BBC Worldwide sent us confirmation of our earlier reports about the releases of The Wheel in Space (narrated by Wendy Padbury, due out May 3), Death Comes to Time (MP3-CD version due out June 7), Tales from the TARDIS(both installments due out July 5) and the individual re-releases of Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks (due out August 7). The news is that the "Death Comes to Time" MP3-CD release will contain not only the audio but the actual webcast itself. "This incredible and groundbreaking special edition combines MP3-CD and CD-ROM elements to present, for the first time, the original BBCi webcast animation of Death Comes to Time plus the award-winning remastered CD version," says the press release. "Also included are cast video interviews, outtakes, spoofs, online character biographies, full-colour illustrations, initial artwork æroughsÆ, a TARDIS-themed web viewer, and excerpts from other Doctor Who CDs." Screen shots from the release are seen below; click on each for a larger version. (Thanks to Laura Burch/BBC Worldwide)

Producer Nicholas Briggs on the Big Finish website mentions some interesting changes for the forthcoming Dalek Empire III limited CD series. "Although linked to the previous two Dalek Empire series, this is a new story. There are new characters and new situations. This time there are six chapters instead of four, so the story has a broader canvas on which to develop, giving it the potential to be darker and more intricate." Says the site, "At the end of Dalek Empire II: Dalek Warà Galactic Union special envoy Siy Tarkov set off from planet Velyshaa with vital information warning of an imminent Dalek invasion of the galaxy... At the end of Dalek Empire II: Dalek Warà Susan Mendes sent a destructive impulse through the Dalek Command Network. The result was utter devastation. Our galaxy suffered what came to be known as the Great Catastrophe. But, two thousand years later, in some dark recess of another galaxy, the Daleks began to plan their terrible revenge." The page at the BF site goes into details about some of the characters, including Galanar, Georgi Selestru, Amur, Commander Frey Saxton, Chief Warden Dan Culver, Kaymee Arnod and Dr. Japrice Hendrek. The six-part series will be released monthly starting from May. Meanwhile, Big Finish's spinoff series devoted to the further adventures of former Virgin novel companion Benny Summerfield continues this year with four audios. Besides the previously announced "The Grel Escape" by Jacqueline Rayner (May) and "The Bone of Contention" by Simon Forward (August), two new installments are "The Relics of Jegg-Sau" by Stephen Cole (September) and "Masquerade of Death" by Stewart Sheargold (December). In book form, 2004 will see the release of one novel, a collection of three novellas and a short story anthology as well as the previously-announced "Inside Story"-ish book about the Benny series by Ian Farrington. 2005 will also see four new audios and three books. (Thanks to Big Finish)

Big Finish has some further confirmations of developments in 2004. First, their official site now confirms the stories Outpost Gallifrey has previously reported on, including Medicinal Purposes by Robert Ross (August) and Dead Man's Hand by John Ostrander (September). Also confirmed are the contents of Short Trips: Life Science edited by John Binns (May) and Short Trips: Repercussions edited by Gary Russell (June) plus announcement of Short Trips: Monsters edited by Ian Farrington (August). Meanwhile, cover blurbs and details are available now, below, for the May release Arrangements for War and the four-part Gallifrey audio miniseries, with news of guest appearances by three former Doctor Who actors: Gabriel Woolf (Sutekh from "Pyramids of Mars") in "Arrangements", and Susan Engel (Vivian Fay in "The Stones of Blood") and David Warwick (Kimus in "The Pirate Planet") in "Gallifrey" part 4. Click on the thumbnail covers for a larger version of each.

According to the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, recording of the four Gallifrey audios from Big Finish have now been completed. In addition to the previously confirmed Lalla Ward (Romana) and Louise Jameson (Leela), the issue confirms that John Leeson will be reprising the role of K-9, as well as two special guest appearances: Lynda Bellingham reprises her role of the Inquisitor (here known as Inquisitor Darkel) from "The Trial of a Time Lord," while Miles Richardson bridges the gap from the Bernice Summerfield audios to play the role of Cardinal Braxiatel. The series also stars Sean Calsen (Coordinator Navin), Andy Coleman (Commander Torvald), Hugo Myatt (Arkadian), and India Fisher (Sissy Pollard). The first story, "Weapon of Choice" by Alan Barnes, will be available at the end of March. The issue also confirms the titles of the two additional audio stories Outpost Gallifrey previously announced, but adds their writers:Medicinal Purposes is written by Robert Ross ("it's set in Edinburgh during the nineteenth century, and deals with the famous case of Burke and Hare") and Dead Man's Hand is written by comics writer John Ostrander ("it's set in the gambling, gun-totin' world of the American Wild West"). Finally, the writer's list for the forthcoming Short Trips: Repercussions edited" by Gary Russell has been announced; the stories include "Bobby Zierath's Story" by Trey Korte, "The Rag and Bone Man's Story" by Colin Brake, "The Farmer's Story" by Todd Green, "The Steward's Story" by Mark Michalowski, "Jake Morgan's Story" by Andie Frankham, "Professor Bulworth's Story" by Peter Anghelides, "The Bushranger's Story" by Sarah Groenewegen, "The Republican's Story" by Andy Russell, "The Assassin's Story" by Andrew Collins, "The Gangster's Story" by Jon de Burgh Miller, "The Inquisitor's Story" by Shaun Lyon, "The Diplomat's Story" by Kathryn Sullivan, "The Tramp's Story" by Joe Lidster, "The Ghost's Story" by Trevor Baxendale, "The Time Lord's Story" by Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett, and "The Juror's Story" by Eddie Robson. (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Iain McLaughlin and DWM)

The Axis of Evil, the latest installment of Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield audio series (featuring the further adventures of the former Virgin Doctor Who: The New Adventures novel companion) by Paul Cornell, is out... but they've pulled a fast one. Indeed, "The Axis of Evil" isn't actually the story's title, as Big Finish have managed to keep hidden the real title - it gives away an important clue about the story. SPOILER WARNING... highlight the following text for details, and remember, you have been warned!!! The actual title of the serial is Death and the Daleks, not "The Axis of Evil," and features the true masters of the Fifth Axis, the dreaded Daleks. The back cover blurb reads as follows: "The Braxiatel Collection has been occupied by the Fifth Axis. Who seem to be led by a figure from Bernice's past. Behind him lies the evil time travelling power of the Daleks. As Bernice's friends rise up to end the occupation, Bernice embarks on a desperate rescue mission, to somewhere she last went long ago. Braxiatel confronts his destiny, Jason risks all for his love and lives are shattered and lost as the battle of the Braxiatel reaches it's epic conclusion. Our heroes will live free or die..." (Thanks to Matt Gayno

The sixth audio in BBV's Faction Paradox series, A Labyrinth of Histories by Lawrence Miles, has apparently been released in the UK (despite no update to BBV's website noting such!) The audio is the latest in the spinoff series featuring the "time-travelling voodoo cult" originally created by Miles in the BBC Books Eighth Doctor novel series. The cover illustration is at right; click for a larger version. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

The MP3 CD release of The Daleks' Master Plan will be out in March in Australia & New Zealand (thanks to Liam McNicholas)

According to Tenth Planet, the recent BBC limited edition audio Dalek Tin - which included "The Power of the Daleks," "The Evil of the Daleks" and "My Life as a Dalek" all on CD - has now been deleted by the BBC Radio Collection. The individual releases (at least the first two) will likely be available individually in the future, but not as this boxed edition.

Big Finish has released cover details and information on three forthcoming audios: March's The Twilight Kingdom by Will Shindler, the final Eighth Doctor & Charley audio of this current batch, with guest star Michael Keating ("Blake's 7"); April's The Axis of Insanity by Simon Furman, with guests Garrick Hagon (Biggs in "Star Wars") and Roy North ("Basil Brush"); and a new confirmation, July's The Roof of the World by Adrian Rigelsford, with guest star Edward de Souza (who played Marc Cory in the Doctor Who serial "Mission to the Unknown"). Details on each are below; click on each thumbnail graphic for a larger version. Meanwhile, producer John Ainsworth told the Outpost Gallifrey forum today that an additional "Doctor Who Unbound" installment will be happening, and will be out this November; and that the dates of release of the Gallifrey series will be announced soon. (Thanks to Big Finish, John Ainsworth)

Big Finish producers Jason Haigh-Ellery, Gary Russell and John Ainsworth had some interesting comments about future developments in the Big Finish range at the recent Gallifrey convention. On the Doctor Who front: the Gallifrey audio series will start being released at the end of March, with one release per month, and a sequel miniseries is being planned (that might feature a two-Romana story). Russell said he was keen on doing a story featuring the Toymaker (if Michael Gough could be persuaded to reprise the role), a Rani story (if Pip & Jane Baker could be persuaded to write it), another Dalek-less Davros story, and a third story featuring Nimrod and the Forge (which would likely be later in their current 2004-2007 contractual run). Tegan will not appear as Janet Fielding does not have an interest in reprising the role. The seventh, forthcoming Unbound serial is apparently a sequel to one of the first six, though this is not definite. Bernice Summerfield will likely not be appearing in the regular Doctor Who range anymore, as the Seventh Doctor and Ace now have Hex along. Sylvester McCoy noted that he would continue to do the audious "until he couldn't see the pages anymore" and Paul McGann is also quite happy to continue in the role as long as the scripts are good. Two additional forthcoming stories in the range were mentioned, likely the August & September 2004 stories: Medicinal Purposesfeaturing the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn, a historical set in Scotland with the grave diggers who invented the modern autopsy, and Dead Man's Hand with the Seventh Doctor, Ace and Hex, set in the American Wild West and featuring Wild Bill Hickok; additionally, a Colin Baker / Bonnie Langford story will be out later this fall, which would be grittier and more serious than the two previous Mel adventures.

On the book front, details on the authors featured in the May 2004 Short Trips: Life Science edited by John Binns were featured in the most recent DWM, which include "The Changes" by Gareth Wigmore, "The End" by Alexander Leithes, "The Age of Ambition" by Andrew Campbell, "A Star is Reborn" by Richard Salter, "Mortal Thoughts" by Trevor Baxendale, "Sea Change" by Kate Orman, "Jonah" by Todd Green, "Observation" by Ian Farrington, "The Reproductive Cycle" by Matthew Griffiths, "Syntax" by David Bailey, "A Rose by any other name" by Jim Mortimore, "Sight Unseen" by John Seavey, "Land Land" by Jonathan Morris, "Northern Sights" by Mark Stevens, and "The Destroyers" by Steve Lyons. The next one, Short Trips: Repercussions edited by Gary Russell is out in June, while Short Trips: Monsters edited by Ian Farrington is out in August.

In other developments, Big Finish will shortly be announcing a new audio series based on Sapphire and Steel, as contracts have been signed with the estate of PJ Hammond, and a series based on the adventures of Luther Arkwright (a ten-part miniseries from the 1980's written by Bryan Talbot). Big Finish is also keen to do audios based on Ultravioletand will be doing five one-off original SF/fantasy audio "pilots," one of which may develop into another continuing series. Their Bernice Summerfield line will also continue, with a single-volume collection of three novellas due out this summer (with stories told from three different perspectives, one Bernice, one Jason and one Adrian); also, one of the two original audio shorts from the long out of print "Buried Treasures" will appear as an extra on an upcoming Benny audio release. (Thanks to the OG Forum members who reported these developments.)