Christmas Day Launch?

Today's Daily Express notes that the new Doctor Who series may indeed be "the jewel in the crown of the BBC Christmas schedule," proposing that BBC1 will launch the series early, screening the first episode on Christmas Day 2004. There have been rumors of broadcast in early January, but this is the earliest report so far. "The Doctor Who project has lifted off with the kind of momentum no-one could have anticipated," the Daily Express quotes an unnamed source. "I don't think anyone knew how interested people would be or indeed what a huge fan base there is. The BBC are already working out what to put where and Doctor Who is on top of the list for Christmas Day." The article says that a decision on casting for Rose Tyler is still yet to be made, and states that Anna Friel ("Brookside") and Keeley Hawes ("Spooks") are two of the finalists... and also mentions that the Doctor will, in the first episode, battle "one of his most fearsome enemies - the terrifying automatons," obviously a slight misquote but definitely referring to the reported appearance of the Autons in the first story. Indeed, today's Daily Star also refers to the launch in an article entitled "Guess Who's On Xmas TV," which says that BBC1 chief Lorraine Heggessey is "turning to three old favourites with a new look in a bid to win the festive ratings battle" and mentions that the Doctor will battle the Autons in the first episode. It also features some of the same quotes as the Daily Express article. These reports have been picked up today by the Sky Television news service and Sky's online Sky News newsfeed, as well as online at Yahoo! UK News, quoting the Sky News reports, and Digital Spy. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg and everyone who wrote in to let us know!)