Actor Mark Benton, who plays the role of Clive Finch in an episode of the new Doctor Who series, is interviewed today by the Designer Magazine site (mostly a music website but with interviews). He mentions his Doctor Who role in one part of the interview (which we've put in the spoiler tag since it contains a small spoiler about his role!) You can read the full interview here. (Thanks to Jonathan Morris)

Reports from several locations including DigitalSpy say that Christopher Eccleston "has apparently been taking his role as the new Doctor Who very seriously" and is said that he has "refused to speak between scenes, and has asked his fellow actors and crew members not to talk to him." "It brings me out of character," The Mirror quotes him as saying. Though, of course, there have been no authenticated reports of this, and everyone who's been on the set says quite the opposite about Mr. Eccleston, so we don't believe it at all. Also, the Sun on January 18 ran a short piece on Simon Pegg, including his quote "I will not be playing a young Davros" that appeared last month on the unofficial Spaced website (and reported here at OG). Nothing at all new, however. (Thanks to Chuck Foster, Mark Donovan)

During a radio promotion for the tsunami relief program "Radio Aid" on Monday, Billie Piper phoned in and spoke briefly about the new series. She confirmed that it will be starting, as far as she knows, "at the end of March" and when asked who would be doing the theme tune she said "as far as I know it will be the original". The question asked of her was quite confused at this point, with both radio presenters (Zoe Ball and Shane Richie) doing impressions of the theme, so it's possible that she meant it would be the original composition rather than meaning it would be the Delia Derbyshire version, but this remains uncertain. She also put forward the "hoody" she says she wore in the first two episodes to be auctioned on eBay as part of the aid appeal. (Thanks to Dave Dickinson)

Sophie Okonedo, who recently starred as Alison in the animated Doctor Who serial "Scream of the Shalka," was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role and as part of Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for the film "Hotel Rwanda" as part of the Screen Actors' Guild Awards, being presented in early February. (Thanks to Joey Reynolds)

An interview posted on the TwitchFilm website with writer Mark Gatiss discusses many topics including the new series. In the interview, conducted very recently, Gatiss notes that he was "in Cardiff yesterday, at the press junket, and it was - I can say without affectation - one of the most exciting days of my entire life." On the subject of Christopher Eccleston: "He's brilliant. He's brilliant. I think the show will surprise a lot of people and that, particularly, Chris will. He's known for his intensity, his rather scary intensity, which he DOES have as the Doctor. And equally, if you know him in real life, he's a really good laugh and a lovely man and it' s that sort of duality that he brings to it. He's like a kind of crazy child, but then when he tells you off you quake in your shoes. It's actually kind of a Tom Baker-ish quality, but in a completely different way." On the Daleks: "They're back. They are. That's true. I saw one yesterday and cried real tears. It's a marvelous story by Rob Shearman and I can't think of a better way of bringing them back. It makes your hair stand on end, it's so spooky. Intense. Dynamite, really." On whether it will continue after this series: "Oh, well, everyone wants it to continue, obviously, but it's a real killer. I mean thirteen forty five minute episodes may not sound like a lot but the thing is that apart from a few two-parters they're all one offs, so you need new sets, new situations, and new casts. It's really exhausting. When my episode was finished recording I shot the League film and did several other things and by the time I cam to see my episode they still had five more to shoot. It feels like so long ago! Russell [Davies, another Who writer] said to me "We've discovered the show that will kill us all." But, god yes. We'd love to continue." And on whether he'd want to write for subsequent seasons: "Oh, god yes. I don't want to just do one. I feel like having been privileged to be part of the team that brought it back in what I feel is such a marvelous way I'd like to leave a legacy of stories. Of course mostly I'd like to be Dr. Who!" For more on his thoguhts and to read the full article, visit theTwitchFilm site. (Thanks to Peter Weaver, Paul Hayes)

The feature directing debut of Geoffrey Sax, director of the 1996 Doctor Who movie, placed No. 2 in the US Box Office this past weekend; "White Noise" opened with $24 million despite largely negative reviews and modest expectations. (Thanks to Richard Allison)

Hugh Lloyd, who played Garonwy in "Delta and the Bannermen" was honored by Queen Elizabeth II during the New Year Honours, becoming an MBE (Member of the British Empire) according to a BBC report.

Magic Bullet Productions has announced that Julian Glover, who played Richard the Lionheart in the Doctor Who story "The Crusade" and later played Count Scarlioni/Scaroth in "City of Death," will be appearing in the revival of the Faction Paradox audio series, playing the Egyptian god Upuat. Magic Bullet recently announced they would bring the audio series back, based on the time-travelling voodoo cult first introduced by Lawrence Miles in the BBC Doctor Who novel series, after Bill Baggs' BBV Productions halted its own production line of audios. More details available soon at the Magic Bulletwebsite. (Thanks to Fiona Moore)

The latest issue of DWIN's award-winning fiction magazine Myth Makers, #14, is in release, with ten new stories "told from a personal perspective," featuring fiction from Doctor Who novelists Simon A Forward, Mags L Halliday (with a new tie-in to her forthcoming Faction Paradox novel, Warring States) and Dale Smith, and Short Trips anthology writers Ian Mond, Stephen Hatcher and more. "Whether you're a fan of the classic series, the novels, the audios, the spinoffs or even the Richard E Grant Doctor, you're sure to find something that appeals to you." Further details available at DWIN's website. (Thanks to Richard Salter)

Today's edition of The Newcastle Chronicle & Journal interviews Mark Gatiss, new series writer and author of the new novel "The Vesuvius Club." In the article he discusses his new book, the movie version of his series "The League of Gentlemen," and his ambition to star as the Doctor... "although he says Christopher Eccleston, the latest doctor, brings a new dimension to the role." "I've spoken to Chris and we're going to have a kind of Brown/Blair thing," Gatiss tells the Journal. "He's going to retire gracefully after a few years and give it to me. No, I wish that were true. But if I waited as long as Gordon Brown has, it'll never happen!" (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)