A sampling of press clips and items from the past five days (while your editor was on a business trip):

The Times features an extended interview with/article about Billie Piper and about her role in "Much Ado About Nothing" coming in November. "Piper has packed an awful lot into her tender age (sheÆs 23). 'ItÆs hard to get your head round the size of Doctor Who and the impression it has made,' she says, drama-school tones softened by the burr of her native Wiltshire. So unnerving was the launch, she went into hiding. 'It scared the hell out of me, if I'm honest. But then, when the first one was out and it was just part of Saturday-night viewing, it felt a bit more real.' As Rose Tyler, street-smart companion to the titular Time Lord (aged 953), Piper has been integral to the show's success: it reached 10m viewers at its peak, almost half the audience share. There was talk that she might jump Tardis along with Christopher Eccleston (the Christmas edition marks the full debut of the new Doctor, David Tennant). But no, it was just tittle-tattle. 'I was uncertain how many I was doing, because you have to wait for them all to be written. Now IÆm signed up for the duration of the second series.'" More in the interview on the website.

The Independent features an article about BBC Three Controller Stuart Murphy which mentions Doctor Who: "He has turned to Russell T Davies - alongside Paul Abbott, British television's hottest scriptwriter - to plot the channel's journey into the world of sci-fi. The result is Torchwood, a series of 13 45 minute episodes which Davies himself describes as 'X Files meets This Life'. Murphy can barely contain his excitement when recounting how he persuaded Davies to develop his success with the re-invented Doctor Who by making a post-watershed show for BBC3. 'We think it is going to be amazing,' he says. 'Each episode will be a one-off story and will be funny in a way that Casanova brought humour to period drama.' ... BBC3's ratings were done no harm at all by the opportunity to show repeats of the last series of Doctor Who, and it is not surprising that Murphy is keen to extend the channel's relationship with the Doctor."

The Sydney Morning Herald discussed Whovention, the convention that took place this past weekend, focusing somewhat on the costs of the event. NineMSN mentioned the event: "President of the Doctor Who of Australia Club, Liam Teer, said he was expecting up to 150 people to attend. He said there were a whole range of Doctor Who fans. 'Obviously we have the ones who come along dressed as characters,' Teer said. 'I was also at a trivia quiz once and there was a guy who could quote entire episodes - at that point there was 26 years worth of episodes to know the script to.' This year's Whovention will feature 'guests of honour' from the classic series, actors Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling. Robert Shearman, who wrote the first episode of the new series, titled Dalek, has also made the trip Down Under. He said he couldn't believe the success of the new program. 'We were aware it was its final chance to come back,' Shearman said. He said he would love to see an episode of the show shot in Australia. 'I think that it would be ideal if they could perhaps try and come to Australia at some point,' Shearman said. 'They (the producers) want Doctor Who to be a very cosmopolitan show.'" Other articles on the convention were at Bordermail,Seven.com.au.

The official website has menu screenshots from the forthcoming Doctor Who Series One DVD boxed set. They also (finally) confirmed the casting of Pauline Collins and Sophia Myles, previously reported on Outpost Gallifrey.

Brand Republic says that the BBC "will offer users the opportunity to watch exclusive web previews of upcoming programmes, such as BBC Four's 'The Thick of It' and BBC Three's 'Nighty Night', as well as interactive programmes previously only available under the red button. In addition, users will be able to watch catch-up clips of 'Top of The Pops' and 'EastEnders', previews of seasons like 'The Lost Decade' and clips from classic shows like 'Doctor Who'."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Peter Weaver, Faiz Rehman)

According to BBC News, the recent Doctor Who charity dinner featuring David Tennant and Billie Piper raised over £20,000 for the BBC Children in Need appeal. "The actors took a break from filming the new BBC Wales series to join diners at a fundraising event in Cardiff. Money raised through the 'Doctor Who Galactic Dinner' will help improve the lives of children and young people. Writer and executive producer Russell T Davies presided over a special auction of coveted Doctor Who memorabilia. Guests bid up to £4,000 for some of the items, which are destined to become valuable collectors' items. More than 250 guests attended the event at the city's Macdonald Holland House Hotel. The dinner was one of a number of events being held across the UK to raise money for the annual charity event. This year, appeal organisers will distribute more than £2.6m to support vulnerable children and young people throughout Wales - with a total of £35m being given across the UK as a whole. 'We always knew it was going to be a fantastic event, but it exceeded all our expectations,' said David Tennant, who has taken over the role from Christopher Eccleston. Billie Piper, who plays the Doctor's assistant, Rose, said: 'Everyone had an amazing night. Thank you so much to all the generous people who were there raising so much money.' Menna Richards, controller of BBC Wales, said: 'The Doctor Who team made a fantastic contribution towards raising a huge sum of money for Children in Need. But they couldn't have done it without the amazing support of all those Doctor Who fans who bid for prizes and gave so much money to the event.'" Also covered at CBBC News.

In an article about filming of the new series near Merthyr Tydfil,icWales makes several comments including "The BBC are filming 18 episodes for the new series. And the action, which also features Coronation Street's Todd Grimshaw, aka Bruno Langley, will see the heroes battle new and familiar foes including Cybermen and an evil race of Catwomen." While there are actually 13 episodes in the second series, not 18, the mention of Langley is the puzzler... and has led to speculation that he's taking part in series two. The Popbitch email magazine also says that "Tom Baker IS putting it in during Season three (and maybe two) - VO's only, as 'voice of the Time Lords'. He would have appeared but only if they cast him as an alien woman, (or the master) which was rejected." However, there's no word as to whether or not any of this is true.

The Telegraph has an interview with Alan Davies, in which he discusses considering the role of Doctor Who and then deciding it was too much work! "The duffel-coated star of Jonathan Creek was once considered a favourite to play Dr Who. 'When it was mooted, I thought it was going to be six half hours, like it used to be. And then when I heard it was 13 hour-long episodes and they were going to be in Cardiff for 10 months, I thought: Oooh,' he says. 'Then they worked Christopher Eccleston into the ground, he quit and the BBC put it about that he didn't want to be typecast. The truth was they just overworked him and he was exhausted.'"

The Mirror then took Alan Davies' comments to the Telegraph as gospel, suggesting that the reason why Christopher Eccleston quit the series was because he was "overworked and exhausted." "Actor pal Alan Davies said the BBC worked Eccleston 'into the ground' before he quit as the famous Time Lord. Jonathan Creek star Davies added: 'He left and the BBC put it around he didn't want to be typecast. In truth was he was exhausted.'" Also covered at Contact Music, Female First.

The Index on Censorship play "Night Sky" appears to be back on, according to Index Online. The play features Christopher Eccleston, Bruno Langley (Adam), Navin Chowdry (Indra Ganesh in "Aliens of London") and Saffron Burrows ("Troy") and will take place on October 30.

Eccleston, meanwhile, is taking part in the Pride of Britain Awards to be seen on ITV1 (various regions) at 9pm on Tuesday 11 October; the Scotsman has an article about it noting that "as ever there will be a star-studded list of talent taking part in the show, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Bono, Victoria and David Beckham, Jamie Oliver, Christopher Eccleston, Bob Geldof, the Duchess of York and the England cricket team."

BBC Norfolk has a feature interview with Sylvester McCoy taht was filmed at the Great Yarmouth Film Festival. You can watch it on the BBC's website here.

Pamela Salem ("The Robots of Death," "Remembrance of the Daleks") is interviewed by BBC Wiltshire; her various Doctor Who roles are discussed in the interview.

David Tennant will appear at the 40th anniversary gala for the Royal Lyceum Theatre Comapny (RLTC) in January according to The Scotsman: "A galaxy of stage stars is set to gather for a night of 'indulgence, luxury and merriment' to toast the 40th birthday of one of Edinburgh's best-loved theatres. Members of the public will have the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Brian Cox, Billy Boyd and new Dr Who actor David Tennant at the glittering gala evening..."

John Barrowman will be appearing again on the talk show "Loose Women" on Tuesday 18 October at 1.30pm; this may be a repeat of his earlier appearance. He's also the featured cover star of the current issue of the UK gay glossy gay magazine "Attitude" with an in-depth interview and new photo shoot inside. The interview includes his take on the show, the convention circuit and the fans.

An obituary for Roger Brierley, whose passing we previously reported, can be found at the Telegraph.

Mark Gatiss appeared on Jonathan Ross's radio show on BBC Radio 2 on 1 October, along with his "League of Gentlemen" cohort Reece Sheersmith, there to promote the DVD release of their film version of the series. Ross did ask Gatiss about "Doctor Who", and although the conversation mostly ended up being a jokey discussion of whether there'd ever been any musical versions of the series (with Gatiss signing a couple of lines of "Doctor in Distress" !), Gatiss did confirm that the episode he's writing for this year is episode seven, and it is another historical. He also mentioned that he'd been talking to Steven Moffat recently, whose young son is apparently upset that David Tennant's new costume "isn't like the old Doctor Who".

Gatiss also attended the British film premiere of "Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, according to BBC News, since he voices one of the characters - Miss Blight. Indeed, the film blurs the boundaries nicely between old and new series, thanks to many of its participants: as well as Gatiss's vocal involvement, it was co-written by Bob Baker (who co-wrote The Claws of Axos, The Mutants, The Three Doctors, The Sontaran Experiment, The Hand of Fear, The Invisible Enemy plus Underworld, and wrote Nightmare of Eden) and has Peter Sallis (Penley, The Ice Warriors, 1967) voicing Wallace, Edward Kelsey (Slave Buyer, The Romans, 1965; Resno, The Power of the Daleks, 1966; Edu, The Creature from the Pit, 1979) voicing Mr Growbag, and Nicholas Smith (Wells, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, 1964) voicing the Rev Clement Hedges. And, of course, as previously mentioned on Outpost Gallifrey, Tom Baker narrates the UK version of the film trailer.

The Metro's Green Room column had a comment about singerCharlotte Church last week: "Charlotte Church would love to star in the new Doctor Who series but only if she can get a crash course in acting. 'It's filmed in Cardiff so I can do the accent but I'm really rubbish at acting,' she admits."

Newsquest Media Group ran an article about a Dalek prop: "Daleks wanted to rule the universe - but one of the evil aliens settled for Farnworth instead. The arch enemy of Dr Who travelled down Plodder Lane, causing heads to turn and traffic to grind to a standstill. But luckily the motorists and pedestrians were not in danger of being exterminated, for the Dalek - the Doctor's most feared opponent in the long-running BBC series - is owned by gadget-mad Paul Flanagan. The 52-year-old, from Plodder Lane, Farnworth, snapped it up for ú1,000. ... Mr Flanagan said: 'I've always been a big Dr Who fan and I've built two Daleks myself in the past but I had to sell them when I was going through my struggling actor stage. I'm going to be playing the role of Dr What - a time travelling baddie in a panto production of Sleeping Beauty at the Princes Hall Theatre in Aldershot and I'm providing all my own props so I had to get my hands on a Dalek.'"

The San Diego Union-Tribune ran an article last week about Christmas toys and mentioned the Character Options remote control Daleks. So did The Guardian, which says that "You're going to pay ú40 for a remote-controlled Dalek that just has seven sayings and whizzes around." The Toy Retailers Association says that, although the remote control Dalek does not make it into the 'Hot Dozen', it's predicted to be one of the top ten 'Big Kidz' (sic) toys this Christmas.

The Register has an article about the three episodes of Doctor Who coming to the UMD format for Sony Playstation, noting the other three volumes will ship in December.

The Simon has an article entitled "BBC America: What Went Wrong?" about their cutting of programmes and letting other series get by them: "Instantly, I added up all these previous facts and came to the conclusion that BBC America was cutting my comedy drugs with baby powder. The bastards were altering shows û not for content, but for time. For commercials. And thatÆs when I went through the looking glass. ... IÆm BBC AmericaÆs ideal viewer, but most likely not for long. IÆm one step away from giving you a proper British two-finger salute if you donÆt change your ways soon. And I know just how you can change for the better: First, if youÆre going to show a program, show the entire show. ... Next, stop showing Benny Hill. Monty Python and Fawlty Towers are okay. As Time Goes By and Coupling are quite good and thatÆs fine too. But Benny Hill must be stopped. For the past couple months, itÆs been given a nightly slot in addition to other airings û it feels like itÆs on every other hour. ... And finally, take some more chances like The Office. I donÆt know how you missed out on airing Spaced û the incredible show by the creators of Shaun of the Dead û which Trio airs. But with that mistake behind you, you can still get plenty of other programs that will make you relevant again. There are a ton of shows to chose from, such as 15 Storeys High (Sean LockÆs inventive tale of two very odd roommates in an apartment building), The Book Group (the daring comedy by Annie Griffith thatÆs shot as though David Lynch were doing a sitcom), or Nighty Night (a dark comedy by the exquisite Julia Davis that shocks you into guffaws that you instantly feel guilty about.) Hell, how you havenÆt taken up Russell T. DaviesÆ brilliant re-invention of Doctor Who is beyond me."

The South Wales Evening Post noted the casting of Pauline Collins in the new series: "History is repeating itself for actress Pauline Collins who has been filming Doctor Who in South Wales. The Shirley Valentine star has signed up for an episode of the next series after its smash-hit revival by Swansea writer Russell T Davies. It will mark her second appearance in Doctor Who - nearly 40 years after she first appeared in the legendary TV series. She plays Queen Victoria in the new series alongside new doctor David Tennant and Billie Piper as sidekick Rose. She's now 65 years old but was just 27 when she first appeared in Dr Who in April 1967, alongside Patrick Troughton. It was before she found fame in TV's Victorian drama Upstairs Downstairs - and then film stardom as Shirley Valentine in 1989. Pauline has been busy filming in the Welsh countryside for a story line in which aliens threaten the Victorian British Empire. An insider said: 'Pauline was loving every minute of it. She found it very amusing that she played a fashionable young woman in the 1960s but now she's playing a wrinkly Queen Victoria.' The BBC team has filming in the hillsides above Merthyr Tydfil with Queen Victoria being taken in a horse-drawn carriage protected by troops. And the doctor lands his Tardis next to the military convoy to come to Queen Victoria's aid against the alien attack. The new series, featuring scenes filmed in Gower, is due out next year after a Christmas special." Also reported atDigital Spy.

Off The Telly calls the 2005 series of "Doctor Who" the 4th greatest Saturday night television series ever broadcast: "Is it controversial to claim that the original run of Doctor Who stopped being good Saturday night telly back in 1980 (let's leave aside the fact, that after then it wasn't even transmitted on Saturday nights that often)? That's not to say it wasn't a good series in its own right, but somehow in its last decade, the original series lost the audacity and spectacle that once made it the perfect warm-up for The Generation Game. This then, is what has made the 2005 series such a great piece of Saturday night viewing. It seems simple now, but what the new production team obviously realised was that if Doctor Who was going to survive on Saturday nights in 2005, it had to face its audience head-on and ask for no concessions. Given that the BBC were perfectly placed to promote the series (and explain any ratings shortfalls, should there have been any) as some kind of public service opt out for those disinterested in the usual fare, the fact that they instead decided to take on Saturday Night Takeaway in a straight-out, no handicap battle was admirable. In fact it's probably not an overstatement to claim that this was the most important decision made regarding the revamp. It informed not only the budget, but the casting, the storylines and, of course, the all-important (at least according to the Doctor Who production team) tone. Securing the services of Christopher Eccleston was almost as vital. Prior to the announcement of his casting it had been difficult to differentiate the revived Doctor Who from the countless other remakes and niche cult programmes floating about. But the choice of Eccleston as the Doctor demanded that the series receive the same type of media coverage as Casualty and EastEnders (rather than Hex or, dare we say it, Buffy). In the course of only 13 episodes, Doctor Who 2005-style immediately gained a place at the top table of Saturday night programming. It had Game for a Laugh's pace and inventiveness, Bob's Full House's ratcheting tension, and Pop Idol's ability to laugh at itself. It also had great stories, never more so than when Steven Moffat was at the typewriter, which seemed totally fresh, yet iconic and replete with fantastic visual images. What makes Doctor Who even greater though, is that at the time of writing it is the only major Saturday night series that is still on its way up, and for that reason alone, it's currently the only Saturday night series really worth bothering about."

Also, in the final edition of its article "The Glory Game", "Off The Telly" contacted a range of television professionals and asked them to nominate the greatest Saturday night television programme ever. Two of the featured correspondents chose "Doctor Who"... Michael Leggo, Director of Broadcasting and Programming, Unique Communications Group says "I vote for Doctor Who. As a child it was for me an appointment to view before that concept had been born, and the Daleks' impact at the time has not been over-hyped in the wake of the recent revival. My father was a film cameraman and he took my brother and me to a BBC staff Christmas party for children, where there was a Dalek. My brother would not stay in the room, even when the top was lifted off and the Dalek shown to be empty inside. I remember having nightmares about the Zarbis (giant ant-like monsters) but I still wanted them to return, for the Doctor to fight them again. I lost touch with the series somewhere after the Tom Baker era. As for entertainment, I'll let others judge Noel's House Party, but early Gen Games with Bruce would be very high on my list." Peter Bazalgette, Chairman, Endemol UK says, "The recent new series of Doctor Who has clinched it for me. It pioneered drama as entertainment on the night, and made sci-fi popular, and Russell T Davies re-invented the Saturday family audience show."

The Boston Globe has published its list of the Top 50 Sci-Fi Shows Of All Time; a certain Time Lord entered the list at Number 8.

The official Doctor Who website has sounds and photos for your mobile phone. "You can now download some of our Doctor Who sounds and pictures directly to your mobile by either texting WHO to 81010, or typing bbc.co.uk/mobile/drwho into your mobile browser. You'll need a suitably swish phone, and to read the following small print: Each SMS message sent to the BBC for this service will cost 12-15p (network charges vary). The BBC cannot guarantee that this WAP push message will work on your handset. So far as may be permitted by law, the BBC disclaims all liability for any loss or damage."

Finally, British comedy legend Ronnie Barker died this past week at the age of 76. Barker played Able Seaman Johnson in "The Navy Lark" alongside Jon Pertwee, and was always in trouble when CPO Pertwee's plans failed. His obituary at BBC News is here.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Chuck Foster, Peter Weaver, David McCambridge, Andrew Burns, Paul Hayes, John Bowman, Rich Kirkpatrick, Joe Siegler, Dan Garrett, Vince Stadon Martin Barber and Lee Horton)

The filming this week at locations in Wales attracted not only Outpost Gallifrey's eagle-eyed fans (see set reports yesterday) but also reports in the press. The South Wales Echo on September 28 said "The Doctor Who team have been spotted out and about filming one of the latest episodes for the sci-fi series. A desolate spot on the mountainside at Gelligaer Common, in between Bargoed and Merthyr, was where the stars and the film crew starting setting up from dawn yesterday. New Doctor Who star David Tenant and actress Billie Piper were reported to have been on site - and the famous Tardis could be seen in the distance. A carriage and horses were also seen from the road which was blocked off by two police officers while the cameras rolled. Traffic was stopped while action was being filmed about quarter of a mile from the narrow winding road leading to Bedlinog. Curious passersby were being discouraged from going near the film set. BBC Wales have constantly kept their filming locations a closely guarded secret as well as the plot. A BBC spokesman said: 'The film set is a closed set and we always turn down requests for interview and pictures to ensure the story line is kept secret.' A passerby at the scene, who did not wish to be named, said the director had told him they tried to keep filming locations within 45 miles of Cardiff. He also got the impression from the crew that Gelligaer Common was the perfect setting for a werewolf theme. Local firms were also being used on site as part of the filming scene." On September 29, the South Wales Evening Post discussed the other filming location. "It may be a long way from Gallafray [sic] to Gower, but that clearly hasn't put off one time-travelling tourist. Proving that the reputation of Worm's Head now reaches beyond the stars, the renowned inhabitant of the fictitious planet turned up in Rhossili. And as his famous blue police-box Tardis slowly materialised, Dr Who's latest adventure began to unravel in front of a BBC film crew and the bemused stares of bewildered sheep. Makers of the popular show revealed earlier this year that Gower would be used as one of the locations for an episode in the latest series, which has once-again been penned by Swansea-born writer Russell T Davies. But the specific location remained top-secret, so that filming wouldn't be held up by unintentional interruptions from over-enthusiastic fans. David Tennant, who plays the latest incarnation of the Timelord from Gallafray, was joined by Billie Piper, who plays companion Rose, on the cliff-tops overlooking the stunning sweep of Rhossili - to the delight of passers-by. One visitor, Viv Richards of Port Eynon, was there with her grandchildren. She said: "They are great fans of Dr Who, so they were delighted to be able to see the filming. 'It was fun for the children to see it being filmed here in Swansea. We stayed there a couple of hours watching them. They seemed really nice people.' It's not the first time that Dr Who has visited Swansea. Last year part of the marina was transformed into a scene that re-created a Dickensian Cardiff street. And thanks to Mr Davies' fondness for his home country, numerous sites across South Wales have been used for filming, including Cardiff Bay

An article at ic Sefton and West Lancs profiles a Dalek casings builder in Ainsdale. "Hidden away in an incongruous-looking shed are two of the universe's dreaded tinpot dictators - the Daleks. There's no need to worry. The long-standing Doctor Who baddies are in fact casings, lovingly fashioned by engineering whizz Andy Shaw. And it's not just the Daleks you'll find around Andy's garden. Robots based on the film Forbidden Planet and US sci-fi show Lost in Space are also dotted about the rockery. The machines reflect an interest in robots that Andy, 41, has had since childhood. ... One of his creations now stands at Spaceport, the space-age attraction at Seacombe Ferry in Wirral, and there has been interest in his work from the USA. ... Even before the successful Doctor Who revival on BBC One this spring, it was Andy's Daleks which attracted the most interest. They appear at conventions organised by Indelible, the Merseyside arm of the series' fan club, and fundraisers for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. Former Doctor Who Colin Baker, whose baby son Jack died suddenly, chaired the Foundation for eight years."

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

Getting caught up on some of the press clippings to have appeared in the past two weeks while I was on vacation...

The Stage has a short piece about John Barrowman's concurrent theatre appearances in December. "West End star John Barrowman looks as if he is going to be a busy boy this Christmas.... After all, the Simply Musical star made a recent TV appearance as time-travelling Captain Jack Harness in the new series of Doctor Who and it seems that he will be employing some sort of Tardis-like device (perhaps draped in tinsel?) to travel between Wimbledon and the West End on a daily basis for the beginning part of the festive period. Either that, or some unfortunate punters are going to be watching an understudy somewhere along the line. But no, that would never happen. I refuse to believe it."

Sylvester McCoy is profiled in an article at The Western Mail which discusses his new role at the Grand Theatre in Swansea. "The man who played the seventh Doctorr Who - he of the panama hat, question mark umbrella, pullover and braces - takes the part of Inspector Rough in Gaslight which opens tomorrow. At 62, McCoy is a veteran of the stage but he's still best known for his stint as the Doctor from 1987-89. And while in Swansea he popped into a Doctor Who convention at the weekend, in the city's Marriott Hotel, to meet fans of the series. ... 'Most of us Doctors will always be remembered best for the role,' he admits. 'But we've all had very busy careers after it. It's a great part to have played and I look back at it very positively.'"

Colin Baker turned up for an autograph signing this past Saturday in Darwen after his car got a flat, according to This Is Lancashire. "Fans were eagerly awaiting Colin Baker who played the cult BBC1 character between 1984 and 1986 at Darwen Library Theatre where he was due to speak at Doctor Who Day 2 organised by super fan Graham Groom. But the atmosphere amongst the conference visitors became even more tense than an episode involving the Daleks when his arrival time came and went. Graham 40 of Meadow Street Darwen paced nervously by the door waiting for his star guest to arrive. He said more than 100 tickets had been sold for the event -- the second Doctor Who convention he has held in his hometown -- and that people had travelled from all over the country. But just as panic started to set in his mobile phone rang -- it was the sixth incarnation of the Doctor to tell him his tyre had blown but he was on his way. Good job too...the Cybermen were getting restless. By the time he finally made his entrance Mr Baker recieved a rapturous welcome from the excited crowd. Colin who grew up in Rochdale said: 'I always feel at home coming up here and seeing the Pennines. We used to cycle to Blackpool and would go through places like Ramsbottom and Haslingden on the way.'"

David Tennant can be heard reading the book "Mac B" by Neil Arksey on BBC Radio 7's Big Toe show; click here for details.

BBC News has a few photos from the Regenerations convention in Swansea last weekend. The convention was also covered briefly at IcWales.

Bruno Langley (Adam) is starring in "Right Up Your Street," a cabaret evening, along with his former colleagues from Coronation Street at the Oldham Coliseum on Friday 7 October in aid of North West health charities, according to thiswebsite. Langley was also said to be appearing in the play Night Sky (by Rachel Wagstaff) to be shown at the Old Vic on Sunday 30 October (one night only) in aid of Index on Censorship (along with Simon Russell-Beale and Saffron Burrows) according to Index Online; however, according to a later report from Index of Censorship, "Due to a series of unfortunate events, we shall be postponing the performance of Night Sky that was due to take place on the 30th October."

September 22's edition of "The Sentinel" noted that "Pupils invited a special time traveller - an actor who has appeared in BBC 1's Doctor Who - to see their school's Tardis. Year six children from Belgrave Primary, in Longton, were treated to a drama workshop with Alan Ruscoe, who played a mannequin-like Auton in the last series of the cult BBC TV show. Alan has also appeared in two of the Star Wars films. John Collier, an advanced skills teacher at Belgrave Primary, contacted many past and present stars, inviting them to see the school's time machine. He said: 'I wrote to Alan originally because of his connection with the programme. I was surprised to learn that he actually comes from Longton. When he offered to spend a day in school, I couldn't believe it. It was a dream come true, for me as well as the children.' Belgrave's Tardis - which comes complete with a Dalek and computer equipment - is aimed at helping to inspire learning."

"How ITV changed the BBC" is an article on BBC News; there's a brief mention of Doctor Who.

The Daily Mail quotes Russell T Davies on "Scream of the Shalka" actor Richard E. Grant on September 21: "Despite being an early favourite to play Dr Who, Richard E Grant never really had a chance -- writer-producer Russell T Davies loathes the Withnail And I star. He says: 'I'm not a fan. He was never on our list to play the Doctor. Never.'"

The September 21 edition of "Third Sector" says that "Robert Cork, a 49-year-old man with chronic lymphatic leukaemia, has built a replica Dalek in just eight weeks in an attempt to raise money for the Bournemouth Leukeamia Fund. Cork, who spent up to eight hours a day building his version of the legendary Doctor Who race, has already raised pounds 400 for the cancer charity. He is set to make more by displaying it at local events, where people will be able to have their photo taken with the 'Charity Dalek'. The machine will also patrol local shopping centres, where donations can be put into a bucket attached to the remote-controlled, life-size robot."

Tom Baker's quest to become a voice over legend continues as he narrates the UK version of the forthcoming "Wallace and Gromit" film trailer, "The Curse of the Were-Rabbit". Baker's voice over trailer can be found on MSN and follows successful voiceovers on "Little Britain", numerous TV adverts and the forthcoming "Magic Roundabout" film.

Channel 5 broadcast "The Most Shameful TV Moments Ever" on September 19, "a veritable feast of the most tacky, twee, and tasteless shows to have graced, or disgraced, or our screens" according to the DWAS. Amongst the many gems was an examination of Doctor Who's entry, The Happiness Patrol, and included the views of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's Antony Wainer.

September 17's Express and Star discussed the release of new Dalek toys. "Midlands parents should brace themselves for the latest must-have toy - an ageing, all exterminating villain which is still standing the test of time. Daleks have been Doctor Who's arch-enemies for four decades now but the infernal pepperpots from the planet Skaro are showing no signs of giving up on their evil plans for world domination. Remote controlled versions of the metal meanies are flying off the shelves in Kidderminster's Classic Collectables shop in the Horsefair and staff there predict it will soon be the same story across the region. Toy specialists are predicting that the evil creatures will be the number one selling gift this Christmas and, if Kidderminster is anything to go by, they could be right."

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Scott Matthewman, Darren Pickles, Peter Weaver, Faiz Rehman, Derek Hall)

The South Wales Evening Post today reported that the BBC Wales film crew will descend on the Gower coast in Swansea this weekend for new series filming. It is also said that the filming will be for episode 1 of the new series, although it is not confirmed if David Tennant or Billie Piper will be present, they also say that the actual location is a secret and do not want this info to get out to the general public.

Sylvester McCoy will be appearing at the Hollywood Cinema on 2nd October for an interview, which will then be followed by showings of Battlefield and Remembrance of the Daleks, all as part of the Yarmouth Film Festival; more details atEDP24.

Annette Badland, better known to Season One fans as Margaret Blaine, is currently appearing in Radio Four's "The Archers" as the ever-so-slightly machiavellian Hazel Woolley. A long-running but irregular character (played in past appearances by Hilary Armstrong, Jan Cox and Hilary Newcombe), Hazel seems set to feature for some time, as she vies against her increasingly senile father's wife for control over his businesses. Nno incidents yet of suspicious farting or oddly placed zips, though, so Ambridge may yet prove safe.

John Barrowman and Richard Wilson will be appearing in Cinderella over Christmas at the New Wimbledon Theatre from 9th December; they're currently doing auditions for it for children, details at IC South London (and theatre info at The Ambassadors).

Paul Abbott, recently revealed to have been the fifth potential writer for the first season of "Doctor Who" this past year, is quoted by The Guardian and The Times as saying that "too much television drama is under-ambitious, predictable and needlessly boring" but that producer Russell T Davies' series "Second Coming" was "a television masterpiece. It grappled with the most colossal subject matter in the return of a Messiah to earth. Not in a Robert Powell way. Modern earth. Manchester, actually. And mainly the scruffy end."

In a feature on the Brighton Pier Doctor Who exhibition in the latest DWM, it is said that there is uncertainty about the exhibition's future after its seasonal closure in November. Vicki Whitmore of Brighton Pier says that there will be other exhibitions in the dome but if there were another Who exhibition available, "we would obviously consider taking it back on". Lorne Martin, of Experience Design, says that they are "looking at other ventures in other areas, whereby the exhibitions can grow [...] The fact that the show is already signed up for Series Three [means that] we can go and talk to more venues about making an even more thrilling experience."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Paul Engelberg, Matt Kimpton, Paul Hayes and "facethemusic")

Yesterday, England could beat Australia in a series for the first time in 18 years. BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage presenter Simon Mayo announced that "The entire crew of Doctor Who, including the director and the Scottish Doctor, are refusing to come to the set while they watch the cricket," followed by some gags from former England cricketer Mike "Thirty Years in the TARDIS" Gatting about wishing they could nip forward a few hours and come back and tell them the score. Meanwhile, as one of our correspondents notes, "I have just returned from watching the victorious Ashes cricket teams on their parade through London to Trafalgar Square. The ... team in the second open top bus was holding aloft a Dalek with the words 'Aussies exterminated' pasted across it." Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones held up the giant inflatable Dalek. Stephen Fry was also one of the commentators on the event. There are also stories at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sun (not yet available online) and a photo (#17) at CricInfo. (Thanks to Andrew Farmer, Paul Hayes, Ian Golden, Nick Kirby, Kelvin Green, Ben Rawson-Jones, Adam Kirk, Gareth Kingston; photo by Tina Engstrom)