Paul McGann, the Eighth Doctor, stars in a two-part romantic thriller, "Lie With Me," airing Monday 15 November at 9pm on ITV1 in the UK. McGann plays "a man who is suspected of drugging and sexually assaulting a young woman - eerily named Roselyn Tyler, and murdering her flatmate." (Thanks to Graham Kibble-White)

Doctor Who scored a mention this weekend on the US radio network, National Public Radio, during its program "All Things Considered"; author David Elliott discussed his book, "A Field Guide to Monsters" on the program. During the program, Elliott discussed various monsters seen on television. "There was a TV show, which I think has aired occasion on PBS here, called 'Doctor Who,'" Elliott told host Jennifer Ludden. "And there was Doctor Who, and he had these villains that went around with--they're basically--they look like upside down dustbins called the Daleks. And I would regularly hide behind the couch. But like any kid, I'd hide behind the couch, but my eyes would be peering over the top unable to, you know, tear away from the screen."

Artist Ben Morris (who illustrates Russell T Davies' Production Notes column in Doctor Who Magazine) has published a line of greeting cards for Christmas to benefit the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, whose chairman is Colin Baker. Baker has endorsed the cards line as a fundraising tool for the holidays: "I am delighted to support this wonderful Christmas card with a donation from each sale going to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. When my son Jack died, FSID helped my wife and me a great deal. They work hard not only to support bereaved parents, like us, but to fund life-saving research and give every baby the chance of a lifetime." For details about buying the cards and supporting a worthy charity on Colin Baker's behalf, visit Ben Morris' website by clicking here. (Thanks to Ben Morris)

Today's Western Mail (repeated on icWales) features a news story about the filming of the sixth episode of the new series... and involvement of local police. "Police were alerted yesterday after Daleks were involved in a shoot-out with armed guards," according to the report. "Gunfire and explosions could be heard for miles around as the filming for the new TV series of Dr Who went off with a bang. Police had a series of calls from passers-by who thought an armed robbery was going on in Cardiff city centre. But the noise was from the special effects on the set of the cult time-travelling show." A BBC spokesman told the Mail that police were aware that the filming was happening at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but that locals had not been informed. "The battle scenes are very realistic and that means the use of hazardous explosives," said a BBC representative. Meanwhile, news reports continue about the photos of the Daleks leaked first by the Sun and then across the Internet (as we reported yesterday, with photo display.) The Registerdiscussed the leak of the photos (including mentioning this website in its report.) (Thanks to Chuck Foster, Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes)

A story in October 29's Mid Sussex Times (and also picked up in The Sun discusses a recent funeral for fan Tim Haws in which he was buried in a TARDIS-shaped coffin. "Tim Haws, renowned for his love of the old BBC television series, made his last journey in a "time machine" as mourners looked upon the unusual coffin at his funeral service at St George's Church in Hurstpierpoint on Tuesday. Tim died at only 43 from lymphatic cancer and brother-in-law Peter, from College Lane, Hurstpierpoint, had been building him a long-cherished Dr Who wardrobe, which he had been unable to complete before Tim lost his battle for life. Instead Peter, who has made theatre sets, turned to making Tim the coffin, which also bore a special flower arrangement when it was carried into the church." (Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Ian Wheeler)

According to Big Finish's website, there's been a slight change in release order: the Sixth Doctor/Mel story The Juggernauts will now be released in January 2005, and Game Time featuring the Fifth Doctor in February. Also, the fifth Dalek Empire III serial, "The Warriors" is now in release, with the sixth CD pressing now and due out soon.

The next theatrical venture for Sylvester McCoy will be in a production of "Arsenic & Old Lace," which premieres at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley on February 21 2005 before touring throughout the country. You can check out various links for the theatres it's premiering at here, here and here. (Thanks to Angus Kidman)

The October 29 edition of Broadcast Magazine discusses the Doctor Who title sequence as being the single best title sequence of all time. "A good titles sequence draws the audience in and prepares them for the show. A great title sequence will build a level of anticipation that will enhance the experience, make comedy more amusing, drama more gripping and documentaries more profound. But how do you build that anticipation?" Broadcast picked titles that have "done the most to influence the sequences of today's television" and lists Doctor Who in first place: "Dr Who first aired in 1963 with a title sequence that has developed through the years and will no doubt be adapted for the most recent incarnation. Much of the praise for that longevity must go to designer Bernard Lodge, technical manager Ben Palmer and Ron Grainer of the Radiophonic Workshop. The original sequence was created by Palmer pointing the camera at a monitor to which its signal was going to, thus creating a "howlround". Lodge then introduced graphics to interact with the pictures. Lodge says: "It was a simple image that reflected the nature of the programme."

Cameo appearances by former Doctors appears to be a non-option, according to reports over the weekend in the UK Teletext and in the Daily Mail. "[Tom Baker] has said in the past that he'd love to appear as the Time Lord's arch-enemy The Master in the new run," the Mail reports. "But [executive producer Russell T] Davies says: 'I toyed with the idea of giving Tom and Colin [Baker] cheeky little cameo roles as a bit of fun. However, even though I admire them both very much, it won't be possible. I thought that if they appeared, it would distract viewers and affect the freshness of the new series.'" The Teletext also features a comment from Davies about the casting of Christopher Eccleston: "A lot of people have told me they think Christopher, superb though he is, is a fairly dry and dour actor. They are in for a bit of a surprise. There's a lot of humour and comedy in that man, and the new series will prove what a light touch he has." (Thanks to Phil Newman, David Rafer, Paul Engelberg)

During a spot on this past weekend's edition of the popular US variety series Saturday Night Live (guest hosted by Kate Winslet), Doctor Who was mentioned on the series. The sketch was about a Halloween-costume store, owned by Glenda Goodwin (played by series regular Maya Rudolph) who has a selection of tame costumes available because "Halloween costumes scare the crap" out of her. Showing a selection of costumes not at her store, there was a stillshot of the Cybermen (with her voiceover identifying them as "freakazoids"). Two images are below, of Rudolph and the Cyberman still. (Thanks to Michael S. Lucart for the images, Peter Miller)