In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Big Finish Productionsannounced that a new race of monsters will be making their first appearance before the end of the year. The Viyrans will be introduced through an extended storyline called The Virus Strand. This story thread will consist of the single episode stories which accompany the new three-parters on double cd releases.

The first installment of this series, due out this month, is Urgent Calls.Urgent Calls is set to be released with three-part story I.D., with both featuring Colin Baker.

May sees the release of the second installment, Urban Myths, alongsideExotron. Both stories feature Peter Davison and Nicola Bryant.

Big Finish Productions has announed the status of their Short Tripsshort story writing contest. They are now halfway through reading the 1,073 entries, and hope to announce a winner in May.

Big Finish Productions have now released the April installment of their Bernice Summerfield range,The Judas Gift by Nick Wallace. The Judas Gift introduces the Draconian character Kothar, being played by Michael Fenner, who will be recurring for this season.

Big Finish Productions has released information about their upcoming guide to Bernice Summerfield.Bernice Summerfield - The Inside Story is due out in October. Ranging from her first appearance inLove and War by Paul Cornell through current season ender The Wake, this chronicle of the first 15 years of Benny's life is penned bySimon Guerrier.

In the most recent issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Big Finish Productions has announced next next set of Companions returning in the popular Companion Chronicles line. The line up for the second series will be Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier, Peter Purves as Steven, andLouise Jameson as Leela.

Big Finish Productions has announced the December installment of their Short Trips range. Short Trips: The Ghosts of Christmas edited byCavan Scott and Mark Wright will finish out the year, joining Short Trips: Destination Prague, Short Trips: Snapshots and Short Trips: Defining Patterns on the 2007 release schedule. A sample story fromShort Trips: Destination Prague, Gold and Black Ooze by Robert Hood, is still available.

The first release of 2008 is set for March with Short Trips: The Quality of Leadership edited by Keith R.A. DeCandido. Short Trips: The Quality of Leadership is about leadership from throughout history. The stories will each focus on the Doctor's encounters with dukes and despots, prime ministers and presidents, kings and queens, tribal shamans and galactic emperors.

Big Finish Productions has released covers and information about two upcoming Doctor Who short story anthologies. Authors include Helen Raynor, Todd McCaffrey, Brian Keene, Keith R.A. DeCandido and Brian Dooley.

May sees Short Trips: Destination Prague edited by Steven Saville. A sample story, Gold and Black Ooze byRobert Hood, is available. The blurb follows..

Prague has its demons - a city saved from the ravages of war and the Third Reich because of its beauty, it is home to Rabi Loew's Golem, Rudolph II's obsession with finding the elixir of youth, scientific genius in the form of Kepler and Tycho Brahe, and the alchemical obsessions of Magister Kelly.

It is believed that there are magnetic energies whose lines intersect in Prague at several spots. Astronomy, astrology, numerology and magnetic forces have all played a role in building the city - but how will they influence its future?

This is the city rich in history, and full of potential - how will it adapt over the centuries to come? Will it have a glamorous rebirth or wallow in a dystopic nightmare? And what will be the role of the old superstitions in the new world?

For the Doctor and his companions, the answers to these questions are only just the start of further mysteries…



Short Trips: Snapshots comes out in June and is edited by Joseph Lidster...

A mysterious ghost haunts a hotel in India. The terrifying alien C'rizz attacks commuters in King's Cross station. Beneath a London council estate, a creature is waiting to be born. And on a distant world, an old man trades stories with a strange time traveller.

Throughout his adventures in time and space, the Doctor meets so many people and each one is affected in some way. The waiter who keeps a special table for the Time Lord's granddaughter, Susan. The American student who befriends lost Lucie Miller. The teenage girl who discovers that she may be something more than human.

What is it like when that strange blue box appears in your life? What is it like when your eyes are opened to so much more?

What is it like when everything changes?

Big Finish Productions released more information today on their upcoming Bernice Summerfieldrelease for April, The Judas Gift by Nick Wallace.

Big Finish Productions has released new covers and cast information about their upcoming titles.

I.D. by Eddie Robson is currently due out in April and will include the second story Urgent Calls, as well as a newBig Finish Magazine for subscribers.

Exotron by Paul Sutton will be out in May, and features the second story Urban Myths.

Big Finish Productions has released the covers to more of the BBC7 Doctor Who series: Immortal Beloved in April, Phobos in May, and No More Lies in June.