21-year-old actress / singer Billie Piper is being touted as "in the running" to play female companion Rose Tyler in the new series according to a news report on BBC News, but according to the BBC (and confirmed by our sources) the role is still quite a long away from being cast. The article (which misidentifies the role as "Rose Taylor") will be "feisty" rather than a traditional companion role. "A screaming girly-style companion is unacceptable nowadays," Davies told BBCi. At this point, the production team has only begun casting and previous reports elsewhere that an announcement was imminent are untrue; we don't expect the actress taking the role to be announced until at least May, and this is likely publicity from the actress' own press agent. (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg)

Original series producer Verity Lambert is interviewed in the new "Dreamwatch," discussing her time on the show (including attempts to move her on mid-tenure) as well as her thoughts on the later Doctors and the new series.

Outpost Gallifrey spoke to Mark Gatiss, script writer for the forthcoming first season of the new Doctor Who series, novelist and writer/actor of "The League of Gentlemen," about the recent casting of the next Doctor. "Chris Eccleston's casting is sensational," Gatiss told OG. "He's a fantastic actor and a lovely man and is just the right kind of 'serious' choice to forever banish those tiresome tabloid stories about various TV weathermen or magicians being chosen as the Doctor. And for those who think he's 'too serious' for the part, I'd point to the casting of William Hartnell all those years ago. He was known for a particular type of role and seized upon Doctor Who as a chance to show his versatility. Besides, when Chris did a cameo in 'The League of Gentlemen' he told me he was fed up with playing miserable bastards so this will be just what the Doctor ordered!"

Last, but most certainly not least... Outpost Gallifrey spoke to Rob Shearman, one of the four new series writers announced recently, about his thoughts on the casting of Christopher Eccleston as the new Doctor. "About a year or so ago," Shearman told the Outpost, "my wife and I were spellbound watching The Second Coming on TV. 'This is by Russell T Davies,' I told her - and, in a vain attempt to convince her I was as good a writer by connection, said, 'He's a Doctor Who fan, you know.' My wife - who is not like you or I - grunted non-committally. At the first commercial break, I said, 'Wouldn't it be great if this was Doctor Who? Back on the telly?' and she grunted again. At the next break I sallied with a 'And wouldn't it be great if he was the Doctor?' And, to my surprise, she didn't grunt, but agreed. Because she'd realised as I had that Christopher Eccleston is the perfect choice to play the Doctor. Extraordinary - someone entirely 'other', who'll always stand out from the crowd. Charismatic - if he can pull off being a modern day Jesus, you know he can pull off a modern day Time Lord too. Capable of great passion, anger, and warmth. And, obviously, an astonishingly good actor. I can't tell you how delighted I am to be writing for such a talent. And my wife is jolly pleased too." You can read comments from the other three newly commissioned writers -- Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat and Paul Cornell -- in the past few days' editions of the new series news column.

Outpost Gallifrey spoke to Steven Moffat, writer of two episodes for the forthcoming first season of the new Doctor Who series, about the Christopher Eccleston announcement. "It's a fantastic casting," Moffat told us. "Not just because he's a brilliant actor, though clearly he is, but because he'll bring people to the audience, who wouldn't touch the show with a barge pole otherwise. The morning of the announcement, I went into the Coupling rehearsals, and the cast - trendy lovelies that they are, hardly the natural Who audience - were bouncing around about the news. Clearly rather more excited about that than the fact that a good friend of theirs was now writing it. So I sacked them all." We look forward to Mr. Moffat's sense of humor shining through in the upcoming season!

Paul Cornell, the Doctor Who novelist penning of one of the teleplays for the first season of the new series, spoke to Outpost Gallifrey today about the choice of Christopher Eccleston as the new Doctor. "I think it's wonderful that we've got such a high calibre actor in the role," said Cornell. "Along with everyone else, it was great to get the rush of a 'new Doctor day' again. My Dad called to read me out a news item about it, just like he always used to. Chris is going to have to get used to being beloved by parents and small children everywhere!"

Julie Gardner, new series executive producer, was interviewed on the BBC Wales Evening News program this evening. When asked what the most enduring element of Doctor Who was that she personally wanted to bring back to the show, her considered answer was very simple: "Fear." She also confirmed that the production team was working hard to ready the series by "early next year," drawing closer to the rumored January start than in previous statements. The program is available to be watched for the next 24 hours; you can watch it by visiting the Wales Today section of BBCi. (Thanks to Kenny Davidson)