Here is today's second set report from the filming of The Idiot's Lantern, this time with a small collection of photos, courtesy correspondent John Campbell Rees. Click on each thumbnail for a larger version of each photo (which go along with the set report in spoiler tags!)

We have a report today from fan Emma Sandrey witnessing the filming of episode 7 of the new season, The Idiot's Lantern today in Florentia Street, Cathays, Cardiff. As always, our set reports are hidden within the spoiler tags, so click on the spoiler link below to read it.

Series Two

Noted in last week's release of Doctor Who Magazine: the title presumed for episode 8, The Satan Pit, is actually the title for the second half of the story, episode 9. No idea, though, about the first episode's title.

This Is Plymouth has a feature on Jessica Atkins, an eleven-year-old actress from Looseleigh who will be in the forthcoming episode "The Girl in the Fireplace" (which the article says will be airing in March, but other rumors suggest a series two start date of mid-April). "Filming for the episode took place in Newport in Wales last October, where Jessica, who also goes to Widewell Primary School, took the fame game in her stride, chatting with David Tennant and hob-nobbing with the other stars. She said: 'Everything was really cool and fun. I'm a big fan of the series - I love it and have watched all the episodes. At first it was a bit nerve-racking meeting all the stars. But David Tennant was lovely. He showed me around, we had a long chat and he was really friendly. Mum was more scared than I was anyway. When David took me on to the set, mum was walking behind us just speechless. The whole experience was just amazing. I saw the inside of the Tardis which was really weird - it looked unreal. And a Dalek without a head, which looked a bit spooky. Each morning a car picked us up from our hotel in Cardiff and we'd travel to the set with Noel Clarke who plays Mickey - Rose's boyfriend. He was my favourite. When it was finished and they said 'that's a wrap, that's the end of Jessica's part' they all clapped. I couldn't say anything because I thought I might cry. But it's a good feeling to get home and know you've done it.'" The article notes that she got the part through being a member of the national Italia Conti Agency and had to audition for the part at BBC Broadcasting House last September. "A week after the audition they called to say I'd got it. My brother was the first to tell me and I didn't believe him. Then mum said 'You've got the part' and I was so happy I just rolled around on my bed screaming. ... I had 13 lines and there's a big bit where just me and the Doctor talk. The episode is really quite scary - it was a little frightening just filming it." More at the website. Interestingly, this is the first item to mention that Noel Clarke might also be in this episode.

The news last week about the casting updates printed in Doctor Who Magazine were picked up by The Mirror, The Daily Record, Monsters and Critics.

Dancing On Ice

The Dancing on Ice competition heats up this weekend as series one starJohn Barrowman and classic series starBonnie Langford continued to compete on the popular UK series. Here's the recap:

Readabet took their first four-figure bet on the series late last week with a 1000 pound wager reported on Barrowman (whose odds were said to be 10/11). Langford was their second favorite at 7/4. "'At this stage it looks like a two horse race between John Barrowman and Bonnie Langford but don't write off David Seaman, he has pulled off some great saves in the past,' said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams."

The Mirror featured verdicts on the remaining contestants, noting that Barrowman was "a wonderful showman, one of my favourites to reach the final. Last week he fell on his arse. I can't believe the others gave him such high marks." They also said of Langford, "Absolutely brilliant. Despite being the oldest and a busy mum she's doing amazingly death-defying routines. She pushes herself the hardest - a potential winner." The Daily Recordalso featured, in their 'Crockomter', "John Barromwan - put his back out and injured his ankle. He also sliced partner Olga 's hand open with his blades. But he's 10-11 favourite to win, say bookies William Hill, who took a 1000 bet on him this week. ... Bonnie Langford - The former child star of Just William took to wearing a helmet while training after bashing her head. She also slashed her partner Matt Evers' face with her boot blade during a spin."

On Friday the Daily Star interviewed Barrowman: "Barrowman says he is so scared before he steps on the rink he's worried he'll wet himself on live TV. The 38-year-old, who starred as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, is more petrified of leaving a puddle of pee than taking a tumble on the slippery surface. And the US actor, who's hot favourite to win the ITV1 show, says the spangly-tight costumes he has to wear as he whirls around only add to his predicament. He said: 'As we're about to go on, I get totally emotional and feel like bursting into tears. Millions of people are watching and it's terrifying. I always feel like peeing myself - especially as the costume is so ridiculously tight. It feels like I'm going to spring a leak and have a big wet stain on my costume.' John, who will start filming Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood in April, also revealed he got on the good side of new Time Lord David Tennant, 34, when the pair met recently. He said: 'David showed up at my dressing room and I thought, 'Oh my God, it's Doctor Who'. I said to him: 'David, you're even more handsome in real life'. And he replied: 'You know what? I think you and I are going to get along just great.'"

Saturday's Edinburgh News asked, "Who would ever have thought that Bonnie Langford would one day become a cool (quite literally) trend-setter north of the Border? And yet apparently that's exactly what's happened thanks to her battling performances on ITV's Saturday ratings-winner Dancing On Ice. For the past few weeks, the quintessential English rose, who first achieved fame as the precocious Violet Elizabeth Bott in Just William way back in 1976 (although she made her TV debut long before that in Junior Showtime), has been attracting a whole new generation of fans with her never-say-die approach to the show, in which celebrities are paired with ice-skating professionals who teach them a new routine each week. Now, while the one-time Doctor Who girl is no stranger to dancing - she also starred in the Hot Shoe Show in the 80s - it's the ice part of Dancing On Ice that has been causing her problems. Twice now, Bonita (as she was billed in the movie Bugsy Malone) has cracked her head after a fall. Despite this, however, her exploits, along with those of her fellow contestants John Barrowman, ex-Corrie star Sean Wilson, The Bill's Stefan Booth and Gaynor Faye of Fat Friends, have sparked a boom in the number of people taking skating lessons at Murrayfield ice rink. As delighted rink manager Billy Dunbar said this week: 'It's been amazingly busy in here, and our professional coaches are almost struggling to keep up with the demand.' ... Of course ice-skating isn't without its dangers, as fans of the show, and in particular David Seaman, found when he fell on his partner and almost flattened her. In fact, with the fourth round of Dancing On Ice going out live tonight it remains to be seen if his partner, Pam O'Connor, will be fit enough to take to the ice having damaged her shoulder in the fall. And that's the reason the nearest you'll get me to an ice rink these days is a seat in front of the telly tonight, phone in hand getting ready to vote for Bonnie. Be honest, if she doesn't win, could you really bear to hear her thweam and thweam and thweam until she's thhick?"

Finally, Saturday night, the results were in: Yahoo News reported that Barrowman was the latest celebrity to be voted off "Dancing On Ice". "Despite coming third overall out of seven after the judges' vote, John and his partner, world junior gold medallist and three times Russian champion Olga Sharutenko, were forced into a skate-off after the public phone in. They went head to head with soap star Stefan Booth and his partner Kristina Cousins in the skate-off after both pairs received the lowest public support. The judges were divided over the two performances with two votes apiece and the deciding vote going to Olympic gold medal skater Robin Cousins. He chose to save Stefan from the chop and said: 'I have gone with the showman who has delivered technical skating tonight.' After his performance John said: 'I had a little bump but I got through it - it's very nerve wracking.'" Langford now continues as the only Doctor Who representative on the show.

People

The BBC's internal magazine Ariel has featured obituaries for two Doctor Who personages who recently passed away: former production managerGary Downie and former visual effects designer Tony Oxley. Says the magazine about Downie in an obit written by former Doctor Who director Fiona Cumming, "His career was multi-faceted -- dancing, choreography, tv production, writing, stage production and psychotherapy. I first met Gary in BBC drama serials, where he worked on a variety of programmes -- I, Claudius, Poldark, Nicholas Nickleby, Wuthering Heights, All Creatures Great and Small, Star Cops and, of course, Doctor Who. He was production manager on Underworld, Silver Nemesis, Black Orchid, Dimensions in Time and The Two Doctors, working with a variety of Doctors and companions. He and his long-term partner, John Nathan-Turner [former Doctor Who series producer], formed Teynham Productions, together with Ian Fraser and myself, to present Pantomime, which took us all back to our roots in theatre. Gary, who contributed time and money to supporting charities in Brighton and abroad, developed a late interest in psychotherapy, which afforded both his clients and himself a deep satisfaction. The loss of JNT in 2002 was a dreadful blow to Gary, followed as it was by the onset of cancer which he fought for two years. He was fortunate to have the support of a nucleus of caring friends to help him through the illness. In December, he and Barry Hannam celebrated their civil contract. Shared by friends of both John and Gary, it was a joyous occasion. We shall miss him." Of Oxley, former series visual effects designer Michealjohn Harris noted that he "had an extraordinary range of interests and abilities which he applied to a diversity of work in the course of a long and successful life. Tony acquired an interest in machinery of every imaginable kind early in life, spending boyhood hours finding out how all manner of machines worked on a war department machinery dump. After the war, he began work for City Display, a company specialising in film and display models. This work expanded into making animated models, including a model whale for Moby Dick – designed and built by Tony himself. He joined the BBC as a visual effects design assistant and soon became much in demand, especially by Doctor Who and light entertainment productions. Despite his dreams of a quiet retirement, Tony found, almost overnight, that he had become a freelance special properties designer. He worked as a contractor for the BBC with the same interest and dedication until, because of changes in BBC management, this work came to an end. Tony was a singular man of huge talent and ability. His passing is a great loss to his family and to all those in tv and film who admired him."

David Tennant has been voted onto a list of the world's "100 Sexiest Men" by the readers of New Woman Magazine. While such notables as Brad Pitt (#1), Jake Gyllenhaal (#2), Johnny Depp (#4) and David Beckham (#14) were obvious choices, Tennant made the list at #20. Reported at the Daily Record, Daily Mail, UTV, The Independent, 24 Dash, MI6, The Age Australia. Also, Tony Head (soon to be seen in the series 2 episode "School Reunion") was #81 on the list. Says the Bath Chronicle, "Tony, who kept the nation guessing throughout the 1980s as the Gold Blend man, has hung on to his sex symbol status thanks to his role as Giles in cult show Buffy The Vampire Slayer. ... He is also a vice-president of the Royal United Hospital's fundraising appeal, Forever Friends. 'We are thrilled that Tony features as a winner in this list,' said Ruth Wilkinson, from the appeal. 'As well as being a very attractive man Tony is a wonderful person and we are extremely grateful to have him on board. From fundraisers, such as last year's Valentine phone call auction, to singing on stage with Clare Teal at the Jamie Cullum concert, Tony is a totally pro-active supporter of the appeal and therefore we would rate him over Brad Pitt any day.'"

Tennant also appeared on Virgin Radio in early January on a call-in show during their "Who's Calling Christian?" segment; listeners are urged to have their favorite celebrities call into the show, and Tennant obliged. The website has an audio clip.

Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and actor Jeremy Bulloch ("The Time Warrior," "The Space Museum") will lock swords in an episode of the popular BBC1 daytime series Doctors this Wednesday, 8 March at 2:05pm. "The stars play two men who prepare to settle an old score by fighting a fencing duel to the death! Can Boba Fett call upon his bounty hunting skills to beat the time travelling Dr. Who? Which one will end up at the Riverside Surgery? Colin Baker plays Charles Dillon and Jeremy Bulloch plays Victor Hendon, two foolish old men who decide it is time to settle a long standing feud originating back to how Victor treated Charles’ sister, Betty, with his philandering ways when the two were married. Victor now wants to remarry his ex-wife much to Charles’ disgust so they decide to battle it out in a traditional and gentlemanly way. But there’s not a Blaster Pistol or a Tardis in sight!"

Says icWales today, Tom Baker is "tongue-tied" and "will get Welsh lessons after the voice of BT's new call service was caught out by Wales on Sunday. The stripey-scarfed Doctor Who legend has been signed up by the phone company to front BT Text, which allows mobile users to send messages to landlines. ... So Wales on Sunday put it to the test, sending 10 messages containing Welsh place names and common Welsh words. And the result - the former Dr Who became Dr What?! Names like Llanrwst and Llanfairfechan came out garbled while he gave up on words like cwtch, opting to spell them out instead. And when we put him to the test with Britain's longest place name -- the Anglesey town of Llanfairpwllgwyngy- llgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch -- the star sounded like he had been enjoying a night on the tiles! Now 72-year-old Tom is to return to the studio to record some Welsh pronunciations after BT bosses were confronted by our dossier of disappointing diction. The star had already spent 11 days recording every sound in the English language - 11,593 phrases, which covered every single sound in each of their different contexts. 'These did not cover every word or place name, but instead the aim was to create a soundbank of all the sounds in the English language, which could be stuck together by the computer to create new words,' explained BT's voice-text supremo Wendy McMillan-Tiller. 'As part of this process we also took into account a long list of exceptions, including numerous Welsh place names, which each needed an individually crafted pronunciation to be created and loaded onto the system.' But she admitted that even Doctor Who struggled when confronted with the mighty foe of the Welsh language. 'As far as possible, we will do our best to amend words that are pronounced incorrectly and welcome feedback on any commonly used words that the voice cannot currently recognise, along with their correct pronunciation,' she said. 'We will certainly try our best to take on board the most frequently used words such as cwtch and Urdd Eisteddfod, but cannot promise to amend every single word. Indeed, part of the fun of the service is testing the voice to see if you can catch it out.' The service will see the Liverpool-born legend reading out texts for the next three months including common abbreviations like b4 - and, for the juvenile amongst you, even swear words! 'What appeals to me most is the thought that I will be bringing good news to people whether it is a cheeky message, a birthday greeting or just a quick hello,' he said. 'Whatever it is, hopefully my voice will bring a smile to people's faces.'"

The Independent mentioned Tom Baker's gig for BT but asked, "who are his rivals behind the microphone?" The article then mentions Michael Jayston, who played The Valeyard during Season 23, "The Trial of a Time Lord". "Tom Baker has paid tribute to the 'wonderful warmth' of the voice of this classical actor, who was once considered for the part of James Bond. Like Baker, Jayston has played Doctor Who, although, unlike Baker, he was an evil doctor. The 70-year-old played Raquel's dad in Only Fools and Horses and provided the voice-over for Finisterre, the first film made by the UK pop trio Saint Etienne, for which he describes in his narration as 'a quick glance at the London nobody knows'. His voice can also be heard between tracks on their album of the same name."

Also... says Friday's The Sun, Tom Baker "wants to be a transvestite in Coronation Street. The eccentric former Dr Who star, 72, said it would be the 'ultimate' role. Speaking on ITV1's Today with Des and Mel yesterday, he said: 'I would be mysterious, not made-up well and in need of a shave.'" BBC News also called Baker one of their "faces of the week".

The Mirror features an interview with Mark Benton, who played Clive during series one. "His cheeky face and bulky frame are instantly recognisable. Strangers shout after him in the street and hail him as a longlost friend. Yet few people actually know his name. Mark Benton has found a strange sort of notoriety, thanks to his starring role in the popular TV ads for the Nationwide building society. He plays the infuriating bank clerk who flogs 'Cracker-Jacka-Tracker' mortgages to 'brand new customers only' - a catchphrase that has started to follow him around." Doctor Who is mentioned only very briefly.

Paul McGann will be starring in a lavish production of the classic Agatha Christie tale "Sleeping Murder" for ITV this evening, according to both ITNand Channel 4. McGann will be featured alongside Geraldine McEwan as Miss Marple, along with Dawn French, Sarah Parish and Una Stubbs.

Books

Trade magazine The Bookseller this week reports on the forthcoming BBC Audio releases of David Tennant reading the first batch of Tenth Doctor novels, noting that Tennant's work will be released on CD in July. Also, Ben Dunn, former BBC Books commissioning editor and now editorial director at Fourth Estate, is profiled in the magazine, briefly dealing with his experiences at BBC Books: "He also commissioned the hugely successful set of tie-in novels to the new Doctor Who series, as well as a number on non-tie-in Doctor Who books. But the Beeb was going through a period of great upheaval while he was there and it was, he says, a demoralising place to work." The Bookseller's diary column, 'Bent's Notes', also has a small piece noting comments by Ben Dunn: "Fourth Estate's popular culture guru Ben Dunn... has revealed the slightly unsavoury side of his previous role commissioning "Doctor Who" novels at the BBC. He was deluged with submissions for novels from 'Doctor Who' fans, and, after the inevitable rejection letters, often featured in online fiction as an evil overlord who eventually gets his come-uppance. In one classic, The Revenge of Fanwank, Dunn's brain is taken over."

Miscellaneous

Auditions for Big Brother this week included one of the contestants auditioning as a Dalek! Says BBC News, "More than 1000 people have turned up to audition for the next series of Channel 4's reality TV show Big Brother. Would-be contestants, some in fancy dress, queued for up to four hours to get a chance to impress the producers of this year's seventh UK series. One participant dressed as a Dalek in an attempt to get noticed by the programme-makers."

Silicon.com has more to add on the Tom Baker/BT item, including this commentary: "Speaking loosely as we were of BT, the incumbent telco announced a rather fun initiative this week... The company's text-to-voicemail service, which takes an SMS message and turns it into an audio voicemail recording for landline phones, is to be voiced by none other than Tom Baker – former Dr Who legend and now the voice of Little Britain. Oh, the fun you could have. Such services are certainly proving popular – not to mention confusing for those who don't know they have such an option at their disposal, though to date it has normally been voiced by a machine. One member of the silicon.com team reported a very confused phone call from 'the wife' who expressed some alarm at the fact a robot had apparently just called her at home and demanded: 'If you are going to the shops, don't forget to buy my razors' in a voice akin to Baker's old foes the Daleks. Very unsettling. But since Tuesday of this week Baker's warm and reassuring tones have been giving 2.3 million BT customers their messages. But don't worry, poor old Tom isn't working his fingers to the bone jotting down notes and putting in calls -- there is still a large amount of automation to this process. ... 'There is no limit to the words the voice can say,' added BT, '... even rude ones.' Now there's an idea. If the Round-Up knows anything about human nature it's that it goes without saying customers will inevitably get 'Sir' Tom to say some pretty smutty things. BT is also claiming the service can read abbreviations and keystrokes such as smiley faces. Baker said of his involvement with the project: 'Daleks!! Quick to the TARDIS.' Oh alright he didn't, according to BT he actually said: 'It's a big responsibility to be Britain’s voice of text.' It's not really, is it Tom? It probably pays the bills but it's not exactly open heart surgery. Tom continued: 'What appeals to me most is... ' It's the money isn't it? Say it's the money... '... the thought that I will be bringing good news to people whether it is a cheeky message, a birthday greeting or just a quick hello. Whatever it is, hopefully my voice will bring a smile to people's faces.' The Round-Up is a little unconvinced -- suspecting the actor was not the source of that quote at all -- but is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he's Tom Baker."

Saturday's Mirror had a brief article about the upcoming "Primaeval," ITV's 6 million pound answer to Doctor Who. "As Professor Nick Cutter - a time-travelling scientist - Douglas Henshall will rival fellow Scot David Tennant's Time Lord. And just like the Doctor, he'll even have a blonde former teen pop star to assist him... in the shape of S Club 7 bopper Hannah Spearitt. In her first TV role since making the Beeb's series about the band, Hannah will play feisty zoologist Abby Lister. Move over Billie Piper

The latest issue of the British satirical magazine Private Eye features a lookalikes section comparing 'The Romantics' (with David Tennant) presenter Peter Ackroyd to a Sontaran. They show a picture of him next to a picture of Linx from 'The Time Warrior' and speculate whether the Director General of the BBC is aware that aliens have invaded his staff.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Simon Cooper, Nick Salmond, Ed Martin, Peter Anghelides, Peter Weaver, Faiz Rehman)

Broadcasting

According to Radio Times, The Christmas Invasion will be repeated in the UK on BBC Three at 9pm on Friday 10 February.

Meanwhile, more from ABC Australia on its series two plans, or lack thereof: according to an email sent to a fan, ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs said, "The ABC is currently negotiating the rights for the 'The Christmas Invasion' 2005 special and Series 2 of the new Doctor Who, both starring David Tennant as the 10th Doctor. We anticipate that the Christmas special and the new series will be broadcast later in 2006. At this stage, I cannot be more specific about when this may occur."

There are rumors currently circulating that the BBC has supposedly 'confirmed' April 15 as the date of transmission of Series Two in the UK. In fact, Outpost Gallifrey reported in December that there were rumors of an Easter weekend debut, based on news reports including a press release about the Tenth Doctor novels mentioning Easter weekend; these reports are nothing new. We have been informed that, in fact, no final decision has yet been made on transmission, and in fact the date last year was in flux until approximately six weeks prior. When the BBC makes its final determination and announces it, that is when it will be official.

Doctor Who Magazine Specials

The DWM Special Edition #13 will be The Ninth Doctor Collected Comics,according to the latest issue, with all four comic strips from last year's DWM, as well as 'Mr Nobody' from "The Doctor Who Annual 2006." Also, already listed on Amazon, the early autumn publication of The Doctor Who Storybook 2007 is also confirmed in the new DWM. Comprising a jacket by Alister Pearson, 84 pages, seven illustrated stories and a 15-page comic strip by Scott Gray, this will be a 7.99 hardback.

Press Coverage

Manchester Online has a new article about the series "Dancing On Ice" on ITV1 on Saturdays. It notes the high prospects of two Doctor Who celebrities when it says "Current odds-on favourite is actor John Barrowman, who was born in Scotland but raised in America. The Broadway and West End stage star is best known for his role as Captain Jack in Doctor Who. 'I was fortunate growing up,' he says. 'My family had a lake, which our neighbourhood all shared, and the parents used to clear off part of the lake and we would ice skate and play hockey. We got a little adventurous when the ice was hard enough and we'd go in a swamp area where the lake froze - all the trees froze out of the lake and we had all these obstacles to go around.' John - who also co-presented one series of former BBC1 Saturday morning show Live And Kicking - has made no secret of his desire to win alongside partner Olga Sharutenko. 'I'm going for broke. It's a competition and I'm probably one of the most competitive people you'll meet.' Aiming to stop him is second favouriteBonnie Langford, who also knows a thing or two about dancing. But the former child star says there's a big difference when ice is involved. 'I'd never, ever, skated in my life before. I never put skates anywhere near my foot because being a dancer, you never did. It's a very late venture in my life.'"

The Guardian has published a Dalek-themed cartoon commenting on the
British government's new incapacity benefit rules.

The Sun features a new interview with Tom Baker. "Dr Who legend Tom Baker says he would consider a shock return to the hit sci-fi show - despite never having watched it in his life. The veteran actor is one of the most-famous Timelords ever, having spent a record seven-year stint in the role. But the 72-year-old, who quit the show in 1981, told us he'd now think about a comeback. He said: 'If they could come up with a good enough part I would consider it. It would depend what the proposition was. But I wouldn't want to make an entrance just for a cheap laugh. I've got nothing against cheap laughs but I just don't need to do that now. I'd rather have an interesting part... for a few minutes at least.' Amazingly, Tom has never seen an episode of the show, which returned to screens last year starring Christopher Eccleston and later David Tennant in the lead role. He laughed: 'I haven't even seen it. I didn't watch the show when I was in it so I'm not about to watch it with someone else in it. They send me all the DVDs but I never watch them. I usually give them away. It isn't some big principle - I just can't be bothered.'" Read more of the interview, which also discusses his appearances in "Little Britain" and mentions his BT voiceover job.

The Independent also has an interview wih Tom, which it calls "Tom Baker: The 5 Minute Interview". "Being the voice of text appeals to me because ... Everybody wants to give good news. All my life I wanted to. And text is largely good news and making people happy. If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be ... Telling lies to someone else. A phrase I use far too often is ... 'Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.' I say it often to my wife who is a good deal younger than me, but she doesn't often see the joke." The full interview is available at their website.

The Independent today features the obituary of John Woodnutt who last month we reported passed away. "John Woodnutt was one of the most prolific character actors from the golden age of television drama, his long, thin face well suited to expressing disapproval, particularly as cold officials or implacable villains. ... He appeared in four Doctor Who stories, beginning with Jon Pertwee's debut 'Spearhead From Space' (1970), also the first in colour, later playing scaly, pointy-headed aliens in 'Frontier in Space' (1973) and 'Terror of the Zygons' (1975), before being cast as an elder in Tom Baker's penultimate story, 'The Keeper of Traken' (1981). In the same vein, he did the extremely silly The Tomorrow People (1973), and was a villainous Thin Man in The Boy from Space (1971)." The full obit is at the site.

The Norfolk Eastern Daily Press says that "Dozens of Daleks are heading to Holt in June - but their invasion has a mission to entertain rather than exterminate. The mechanised monsters will join in fun events such as trolley dashes and themed breakfasts. They are among the stars of a Dr Who weekend which will see the town's Georgian streets replete with a range of science-fiction and comic-book characters. Organiser Nigel Pearce said they aimed to attract 100 Daleks to 'roam the town'. There will be sci-fi breakfasts at Byford's cafe and the trolley dash, as well as a parade with other Dr Who enemies like Cybermen. It was hoped ex-Doctor Colin Baker would appear during the weekend, with the East Anglian Air Ambulance the main benefactor. Co-promoter Andy Argyle said the event would also feature characters from Star Wars, Star Trek and comic books like Spiderman. The carnival day and parade has been cancelled, but a treasure hunt, quiz and family disco will go ahead, linked to the Dr Who festival. The country park is holding an orienteering competition on June 24 at 2pm. A buffet at the Feathers Hotel will feature actors such as Terry Molloy, who played the Daleks' evil creator Davros. Sunday events will be centred on the market place."

Several websites have new reviews of the Beginning Boxed Set DVD release including VideoBusiness, Computer CrowsNest.

Radio 4's current Book of the Week is "Tete a Tete", Hazel Rowley's biography of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, read by Eleanor Bron ("City of Death," "Revelation of the Daleks"). Meanwhile you can hearChristopher Eccleston pitching in on reading duty for the network's interminable history series This Sceptred Isle: Empire. Both are available for up to seven days via the bbc's Listen Again service, here for Book of the Week and here for This Sceptred Isle: Empire.

In brief... there's more coverage of the announcement of Tom Baker as the new voice of BT mobile at BBC News, The Register, The Guardian,Reuters, Computing, WhatPC, Engadget, Channel Four, ITN,ComputerActive,Stuff NZ, Infomatics Online, Funny.co.uk, IT Week, Hecklerspray, Cellular News, Special Broadcasting Service. Plus, there is a new press release from BT.

Meanwhile, there's more coverage of Billie Piper's award at the official Doctor Who website as well as The Stage,RTE; and more mentions ofMaureen Lipman in Series Two at FemaleFirst, DigitalSpy.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Faiz Rehman, Dave Masters, Robert Davis, Matt Kimpton and Murray Harper)

According to a press release from the BBC Press Office, and noted on the official Doctor Who website, the three Tenth Doctor novels expected in April will be published with audiobook versions, and that these will all be read by David Tennant. The CD releases will also feature more than just readings of the novels: the audiobook commissioning editor, Kate Walsh, says that "having David read means we can include some added extras for those interested in hearing more about him, on top of the terrifically exciting stories written by Stephen Cole, Jacqueline Rayner and Justin Richards. They will make fantastic publications!" It says, "Set for release in July, David will start recording next month. The three titles are new adventures for the Doctor and his companion Rose and is the first time David will feature in his role as the Doctor outside of the television series. The CDs will also include special bonus material featuring children from across the UK asking the Doctor everything they've ever wanted to know about life as the Time Lord." The new Doctor Who titles are "The Stone Rose," "The Resurrection Casket," and "The Feast of the Drowned"; Amazon.co.uk released two of the three novel covers last week (and they were subsequently added to our news page).

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine confirms that James Hawes will no longer be the producer for the spin-off series, with Russell T Davies saying that a replacement has been appointed and will be announced when the ink is dry on the contract. Davies comments: "Knowing sci-fi fans as I do, again, I'd say, keep calm -- this is perfectly normal in the build up to production, it happens on every other drama in the world -- it's only on sci-fi drama that these things get seen as dramatic events!" Work has begun, it says, with pre-production "a few weeks off". Storylines were agreed for the entire series on Wednesday 4 January, followed by two days of meetings with all the series writers, including PJ Hammond; the magazine says that "these writers will not be announced yet -- they're busy writing, not chatting, so you'll have to wait!" Helen Raynor and Brian Minchin will be script-editing the series; designer Matt Savage has moved from Doctor Who to Torchwood and has already started work; and preliminary auditions have also been held.

According to the latest DWM, Big Finish will soon embark on a new four-part miniseries, beginning this September: actorTerry Molloy, who played Dalek creator Davros on television and in several audios for the company, "will star in I, Davros, the definitive chronicle of the journey from man to monster to Creator of the Daleks and then Nemesis of the Doctor". The four plays will be written by Gary Hopkins ('The Last', 'Other Lives'), James Parsons and Andrew Stirling-Brown ('Live 34'), Lance Parkin('Davros', 'Primeval', 'The Gallifrey Chronicles', etc. etc.) and Scott Alan Woodard ('The Juggernauts'). DWM reports that elements of [the 2003 release] 'Davros' will be woven into this new mini-series, which is directed by Gary Russell and covers Davros's life from teenager to Dalek creator in 'Genesis of the Daleks' on television.

Also coming with the March issue of DWM (#367) will be another Big Finish-produced CD release, "a complete new audio adventure starring Sophie Aldred as Ace, Nicola Bryant as Peri, Caroline Morris as Erimem andPhilip Olivier as Hex."

This week's issue of Doctor Who Magazine has details of the latest additions to the crew and cast of Series Two. According to the magazine, the director for Block Five (two episodes out of Episodes 8 to 13) is James Strong, whose previous directing credits include BBC One's Rocket Man and episodes of Casualty and Holby City.

Further casting announcements for Block Four (episodes unconfirmed, but we're told very likely to be in Mark Gatiss' episode "The Idiot's Lantern," include Edna Dore as Maeve -- Dore's forty-five-year career has included roles in series from "Z Cars" and "Dixon of Dock Green" to "EastEnders", "Our Mutual Friend" and "The Bill"; and, as Trish, Nina Sosanya, well known for a leading role in Channel 4's "Teachers", as well as co-starring with David Tennant in "Casanova" and Billie Piper in "Much Ado about Nothing" last year.Abdul Salis plays Kel, Abisola Agbaje is Chloe andChristopher Driscollplays a Security Guard. The cameo appearance by TV psychic Derek Acorah is also confirmed in the magazine.

According to Phil Collinson, the series producer, Block Three filming was nearing completion as DWM went to press and that the readthrough for Episodes 7 and 11 (Block Four) had been scheduled for Wednesday 18 January, with a day's rehearsal the next day before starting filming. Block Five is starting pre-production and Block Six will be a single episode and filmed last, with some double-banking alongside Block Five (repeating a pattern from the previous series' schedule). Director Graeme Harper is now editing his episodes, Episode 1's final mix took place on Friday 6 January, and Episode 4's incidental music and special effects were due to be completed by Friday 20 January.

Meanwhile, the first four editions of the second series of Doctor Who Confidential, BBC Three's accompanying documentary series, now have titles, and DWM confirms that these are 'New New Doctor', 'Fear Factor', Friends Reunited' and 'From Script to Screen'.

Finally, the magazine confirms that there will be a second series of 'vanilla' (meaning no extras) DVD releases this year, this year broken into five volumes... the first one will feature "The Christmas Invasion" and "New Earth," with the other four featuring three episodes each. The series will follow the same pattern as last year's Series One releases, with a boxed set with extra features in the autumn.

For more, including the latest Production Notes column and additional information, pick up the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (#366), on newsstands today.

Last night the annual Radio Times Covers Party, a celebration of the magazine's cover stars over the previous year, was held at the Savoy. Hosted by Graham Norton, the party was accordingly attended by Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Sir Bob Geldof, Dame Vera Lynn, Charles Dance and Dame Helen Mirren, as well as many Doctor Who personalities. With Doctor Who having such a strong presence in the magazine over the last year, we're told it was no great surprise to find that David Tennant, Billie Piperand Russell T Davies were all in attendance, although David appeared on stage to collect a "Casanova" framed cover. Apparently, one surprise came when Russell went up to collect his cover... the lights dimmed and a Dalek appeared from the wings, crossed the floor and threatened him. (The Dalek, we are told, was probably a genuine BBC model and that Nicholas Briggs was in attendance providing the voice.) The Dalek became a key (and popular) prop for official Radio Times photograph sessions. David, Billie and Russell were all snapped; no doubt a selection of the pictures will appear in print for a future issue.