Says the BBC's official press release, "No budget has been set for the new series; the number of episodes and their duration is under discussion. It will be a family show, but no details are available as to when it will be scheduled." Outpost Gallifrey has reason to believe that the six episode quote from the Telegraph article may be incorrect, and the number of episodes may even eventually be higher than that. We'll keep you posted.

Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC-1, has again expressed her wish to bring back Doctor Who on Saturday evenings, but still insists that there are rights issues preventing such, despite word from the BBC Rights Office (which was noted in a story on BBCi that we mentioned a few days ago). In an article that primarily discussed other BBC programming including the talent show "Fame Academy," Heggessey mentions that the "complex situation surrounding the rights to the small screen character could scupper his return." Says Heggessey, "I would like to resurrect Dr Who but the rights situation is too complicated to do that at the moment. Maybe that will happen one day... Saturday night is still a very special night whether you stay in or go out." The "Doctor Who Initiative," the article says, "is part of Ms Heggessey's plan to overhaul BBC1's Saturday night schedule with more drama, comedy and location-based shows: 'You want to feel like you are having a good time, and if you don't you blame the telly,' she added." The article appeared in the Guardian newspaper and has been widely reprinted.

The BBC Rights Group has commented to BBCi about the current state of affairs regarding the rights to produce a new series of Doctor Who. Speculation has existed over the past two years that the show's rights were signed away (at least partially) during the making of the 1996 movie; now Worldwide insists they hold full rights to the trademark internationally, though of course individual writers from the show retain rights to various characters they created. "Nothing is standing in the way of the BBC making a new TV series, but, as far as we know, there is currently no movement to do so," says the statement... which leads Outpost Gallifrey to once again challenge the BBC on its indecision to do so during the programme's 40th anniversary year! "The BBC is developing a film," it goes on, "but it should be stressed the project is still in its very early stages" (which of course, it has been doing since 1989). (Thanks to BBCi)

The newest issue of SFX Magazine has more details about the forthcoming animated adventure "The Scream of the Shalka" starring Richard E. Grant as the new Ninth Doctor. The story of "Shalka" concerns about a town in Lancashire under siege by mysterious forces. As noted prior, there are no continuity references, except for the Doctor and his TARDIS, though it's been quite a while since the last time we saw the Eighth Doctor... some big things have happened in the meanwhile, which we'll find out about as we travel with this incarnation. The ninth Doctor is said to be impatient, a bit angry with humans, but caring and passionate, bitingly witty, vulnerable, brittle and a bit of a snob. While SFX mentions the new companion Alison Cheneym (Sophie Okonedo), Outpost Gallifrey has been told she's the the Doctor's companion in much the same way that Grace was around for the TV movie (or Spandrell was the companion for "The Deadly Assassin"... only "she's prettier than Spandrell, and less keen on the kissing than Grace.") The Doctor's new military liaison Thomas Kennett is played by Irish actor Jim Norton, among whose many roles are appearances in "Father Ted," "Red Dwarf," "Babylon 5" and as Albert Einstein in "Star Trek: The Next Generation". As noted prior, Derek Jacobi is in it, in the following role (protected by spoilers; use your mouse cursor to highlight the following text): Jacobi plays the Master, though OG has been led to believe that it's only a cameo appearance and not a Doctor v. Master face-off like in the TV movie. The animated serial was recorded in mid-June at the BBC facilities at Shepherd's Bush and is directed by stage director Wilson Milam. The Cosgrove Hall company -- responsible for animating "Dangermouse" and "Count Duckula" -- are the animators, and are said to be using the actors' likenesses in a "rich, gothic style". (Thanks to Neil Billinness, Mark Donovan, John Meier)

Doctor Who is indeed returning for the show's 40th anniversary, in a special new six-part audio webcast on BBCi. Following in the footsteps of the earlier animated webcasts "Death Comes to Time," "Real Time" and "Shada," the fourth webcast (still untitled) is written by Paul Cornell ("The Shadows of Avalon") and will star none other than popular British actor Richard E. Grant(who also played one of the future Doctors in the charity special "The Curse of Fatal Death"). Grant describes his interpretation as "something of a 'Sherlock Holmes in Space.'"

Cornell, posting on the Outpost Gallifrey forum, had this to say about the project: "This is the start of everything again, not the end. Don't be scared. The Ninth Doctor is Richard E. Grant, fully animated... fully animated, not Shada animated... Batmanlike rather than Shadalike. With a new companion, a new military liaison, new monsters, and a vastly starry cast!" Cornell says that "if the response is good enough, then there'll be more. (And listen: you *never know* where this could end up.)" Cornell goes on to confirm that this is indeed the official, BBC made and sanctioned Ninth Doctor, approved by all the requisite parts of the BBC that needed input on this. "Traditional but original is what we're going for," says Cornell. "Very Hinchcliffe/Dicks, but with no previously used elements and only a tiny smidge of continuity. This story starts after the Ninth Doctor's been in the job for several years. And quite a lot has happened to him. So there's room for all continuities to resolve themselves. And BBC Books has made a positive response, and are talking about stuff."

Apparently the story will completely disregard "Curse of Fatal Death" (this Ninth Doctor isn't Grant's Doctor in that charity satire.) Cornell says he is "honoured to have the chance to set the Doctor off on another forty years of adventures," said Paul. "Just wait until you hear Richard! He is the Doctor!" The story is set to debut in mid-November, in time to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary. (Thanks to BBCi and Paul Cornell)

BBC 1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey has gone on record about the future of Doctor Who in a letter to controller Ian Wheeler of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society. In the letter, published in the new issue of DWAS' periodicalCelestial Toyroom, Heggessey says, "Dr. Who is a classic BBC format, beloved by millions, myself included! If there was a refreshing, affordable treatment for a new series avilable and we could navigate ourselves around some potentially troublesome rights' issue, then I would consider reviving the series. It's only a wish, there is nothing substantial to back things up so I don't want to raise false hopes with die-hard fans! Suffice to say that Dr Who has its fans among my commisioning team, most of whom spent the 70s behind the sofa on Saturday evenings too!" Wheeler tells Outpost Gallifrey, "I think Lorraine Heggessey's honesty is refreshing. It means we can enjoy the anniversary without worrying about whether there will or will not be a new series this year." In addition to the exclusive with Heggessey, the new CT features an interview with Paul McGann. (Thanks to Ian Wheeler/DWAS)

The gang behind the League of Gentlemen, including actor and Doctor Who author Mark Gatiss, has debunked the article run over the weekend in the Sunday edition of the Mirror newspaper, which stated that they were about to be in charge of a new series of Doctor Who. "The...article about the Gents being the next Dr Who was taken from The Sunday Mirror and the Chortle web site," says the League of Gentlemen website. "Unfortunately I have had it confirmed from the League's management that this is not so. The official comment is...'Sadly no foundation in this rumour at all' - so there you go, don't always believe everything you read in the newspapers!" (Thanks to Stuart Douglas)