For our readers who aren't familiar, here is a biography of Christopher Eccleston, the new Doctor, as submitted by Paul Hayes (who wrote this particular entry for Wikipedia):

Christopher Eccleston (born 1964 in Salford, Lancashire, UK) is a British stage, telvision and film actor, best known for his roles in several high profile 'prestige' films and television series. He first came to public attention as Derek Bentley in the 1991 film Let Him Have It, based on true events, but it was a regular role in the TV series Cracker - culminating in his character's dramatic death in the second series - that made him a recognisable figure in the UK.

He appeared in the low-budget Danny Boyle film Shallow Grave in 1994, in which he co-starred with another up-and-coming young British actor by the name of Ewan McGregor. The same year, he won the part of Nicky Hutchinson in the epic BBC drama serial Our Friends in the North, and it was the transmission of this production on BBC TWO in 1996 that perhaps really made him into a household name in the UK.

His film career has since taken off with a variety of high-profile but never quite - except in one or two cases - really mainstream roles, including parts in Elizabeth (1998), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), The Others (2001), 24-Hour Party People (2002) and another Danny Boyle film, the horror movie 28 Days Later.

Despite his successful film career, he has continued to appear in a variety of meaty television roles, racking up credits in some of the most challenging and thought-provoking British television dramas of recent years. These have included Clocking Off (2000) and Flesh and Blood (2002) for the BBC and Hillsborough (1997), a modern version of Othello (2002) and the religious telefantasy epic The Second Coming (2003) for ITV. He also finds time for the occasional light-hearted role, however, as his guest appearances in episodes of the comedy drama Linda Green (2001) and macabre sketch show The League of Gentlemen (2002) have shown.

Christopher Eccleston, star of The Second Coming and Cracker who has been rumored for the past several days in numerous fan circles, has been cast as the Doctor in the new Doctor Who TV series. The following is the announcement from PA News:

Outpost Gallifrey has learned that a press announcement confirming the casting of the Doctor for the new TV series is due on Saturday morning in the UK. Several news flashes on UK late-evening news programs have hinted that a press call is imminent, but word is leaking that the Daily Mirror will have a full-page press announcement on Saturday morning. Outpost Gallifrey will keep you posted all evening on the officialconfirmation of a new Doctor!

Update 2355 GMT: The UK Daily Mirror has apparently announced Christopher Eccleston and the Daily Mail has apparently noted that it's Bill Nighy. Could it be one or the other? Or perhaps a different actor entirely? At right is the Daily Mirror cover with the note about "Cracker Chris" referring to Eccleston being cast. (Thanks to "barryum," "DistantDave")

Updated 2330 GMT  Numerous fan sites and our own forum are buzzing with rumors about actor Christopher Eccleston being cast as the new Doctor for the forthcoming series. Eccleston's agent has denied that he has been cast, although the denial could be interpreted as simply not confirming such before the press announcement. An internal BBC memo circulated earlier in the week stated that the discussions were down to "a short list of three," although we've just heard word that there is a possible announcement coming in as early as the next couple of days. Outpost Gallifrey will bring you the news as soon as we hear official confirmation of the casting announcement.

Further to our story yesterday about the report from the UK Teletext, BBC News has picked up the same story, with a headline stating "Daleks May Return to Doctor Who"; the only difference between the two is a BBC spokeswoman stating "We are negotiating to feature the Daleks in the new series, but no deal has yet been made" and a denial that actors had been cast to play the new Doctor and assistant. "Negotiations are going on all over the place about the monsters, including the Daleks," she said. "We are just waiting to see what comes out." Update: the BBCi Doctor Who site also followed this up with this statement: "Cult did its own bit of checking, and was told the same by Publicity. They stressed, however, that they, 'Could not confirm the Daleks, or any other monsters for the new series.'" (Thanks to Rich Kirkpatrick, Steve Tribe, Jean McDonald, Richard Dinnick)

BBCi's Ninth Doctor (played in the webcast "The Scream of the Shalka" by Richard E. Grant) returns in print form today on the BBC's Cult / Vampire section. Doctor Who: The Feast of the Stone by Cavan Scott and Mark Wright ("Project: Lazarus") can be read by here. It's part of BBCi Cult's "Vampire Stories" section. (Thanks to everyone who let us know!)

Today's Teletext features an article by Simon Holden entitled "The Daleks are Back to Exterminate" in which the current issues between the estate of Terry Nation and the BBC are mentioned, and Russell Davies is quoted as saying "The negotiations are going well and I expect a positive result. ... The estate is protecting an important property, after all, and I can appreciate why they are being so careful. I'd like to think my estate will be equally well-protected after I go." The article mentions that the announcement on casting may come next week, and once again hints that it's "possible" that the Doctor may develop some human emotions. "Don't assume that the Doctor can never have sex. I'm not saying anything and you will have to wait and see how he develops. But he can always change. We shouldn't assume the character cannot change in some ways." (Thanks to Tim Harrison, Phillip Madeley)

On yesterday's edition of Liquid News, Bill Nighy, one of the actors "in the running" for the role of the Doctor since Russell Davies mentioned he was a favorite, was quoted as saying, "My wife shouted from the kitchen, 'are you going to be Doctor Who? - it says in the paper' but that's as near as I ever got... So I don't know." When asked again by the reporter, he replied "I don't know, I've no idea. You'd have to tell... ask whoever, I don't know, who wrote the story." (Thanks to Duncan Purvis)

Further to the news story that ran in the Western Mail, reported on OG on March 13, the entire article is now online at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society website, which has a slightly different take on the whole thing than was given in the Mail. (Thanks to Chuck Foster)

Below are the covers for both the DVD release of Daemos Rising, the direct to video spinoff sequel to the Doctor Who serial "The Daemons," as well as the cover of the CD release that features the musical score by Alistair Lock. The DVD release is UK only as there are currently no plans to release it in North America. Click on each thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Tenth Planet)