Doctor Who in Radio Times

Today's edition of Radio Times (19-25 March) has several items on the new series, including the second of three consecutive cover mentions. This week's cover features the Chris/Billie billboard poster photo as an inset and announces, "Doctor Who - The countdown to the new series has begun!" Inside the magazine, BBC2's Doctor Who Night is one of the recommended television highlights for this Saturday (page 4), illustrated with a shot of Davison in the TARDIS, and Eccleston's appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross is one of Friday's picks, again with a photo, while Project: Who? also features in the week's radio choices (page 5). The second of the series of "Doctor Who Watch" articles (page 19) has a montage of all nine Doctors accompanying a quick run-down of each Doctor's first words in the series and comments given by the leading actors to Radio Times as they started out in the role; according to the same article, the 16-page supplement covering "the characters, monsters and special effects of the new series" will appear in next week's Radio Times.

Television listings: The 19 March showing of Dr Who and the Daleks is confirmed (review p.57, listing p.71) from 3.50 to 5.10pm (i.e. 80 not 70 minutes as previously listed), while an outing for Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150AD on Channel 4 is confirmed for Friday 25 March at 12.40-2.15pm (review p.64, listing p.119). Doctor Who Night is also highlighted with a short piece in Saturday's choices (page 70) and the regular listing is illustrated with a shot of Tom Baker (page 72). [Of peripheral interest: while ITV1 is now halfway through the Ant and Dec series that will be Who's main competition, Five has scheduled Charmed Season 4 repeats followed by Buffy Season 1 repeats in its early evening Saturday slots. Meanwhile, UKGold's weekend morning omnibus editions are confirmed as The Pirate Planet and City of Death.] Blue Peter's Monday 21 edition has guest appearances by Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper confirmed at 4.55pm. The "On This Day" piece for Tuesday 22 March recalls Colin Baker's first story in 1984, noting that, until Paul McGann, his tenure was the shortest in the show's history, and Jonathan Ross's interview with Eccleston is listed on page 120.

Radio listings: page 129 features "Pick of the Week" Project: Who?, with a three-quarter-page article on why we love Who and one of the Chris/Billie publicity pictures, and the lengthy programme listing for 22 March on page 136 also promotes the CD release on 2 May, "which includes unbroadcast material", as well as the recent Daleks MP3 and a reader offer for the Cybermen tin.

Finally, on page 154, "Next week in RT... It's the return of Doctor Who! Don't miss our exclusive 16-page special and collector's cover... On sale Tuesday 22 March." Once again, there's a small Chris/Billie publicity shot. (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes)