Dreamwatch UK #128 is due out March 24. Says the press info, "Inside we have 14 pages of Doctor Who coverage, including a news report on the Cardiff launch, spoiler-laden previews from the first five episodes (including dialogue!), interviews with Ed Thomas, Noel Clarke and Simon Callow, how The Mill took down Big Ben and some great photos! There's also interviews with Martin Freeman from the Hitchhiker's Guide movie, Mary McDonnell from Battlestar Galactica, Rachel Luttrell from Stargate: Atlantis and Blake's 7's Paul Darrow! There's also features on Fantastic 4, Smallville, the live Quatermass on BBC4, Ring 2 and a whole lot more..." The cover is at right. (Thanks to Brian Robb)

For our readers who haven't seen it (since we obviously can't upload it and it hasn't been put onto the official site yet), here's a complete transcript courtesy Outpost Gallifrey reader Glenn Harrison of the actual new series trailer that hit BBC Television yesterday. Click on the spoiler tags to read it (so it doesn't fill up the entire news page column!) (Thanks to Glenn Harrison)

Wired Magazine wonders if the first episode of the new series was leaked intentionally. (It wasn't, but that sort of ruins the point of Wired's article, doesn't it?) "The pilot episode of the BBC's highly anticipated new Doctor Who series may have been intentionally leaked onto file-sharing networks to generate buzz, a source who instructed the network on viral advertising told Wired News. ... In any case, buzz about the Doctor Who episode has certainly paid off, whether the BBC takes credit for it or not. Word about it has reached countless sites, and, more importantly, the episode seems largely well-received." Of course, Wired has its, er, wires crossed. (It was not leaked intentionally, and we know that from the production office.)

While it's not new series specific, there's a BBC interview with Terry Molloy up on the BBC website in which he is very complimentary about the new series, and features a small gallery of images of him as Davros. He also explodes the myth surrounding that famous photo of him with a cup in his hand!

Nicholas Pegg, whose previous works includes writing "The Spectre of Lanyon Moor" and directing that, "Storm Warning," "The Holy Terror," "Bang Bang a Boom" and the webcast version of "Shada" for Big Finish (in addition to several audio roles with the company), was interviewed yesterday in the Nottingham Evening Post, as he "has been picked to play a Dalek in the remake of TV classic Doctor Who." Pegg notes that "It can get hot in the studio but the staff are great and help take your top off so you can have a drink of water," and that moving the Dalek is like "pushing a very heavy shopping trolly." "I've been working with Christopher Eccleston and Billie quite closely for the last month," he says. "They are both very nice people. Chris is very unpretentious and friendly. We share a lot of similar tastes in pop music - at one stage we were discussing the Boomtown Rats. Billie is a very, very nice person and a smashing actress and I think she's going to make a huge impression as the Doctor's assistant." It notes that he will be in episodes 12 and 13.

Yesterday's South Wales Echo discusses "special effects shock in store for fans," as "Scary new monsters and Cardiff's Howells department store exploding [are] just some of the treats due for fans of Dr Who in the much-anticipated new series." The article then discusses the "Doctor Who Confidential" series narrated by Simon Pegg and their special, "A New Dimension" airing on March 26.

The Bath Chronicle on March 15 says that "Dr who's return could be big business for firm" as it discusses BBC Audiobooks, including noting the William Russell reading of the novelisation of "The Daleks" and how it could lead to new successes in Doctor Who audio for the group. "We have got a number of soundtrack Dr Who releases, but this is the first time we have released a complete and unabridged reading of one of the novels," says Michael Stevens of BBC Audiobooks. "This is the first and most-loved book and its causing some excitement. Fans are getting really excited about the fact we have got William Russell, who played one of the original characters, reading it. He has done some work for us before and was happy to come in." Stevens said the company intended to release a further two readings of classic Dr Who stories in time for Christmas (as we reported on the main news page, with the tin of the three coming out in November.)

The BBC series 20th Century Roadshow did a Doctor Who special on March 15 down at Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall; photos covering the day's recording are now on the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's website

The latest issue of 'The List' (a Scottish culture magazine) has a three page feature on the new series. The reporter was at the Cardiff launch and interviewed Russell T Davies, Chris and Lorraine Heggessey and got quotes from members of the Edinburgh DW group.

Yesterday's The Sun featured an article about "Why Wales is so hip it hurts," which mentions one of the major reasons why: "The most anticipated TV series this year will be the new Dr Who - filmed entirely in Wales."

This is Gloucester discusses the return of the new series, including this gem of wisdom: "Doctor Who had humour, imagination, flair and even a certain style, despite the wobbly sets and tinfoil monsters. What it did not have was graphic sex or bad language. Even the violence was fairly innocuous. I hope the Doctor's latest incarnation adheres to those principles. I know children are more worldly-wise these days, but there are certain standards which must be observed. I would also beware of political correctness. Kids hate being preached at, and will switch off if they think that's happening. 'Diddly-bom BOM' will then go the way of the dodo."

(Thanks to Chuck Foster, Ben Morris, Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Wil Cantrell, Graham Kibble-White, Will Hadcroft, Assad Khaishgi, Martin Barber, Daniel Hughes, Stuart Ian Burns, John Bowman, Rod Mammitzch, Andrew Harvey, Anthony Pratt)

Some new updates on broadcasting over the next two weeks (see the Calendar section at right for more details):

Several Outpost Gallifrey correspondents were present for the taping of the Mastermind Doctor Who special that airs this Saturday as part of the "Doctor Who Night" on BBC2. While we won't tell you who won, the prize, a glass trophy, was presented by Christopher Eccleston himself. Eccleston commented that he has taken the role very seriously, that there will be plenty of humour, but not the nostalgia/self referential type of thing that sends the show up. "Mastermind" airs at 8.40pm on BBC2 on Saturday, March 19, as part of the "Doctor Who Night" hosted by Jon Culshaw, which includes "The Story of Doctor Who" at 7.30pm and a new documentary, "Some Things You Need to Know about Dr Who" at 8.30pm.

UK Gold are showing "The Story Of Doctor Who" all day on Saturday the 26th finishing at 7pm. This will feature 5 original series stories -- "The Time Meddler," "The Daemons," "Pyramids of Mars," "Attack of the Cybermen" and "Dragonfire" -- as well as interstitials featuring interviews with cast members. In essence these will be a re-edit of those produced for the Doctor Who@40 weekend shown in 2003, however, some new footage has been added to reflect the changes since the anniversary, according to a source at UKTV.

BBC Radio Wales will be airing "Back in Time", a documentary series which according to Radio Times is as follows: "Julian Carey looks at the links between the Time Lord and Wales, including giant maggots in Brynmawr and Dalek road signs in Llangollen." The first broadcast is scheduled for thirty minutes, although the duration of the repeat is listed as only 27 minutes, which is likely to be more accurate. Parts two and three will presumably air in the same slots on 2/3 April and 9/10 April.

Amazon is currently listing two additional books that tie into Doctor Who. Out July 7 is "Dr Who Funfax," part of the "Funfax" series for kids, containing a diary, puzzles, stickers, bookmarks, factfiles and more. Previous Funfax titles include Shrek 2, The Incredibles and The Magic Roundabout. Also due out, on August 25, is "Pocket Essentials," presumably a new edition of the "Pocket Essentials" mini-reference guide, updated to take account of the new series. (Thanks to Daniel O'Malley at Timelash)

The Play.com website confirms the release of The Ice Warriors narrated by Frazer Hines from the BBC Radio Collection. "Frazer Hines narrates the remastered original soundtrack of this classic six-episode television adventure, starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor. ... This CD also features an exclusive interview with Frazer Hines, who talks about his memories of making the 1967 BBC1 serial." Also announced at Play.com is the September 5 release of Doctor Who at the BBC: Volume 3: "This third edition of archive extracts follows the highly successful first two volumes. Once again all manner of programmes from the BBC radio and television archives yield Doctor Who-themed features, from drama and comedy to interviews and behind-the-scenes items. This time round radio interviews and features on the new series will be included." (Thanks to Gary Reed)

BBC Video has finally announced The Claws of Axos, which will be released about two weeks early, on April 25, 2005, in the UK, according to the listing at the BBC Shop which now features a press relaese and cover illustration, reprinted below. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version.

SFX has a collection of five high-quality photos from the second episode, "The End of the World" including one that features the Doctor and Rose overlooking the Earth, a photo that hasn't been circulated widely. Note that there are SPOILERS in these photos so read at your own risk!

An article in today's Daily Telegraph says that "Dr Who is homeless in Australia" referring to the lack of a disclosed buyer for the series in that country. "The BBC hasn't as yet sold the new series of the oldtime cult favourite here yet. ... It has already been sold to Prime in New Zealand as well as to Canada. There has been a rumour that the Nine Network is interested in the series although in the past it has been shown on the ABC. So poor old Who can travel back to any time he wants, but travelling to
a timeslot on an Australian network seems to be a much trickier feat."

A discussion of politicians and Doctor Who in the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal today by Karen Bartlett discusses the series and its impact. "In fact, the new series of Doctor Who, due on our screens later this month, includes a sinister episode where all members of the cabinet are taken over by aliens. Does the Doctor triumph, or is it possible that the aliens leave of their own accord after encountering John Prescott and deciding to look for a more intelligent life form? Whatever the conclusion, it isn"t the first time that science fiction has affected our political consciousness." It also mentions "The Sun Makers" ("Too many economists in the government," the Doctor says) and the history of the show.

TV Quick's listings reports that BBC2's Doctor Who night is this saturday 19th March commencing with the Peter Cushing movie Doctor Who and the Daleks at 3.50pm. The magazine also carries a picture, on page 5, of Little Britian star, Matt Lucas exiting, or entering, the TARDIS.

The TV listings site mydigiguide.com has details of a day of Who repeats by UK digital and satellite channel UKTV Gold on the day of the new series launch. "Doctor Who Day - UKTV Gold, Saturday 26th March 2005, 08:00 - 19:00. A special day to celebrate the cult sci-fi time traveller in his various different guises beginning with the very first Doctor of all - William Hartnell. The day will include more episodes featuring some of the other actors that have portrayed the Doctor over the years. Interspersed between the stories will be some short pieces on various aspects of this hugely popular series." The listings are as follows: 8:00am, The Doctor Who Story; 8:10am, The Time Meddler; 10:20am, The Daemons; 1:05pm, Pyramids of Mars; 3:10pm, Attack of the Cybermen; 5:25pm, Dragonfire.

The 60-second News on BBC Three at 10pm on Sunday (just before Casanova) included a mention of Tom Baker's win in the SFX poll, complete with the clips sequence used in the various new series news reports last week. A good example of the 'any excuse to mention it' at the moment in press and broadcast media.

The latest issue of 'New' magazine (a tabloid celeb led mag) has a four page Doctor Who special covering (quite a lot really) an interview with Billie Piper and why she would never say that Doctor Who caused her divorce. An interview with Chris and an interview with Bruno Langley on his two part adventure and his possible return in series two (the first confirmation in the press of something Outpost Gallifrey has been reporting all along, that Langley is in two episodes, not just one!) There are some shots of the launch and a list of four of the Doctor's 'latest terrifying monsters'.

Billie Piper is currently on the cover of the UK 'lads magazine' ARENA. Meanwhile, according to a BBC report, Piper is also in talks to star in a new BBC adaptation of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. "It's part of a new season of updated Shakespeare plays, which include 'Macbeth' set in a restaurant," says the report.

Today's Guardian discusses the new series and how it will impact Britain. "Your reason for hiding behind the sofa is clear," says the article, which goes into a review of comments made in various papers such as the Telegarph, the Sun, the Daily Express, the Western Mail, and so forth. (Hmm... wonder who else might be doing that these days...)

To tie in with the presence of the Daleks in the new series, This is Bath makes note of the impending release of William Russell's reading of "Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure With the Daleks."

And finally... Doctor Who has, at last, made the front page of the BBC website! bbc.co.uk features a simple banner with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper saying "Who's Back: 26 March 7pm, BBC One." Very cool.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes, Terry Doyle, Dan O'Malley, Graham Kibble-White, Mark Irwin, Paul Wright, Chuck Foster)

Today's edition of Radio Times (19-25 March) has several items on the new series, including the second of three consecutive cover mentions. This week's cover features the Chris/Billie billboard poster photo as an inset and announces, "Doctor Who - The countdown to the new series has begun!" Inside the magazine, BBC2's Doctor Who Night is one of the recommended television highlights for this Saturday (page 4), illustrated with a shot of Davison in the TARDIS, and Eccleston's appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross is one of Friday's picks, again with a photo, while Project: Who? also features in the week's radio choices (page 5). The second of the series of "Doctor Who Watch" articles (page 19) has a montage of all nine Doctors accompanying a quick run-down of each Doctor's first words in the series and comments given by the leading actors to Radio Times as they started out in the role; according to the same article, the 16-page supplement covering "the characters, monsters and special effects of the new series" will appear in next week's Radio Times.

Television listings: The 19 March showing of Dr Who and the Daleks is confirmed (review p.57, listing p.71) from 3.50 to 5.10pm (i.e. 80 not 70 minutes as previously listed), while an outing for Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150AD on Channel 4 is confirmed for Friday 25 March at 12.40-2.15pm (review p.64, listing p.119). Doctor Who Night is also highlighted with a short piece in Saturday's choices (page 70) and the regular listing is illustrated with a shot of Tom Baker (page 72). [Of peripheral interest: while ITV1 is now halfway through the Ant and Dec series that will be Who's main competition, Five has scheduled Charmed Season 4 repeats followed by Buffy Season 1 repeats in its early evening Saturday slots. Meanwhile, UKGold's weekend morning omnibus editions are confirmed as The Pirate Planet and City of Death.] Blue Peter's Monday 21 edition has guest appearances by Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper confirmed at 4.55pm. The "On This Day" piece for Tuesday 22 March recalls Colin Baker's first story in 1984, noting that, until Paul McGann, his tenure was the shortest in the show's history, and Jonathan Ross's interview with Eccleston is listed on page 120.

Radio listings: page 129 features "Pick of the Week" Project: Who?, with a three-quarter-page article on why we love Who and one of the Chris/Billie publicity pictures, and the lengthy programme listing for 22 March on page 136 also promotes the CD release on 2 May, "which includes unbroadcast material", as well as the recent Daleks MP3 and a reader offer for the Cybermen tin.

Finally, on page 154, "Next week in RT... It's the return of Doctor Who! Don't miss our exclusive 16-page special and collector's cover... On sale Tuesday 22 March." Once again, there's a small Chris/Billie publicity shot. (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes)

The BBC showed an actual trailer (instead of a mere teaser) this evening. As our correspondents note, "The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) directly addresses the viewer standing inside the TARDIS doors - they're closed, so you basically see the white doors behind his back. Shots in the clip include a chained-up Dalek and a CG spacecraft flying over London and damaging Big Ben. Intercut with this are shots of Eccleston running down the tunnel, with fire behind him. There's a shot of him near the console from the earlier short trailers, and some very nice closeups of the console. The trailer ended with the BBC's current generic programme details cards - basically, solid red moving up from the bottom of the screen to the 3/4 mark, the show's title in white lettering directly below this point, and then red moving down from the top to the same mark, with the time directly above (in this case, "Coming Soon")." Click on the screen grabs below for larger versions.

Update: Apparently there are several versions of this trailer; in addition to the main showing during "Eastenders" today, it's also been shown after "Holby City" and immediately before "Mastermind" on BBC2. There are apparently both a 30 second and a 50 second version. The 30 second trailer is made up from shortened segments from the 50 second trailer, however the shot of the space ship over London is totally different between the two trailers. In the 50 second version it's flying over St Paul's Cathedral and it's over the Tower Bridge in the 30 second version. (Thanks to Glenn Harrison, Jeff Album, Robert Franks, John Molyneux, Steve Chapman)