The Production Base website (an industry production site) recently requested additional accredited editors for theDoctor Who Confidential series, the BBC3 documentary series that will run after the broadcast of the new show's first season. According to the information Outpost Gallifrey was sent, there will indeed be "archive footage" used in the series (possibly clips from the 'classic' series), behind the scenes footage and music montage sequences. Each half-hour episode will have a three week production period with a fourth for grading and dubbing, and will be in production from 22 November through to 30 April 2005. Production Base notes that the BBC is "looking for editors who have experience working with archive footage, cutting behind the scenes actuality and who are skilled at composing music montage sequences" and that the job is based in Cardiff. (Thanks to Kevin West)

According to a press release from the BBC Press Office, John Yorke will be succeeding the outgoing Mal Young as Controller of Continuing Drama Series at the BBC, as well as joint Head of Independent Drama with Lucy Richer. Yorke will be responsible for overseeing all continuing drama series on BBC channels, including the new Doctor Who series. There is no expectation, however, that this will result in any changes for the first series of the show or subsequent years. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

Outpost Gallifrey has a further batch of photos taken by Ian Golden including a brief set report (you can read it by clicking on the spoiler tag, but it has very little in the way of spoilers.)

Meanwhile, the Sun covered the filming yesterday with an article along with accompanying photo noting that Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston were holding hands (although it's quite likely that it was part of the filming session.) TheWestern Mail also picked up the story and the Metro today ran a photo of the two as well.
Another small batch of photos from Cardiff. The first one is actually from several weeks ago during the filming at Cardiff's Temple of Peace with an unidentified alien; the others are from yesterday, including Christopher Eccleston having a laugh with the production team and the chairs he and Billie Piper are using. (Thanks to Mark Davies)

New series writer Mark Gatiss spoke to the Sunday Herald on November 7 about his series "The League of Gentlemen" and also about the new Doctor Who season forthcoming. "The Dr Who commission was another dream job somehow drafted into reality for Gatiss," the article says. "He loved the programme as a child, and hated it when it became an obscure self-parody." He discusses his Doctor Who novels (briefly) for Virgin and BBC Books, and also his screenplays for the BBV direct-to-video films "The Devil Of Winterbourne" and "The Zero Imperative" (which he notes are "not available" even though they actually are, on video!) He says that the new series is "a brilliant reinvention. ... IÆm not just saying that. Chris plays it straight, but fun. His seriousness is almost frightening, it makes The Doctor seem more alien, more like an innocent on Earth. When he tells you the world is going to explode, you believe it. ItÆs a wonderful part and a great piece of television. Very funny, very scary." Read the full article at the Sunday Herald site.

There's been a recent flood of rumors and stories floating around the net the past two weeks, and in addition, the newest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (#350) has some further details. So, here's a quick rundown of the info that Outpost Gallifrey has heard:

Story Titles: Steven Moffat's two-parter (episodes 9 and 10), set during the Blitz, is currently called The Empty Childaccording to DWM. Both episodes of Aliens of London (episodes 4 & 5) will have episode-specific subtitles. There are other titles that have been rumored, but at this point none are confirmed (though the title The Unquiet Dead has been touted as a likely title for episode 3) and will likely change by time of broadcast.

Casting: For "Rose" (episode 1), Elli Garnett plays Caroline Finch; Adam McCoy plays her son. In "The End of the World" (episode 2), Yasmin Bannerman ("Red Dwarf" and "Cold Feet") plays Jabe. "The Unquiet Dead" (episode 3, tentative title) features Alan David and Eve Myles in unknown roles; Huw Rhys as Redpath; Jennifer Hill (from Russell Davies' "Mine All Mine") as Mrs. Peace. In "Aliens of London" (episodes 4-5), David Verrey (who's also been in "Red Dwarf") as Joseph Green; Basil Chung and Fiesta Mei Ling as the previously-reported "Chinese couple"; Morgan Hopkins as Sergeant Price; Eric Potts as Oliver Charles; Steven Speirs as Assistant Commissioner Strickland; Lachele Carl and Jack Tarlton as television reporters. Bruno Langley (as Adam Mitchell) appears in episodes 6 and 8; we believe this indicates that the broadcasting order for episodes 7 & 8 will be reversed (for reasons we can't disclose, sorry!) Nicholas Briggs, writer/producer who voices the Daleks for Big Finish, will be doing the same in the new series starting in episode 6 (and likely in episodes 12-13).

Production: Lowri Thomas is the Unit Manager; Patrick Begley is the Props Manager; Ian Richardson is the Sound Manager. Block four of production consists solely of episode 7, to go before the cameras in late November; block five will be the two-parter by Steven Moffat, episodes 9-10, and block six will be comprised of episodes 11-13. Block one (episodes 1, 4 and 5) is currently complete and is being edited.

Music and Sound: The current hope is to apparently use the Ron Grainer version of the theme tune in the series. Mark Ayres has remastered the TARDIS sound effect for use in the show, other familiar sound effects might crop up.

Broadcasting: The current word on the start date of transmission is the third or fourth week of March, although this is not completely set and will likely not be finally decided until the end of the year at the earliest. Nevertheless, it's likely to run from late March through the end of June. BBC Books is currently altering its schedule to accommodate. A second series is "by no means a done deal" and will depend on ratings, but there are plans being made for scripts for the second season prior to being commissioned. No word as yet on when this might arrive on television, but speculation is it would be the fall of 2006. The Doctor Who Confidential documentary series will likely not be on the DVD's; however, according to producer Phil Collinson, while "people won't have to wait for DVD extras to see how the show is put together ... we hope the DVDs will still have extras all of their own!"

Writing: Author Mark Gatiss is interviewed this week in the Guardian newspaper, mostly about his new novel but also briefly about his Doctor Who novels and his episode in the new series.

Today's Western Mail (repeated on icWales) features a news story about the filming of the sixth episode of the new series... and involvement of local police. "Police were alerted yesterday after Daleks were involved in a shoot-out with armed guards," according to the report. "Gunfire and explosions could be heard for miles around as the filming for the new TV series of Dr Who went off with a bang. Police had a series of calls from passers-by who thought an armed robbery was going on in Cardiff city centre. But the noise was from the special effects on the set of the cult time-travelling show." A BBC spokesman told the Mail that police were aware that the filming was happening at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but that locals had not been informed. "The battle scenes are very realistic and that means the use of hazardous explosives," said a BBC representative. Meanwhile, news reports continue about the photos of the Daleks leaked first by the Sun and then across the Internet (as we reported yesterday, with photo display.) The Registerdiscussed the leak of the photos (including mentioning this website in its report.) (Thanks to Chuck Foster, Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Paul Hayes)

The October 29 edition of Broadcast Magazine discusses the Doctor Who title sequence as being the single best title sequence of all time. "A good titles sequence draws the audience in and prepares them for the show. A great title sequence will build a level of anticipation that will enhance the experience, make comedy more amusing, drama more gripping and documentaries more profound. But how do you build that anticipation?" Broadcast picked titles that have "done the most to influence the sequences of today's television" and lists Doctor Who in first place: "Dr Who first aired in 1963 with a title sequence that has developed through the years and will no doubt be adapted for the most recent incarnation. Much of the praise for that longevity must go to designer Bernard Lodge, technical manager Ben Palmer and Ron Grainer of the Radiophonic Workshop. The original sequence was created by Palmer pointing the camera at a monitor to which its signal was going to, thus creating a "howlround". Lodge then introduced graphics to interact with the pictures. Lodge says: "It was a simple image that reflected the nature of the programme."

Cameo appearances by former Doctors appears to be a non-option, according to reports over the weekend in the UK Teletext and in the Daily Mail. "[Tom Baker] has said in the past that he'd love to appear as the Time Lord's arch-enemy The Master in the new run," the Mail reports. "But [executive producer Russell T] Davies says: 'I toyed with the idea of giving Tom and Colin [Baker] cheeky little cameo roles as a bit of fun. However, even though I admire them both very much, it won't be possible. I thought that if they appeared, it would distract viewers and affect the freshness of the new series.'" The Teletext also features a comment from Davies about the casting of Christopher Eccleston: "A lot of people have told me they think Christopher, superb though he is, is a fairly dry and dour actor. They are in for a bit of a surprise. There's a lot of humour and comedy in that man, and the new series will prove what a light touch he has." (Thanks to Phil Newman, David Rafer, Paul Engelberg)

As is now well known across Doctor Who fandom, the Daleks are soon to return in the new series... and it appears that photos of the new Daleks have started to leak onto the Internet. Outpost Gallifrey has obtained these two photos, likely the new series Dalek designs (click on each for a larger version) while Monday's edition of the Sun features an articleabout their return, including the usual silly comments about Doctor Who "anoraks" studying the differences from the original version. We'll keep watch to see if these photos are completely legitimate, and if there are any additional pics to be had.

Meanwhile, various reports across the Internet from over the weekend appear to confirm that the Daleks will fly in the new series. "Levitate!" says the Daily Record, which notes that "Dr Who's mortal enemies - with the fearsome cry of exterminate - can fly. ... A BBC insider confirmed they can now fly. He said: 'The Daleks were always the Doctor's scariest enemy - but now they can exterminate from mid-air. The doctor will have his work cut out dealing with flying Daleks.'" Outpost Gallifrey is aware that filming of episode 6 has begun, and it is heavily rumored that this is the episode that the Daleks will first appear in. You can browse these various news reports here: Daily Record, Telegraph, The Sun, The Mirror and icWales, among others. (Thanks to Fiona Moore, Roger Anderson, Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe)

Outpost Gallifrey has learned that production began on the sixth episode of the new Doctor Who series last Tuesday, October 26, with location filming taking place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Says PlanetWho, production papers leaked to the press "detailed a filming schedule on episode 6 (written by Rob Sherman), and contained several production drawings/concept art for the episode. One sketch appeared to show a Dalek hovering high above a workman/security guard surrounded by a high wall. The documents also revealed that the Daleks had acquired jet propulsion, and the story was run in a number of newspapers over the weekend (pointing out that the Daleks could now climb stairs, again, obviously unaware of 'Remembrance')."