Doctor Who has made the cover of Design Weekly magazine, which features an article inside on Cosgrove Hall, the producers of the animated webcast of the Doctor Who story "The Scream of the Shalka", interviewing producer-director Steve Maher about the use of Flash animation techniques. "Flash has a reputation for being simplistic because it is used a lot for designing websites," says Maher. "But if you know what you're doing it's an extremely useful tool for animation. Because a lot of animators now use all the options at their disposal, you have to make sure it's not too obvious when you are using CGI. It has to look seamless. In the end, CGI is a tool, like Flash." You can read the full article by picking up the new issue. (Thanks to Andie Frankham, Richard Beeby)

In a new interview in the Radio Times with Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor comments about how different the new series should be. "They do have to move on and make it funny and wry. Will there be sexual chemistry between the Doctor and the companion? Will they make the Doctor gay? black? or a woman?" Baker says he wouldn't play the role of the Doctor again... "but if they did bring back the TARDIS they could have me in a glass cage, just moving my eyes... [the new Doctor] could turn to it and say 'What would you do I wonder?' Perhaps I could go back as the Master". Meanwhile, a new interview in today's issue of "The Scotsman" with Baker asks about him hosting an "imaginary dinner party". Says Baker: "IÆd like to go back in time and invite Anthony Hopkins and his then wife Jennie, because he and I were great friends when we worked together at the National Theatre in the 1960s. They only divorced in the last couple of years and heÆs now remarried. They were very kind to me... He was very strange and had a marvellous imagination which made him compelling. ItÆs a quality stars have. I havenÆt seen him since 1972. Maybe heÆs changed a bit.ö What kind of food would he serve? Italian, with 13 1/2 percent red wine. "None of this 12 per cent stuff. ItÆs amazing the difference in impact between 12 and 13 and a half per cent. It sounds so little. It was lovely to get squiffy with Hopkins.ö It goes on from there. Visit the website to read the interview. (Thanks to Steve Tribe and Planet Who)

Tom Baker was voted the greatest Doctor ever in a poll by Radio Times, while companion Sarah Jane Smith was voted best companion. Said Baker, "The readers' vote is very pleasing and reassuring. I was lucky because all my stuff was in colour, the scripts were coming along, the effects were getting more refined, the sets didn't fall over so often. I loved it so much. Some were more successful Doctors than others, but no-one ever failed at Doctor Who. Twenty years on, the Doctor's image has stayed with me. People remember me fondly and are kind to me in the street, sometimes even physically affectionate. It's better than being royalty." Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane, noted that she "had a ball working on Doctor Who for three years - it was only after I left that I realised just what an incredible impact it had." The Cybermen were voted "favorite villains" (after the Daleks were removed, obviously to give someone else a chance!) Anthony Stewart Head of "Buffy" fame was voted the man who should play the next Doctor (see separate story on the TV News Page).

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine apparently features a story about Radio Times reprinting their "10th Anniversary Doctor Who Special", overseen by members of the DW Restoration Team. Some of the original photos have since gone missing, but where possible they're reprinting them either exactly as they were or with slight variations, from photos taken at the same shoot. The odd one or two pics might have to be scanned in from the original special. The original release from 1973 is incredibly rare and it'l be very exciting for most fans to finally be able to see what it looked like (and see how all the Hartnell stories are listed with the titles taken from their first episodes!) (Thanks to Jim Sangster for letting us know...)

The new issue of SFX Magazine features an interview with Russell T. Davies, the man behind the rebirth of Doctor Who. "Well, I canÆt say too much and itÆs television, so anything can go wrong, but at the end of August they approached me!" says Davies, who notes that he will begin writing the series starting in January, and only after that will there be any decision on who plays the Doctor. He says he's "ruling nothing out: if, when he comes to write it, a complete reboot seems the only way around to make a new series work, that's what he'll do, but he has yet to start so that's a 'not ruled out' rather than a statement of intent." Davies also notes that the BBC may be pushing for an earlier launch than 2005; he mentions Autumn 2004 as a time that's been mentioned although he clearly believes this would be too early. He also notes that series executive producer Julie Gardner is currently viewing several Doctor Who stories to show her the best moments of the past, and what they may face in future. "IÆll bring back the Nimon and the Garm!" Davies jokes. Pick up the latest issue of SFX for the full feature. (Thanks to SFX, Steve O'Brien, Guy Clapperton)

Issue #337 of Doctor Who Magazine is soon to be released (November 13, actually). Featured in the issue is, as expected, the CD of "Living Legend," the Big Finish single-episode audio play starring Paul McGann and India Fisher, as well as an interview with the stars of Big Finish's "Zagreus". Inside the magazine are interviews with Russell T. Davies (producer of the new series) and Barry Letts & Terrance Dicks (discussing the novel "Deadly Reunion"); a look at the production of "Zagreus"; The Fact of Fiction looks at "100,000 BC" (aka "An Unearthly Child"); "Happy Ever After," a single-episode anniversary comic from Scott Gray, Martin Geraghty and Daryl Joyce; and all the usual features. The cover illustration is at right.

Issue #336 of Doctor Who Magazine is now in bookshops; the cover is below. Included in the issue are an article by Benjamin Cook focusing on the new BBCi webcast "The Scream of the Shalka," Daniel O'Mahony's "The Accidental Tourist," interviews with BBC Radio Collection Michael Stevens and audio guru Mark Ayres, an interview with Paul McGann, the final chapter of the comic "The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack", plus all the usual reviews and features. Also due out soon is "We Love Doctor Who," the 40th anniversary DWM volume, which is due November 6. "Based upon the results of the DWM Anniversary Poll, this special 84-page commemorative edition examines the very best that Doctor Who has to offer - as voted by you! As well as counting down the Top 50 TV stories of all time, DWM examines books fictional and factual, novelisations, audio dramas and comic strips. Moreover, it is revealed who you consider to be Doctor Who's best-ever writers and which individuals you feel have made the greatest contribution to our favourite series! The best writers in Doctor Who fandom are gathered to take an in-depth look at what makes the series so special in all its varied forms. Beautifully illustrated throughout with a wealth of photographs, this issue is destined to become the ultimate souvenir of Doctor Who's 40th anniversary."

Radio Times editor Gill Hudson on BBC Radio 4's "The Message" on October 3: discussing RT's 80th anniversary and the "Doctor Who is #1" poll, Hudson mentions she had no idea DW was coming back... she thinks the news leaked and the Beeb was forced to announce the return before they'd planned!

Doctor Who is the big winner of the latest Radio Times poll asking which show readers would like revived, according to a report circulating this morning on the Ananova web news service. With 31% of the vote, Doctor Who is the first choice, followed by "Blackadder" and "Fawlty Towers" in second and third position. The magazine also asked which UK show should be retired, with top honors going to "Last of the Summer Wine". The full results of the television poll are in the latest issue of Radio Times. (Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know!)

Doctor Who Magazine #335 is due out this week (actually, it's already starting to be received by subscribers). Included are interviews with Peter Miles (Nyder of "Genesis of the Daleks") and the last part of the chat with Mark Gatiss; a preview of the "Curse of Fenric" DVD extended edition; "Fact of Fiction" covers "Invasion of the Dinosaurs"; the second part of the comic strip "The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack"; plus all the usual news reviews and features. The cover is at right.