A recent story on the MediaGuardian site (registration required) lists the top 30 "hottest people, places and things this autumn," and one of the mentions is Doctor Who producer Russell T Davies. "The Queer as Folk creator has a national institution in his hands - Dr Who. Starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, it's back on BBC1 next year. 'I can do what I want,' said Davies. 'The purists may be up in arms but there are more things to worry about in life.' Expect surprises. And Daleks." The third radio series of "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy," currently airing on Radio 4 and via the internet, also made the list. (Thanks to Mark Williams)

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, the standard authoritative biographical reference work for the British past, published by Oxford University Press on September 23 in 60 print volumes and online at www.oxforddnb.com, includes several articles of interest to Doctor Who fans. Included for the first time are first Doctor William Hartnell(written by UK film historian Robert Sharp), third Doctor Jon Pertwee (written by David J. Howe), and producerSydney Newman and Daleks creator Terry Nation (written by Matthew Kilburn). While the dictionary itself is extraordinarily expensive, there are subscriptions available to the online edition for a far less obtrusive price; check the website for details. (Thanks to Matthew Kilburn)

Aviation pioneer Burt Rutan will be engaging the skies Wednesday with SpaceShipOne in hopes of winning the coveted Ansari X Prize for the first human commercial space flight, according to BBC News and CNN... and no, this isn't a Rutan invasion! (Our readers have very strange senses of humor, don't they?!)

There is a vast amount of news coverage today (which we won't otherwise comment on) regarding personal developments in the private life of new series companion Billie Piper and her marriage to Chris Evans, covered here at the Daily Record, or here in The Sun, and elsewhere on the 'net.

Tom Baker has some things to say about the new show -- yet again! -- in an interview with today's The Guardian. "It's perhaps unsurprising, then, that Baker is wary of the forthcoming series of Doctor Who, in which Christopher Eccleston - the ninth TV incarnation - will allegedly tackle 'social issues' and 'romantic encounters'," says the article. "'Romance? Well, I shouldn't be surprised, really,' snaps Baker, who once tried to murder his former mother-in-law with a hoe. 'They'll do anything to make people watch. But the Doctor was always a mystery. We know he had two hearts, but what of the rest? Four lungs, four balls and a sonic screwdriver? AH-HAH-HAH! It's best to leave people guessing. ... I read an interview with the guy who's playing Dr Who,' he continues, audibly miffed. 'He was talking about Earth as if it was important! I was deeply, deeply disappointed. I mean, Christ, the next thing they'll be doing is talking about global warming. Oh, it's so sad, isn't it? I find a fantasy programme's preoccupation with this world so parochial.'" Indeed. You can read the full article, in which he talks about his new series of "Monarch of the Glen" at the link.

Could it be that Doctor Who is returning with the Daleks... but without the famous catchphrase, "Exterminate!" In anarticle in today's "The Sun," it is noted that "BBC chiefs have deemed the aliensÆ catchphrase too cheesy for modern audiences. A Beeb insider confirmed last night: 'Doctor Who fans may be upset. But although the word may have scared kiddies in 1963, today it would be laughed off screen.' The source said: 'The Daleks have said æexterminateÆ for more than 40 years but it never did them any good. The Doctor always won in the end.'" Of course, the Sun also claims that the Daleks returned only after their 'campaign' to bring the monsters back to the show; meanwhile, quoted elsewhere, Tim Hancock, agent for the estate of Daleks creator Terry Nation, says, "There are three scripts in the new series of Doctor Who that will feature the Daleks.ö However, the BBC won't confirm the number of episodes they appear in. The article is also on Sky News, Ananova and other web sources. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg & Steve Tribe)

Today's icWales features an article called "Ex-Doctor 'may return as villain'" which seems to pick up on the current rumors that Tom Baker wants to play the Master... and in the same headline mentions that actor David Jason ("Only Fools and Horses") "is likely to appear in the new version of the show" despite denials by the production team. One member of the crew said, "We would all be delighted to see Tom Baker back. ... He's a tremendously charismatic actor and would be a superb villain." Of course, it coudl just be publicity notions. Read the article by clicking the link.

Of course, this follows a report in the Sun from the weekend in which Baker has reportedly "slammed" Christopher Eccleston, saying he's never heard of him. Of course, this is several months after Baker gave similar interviews wishing Eccleston well. The report quotes Baker as saying Eccleston is taking the role too seriously: "Get your head out of your fat bottom," specifically. "It always sounds very hollow in the mouth of an actor. When actors use words like 'challenge' and 'serious' you think to yourself 'Oh just shut up'." Very peculiar; both stories could simply be publicity hounding.

An article at Sky News in the photos section shows several pictures from the Swansea filming location including close-up shots of Simon Callow as Charles Dickens and Billie Piper in period costume. Click on the link to see the photos and the accompanying article.

An article in today's Western Daily Press focuses on the transformation of part of Monmouth into 1869. "A large crowd of set workers descended on the market town of Monmouth to prepare it for the arrival of the star-studded Doctor Who cast," says the article by Janet Hughes. "Old fashioned signs, shop frontages, bales of hay and tons of false snow transformed the square back to Victorian times." The article notes that the scenes are from Mark Gatiss' episode, "where the cult hero meets Charles Dickens." The article notes that the location manager is quoted as saying that the square in which they're filming is "absolutely perfect becasue it is charming and dateless. Nowadays it's so hard to find anywhere without a McDonalds coming into view but this is fantastic."

Today's "The Mirror" has an article about Billie Piper, her quest to lose weight and her dropping a dress size. "I was brought up on bread and butter," Billie tells the Mirror. "Every meal, I'd have two rounds. So suddenly not having it as part of my diet is a bit like losing a friend... I find myself hanging around bakeries inhaling the smell of the pastries. It's quite sad. ... Getting rid of bread does make a difference. Bread makes me feel like such a heifer!" You can read the full article and decide for yourself (it does mention the new Doctor Who series.) (Thanks to Paul Hayes, Steve Tribe)

An article at Brand Republic discusses new technologies for broadcasting including the use of pay-per-view through British Telecom broadband service in the UK. "Viewers can expect to download a selection of programmes from an archive by typing in a keyword like 'Dr Who', giving the viewer complete control of their own schedule," says the article, although it doesn't mention whether or not this is the classic series or the new one. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)