BBC Books has issued details of its three hardcover Doctor Who novels due out on 13 April 2006, featuring the Tenth Doctor and Rose and set during the second series that begins next spring. The Amazon retail site now carries brief descriptions of each of the three books, which are printed below. Amazon also lists these as audio books due out on 3 April, though it is unclear as to whether this is incorrect or if BBC Books is releasing abridged readings on CD. (Thanks to Ryan Piekenbrock)

The latest issue of "Doctor Who Magazine" confirms publication on Thursday 17 November of its next special edition, "Doctor Who In Their Own Words", and of the first volume of Eighth Doctor comic strips in the graphic novel Endgame, also expected in November. Issue 363 of DWM will begin the final Ninth Doctor comic strip, A Groatsworth of Wit by Gareth Roberts and Mike Collins.

Big Finish has released samples of several of its upcoming projects on its website, including previews of "The Coming of the Queen," the novel by Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett which tells the backstory of Erimem, the character who travels with the Fifth Doctor and Peri in the audios as played by Caroline Morris; "Singularity," November's Fifth Doctor and Turlough Doctor Who audio adventure by James Swallow; and "The History of Christmas," this December's "Short Trips" anthology.

According to a report in the Mirror, Christopher Eccleston quite emphatically corrected Alan Davies' comments last week that he had not quit the sci-fi show because he feared he would be typecast, but because he was exhausted. "He claimed BBC bosses had worked his actor pal 'into the ground' with the gruelling 10-month filming schedule. Not so, Eccleston assures us. 'Alan should keep his nose out of my business,' he booms angrily. 'I rang his agent and told him he had no right to say what he did.' Er, right. And what is the former Tardis-dweller up to now? 'Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'm out of work.'"

A sampling of press clips and items from the past five days (while your editor was on a business trip):

The Times features an extended interview with/article about Billie Piper and about her role in "Much Ado About Nothing" coming in November. "Piper has packed an awful lot into her tender age (sheÆs 23). 'ItÆs hard to get your head round the size of Doctor Who and the impression it has made,' she says, drama-school tones softened by the burr of her native Wiltshire. So unnerving was the launch, she went into hiding. 'It scared the hell out of me, if I'm honest. But then, when the first one was out and it was just part of Saturday-night viewing, it felt a bit more real.' As Rose Tyler, street-smart companion to the titular Time Lord (aged 953), Piper has been integral to the show's success: it reached 10m viewers at its peak, almost half the audience share. There was talk that she might jump Tardis along with Christopher Eccleston (the Christmas edition marks the full debut of the new Doctor, David Tennant). But no, it was just tittle-tattle. 'I was uncertain how many I was doing, because you have to wait for them all to be written. Now IÆm signed up for the duration of the second series.'" More in the interview on the website.

The Independent features an article about BBC Three Controller Stuart Murphy which mentions Doctor Who: "He has turned to Russell T Davies - alongside Paul Abbott, British television's hottest scriptwriter - to plot the channel's journey into the world of sci-fi. The result is Torchwood, a series of 13 45 minute episodes which Davies himself describes as 'X Files meets This Life'. Murphy can barely contain his excitement when recounting how he persuaded Davies to develop his success with the re-invented Doctor Who by making a post-watershed show for BBC3. 'We think it is going to be amazing,' he says. 'Each episode will be a one-off story and will be funny in a way that Casanova brought humour to period drama.' ... BBC3's ratings were done no harm at all by the opportunity to show repeats of the last series of Doctor Who, and it is not surprising that Murphy is keen to extend the channel's relationship with the Doctor."

The Sydney Morning Herald discussed Whovention, the convention that took place this past weekend, focusing somewhat on the costs of the event. NineMSN mentioned the event: "President of the Doctor Who of Australia Club, Liam Teer, said he was expecting up to 150 people to attend. He said there were a whole range of Doctor Who fans. 'Obviously we have the ones who come along dressed as characters,' Teer said. 'I was also at a trivia quiz once and there was a guy who could quote entire episodes - at that point there was 26 years worth of episodes to know the script to.' This year's Whovention will feature 'guests of honour' from the classic series, actors Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling. Robert Shearman, who wrote the first episode of the new series, titled Dalek, has also made the trip Down Under. He said he couldn't believe the success of the new program. 'We were aware it was its final chance to come back,' Shearman said. He said he would love to see an episode of the show shot in Australia. 'I think that it would be ideal if they could perhaps try and come to Australia at some point,' Shearman said. 'They (the producers) want Doctor Who to be a very cosmopolitan show.'" Other articles on the convention were at Bordermail,Seven.com.au.

The official website has menu screenshots from the forthcoming Doctor Who Series One DVD boxed set. They also (finally) confirmed the casting of Pauline Collins and Sophia Myles, previously reported on Outpost Gallifrey.

Brand Republic says that the BBC "will offer users the opportunity to watch exclusive web previews of upcoming programmes, such as BBC Four's 'The Thick of It' and BBC Three's 'Nighty Night', as well as interactive programmes previously only available under the red button. In addition, users will be able to watch catch-up clips of 'Top of The Pops' and 'EastEnders', previews of seasons like 'The Lost Decade' and clips from classic shows like 'Doctor Who'."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Peter Weaver, Faiz Rehman)

According to BBC News, the recent Doctor Who charity dinner featuring David Tennant and Billie Piper raised over £20,000 for the BBC Children in Need appeal. "The actors took a break from filming the new BBC Wales series to join diners at a fundraising event in Cardiff. Money raised through the 'Doctor Who Galactic Dinner' will help improve the lives of children and young people. Writer and executive producer Russell T Davies presided over a special auction of coveted Doctor Who memorabilia. Guests bid up to £4,000 for some of the items, which are destined to become valuable collectors' items. More than 250 guests attended the event at the city's Macdonald Holland House Hotel. The dinner was one of a number of events being held across the UK to raise money for the annual charity event. This year, appeal organisers will distribute more than £2.6m to support vulnerable children and young people throughout Wales - with a total of £35m being given across the UK as a whole. 'We always knew it was going to be a fantastic event, but it exceeded all our expectations,' said David Tennant, who has taken over the role from Christopher Eccleston. Billie Piper, who plays the Doctor's assistant, Rose, said: 'Everyone had an amazing night. Thank you so much to all the generous people who were there raising so much money.' Menna Richards, controller of BBC Wales, said: 'The Doctor Who team made a fantastic contribution towards raising a huge sum of money for Children in Need. But they couldn't have done it without the amazing support of all those Doctor Who fans who bid for prizes and gave so much money to the event.'" Also covered at CBBC News.