom Baker/BT item, including this commentary: "Speaking loosely as we were of BT, the incumbent telco announced a rather fun initiative this week... The company's text-to-voicemail service, which takes an SMS message and turns it into an audio voicemail recording for landline phones, is to be voiced by none other than Tom Baker – former Dr Who legend and now the voice of Little Britain. Oh, the fun you could have. Such services are certainly proving popular – not to mention confusing for those who don't know they have such an option at their disposal, though to date it has normally been voiced by a machine. One member of the silicon.com team reported a very confused phone call from 'the wife' who expressed some alarm at the fact a robot had apparently just called her at home and demanded: 'If you are going to the shops, don't forget to buy my razors' in a voice akin to Baker's old foes the Daleks. Very unsettling. But since Tuesday of this week Baker's warm and reassuring tones have been giving 2.3 million BT customers their messages. But don't worry, poor old Tom isn't working his fingers to the bone jotting down notes and putting in calls -- there is still a large amount of automation to this process. ... 'There is no limit to the words the voice can say,' added BT, '... even rude ones.' Now there's an idea. If the Round-Up knows anything about human nature it's that it goes without saying customers will inevitably get 'Sir' Tom to say some pretty smutty things. BT is also claiming the service can read abbreviations and keystrokes such as smiley faces. Baker said of his involvement with the project: 'Daleks!! Quick to the TARDIS.' Oh alright he didn't, according to BT he actually said: 'It's a big responsibility to be Britain’s voice of text.' It's not really, is it Tom? It probably pays the bills but it's not exactly open heart surgery. Tom continued: 'What appeals to me most is... ' It's the money isn't it? Say it's the money... '... the thought that I will be bringing good news to people whether it is a cheeky message, a birthday greeting or just a quick hello. Whatever it is, hopefully my voice will bring a smile to people's faces.' The Round-Up is a little unconvinced -- suspecting the actor was not the source of that quote at all -- but is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he's Tom Baker."

Saturday's Mirror had a brief article about the upcoming "Primaeval," ITV's 6 million pound answer to Doctor Who. "As Professor Nick Cutter - a time-travelling scientist - Douglas Henshall will rival fellow Scot David Tennant's Time Lord. And just like the Doctor, he'll even have a blonde former teen pop star to assist him... in the shape of S Club 7 bopper Hannah Spearitt. In her first TV role since making the Beeb's series about the band, Hannah will play feisty zoologist Abby Lister. Move over Billie Piper

The latest issue of the British satirical magazine Private Eye features a lookalikes section comparing 'The Romantics' (with David Tennant) presenter Peter Ackroyd to a Sontaran. They show a picture of him next to a picture of Linx from 'The Time Warrior' and speculate whether the Director General of the BBC is aware that aliens have invaded his staff.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Simon Cooper, Nick Salmond, Ed Martin, Peter Anghelides, Peter Weaver, Faiz Rehman)

Last night the annual Radio Times Covers Party, a celebration of the magazine's cover stars over the previous year, was held at the Savoy. Hosted by Graham Norton, the party was accordingly attended by Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Sir Bob Geldof, Dame Vera Lynn, Charles Dance and Dame Helen Mirren, as well as many Doctor Who personalities. With Doctor Who having such a strong presence in the magazine over the last year, we're told it was no great surprise to find that David Tennant, Billie Piper and Russell T Davies were all in attendance, although David appeared on stage to collect a "Casanova" framed cover. Apparently, one surprise came when Russell went up to collect his cover... the lights dimmed and a Dalek appeared from the wings, crossed the floor and threatened him. (The Dalek, we are told, was probably a genuine BBC model and that Nicholas Briggs was in attendance providing the voice.) The Dalek became a key (and popular) prop for official Radio Times photograph sessions. David, Billie and Russell were all snapped; no doubt a selection of the pictures will appear in print for a future issue.

This week's issue of Doctor Who Magazine has details of the latest additions to the crew and cast of Series Two. According to the magazine, the director for Block Five (two episodes out of Episodes 8 to 13) is James Strong, whose previous directing credits include BBC One's Rocket Man and episodes of Casualty and Holby City.

Further casting announcements for Block Four (episodes unconfirmed, but we're told very likely to be in Mark Gatiss' episode "The Idiot's Lantern," include Edna Dore as Maeve -- Dore's forty-five-year career has included roles in series from "Z Cars" and "Dixon of Dock Green" to "EastEnders", "Our Mutual Friend" and "The Bill"; and, as Trish, Nina Sosanya, well known for a leading role in Channel 4's "Teachers", as well as co-starring with David Tennant in "Casanova" and Billie Piper in "Much Ado about Nothing" last year. Abdul Salis plays Kel, Abisola Agbaje is Chloe and Christopher Driscoll plays a Security Guard. The cameo appearance by TV psychic Derek Acorah is also confirmed in the magazine.

According to Phil Collinson, the series producer, Block Three filming was nearing completion as DWM went to press and that the readthrough for Episodes 7 and 11 (Block Four) had been scheduled for Wednesday 18 January, with a day's rehearsal the next day before starting filming. Block Five is starting pre-production and Block Six will be a single episode and filmed last, with some double-banking alongside Block Five (repeating a pattern from the previous series' schedule). Director Graeme Harper is now editing his episodes, Episode 1's final mix took place on Friday 6 January, and Episode 4's incidental music and special effects were due to be completed by Friday 20 January.

Meanwhile, the first four editions of the second series of Doctor Who Confidential, BBC Three's accompanying documentary series, now have titles, and DWM confirms that these are 'New New Doctor', 'Fear Factor', Friends Reunited' and 'From Script to Screen'.

Finally, the magazine confirms that there will be a second series of 'vanilla' (meaning no extras) DVD releases this year, this year broken into five volumes... the first one will feature "The Christmas Invasion" and "New Earth," with the other four featuring three episodes each. The series will follow the same pattern as last year's Series One releases, with a boxed set with extra features in the autumn.

For more, including the latest Production Notes column and additional information, pick up the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (#366), on newsstands today.

According to the latest DWM, Big Finish will soon embark on a new four-part miniseries, beginning this September: actor Terry Molloy, who played Dalek creator Davros on television and in several audios for the company, "will star in I, Davros, the definitive chronicle of the journey from man to monster to Creator of the Daleks and then Nemesis of the Doctor". The four plays will be written by Gary Hopkins ('The Last', 'Other Lives'), James Parsons and Andrew Stirling-Brown ('Live 34'), Lance Parkin ('Davros', 'Primeval', 'The Gallifrey Chronicles', etc. etc.) and Scott Alan Woodard ('The Juggernauts'). DWM reports that elements of [the 2003 release] 'Davros' will be woven into this new mini-series, which is directed by Gary Russell and covers Davros's life from teenager to Dalek creator in 'Genesis of the Daleks' on television.

Also coming with the March issue of DWM (#367) will be another Big Finish-produced CD release, "a complete new audio adventure starring Sophie Aldred as Ace, Nicola Bryant as Peri, Caroline Morris as Erimem and Philip Olivier as Hex."

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine confirms that James Hawes will no longer be the producer for the spin-off series, with Russell T Davies saying that a replacement has been appointed and will be announced when the ink is dry on the contract. Davies comments: "Knowing sci-fi fans as I do, again, I'd say, keep calm -- this is perfectly normal in the build up to production, it happens on every other drama in the world -- it's only on sci-fi drama that these things get seen as dramatic events!" Work has begun, it says, with pre-production "a few weeks off". Storylines were agreed for the entire series on Wednesday 4 January, followed by two days of meetings with all the series writers, including PJ Hammond; the magazine says that "these writers will not be announced yet -- they're busy writing, not chatting, so you'll have to wait!" Helen Raynor and Brian Minchin will be script-editing the series; designer Matt Savage has moved from Doctor Who to Torchwood and has already started work; and preliminary auditions have also been held.

According to a press release from the BBC Press Office, and noted on the official Doctor Who website, the three Tenth Doctor novels expected in April will be published with audiobook versions, and that these will all be read by David Tennant. The CD releases will also feature more than just readings of the novels: the audiobook commissioning editor, Kate Walsh, says that "having David read means we can include some added extras for those interested in hearing more about him, on top of the terrifically exciting stories written by Stephen Cole, Jacqueline Rayner and Justin Richards. They will make fantastic publications!" It says, "Set for release in July, David will start recording next month. The three titles are new adventures for the Doctor and his companion Rose and is the first time David will feature in his role as the Doctor outside of the television series. The CDs will also include special bonus material featuring children from across the UK asking the Doctor everything they've ever wanted to know about life as the Time Lord." The new Doctor Who titles are "The Stone Rose," "The Resurrection Casket," and "The Feast of the Drowned"; Amazon.co.uk released two of the three novel covers last week (and they were subsequently added to our news page).

Broadcasting

According to Radio Times, The Christmas Invasion will be repeated in the UK on BBC Three at 9pm on Friday 10 February.

Meanwhile, more from ABC Australia on its series two plans, or lack thereof: according to an email sent to a fan, ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs said, "The ABC is currently negotiating the rights for the 'The Christmas Invasion' 2005 special and Series 2 of the new Doctor Who, both starring David Tennant as the 10th Doctor. We anticipate that the Christmas special and the new series will be broadcast later in 2006. At this stage, I cannot be more specific about when this may occur."

There are rumors currently circulating that the BBC has supposedly 'confirmed' April 15 as the date of transmission of Series Two in the UK. In fact, Outpost Gallifrey reported in December that there were rumors of an Easter weekend debut, based on news reports including a press release about the Tenth Doctor novels mentioning Easter weekend; these reports are nothing new. We have been informed that, in fact, no final decision has yet been made on transmission, and in fact the date last year was in flux until approximately six weeks prior. When the BBC makes its final determination and announces it, that is when it will be official.

Doctor Who Magazine Specials

The DWM Special Edition #13 will be The Ninth Doctor Collected Comics, according to the latest issue, with all four comic strips from last year's DWM, as well as 'Mr Nobody' from "The Doctor Who Annual 2006." Also, already listed on Amazon, the early autumn publication of The Doctor Who Storybook 2007 is also confirmed in the new DWM. Comprising a jacket by Alister Pearson, 84 pages, seven illustrated stories and a 15-page comic strip by Scott Gray, this will be a 7.99 hardback.

Press Coverage

Manchester Online has a new article about the series "Dancing On Ice" on ITV1 on Saturdays. It notes the high prospects of two Doctor Who celebrities when it says "Current odds-on favourite is actor John Barrowman, who was born in Scotland but raised in America. The Broadway and West End stage star is best known for his role as Captain Jack in Doctor Who. 'I was fortunate growing up,' he says. 'My family had a lake, which our neighbourhood all shared, and the parents used to clear off part of the lake and we would ice skate and play hockey. We got a little adventurous when the ice was hard enough and we'd go in a swamp area where the lake froze - all the trees froze out of the lake and we had all these obstacles to go around.' John - who also co-presented one series of former BBC1 Saturday morning show Live And Kicking - has made no secret of his desire to win alongside partner Olga Sharutenko. 'I'm going for broke. It's a competition and I'm probably one of the most competitive people you'll meet.' Aiming to stop him is second favourite Bonnie Langford, who also knows a thing or two about dancing. But the former child star says there's a big difference when ice is involved. 'I'd never, ever, skated in my life before. I never put skates anywhere near my foot because being a dancer, you never did. It's a very late venture in my life.'"

The Guardian has published a Dalek-themed cartoon commenting on the
British government's new incapacity benefit rules.

The Sun features a new interview with Tom Baker. "Dr Who legend Tom Baker says he would consider a shock return to the hit sci-fi show - despite never having watched it in his life. The veteran actor is one of the most-famous Timelords ever, having spent a record seven-year stint in the role. But the 72-year-old, who quit the show in 1981, told us he'd now think about a comeback. He said: 'If they could come up with a good enough part I would consider it. It would depend what the proposition was. But I wouldn't want to make an entrance just for a cheap laugh. I've got nothing against cheap laughs but I just don't need to do that now. I'd rather have an interesting part... for a few minutes at least.' Amazingly, Tom has never seen an episode of the show, which returned to screens last year starring Christopher Eccleston and later David Tennant in the lead role. He laughed: 'I haven't even seen it. I didn't watch the show when I was in it so I'm not about to watch it with someone else in it. They send me all the DVDs but I never watch them. I usually give them away. It isn't some big principle - I just can't be bothered.'" Read more of the interview, which also discusses his appearances in "Little Britain" and mentions his BT voiceover job.

The Independent also has an interview wih Tom, which it calls "Tom Baker: The 5 Minute Interview". "Being the voice of text appeals to me because ... Everybody wants to give good news. All my life I wanted to. And text is largely good news and making people happy. If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be ... Telling lies to someone else. A phrase I use far too often is ... 'Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.' I say it often to my wife who is a good deal younger than me, but she doesn't often see the joke." The full interview is available at their website.

The Independent today features the obituary of John Woodnutt who last month we reported passed away. "John Woodnutt was one of the most prolific character actors from the golden age of television drama, his long, thin face well suited to expressing disapproval, particularly as cold officials or implacable villains. ... He appeared in four Doctor Who stories, beginning with Jon Pertwee's debut 'Spearhead From Space' (1970), also the first in colour, later playing scaly, pointy-headed aliens in 'Frontier in Space' (1973) and 'Terror of the Zygons' (1975), before being cast as an elder in Tom Baker's penultimate story, 'The Keeper of Traken' (1981). In the same vein, he did the extremely silly The Tomorrow People (1973), and was a villainous Thin Man in The Boy from Space (1971)." The full obit is at the site.

The Norfolk Eastern Daily Press says that "Dozens of Daleks are heading to Holt in June - but their invasion has a mission to entertain rather than exterminate. The mechanised monsters will join in fun events such as trolley dashes and themed breakfasts. They are among the stars of a Dr Who weekend which will see the town's Georgian streets replete with a range of science-fiction and comic-book characters. Organiser Nigel Pearce said they aimed to attract 100 Daleks to 'roam the town'. There will be sci-fi breakfasts at Byford's cafe and the trolley dash, as well as a parade with other Dr Who enemies like Cybermen. It was hoped ex-Doctor Colin Baker would appear during the weekend, with the East Anglian Air Ambulance the main benefactor. Co-promoter Andy Argyle said the event would also feature characters from Star Wars, Star Trek and comic books like Spiderman. The carnival day and parade has been cancelled, but a treasure hunt, quiz and family disco will go ahead, linked to the Dr Who festival. The country park is holding an orienteering competition on June 24 at 2pm. A buffet at the Feathers Hotel will feature actors such as Terry Molloy, who played the Daleks' evil creator Davros. Sunday events will be centred on the market place."

Several websites have new reviews of the Beginning Boxed Set DVD release including VideoBusiness, Computer CrowsNest.

Radio 4's current Book of the Week is "Tete a Tete", Hazel Rowley's biography of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, read by Eleanor Bron ("City of Death," "Revelation of the Daleks"). Meanwhile you can hear Christopher Eccleston pitching in on reading duty for the network's interminable history series This Sceptred Isle: Empire. Both are available for up to seven days via the bbc's Listen Again service, here for Book of the Week and here for This Sceptred Isle: Empire.

In brief... there's more coverage of the announcement of Tom Baker as the new voice of BT mobile at BBC News, The Register, The Guardian, Reuters, Computing, WhatPC, Engadget, Channel Four, ITN, ComputerActive, Stuff NZ, Infomatics Online, Funny.co.uk, IT Week, Hecklerspray, Cellular News, Special Broadcasting Service. Plus, there is a new press release from BT.

Meanwhile, there's more coverage of Billie Piper's award at the official Doctor Who website as well as The Stage, RTE; and more mentions of Maureen Lipman in Series Two at FemaleFirst, DigitalSpy.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Faiz Rehman, Dave Masters, Robert Davis, Matt Kimpton and Murray Harper)