Paul Cornell, the Doctor Who novelist penning of one of the teleplays for the first season of the new series, spoke to Outpost Gallifrey today about the choice of Christopher Eccleston as the new Doctor. "I think it's wonderful that we've got such a high calibre actor in the role," said Cornell. "Along with everyone else, it was great to get the rush of a 'new Doctor day' again. My Dad called to read me out a news item about it, just like he always used to. Chris is going to have to get used to being beloved by parents and small children everywhere!"

Julie Gardner, new series executive producer, was interviewed on the BBC Wales Evening News program this evening. When asked what the most enduring element of Doctor Who was that she personally wanted to bring back to the show, her considered answer was very simple: "Fear." She also confirmed that the production team was working hard to ready the series by "early next year," drawing closer to the rumored January start than in previous statements. The program is available to be watched for the next 24 hours; you can watch it by visiting the Wales Today section of BBCi. (Thanks to Kenny Davidson)

The official press release has now been published by the BBC Press Office, but we've reproduced it at the end of this article for your reading pleasure.

Outpost Gallifrey has revealed the cover for issue #342 of Doctor Who Magazine, which features Eccleston on the cover... obviously a rushed job over the weekend by amazing editor Clayton Hickman just in time to get it to the printers! "Christopher Eccleston is the Doctor!" cries the cover... you can check it out on the main News Page.

Mentions of the Eccleston casting today hit two large American news networks, both CNN and the Fox News Channel.

No More Props for "Darker" Doctor is the headline on BBC News today. "Enthusiasts think he may portray a darker character than many of the previous doctors, who were often quirky, offbeat and replete with props," says the article, which features quotes from the DWAS' Antony Wainer and Boyd Hilton, TV editor of Heat magazine. "I think it's quite exciting," said Hilton. "He's one of the best actors of our time, and rather than going for a colourful character actor as they've done in the past, they've gone for a brilliant actor." Said Wainer: "It's about the quality of the writing and the audience expectation, and things that just catch on."

Doctor Who Fans Endorse Eccleston was another article at BBC News, which includes comments from fans around the world.

The Daily Express reports that "NEW Dr Who Christopher Eccleston has shot to number two in this weeks OK! Celebrity Chart..." How the chart is compiled and who decides who (no pun intended!) comes where is anyone's guess! Meanwhile, the Western Morning News wonders why nostalgia has "such compelling appeal" (the article mentions the new series of Doctor Who but in no great detail.) The Guardian features an article on "Why I Love William Hartnell" (also mentioned here on our main news page); that particular item can also be read online here. All three can be also seen at theCuttings Archive.

Our comprehensive list of press links has been updated three times today and is seen in the separate story below.

The press release is as follows:

I've never heard of him, Tom Baker told the Sunday Mail, "but I wish him well." According to the report in the Mail, Baker admitted "I thought I was the only Dr Who but there again I never watched it, even when I was in it." You can read the article by clicking here.

Christopher Eccleston yesterday told ICWales, "Dr Who? And Russell T Davies! Tell me which way to Cardiff because I can't wait." It's the first direct quote from Eccleston, cast as the new Doctor in the forthcoming series. Producer Julie Gardner said, "Chris is so professional and hard-working and he's a very writer- friendly actor. ... We are very lucky to have such a great actor working with us." And Russell T. Davies has noted, "This man can give the Doctor a wisdom, wit and emotional range as far-reaching as the doctor's travels in time and space. It's going to be a magnificent, epic, entertaining journey, and I can't wait to start!" You can read the full article, featuring more quotes from Davies and Gardner, by clicking here. (Thanks to Paul Hayes, John Campbell Rees, Steve Tribe)

Some unflattering comments in the Daily Record today noting that "outraged" fans dressed as Daleks "protested yesterday after it emerged the arch-villains may be exterminated from the new series" -- looks like nothing more than a wind-up. You can read the story (obviously for a laugh!)

Our friend Roger Anderson at the Cuttings Archive has the most recent clips from today's papers, including a "fantastic full page article in the Telegraph" and a piece from an Irish newspaper entitled "Timely Role for Film Star". And there's a cartoon from The People about the BBC finding its new Director General... a Dalek! Meanwhile, Steve Hill'sImage Archive has begun collecting photos of Christopher Eccleston from around the web in his many roles.

Christopher Eccleston will be appearing in the new play "Electricity" at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. The drama, written and composed by Murray Gold, features Eccleston, Patrick Brennan, Andrew Scarborough, Sophie Ward and Oliver Wood, and runs from March 26 to April 24. Visit the West Yorkshire Playhouse site here. (Thanks to Gallifrey Online)

Finally, our discussion thread about the Eccleston casting is now nearly 1,000 posts strong in just two days; you can join in the discussion here (you need to be a registered Forum member to view; if you're not, click here for info on joining!)

BBC News has posted a clip of its announcement yesterday of Christopher Eccleston's casting. You can view it by clicking here (note: you need RealPlayer installed to view). (Thanks to Gavin Winters)

In the wake of the casting announcement, story rumors are already flying. Today's Daily Mail (which actually got the casting of the Doctor wrong, they said it was Bill Nighy) reports that one of the stories being done for the first season is a Joan of Arc story with guests stars possibly including Audrey Tautou ("Amelie") and Alfred Molina. It's been pointed out to Outpost Gallifrey that Tautou is currently filming a Joan of Arc movie in France so this is probably a case of wires crossed. Meanwhile, says the Express, Eccleston has signed "a three year contract" (this could be speculation on their part). They mention that the official announcement of his signing is due "next week" and that the budget for each episode is "ú1 million". Also, the Daily Record is already talking about a second season (series) of episodes to be broadcast in 2006... though of course, we'll have to see how the first series does!

We've been told that the final casting deal for Eccleston was signed just yesterday (Friday), with enough time to get details, and quotes from Davies and the BBC, to the media for a Saturday announcement (you'll notice that the initial reports in the electronic edition of the Saturday morning papers came at just after midnight UK time!)

Press clippings are now available at the wonderful Cuttings Archive website; scroll down to updates on that site for a full list and links to many articles from yesterday and today's papers.

Strange reports coming in from Australia, where the Adelaide Sunday Mail picked up on the erroneous report in the UK paper of the same title, naming Bill Nighy as the Doctor! Meanwhile, the story has made international headlines in North America too, being picked up on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) overnight news broadcasts.

Outpost Gallifrey has it on good authority that while the Doctor Who series currently being published by BBC Books will indeed continue into next year, the adventures of the Eighth Doctor -- as they exist now, as their own separate series -- are coming to an end. After the first quarter of next year, the Eighth Doctor series (featuring the Paul McGann incarnation) will be blended into the "past Doctor" adventures, as the new television series gets going; while they won't be every other month there will be some emphasis placed on this Eighth Doctor, and novels will be able to branch back into the current existing series with Eighth Doctor companions that are no longer traveling in the TARDIS. There is currently no word as to whether or not there will be a book series running concurrently featuring the new Doctor, nor if the books will go back to the two-per-month release schedule of years past; hopefully there will be word on this in the next issue of Doctor Who Magazine, which is said to feature definitive word on the subject from range consultant/editor Justin Richards. More details as we get them.