New Show: Winter Highlights?

A press release today from the BBC (which has been covered in several media outlets today) mentions the new Doctor Who series as part of the "Winter Highlights," noting the forthcoming series as being targeted for debut in 2005. "Acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston hits our screens this winter as Doctor Who with Billie Piper as the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler. More details will be released early next year," says the press release. An expanded version of the release is also online from the Drama department, with more details: "Acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston plays Doctor Who in a new series for BBC One next year," says the press release. "Billie Piper, who made her acting debut in the critically acclaimed Canterbury Tales - The Miller's Tale, stars alongside Eccleston as the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler. Travelling through time and space, the Doctor and Rose come face to face with a number of new and exciting monsters - as well as battling with the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Daleks. The series, which promises to surprise and entertain a new generation, also features Penelope Wilton, Noel Clarke, Annette Badland, Camille Coduri and John Barrowman, Bruno Langley and celebrated theatre, film and television actor Simon Callow. Filming in Cardiff until 2005 for transmission on BBC One, Doctor Who is written by Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell and Robert Shearman." It is important to note that, while the appearance of the item intimates an early 2005 time frame -- noting the show "hits... screens this winter," there is still no guarantee whatsoever that the show will appear during that time, as the show is currently around the halfway point in filming, with at least six episodes of 13 that have not as yet gone before the cameras, and will depend on how quickly the show is completed before an actual debut is set. (Thanks to everyone who passed along the press release and media links...)