Outpost Gallifrey has learned that a press announcement confirming the casting of the Doctor for the new TV series is due on Saturday morning in the UK. Several news flashes on UK late-evening news programs have hinted that a press call is imminent, but word is leaking that the Daily Mirror will have a full-page press announcement on Saturday morning. Outpost Gallifrey will keep you posted all evening on the officialconfirmation of a new Doctor!

Update 2355 GMT: The UK Daily Mirror has apparently announced Christopher Eccleston and the Daily Mail has apparently noted that it's Bill Nighy. Could it be one or the other? Or perhaps a different actor entirely? At right is the Daily Mirror cover with the note about "Cracker Chris" referring to Eccleston being cast. (Thanks to "barryum," "DistantDave")

Further to the news story that ran in the Western Mail, reported on OG on March 13, the entire article is now online at the Doctor Who Appreciation Society website, which has a slightly different take on the whole thing than was given in the Mail. (Thanks to Chuck Foster)

An article about the new series appeared in the March 13 issue of the Western Mail (on page 13), a Welsh publication. The article, written by Sara Naylor, is a brief introduction to the new series; it begins by highlighting the fact that Russell T. Davies is Welsh, an that the new series will be produced by BBC Wales, before listing the other writers who will be working with RTD. Davies mentions that believes that he has carte blanche with the new series, and that things must change, and his attitude is (perhaps rightly) if the purists don't like it, tough. This attitude is supported by Tom Baker, who says that if the show does not change, then the BBC might as well only advertise its DVD releases. This is followed by a quote from a DWAS representative Antony Wainer who says that fans give a positive reaction to the new series and are delighted with the quality of the writers working on the revival. Wainer then goes on to say that the fans are expecting something new and surprising, but would draw the line at a woman being cast.

Tom Baker's suggestion that Eddie Izzard should be the next Doctor is given a brief mention before the article moves into a discussion of who the new Doctor should be. The name that tops the list is Bill Nighy, followed by Robert Lindsey and Paul Bettany (Master and Commander: Far Side of he World). Another quote from Mr. Wainer suggests that Bill Nighy has been cast and the reason for the delay in announcing him is that the BBC is negotiating with the producers of the upcoming "HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy" movie, regarding Nighy's schedule, so that he will be able to film the movie and the new "Doctor Who" series at the same time (though this might simply be idle wishes, as we have not been given any confirmation that Nighy is taking the part, and indeed have heard quite the opposite.)

It is then followed by a series of quotes from Paul Murphy, editor of TV Quick magazine. Mr Murphy believes that there are bound to be some complaints about from people who are disappointed that the series is not exactly as they would have done it. Murphy says if they should have "got off their backsides and do something about it", citing Mark Gatiss, a life long fan who has worked himself into a position in the industry to actually work on the new series. Mr Murphy says that the fans have a lot to look forward to, but warns RTD against any hanky panky in the TARDIS. The article ends with a quick plug for the DWAS.

Accompanying the article is a large photo of the TARDIS dematerialising, a photo of Russell T. Davies, Eddie Izzard, Bill Nighy (from "Love, Actually") and a Dalek. Also there is a side article listing a number of famous Doctor Who monsters and another sub article listing the Seven TV Doctors. Interestingly, Paul McGann is listed in the same section as Peter Cushing and the "Doctors" from "The Curse of the Fatal Death". (Thanks to John Campbell Rees

An article in today's Sunday Times by Ben Dowell, entitled "Drop the dead Daleks, it's Dr Who the sex machine", has caused some raised eyebrows. Dowell argues that, under the stewardship of Russell T. Davies, the Doctor is "likely to lose his ascetic character." "I have a philosophy ù I can do what I want. If we can think of the perfect story for him to fall in love then he will," Davies told the Times. "The purists may be up in arms, but there are more things to worry about in life. There is no pure Dr Who. He is 41 years old ù it is the only way to do it, to change." The article mentions that the signature look of the Doctor (the "frilly, flamboyant image usually topped off with an eccentric old-fashioned coat") would probably change, and suggests two names for the role -- Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard -- that have been mentioned since the week the new series was first announced. It also goes into a bit of detail about companion Rose Tyler ("a feisty young woman who talks to the Doctor about Dirty Den and the plot of EastEnders... [who] engages in flirty sexual banter with him and talks about her sex life with her boyfriend"), and notes that it's possible that the neither the Daleks (which are caught up in legal issues with Terry Nation's estate) nor the signature theme tune (the BBC isn't sure yet) will be used, and even mentions a possibly storyline for the first episode ("likely to be shop dummies... [who] will launch an attempt to conquer the world by terrorising a London housing estate"... which does lend more credence to the recent rumors that the Autons will likely be making a return appearance (perhaps a bridge to the past?) But the TARDIS will be back as a blue police box, and Davies says he hopes to bring back K-9. "The series, to be screened later this year on BBC1," it goes on, "will consist of episodes longer than they used to be. They will be self-contained, rather than cliffhangers to be resolved the following week." But then the article mentions the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, the long-time UK-based fan group, which refers to them as the Doctor's "greatest foe". "I have met Russell and I am a huge fan of him and his writing. But I am very cautious about this," the article quotes David Bickerstaff of DWAS. "Time lords donÆt have sex at all. We donÆt even know how they reproduce ù it could be a matrix on Gallifrey (the doctorÆs home planet), it could be chemical, we just donÆt know." The article also quotes Colin Baker as saying "Never pay attention to what the fans say. You have to appeal to a new audience." But he agrees about the love thing. "Love is a human emotion and the doctor isnÆt human," says Baker. "We were always told there is one golden rule: no hanky-panky in the Tardis."
     It should be noted that, after the publication of the article, Ian Wheeler of DWAS contacted Outpost Gallifrey to ask us to note the following: "The article says that DWAS could be 'the doctor's greatest foe' because we are a 'group of fans who adhere to the character's original persona'," says Wheeler. "Both of these things are untrue - we support Doctor Who in all its forms and are very supportive of the new series. In addition, my DWAS colleague, David Bickerstaff, has been misquoted in the article. For example, it says that he claims to have met Russell Davies when he did in fact say no such thing." Wheeler has written to the Sunday Times to correct the misrepresentation of the DWAS. In the meanwhile, it should be noted that fans this morning are questioning the comments made, as some of them seem to be based on older information (Nighy, K-9, Izzard) and may not be representative of the producers' intentions. (Thanks to Ian Wheeler, David Blane, Andrew Harvey)

Jon Culshaw (of "Dead Ringers" fame) and Bill Nighy will be appearing on the BBC1 talk show Parkinson on March 13... perhaps a mention of the upcoming show is in order? (Thanks to Craig Potter)

Novelist Sarah Waters mentioned on today's Book Club on BBC Radio 4 that she was "a childhood fan" of Doctor Who, and her early reading was mainly Target novelisations! (Thanks to Scott Wortley)

Several reactions on today's article in the Sunday Times have come in. Colin Baker, speaking at the "Doctor Who and the Daleks" convention this weekend, said that the writer had misinterpreted his comments. According to Baker, what he said was that the new series should not be made solely to appeal to existing fans; however, he mentioned that the journalist's opening comments were akin to "Looks like the Doctor's going to be gay in this new series, doesn't it?" David Bickerstaff of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, who was quoted in the piece, told participants of the Outpost Gallifrey forum today, "I now open the pages of The Sunday Times to find me being mis-quoted. The Doctor Who appreciation society is committed to promoting and enthusing, we are definately NOT the 'new foes', and I have every faith in Russell and his team. In fact I don't know where the reporter got the impression that DWAS was opposed to the new production team, I did nothing but sing their praises." (Thanks to Angus Kidman, David Bickerstaff)

Several (likely erroneous) reports online have insinuated that magician Paul Daniels will be the next Doctor. Says an article at people.co.uk, "TV chiefs have already talked to Daniels, 65, famous for his catchphrase 'You'll like it; not a lot, but you'll like it.' A source said: 'Paul may seem an extraordinary choice, but he would make a very entertaining Time Lord. He may even be able to use his magic to defeat enemies like the Daleks and Cybermen.'" The article also mentions the names Shane Richie, Stephen Fry and Eddie Izzard. As usual, we'd advise you to take this with a grain of salt.

Friday's Daily Express (UK) features an interview with Anthony Stewart Head, who makes note of the recent attention pegging him as a possible new Doctor. "I suppose I might be consider because of my sci-fi status," Head says. "If I did get the part I'd like to take him back to the kind of character that was played by Patrick Troughton. He was the best. He had whimsy but he had a dark side, too, and I think that the subsequent Dr Who's, there was too much emphasis on whimsy." The article makes note that he was picked the favorite successor by Radio Times. (Thanks to Mike Pitt)

According to the BBC Press Office, on a press release on their website, the forthcoming anniversary documentary The Story of Doctor Who will air on Tuesday, December 30 at 6:30pm on BBC1. Check your local listings closer to the event. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)