Journalist Matthew Sweet penned an article on the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who for the Independent on November 16, which has only now been made available to readers online. Click here to read the article. Very importantly, the article mentions the return of the series with some interesting information: "There'll be at least one important difference, though, between the programme's 20th and 21st-century incarnations," Sweet writes. "The new Doctor Who will be one of the BBC's flagship programmes. [Producer Russell T.] Davies and his co-conspirator, Mal Young, Controller of Continuing Drama Series, have secured a commitment to five series of 13, 45-minute episodes. They'll be able to afford an expensive actor for the lead role. They'll get billboard ads, Radio Times covers and publicity spots across the media. The original programme rarely enjoyed such security." The article then goes on to mention that "Russell T Davies has his first production meeting on 8 December." While we have no idea how definite any of this information is, it certainly breeds speculation that the BBC is fully committing itself to the production, and that good times may indeed be ahead.

LibDem MP Bob Russell today said in the House of Commons that he was "delighted" Doctor Who is coming back, referring to its past success and contribution to the British economy. (Thanks to Ian Wheeler)

Rob Dunlop of Argolis Productions contacted Outpost Gallifrey to let us know that the charity audio CD production of The Nightmare Fair released earlier this year to raise money for Sense (a deaf-blindness and associated disability organization) -- chosen by former Doctor Who script editor Anthony Read -- raised ú403 for this worthy cause. Copies are still available at www.argolis.co.uk. (Thanks to Rob Dunlop)

UKGold will be broadcasting their "Doctor Who @40 Weekend" from 7am to 7pm on both Nvoember 22 and 23, according to Radio Times. There don't seem to be any specific time slots for the programming, but Sky's customer magazine apparently states the weekend starts at 9.00am, so it's safe to presume the ongoing omnibus repeats will be running Saturday and Sunday mornings. Meanwhile, the BBC 4 channel will be rebroadcasting the "Alchemists of Sound" TV documentary on November 23 at 7pm. The issue of Radio Times published this week has a small (text only) plug for their forthcoming 16-page anniversary supplement due out next week, mentioning exclusive interviews and photos. Finally, the TV guide section of The Observer, OTV, yesterday included "The Scream of the Shalka" in its pick of the day selection for Thursday's TV, complete with the postcard image of the animated Doctor (played by Richard E. Grant) and the slightly odd implication that BBCi can be watched on satellite. (Thanks to Phillip Madeley, Steve Tribe)

Comic and SF author Neil Gaiman, on his online blog today, posted a response to a question, which was "Russel T. Davies has suggested that the first season of new Doctor Who episodes will include 13 episodes at 45 minutes apiece. Any chance you would write an episode if asked?" Gaiman's answer: "If I have time, certainly. (It took five years to find time to write a Babylon 5 episode, of course...)" Gaiman recently penned the foreword for the forthcoming Telos Doctor Who novella "Eye of the Tyger" so he's obviously very familiar with the show... (Thanks to Steve Manfred)

The Scottish Sunday Herald newspaper featured four articles on Doctor Who in the November 9 edition, just in time for the anniversary. You can read them online as well... Included were "Forty Years of Time Travel" by BBC Books range editor Justin Richards (here), an article on fandom & the recent Panopticon called "A Strange Meeting with the Fans" by Katy McAulay (here), a feature interview with Sylvester McCoy called "How a Scot Breathed Life Back Into the Doctor" by Louise Bell (here), and "Animated Personality" by Edd McCracken, on BBCi's upcoming webcast (here). (Thanks to Scott Wortley, Neil Smith)

A new press release from BBC Worldwide discusses branding and licensing issues for several of their products in 2004, including Doctor Who. "One of the BBC's best-loved cult sci-fi programs last seen on British TV in 1989," says the release, "Doctor Who celebrates its 40th Anniversary in November 2003. There continues to be a huge market for Doctor Who-related products and merchandise; already during the anniversary year, BBC Video and DVD total sales passed the three million mark. BBC Audio Books has sold more than 250,000 audios across 42 titles and BBC Books will have published over 100 original Doctor Who novels making the series the largest ever book range built around a single principal character. To commemorate Dr Who's 40th anniversary, BBC Worldwide has developed an anniversary logo for use on all related merchandise along with a style guide. BBC Worldwide is looking to work with licensees to develop a range of Doctor Who merchandise to complement the comprehensive range of published products in audio, book, video/DVD, magazine, music and internet form launching throughout 2003 and beyond." Of course, that anniversary logo they mention is the same one you can find on a number of products... and even here at Outpost Gallifrey, on the very top of this page. In a totally different press release, Ashley Highfield, Director of BBC New Media & Technology, gave a speech at Westminster Media Forum on the Department for Culture, Media & Sport review of BBC online services, where the show was mentioned: "Take Dr Who, for example, where we have developed an animated series using never-before-broadcast radio scripts from the likes of the late Douglas Adams. These have kept the Doctor alive for quarter of a million die-hard fans who will finally be rewarded when Dr Who returns to BBC ONE." (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

More of the same... today's Daily Mirror features a sidebar article that says that Eastenders actor Shane Richie is one of the candidates to be the next Doctor. We've provided the article which you can read by clicking the thumbnail at right... but of course this is likely just more from the publicity mill. (Thanks to Gallifrey 5)

A new article in tomorrow's The Independent in the UK picks "The A-Team," the cult 1980's television series, as the show they most want returned to the airwaves. "Doctor Who" came in ninth place with a mere 1% of the vote... falling behind such "classics" as "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Knight Rider," "Dallas" and "Miami Vice" (just who were they talking to, anyway?) but, of course, the numbers could be skewed because ... Doctor Who's already scheduled to return! Read the article here. (Thanks to Andrew Harvey)

According to a report on BBC News, the Daleks, sworn enemies of eccentric timelord Doctor Who, have been voted the most evil villains on TV. Footballers' Wives' Jason Turner (Cristian Solimeno) came in second place, Soames Forsyte (Eric Porter) in the 1960s version of The Forsyte Saga took third place, and rounding out the top five were Jewel in the Crown's Ronald Merrick and House of Cards' Francis Urquhart. More than 3,000 GMTV voters took part in the poll, which also voted best TV Drama ("Cracker"), top TV detective (Inspector Morse) and many others.