Confirming a story we ran in early December, the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine confirms the launch of Doctor Who Adventures in the spring. It will retail at 1.99 and will be published fortnightly, with a free gift with each issue. Aimed "primarily at 6-12-year-old boys", it will comprise "comic strips, interviews, competitions and puzzles" - as Russell T Davies comments, a format that's "exactly what DWM was, when it was originally launched as Doctor Who Weekly in 1979". The magazine’s editor is Vincent Vincent and contributors include Moray Laing. DWM itself will continue to carry its own comic strip. Outpost Gallifrey previously announced this after one of our readers located a job advert for "Doctor Who Adventures" on the BBC's jobs site, which was removed shortly thereafter.

The December 24-January 6 edition of Canada's TV Guide Magazine features a two page artcle on the new Doctor Who and The Christmas Invasion. The article previews the Christmas special and interviews Billie Piper, and states that the next season of Doctor Who hits Canadian airwaves in "fall 2006". It therefore looks like that, if the second series debuts in the UK in April as we expect, it'll have more of a delay for Canada than this past year.

Some brief new series book updates: one of the Doctor Who Files from BBC Children's Books has been retitled - "New Earth" is now "Sycorax". All four books in the Files series, initially listed for May, are now listed by Amazon for August; Amazon is also now listing "Sticker Guide 2" as"Regeneration Sticker Guide".

Today's Times has a feature on the Times/South Bank Show Breakthrough Award in which two of ther critics argue why you should vote for the entrants. Critic James Jackson argues for Billie Piper, who he says "has been splashing around the media for years, of course. Just as the Sylvia Young stage-school scamp faced Z-list obscurity after her 15 minutes as a pop star clocked off in the late-1990s, she was back — as the bride of Chris Evans. Which makes the toothy Swindon girl’s emergence in the past year as a serious actress all the more irresistible. There had already been signs of screen talent — her spirited debut as a barmaid in the BBC’s update of The Miller’s Tale in 2003 raised approving eyebrows. But it is, of course, her performance as Rose Tyler in the reimagined Doctor Who franchise that has provided career lift-off. Much of the series’ success has to be credited to Piper. She confidently held her own against Christopher Eccleston’s showboating and by being everything from petrified to spunky to heartbroken, she has succeeded in making Rose every bit as central to the show as the Doctor himself. Tellingly, it’s hard not to feel that her meatiest TV roles are yet to come — after all, she’s still only 23."

Newsquest Media is running a story about the filming of "The Christmas Invasion" at Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean. "More than nine million people watched BBC Wales' production and saw the new doctor touch down in the Tardis in the cave's massive cavern. The caves are owned by Ray Wright, who has turned them into a tourist attraction, and he explained that they were sworn to secrecy during filming of the Christmas special. The programme makers were looking for somewhere that could give the illusion of a space ship being carved out of a meteorite. And the location was chosen because the programme's designer Edward Thomas remembered filming a horror film Grim at Clearwell, in 1995, and he decided that the caves were capable for the transformation to enable the Doctor to fight the evil Sycorax. The caves remained open to the public while the set was being prepared and filled with glowing eggs and tortured aliens along with a host of other special effects. The caves are now firmly on the Dr Who trail and already the owner has seen an influx of fans seeing for themselves where the episode was filmed. Mr Wright said that on the first day they opened after the Christmas break he heard a lot of people talking about the episode and he presumed they've come to see where it was made, adding that its was good publicity for them. For the next series of the cult programme the film crew from BBC Wales also visited the historic building and the grounds of Treowen House in Dingestow for an episode that is set in the Scottish Highlands."

There's also a media mention of Russell T Davies being awarded #1 in The Stage's list of "Top Ten Movers and Shakers in the world of theatre and light entertainment" (see January 2 TARDIS report for details!) on the ic Network of media feeds.

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Michael Doran)

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine announces several changes at Big Finish, publishers of the official Doctor Who audio series. Alan Barnes("Neverland") will become the Doctor Who range's new story editor, both in the audios as well as the company's short fiction collections; Gary Russell will continue as producer, but with Ian Farrington (who has edited several of the company's anthologies) serving as assistant producer. Producer/directorNigel Fairs has also taken over several of the company's other ranges, including their "Sapphire and Steel" and "The Tomorrow People" series. Big Finish is currently licensed to continue their Doctor Who output until 2008 at the earliest.

Issue #365 of Doctor Who Magazine has more news of Series Two, including official confirmation that the episode being written by Stephen Fry and formerly scheduled as Episode 11 will now appear in Series Three; the writer of its replacement is confirmed as Matthew Graham, co-creator of "Life on Mars", which is about to begin transmission on BBC One. Graham's participation was first noted in a BBC press release in December which mentioned him as one of Series Two's writers. Russell T Davies explains to DWM that Fry's episode has been rescheduled because it fits better with his overall season outline and "to allow extra time to plan some of the FX and prosthetics". As with Series One, the eleventh episode was "left blank" in Davies' outline, and Graham's script was actually commissioned at the same time as Fry's, always with the possibility that it would appear in Series Two not Three, and its first draft was delivered on 20 September. The episode will be made as part of production block four, directed by Euros Lyn, with Mark Gatiss' ‘The Idiot's Lantern' (Episode 7).

Also, as well as confirming Nicholas Briggs return to the series for voicing of the Cybermen (which was previously announced here), DWM reveals that the Cybermen two-parter (Episodes 5 and 6, the first of which we've reported bears the title "Rise of the Cybermen") will feature Mona Hammond as Rita-Anne and Raji James as Dr Singh. Both actors are known to UK audiences for regular roles in EastEnders. Block Three -- Episodes 5 and 6 and/or two other episodes, which Outpost Gallifrey believes is the final two-parter, "Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday" -- will also featureHadley Fraser as Gareth, Oliver Mellor as Matt, Rachel Webster as Eileen, and Takako Akashi, Hajaz Akram, Maddi Cryer, Anthony Debaeck, Paul Fields, Kyoko Morita and Andrew Ufondu in unspecified roles.

Additionally, joining the cast of Block Three episodes is David Warwick, playing the Police Commissioner. Warwick is the latest actor from the classic Doctor Who series to return to the series in its new incarnation; Warwick played Kimus in Douglas Adams' 1978 serial "The Pirate Planet" starring Tom Baker, and later appeared in two audios for Big Finish, "The Harvest" starring Sylvester McCoy and "Gallifrey: A Blind Eye" featuring Lalla Ward and Warwick's real-life wife, former Doctor Who companion Louise Jameson (Leela). (Warwick will also appear, as Outpost Gallifrey readers will note, at next month's Gallifrey 2006 convention in Los Angeles alongside Jameson.)

For more details on these and other stories, pick up issue 365 of Doctor Who Magazine, now available on newsstands (and see the blurb about and cover of the issue in this news column below, dated January 3).

Warner Home Video has released the full cover illustration for the forthcoming North American release of The Beginning, the boxed set comprising the classic Doctor Who series' first three stories, "An Unearthly Child," "The Daleks" and "The Edge of Destruction". Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover. "The Beginning" is due out in the US and Canada on March 28, 2006 (and is available for pre-order at Amazon through the Outpost's affiliation if you'd like to help the site; see banner above.)

According to BBC News, both John Barrowman (Captain Jack from last season) and Bonnie Langford (Mel Bush from seasons 23 and 24) will be featured as contestants on "Dancing On Ice" which debuts on ITV1 on Saturday 14 January. Among the other contestants are former ice skating pair Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Stefan Booth of "The Bill," television presenter and executive Andi Peters, Coronation Street's Sean Wilson and GMTV's Andrea McLean.

The TV biz section of yesterday's The Sun leads on ITV launching a sci-fi offensive against Doctor Who, reporting that Patrick Stewart will star in the drama "Eleventh Hour" as a trouble-shooting professor defending the country. The story also mentions that the channel is to show Primaeval, which, according to The Sun, will see a scientist sent through time. Outpost Gallifrey has previously reported on Primaeval as ITV's response to Doctor Who. The new BBC3 series Torchwood, starring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness (incorrectly called "Harness" in the piece), is also mentioned. The Sun says it will start in the summer and states that Doctor Who returns in the spring.

Today's Manchester Online says that TV medium Derek Acorah has been cast in the new series. "Whether you believe in spiritualism or not, there is no doubting that Derek's programmes, including Most Haunted, The Antiques Ghost Show, The Three Mediums and, most recently, Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns, have brought great viewing success for satellite channel Living TV, attracting more than two million viewers a show. And, far from taking himself too seriously, Derek can laugh along with the best of them - he is scouse, after all. 'I've just filmed Dr Who,' he reveals. 'It's a bit of a mickey-take. The Doctor finds that spirits and ghosts have invaded the whole of the galaxy, so he gets me along to see what we can do about it. It's only a small part, but there's a bit of fun to it. I'm there saying, `I might as well go now, they're all out there and I can't do anything about them. I'm redundant!''"

icWales interviews artist Mike Collins, who "has been sharpening his pencils and starting from scratch to capture the face of the new doctor, David Tennant" in the pages of Doctor Who Magazine. "Fans of Doctor Who saw the first episode featuring the new Timelord on Christmas Day and this week the monthly Doctor Who Magazine features its first adventure using the face of Tennant. He replaces Christopher Eccleston, who lasted just one series, and who Mr Collins admits he was just getting used to capturing in cartoon form. 'I had just got to the stage when I could draw Christopher Eccleston quite comfortably,' said the Cardiff-based artist, who has three daughters. Mr Collins said he thought that Tennant made a great doctor, and thoroughly enjoyed his debut appearance on Christmas Day. 'It made for wonderful TV. I had got out of the habit of watching telly over Christmas but this time the whole family sat down. It was great, whether you were a sci-fi fan or not.' He promises more adventures for fans of Doctor Who in the new strip that features in the magazine. 'It is his first big adventure set on an alien world, and it follows on from the Christmas special.' But hinting at the adventures to come, Mr Collins added, 'There are no Daleks this time. We have managed to bring the new doctor to one of the older villains - from the Jon Pertwee era. That's all I am going to say. But drawing this villain for the first time has been an absolute joy for me. I am a big sci-fi fan so it is great to get paid for something I love doing. But David Tennant has a great face, and I had to get it right as he is a big fan and is going to read it.'"

According to the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, a 'one-off' performance of "A Dog's Life" in the studio Theatre of Epsom Playhouse will take place on March 25th at 7.45. Effectively 'an evening with' former Doctor Who actorJohn Leeson, who played the voice of K9 during the original series and in Big Finish and BBV's audio series, and has recently returned for the "School Reunion" episode of the forthcoming second season, the event will feature Leeson talking about his varied and often amusing career as an actor and, of course, his days behind the scenes on Doctor Who. More details on the Epsom Playhouse website.

Today's Daily Record featured some 'astrological predictions' for various celebrities, mentioning Billie Piper: "We all know she isn't going to be the Doctor's assistant for much longer, so what will this Virgo princess be up to in 2006? She may return to music or a project she shelved to take up the role of Rose in Doctor Who. But one thing is sure. She will have to give her choices some thought as illusion is all around her working life, especially early on in the year when promises made may not be promises kept. Love is best in February and could get serious very quickly - something she may be used to."

Today's Guardian notes that "Doctor Who" has come in first place in their poll of favourite television series of 2005. Other series on the list include "Lost" at #2, "Extras" at #3, "Spooks" at #5, "Battlestar Galactica" at #12 and David Tennant's "Casanova" at #18.

The BBC's official Doctor Who website has a few updates. The "Fear Forecasters" commentary for "The Christmas Invasion" has been updated; there's also a new 30-second snippet of Murray Gold's updated theme (for those who couldn't hear it over the announcer's voice during transmission!).

Yesterday's South Wales Evening Post mentioned the press screening of "The Christmas Invasion" back in December in a story about the holidays: "One major piece of pre-Christmas excitement for me, though, was going up to London to see the press screening of the Doctor Who Christmas special. Before this the highlight of my social calendar had been an afternoon at the Llandyfaelog agricultural show. So this was a pretty big deal for me. All the stars were there - David Tennant, Billie Piper and the legendary Russell T Davies. I sat and watched, amused as all those arty types hugged, kissed and called each other dahling - and that was just the fellas. When I got into the screening room I clocked the lovely, totally down-to-earth Edward Thomas from Swansea. He is the production designer for Doctor Who, and I had recently interviewed him for the paper. He invited me to go and sit with him which was a bit of a result as he was sitting one row back from the front. All the stars sat in the front row. I ended up sitting right behind Billie Piper - how exciting. Even more exciting, I had a quick chat with Russell T Davies after the screening. He was surrounded by people wanting to talk to him but said: 'I've always got time to speak to the Evening Post.' What a nice man and what a credit to Swansea."

The current issue (December 31 - "The Most Intriguing People of 2005") of Australia's WHO Magazine contains lists of the best and the worst TV, films, fashion etc for 2005. In the TV section the top ten best includes Doctor Who at number 8 and says "Having impressed in The Second Coming, Christopher Ecclestone [sic] gained more fans as the Doc-ster."

The Christmas edition of Time Out London (a weekly arts and entertainment magazine, although this one covered two weeks) featured artwork of David Tennant on the front cover and a spoof article inside by Russell T Davies. The 2 page article, titled "The Timelord [sic] is our shepherd" features the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack discussing some of the programmes on British TV over the Christmas break. There are 2 further pages of digital images of the 3 lead characters courtesy of David Angel.

Other items: Mirror insists that Billie Piper "hid inside her favourite parka near her North London home (or was she just doing her impression of South Park's Kenny?)" in a story about actors who have been sighted wearing furs, contrary to movement against the fur industry; the Mirror and theIndependent note Christopher Eccleston's turn in "The School of Night" (see earlier stories); RTE mentions the new ITV bid to unseat Doctor Who courtesy Ant and Dec (aka "the guys who lost out big time to Doctor Who already last year"); DigitalSpy mentions John Barrowman's forthcoming civil partnership.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Peter Weaver, John Bowman, Peter Anghelides, Neil Matthews, Nick Seidler, Cameron Yarde Jr, Murray Harper)

Australia is about to lose the classic series. As Outpost Gallifrey has learned, the show will complete its run on Australia's ABC TV in a few weeks. The broadcasts on ABC started with "An Unearthly Child" (September 2003) and conclude with "Survival" (February 2006). We should have more about this story in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Canada has a second Doctor Who outlet: the first season of the new series (or at least, "Rose") has appeared on Quebec's Z-Tele network, according to their website. It's unclear if it's been dubbed or is merely subtitled.

Update: According to Ztele's website, the episodes are dubbed and they're showing at least the first three, "Rose," "The End of the World (La Fin Du Monde)" and "The Unquiet Dead (Des Morts Inassouvis)" during several airings each in January. The French language trailer is located here.

(Thanks to Craig Wellington, Sean McGuire, Benjamin Elliott, Doug A Scott)

The publishers of the 1990's magazine "Sci-Fi and Fantasy Models" return this month with a new book, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Modeller, a new 100-page colour softcover book dealing with sci-fi and fantasy themed modelling techniques, from commercially available kits to 'garage' subjects, scratchbuilt models to studio-scale replicas. Mike Tucker, whose model and effects work includes the final years of the classic series and both seasons of the new show, has written a detailed account of the making and filming of the miniature FX for the first season of the new Doctor Who series (accompanied by many rare colour photographs); there's also a look at the history of the Dalek props on television including details of how they were made and modified during the original series' run. The book is published on January 21 and is available through comic stores served by Diamond Distributors in the UK and US as well as on their website. (Thanks to Michael Reccia)

Actor Joseph Furst passed away at the end of November, according to news from the Doctor Who Restoration Team today. Furst was born in 1910 and had a widely varied career that included both television and film, including appearances on "The Saint," "The Champions," "Doomwatch" and "The Persuaders," but is best known to Doctor Who fans as the mad Professor Zaroff, the villain of the Patrick Troughton serial "The Underwater Menace".

Update: the Sydney Morning Herald recently ran a death notice for Mr. Furst, noting that he'd recently resided in Bateau Bay, Australia, and that services were held on Friday 2 December.

(Thanks to Steve Roberts & Greg Miller)

The final BARB ratings (Broadcasters Audience Research Board) have been released for the Children in Need special that aired last November. The ratings show that the quarter-hour that featured the Children in Need mini-episode gained 10.8m viewers, the highest Doctor Who-related audience since the first broadcast of "Rose" in March. The previous fifteen-minute segment of CiN had 10.1m viewers and the subsequent fifteen minutes saw a drop back down to 10.0m. Note that, as with the overnight ratings previously reported on Outpost Gallifrey, it remains difficult to be exact, since viewers in Scotland saw the special a few minutes later than the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, according to overnight ratings provided by ViewingFigures, 501,700 viewers (2.7% audience share) tuned in for BBC3's repeat of The Christmas Invasion on New Years Day. Though it wasn't in the top ten for the week on the non-terrestrial channels (beaten by episodes of The Simpsons and Little Britain among others), it ranks at or slightly below average from the second-run BBC3 repeats from series one... the difference being that it achieved this score on a holiday. BARB ratings are due very shortly for the original Christmas Day broadcast of "The Christmas Invasion".

Finally, the initial Audience Appreciation Index (AI) figure for "The Christmas Invasion" has now been reported at 84. The figure will likely change for the 'final' version (the final figure usually released two months or so after broadcast, after all figures are taken into account) but the initial version was the second-highest AI ranking on Christmas Day, beaten only by ITV's broadcast of "Creature Comforts". (Thanks to Steve Tribe, Keith Topping)