An article in today's Guardian by John Plunkett, called "Forsyth leads BBC1 into Saturday night scrap," discusses the new dynamic being employed soon for Saturday night programming in the UK. "[BBC1 controller] Lorraine Heggessey turned to tried and tested talent to win the Saturday night ratings battle," it says, and notes that Bruce Forsyth is returning to BBC1 on Saturdays with "Strictly Come Dancing, a revamped celebrity version of the classic ballroom dancing show that began just four years after the end of the second world war." The lineup will also "see Johnny Vaughan and Denise van Outen reunited for the first time since The Big Breakfast in a new House Party-style show in front of a live studio audience" and notes that Graham Norton, who was acquired from Channel 4, will make his BBC debut sometime this autumn. It then goes on to mention six new entertainment shows as well as the return of Doctor Who. "We are trying to grow the next generation of shows but it is really difficult to get entertainment right," Heggessey told the Guardian. "The only way we are going to do that is through a process of trial and error. We would love to guarantee that every one will be a hit but sometimes it takes two or three times to get it right. We are trying to ring the changes and we want to bring freshness into the early evening." Other shows are mentioned in the article, including EastEnders and Fame Academy. (Thanks to Korvin Mobberley)

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)

According to press from the BBC, Tom Baker will be seen in the forthcoming season of the BBC series "Monarch of the Glen". Tom will appear as Donald McDonald, uncle to the current Laird of Glenbogle and younger brother of the late Hector McDonald (who was played by Richard Briers of "Paradise Towers"). "Tom's character returns to Glenbogle after 40 years and causes trouble. He's an ex-racing driver who still races too much and the police place him in the custody of his family with orders to keep him out of trouble." The implication is that he would be in all 10 episodes of the season, which will air this fall in the UK on BBC One, and hopefully later on BBC America and BBC Canada and other outlets. (Thanks to Benjamin Elliott)

An article about the new series appeared in the March 13 issue of the Western Mail (on page 13), a Welsh publication. The article, written by Sara Naylor, is a brief introduction to the new series; it begins by highlighting the fact that Russell T. Davies is Welsh, an that the new series will be produced by BBC Wales, before listing the other writers who will be working with RTD. Davies mentions that believes that he has carte blanche with the new series, and that things must change, and his attitude is (perhaps rightly) if the purists don't like it, tough. This attitude is supported by Tom Baker, who says that if the show does not change, then the BBC might as well only advertise its DVD releases. This is followed by a quote from a DWAS representative Antony Wainer who says that fans give a positive reaction to the new series and are delighted with the quality of the writers working on the revival. Wainer then goes on to say that the fans are expecting something new and surprising, but would draw the line at a woman being cast.

Tom Baker's suggestion that Eddie Izzard should be the next Doctor is given a brief mention before the article moves into a discussion of who the new Doctor should be. The name that tops the list is Bill Nighy, followed by Robert Lindsey and Paul Bettany (Master and Commander: Far Side of he World). Another quote from Mr. Wainer suggests that Bill Nighy has been cast and the reason for the delay in announcing him is that the BBC is negotiating with the producers of the upcoming "HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy" movie, regarding Nighy's schedule, so that he will be able to film the movie and the new "Doctor Who" series at the same time (though this might simply be idle wishes, as we have not been given any confirmation that Nighy is taking the part, and indeed have heard quite the opposite.)

It is then followed by a series of quotes from Paul Murphy, editor of TV Quick magazine. Mr Murphy believes that there are bound to be some complaints about from people who are disappointed that the series is not exactly as they would have done it. Murphy says if they should have "got off their backsides and do something about it", citing Mark Gatiss, a life long fan who has worked himself into a position in the industry to actually work on the new series. Mr Murphy says that the fans have a lot to look forward to, but warns RTD against any hanky panky in the TARDIS. The article ends with a quick plug for the DWAS.

Accompanying the article is a large photo of the TARDIS dematerialising, a photo of Russell T. Davies, Eddie Izzard, Bill Nighy (from "Love, Actually") and a Dalek. Also there is a side article listing a number of famous Doctor Who monsters and another sub article listing the Seven TV Doctors. Interestingly, Paul McGann is listed in the same section as Peter Cushing and the "Doctors" from "The Curse of the Fatal Death". (Thanks to John Campbell Rees

Sheila Dunn, the lovely actress whose Doctor Who roles included smaller parts as Blossom LeFavre ("The Daleks' Master Plan") and a phone operator ("The Invasion") before taking the guest star role as assistant/scientist Petra Williams in the Jon Pertwee classic "Inferno", died on March 3. Dunn had been married to the late director Douglas Camfield, who died in 1984 and had directed all three stories. (Thanks to Ben Jolly, Phillip Madeley)

The new issue of SFX Magazine (issue #116), out today, features a brief interview with Russell T. Davies. Asked about the length of the season, Davies comments that "until all the money's in place, we can't be certain. This is normal stuff, happens on every show. You never hear about them juggling the Frost schedule and budget, do you? But it happens. The Doctor Who Magnifying Glass makes this normal process seem so much more significant, turning pores into caverns." He discusses the inability of the production team to set firm dates for the start of production until they know who the actor is... but he does dismiss recent rumors about Paul Daniels being up for the role. "Not in a million years!" Davies told SFX. "All this bollocks is just loony agents desperately getting their clients into the papers." He mentions the "self-loathing" of some of Who's biggest fans, who have demanded he throw out everything from the first run, and then discusses how despite being Doctor Who, it still feels like an evolution from his other programmes. And how several bands have been in touch to offer to do the theme music, but he says that they have hardly even spoke about it yet... that they need a programme first. The article also mentions that science fiction writer Christopher Priest was sounded out about writing an episode. You can read the entire article in the latest SFX. (Thanks to "Rolnikov")

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, film & TV composer whose work includes the Doctor Who story "The Aztecs," plus "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Murder on the Orient Express," will be interviewed on BBC Radio 3's "Stage & Screen" on March 22 at 4.00pm. (Thanks to Phil Creighton)

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.

Today's new edition of the Radio Times has a news item on page 10 - illustrated with the TARDIS - on the new writers. The article strangely omits Paul Cornell and Rob Shearman... but includes a firmer date for the start of filming. The article is as follows (thanks to Steve Tribe & Roger Anderson):

There have been a few reports of faults and problems with playing the March North America DVD releases, The Seeds of Death and The Three Doctors. If you have trouble with your DVDs, send email tocustomerservice@bbc.co.uk and let them know, whether you bought the discs from BBC America Shop or not. Let them know where you bought the DVD from, in what way it's faulty, and what make and brand of DVD player you use; any information given them to help narrow down this problem will help avoid problems in future and they may be able to tell you how to get a replacement disc. (Thanks to Steve Manfred)