Canada BBC Kids Update

Thursday, 8 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The BBC Kids network in Canada has picked up the Peter Davison era package; they will begin broadcasting these stories on February 16 in the early hours (1:00am), with two back-to-back episodes every weeknights. Complete stories will run Saturday & Sunday nights at the same time starting February 21. (The package does not include "Earthshock," "The Five Doctors" and "Resurrection of the Daleks" because they are "not currently available for broadcast," likely due to the ongoing negotiations with the Nation estate.) (Thanks to Graeme Burk)

FILTER: - Canada - Classic Series - Broadcasting

Scales of Injustice

Thursday, 8 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the latest DWM, Gary Russell's The Scales of Injustice is the next novel that will be serialized electronically on BBCi.

FILTER: - Online - DWM - Books

Kaldor City Special

Thursday, 8 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

According to the MJTV website, the fourth edition of their "Actor Speaks" interview CD series will feature Paul Darrow, former "Blake's 7" star and "Doctor Who" guest actor and currently starring in the Kaldor City audios (which continue adventures set in the universe of the Doctor Who story "The Robots of Death"). Included on the CD will be a one-shot audio story set in the Kaldor City universe, "Landerchild" by Alan Stevens, with Darrow and Peter Miles ("Genesis of the Daleks," "Doctor Who & The Silurians"); and a discussion with Darrow and Miles about their time together during the making of "Silurians". Previous issues of MJTV's series have featured Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane) and Jacqueline Pearce ("The Two Doctors"). (Thanks to Magic Bullet and MJTV)

FILTER: - Documentary - Audio

Visitation DVD in Australia

Thursday, 8 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

ABC Australia confirms here that the DVD of The Visitation is due out there in April. (Thanks to Justin Watson)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Australia

The Mystery of McGann Solved

Tuesday, 6 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBCi posted a new article about the reaction to the recent oversight of not using Paul McGann in the documentary "The Story of Doctor Who". Says the article, "The producers decided to concentrate on Doctor Who during the period when it was an on-going series (between 1963 and 1989) so the documentary only covers the home-grown BBC episodes." For what it's worth...

FILTER: - Documentary - Paul McGann

DWM 339

Tuesday, 6 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Issue #339 of Doctor Who Magazine is due out this Thursday. Included in the issue is a feature article on new companion Hex (in the Big Finish audios); the concluding segment of DWM's interview with production manager Gary Downie; a "Fact of Fiction" installment on "The Visitation"; Andrew Pixley returns with Archive Extras on the stage plays "Seven Keys to Doomsday" and "Curse of the Daleks"; part two of the new comic strip, "Bad Blood"; plus the usual reviews and features.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Big Finish Update

Tuesday, 6 January 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine features details about Big Finish's midyear plans. Introduced in the issue is the new companion, Hex, a twenty-three year old human from the year 2021 played by a newcomer to the range, Philip Olivier (at right), best known as Tinhead from the UK soap "Brookside". The three stories to be released after the current Paul McGann series (concluding in March), will be Axis of Insanity by Simon Furman (involving "the nexus of all realities"), starring Peter Davison; Arrangements for War by Paul Sutton, with Colin Baker; and Harvest by Dan Abnett, which stars Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred and introduces Olivier as Hex. More details soon.

FILTER: - Audio