BBC Worldwide confirmed details of the extras for the forthcoming DVD release of The Curse of Fenric, previously reported here from the list of released extras originally confirmed by the BBFC. They include commentary by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Nicholas Parsons, an isolated music soundtrack, a cast & crew discussion at the 1990 Nebula convention, "Take Two" (a BBC1 children's programme), "Modeling the Dead" from BSB's Doctor Who weekend in 1990, "Claws and Effect" (a behind-the-scenes featurette), "Shattering the Chains" (an interview with author Ian Briggs), "Costume Design" (interview iwth costume designer Ken Trew), "Recutting the Runes" (interview with musician Mark Ayres), plus easter eggs and photo gallery. The two-disc set will also, as previously announced, feature a special edition version of the story with additional footage not seen before, recut as a "movie format" story. (Thanks to BBCi)

Big Finish has revealed to Outpost Gallifrey the identity of the final alternate Doctor in the "Doctor Who Unbound" limited series being released this year: popular UK comedy actress and author Arabella Weir. Weir, one of the stars of "The Fast Show" and the author of three best-selling novels including "Does My Bum Look Big in This?" will play the Doctor in the sixth and final Unbound serial "Exile" by Nicholas Briggs, being released in October. Weir's numerous other credits include TV appearances in Alexei Sayle's "Stuff," "Harry Enfield and Chums" and "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)," in the films "Honest, Decent and True" and "Shooting Fish," and most recently co-starred with Richard E. Grant (the Ninth Doctor in BBCi's forthcoming "The Scream of the Shalka") in the BBC's "Posh Nosh," which Weir also wrote. "I think itÆs a very funny script," Weir says. "I have to say, I was a little bit nervous. I thought, 'Oh God, this is going to be one of those things for people who are real devotees and therefore itÆll be full of in-jokes and unintelligible,' but I thought it was very funny, indeed." While Joanna Lumley made a cameo appearance as the Doctor in "The Curse of Fatal Death" for Children in Need, Arabella Weir has the honour of being the first actress to star as the Doctor for a whole adventure. However, the first lady Doctor may not be quite what everyone is expecting... Details on the story are detailed below. (Thanks to John Ainsworth and Big Finish)

Myth Makers Presents: Essentials is a special fiction anthology release celebrating the show's 40th anniversary from the Doctor Who Information Network of Canada. "Contributors have selected an element of Doctor Who they consider to be essential to the longevity, success and popularity of the series, and have written a story to showcase their chosen element. In addition, notable people from inside and outside of Doctor Who circles were asked for their essential elements and their answers will be included throughout the issue." The "Essentials" volume features fiction from such Doctor Who book authors as Andy Lane, Daniel O'Mahony, Mark Clapham, Mags L Halliday and Dale Smith, with others to be announced. For more information visit the DWIN website at www.dwin.org. (Thanks to Richard Salter)

Australia's UKTV has announced via their "Spring Preview" magazine that they will begin highlighting the 40th anniversary of the program with a special run of Doctor Who stories starting October 11 hosted by Katy Manning (Jo Grant), who will be "taking a look at all seven Doctors to have steered the TARDIS since 1963." Episodes include "An Unearthly Child," "The War Games," "The Three Doctors," "Planet of the Spiders," "The Deadly Assassin," "Logopolis," "The Five Doctors," "The Caves of Androzani," "The Two Doctors," "The Ultimate Foe" and "Survival" as well as the 1996 DW TV movie. This comes on top of ABC Television's announcement that Doctor Who returns to its screens on Monday, September 15. Further information on exact times of stories being aired will be found soon on the Varos website when it becomes available. Says the press information: "Tune in on Sunday, November 23 at 8:30pm for a special surprise." Also in Australia: a showing of the second Peter Cushing Dalek film "Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150AD" commercial free on both Wednesday, September 10 and Sunday, September 14. (Thanks to Jason Fraser)

BBCi have published the September edition of their Telepress continuing monthly column on the Doctor Who novels. Featured in this installment are interviews with Jonathan Blum ("Fallen Gods") and Daniel O'Mahony ("The Cabinet of Light") as well as the provisional cover and blurb for Deadly Reunion, the November novel by Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts, and extracts from "Wolfsbane" by Jacqueline Rayner and "Short Trips: The Muses". The details on "Deadly Reunion" are as follows (click the thumbnail at right for a larger version of the cover):