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Tuesday, 15 March 2005 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

SFX has a collection of five high-quality photos from the second episode, "The End of the World" including one that features the Doctor and Rose overlooking the Earth, a photo that hasn't been circulated widely. Note that there are SPOILERS in these photos so read at your own risk!

An article in today's Daily Telegraph says that "Dr Who is homeless in Australia" referring to the lack of a disclosed buyer for the series in that country. "The BBC hasn't as yet sold the new series of the oldtime cult favourite here yet. ... It has already been sold to Prime in New Zealand as well as to Canada. There has been a rumour that the Nine Network is interested in the series although in the past it has been shown on the ABC. So poor old Who can travel back to any time he wants, but travelling to
a timeslot on an Australian network seems to be a much trickier feat."

A discussion of politicians and Doctor Who in the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal today by Karen Bartlett discusses the series and its impact. "In fact, the new series of Doctor Who, due on our screens later this month, includes a sinister episode where all members of the cabinet are taken over by aliens. Does the Doctor triumph, or is it possible that the aliens leave of their own accord after encountering John Prescott and deciding to look for a more intelligent life form? Whatever the conclusion, it isn"t the first time that science fiction has affected our political consciousness." It also mentions "The Sun Makers" ("Too many economists in the government," the Doctor says) and the history of the show.

TV Quick's listings reports that BBC2's Doctor Who night is this saturday 19th March commencing with the Peter Cushing movie Doctor Who and the Daleks at 3.50pm. The magazine also carries a picture, on page 5, of Little Britian star, Matt Lucas exiting, or entering, the TARDIS.

The TV listings site mydigiguide.com has details of a day of Who repeats by UK digital and satellite channel UKTV Gold on the day of the new series launch. "Doctor Who Day - UKTV Gold, Saturday 26th March 2005, 08:00 - 19:00. A special day to celebrate the cult sci-fi time traveller in his various different guises beginning with the very first Doctor of all - William Hartnell. The day will include more episodes featuring some of the other actors that have portrayed the Doctor over the years. Interspersed between the stories will be some short pieces on various aspects of this hugely popular series." The listings are as follows: 8:00am, The Doctor Who Story; 8:10am, The Time Meddler; 10:20am, The Daemons; 1:05pm, Pyramids of Mars; 3:10pm, Attack of the Cybermen; 5:25pm, Dragonfire.

The 60-second News on BBC Three at 10pm on Sunday (just before Casanova) included a mention of Tom Baker's win in the SFX poll, complete with the clips sequence used in the various new series news reports last week. A good example of the 'any excuse to mention it' at the moment in press and broadcast media.

The latest issue of 'New' magazine (a tabloid celeb led mag) has a four page Doctor Who special covering (quite a lot really) an interview with Billie Piper and why she would never say that Doctor Who caused her divorce. An interview with Chris and an interview with Bruno Langley on his two part adventure and his possible return in series two (the first confirmation in the press of something Outpost Gallifrey has been reporting all along, that Langley is in two episodes, not just one!) There are some shots of the launch and a list of four of the Doctor's 'latest terrifying monsters'.

Billie Piper is currently on the cover of the UK 'lads magazine' ARENA. Meanwhile, according to a BBC report, Piper is also in talks to star in a new BBC adaptation of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. "It's part of a new season of updated Shakespeare plays, which include 'Macbeth' set in a restaurant," says the report.

Today's Guardian discusses the new series and how it will impact Britain. "Your reason for hiding behind the sofa is clear," says the article, which goes into a review of comments made in various papers such as the Telegarph, the Sun, the Daily Express, the Western Mail, and so forth. (Hmm... wonder who else might be doing that these days...)

To tie in with the presence of the Daleks in the new series, This is Bath makes note of the impending release of William Russell's reading of "Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure With the Daleks."

And finally... Doctor Who has, at last, made the front page of the BBC website! bbc.co.uk features a simple banner with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper saying "Who's Back: 26 March 7pm, BBC One." Very cool.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes, Terry Doyle, Dan O'Malley, Graham Kibble-White, Mark Irwin, Paul Wright, Chuck Foster)




FILTER: - Series 1/27 - Press