While the UK, Canada and New Zealand count down until their broadcasts of the new Doctor Who series, there's still no final confirmation from an Australian broadcaster but that is expected to be announced soon. Meanwhile, the BBC Prime satellite network, carried in Europe, Asia and Africa, has announced on its FAQ page that it will not be carrying the show, nor any reruns of classic episodes. And while there's no confirmation of this whatsoever, Outpost Gallifrey has been told by a source to be on the lookout for some sort of possible announcement about an American broadcaster in early April -- could there be hope on the horizon for the US? Stay tuned! (Thanks to John Wilkins for the BBC Prime info)

The newest issue of Digit Magazine, a 3D Design magazine, has a Doctor Who front cover; emblazoned on the front is the Tardis from the new series. Inside is an in depth review of the special effects for the new series by The Mill. There are several stills from the teaser trailer and a photograph of a spider like CGI creature. There are also descriptions of several other creature designs from the new series including the character played by Zoe Wanamaker in episode 2. They quote that there are 1000 effects in the new series, 200 alone in episode two. (Thanks to Martin Asquith)

We've removed the covers posted today regarding new Doctor Who children's books as seen on Amazon. BBC Worldwide have contacted us to let us know that these were simply potential concepts that were accidentally sent to Amazon, and do not represent Penguin Books' actual schedule or cover illustrations for any potential book items, so we've removed them. As soon as we have more concrete information, we'll give you an update.

The Times ran a front page story on Thursday morning on Doctor Who, mostly the same information as in our previous report quoting Christopher Eccleston about his Doctor's accent. Eccleston said of the original series that he "found the character of the Doctor 'too authoritarian' and tried to avoid watching it." On the cover of the Times is an image marked in our spoilers tag below.

BBC Breakfast featured a very lengthy series of installments on the show, including some footage from the press launch (in which DWM editor Clayton Hickman was quoted as saying, "If the kids don't like that, then the kids don't deserve to have any television ever shown to them again!") and extended interviews with Eccleston and Billie Piper. BBC News' Newsnight program this evening (Wednesday 9 March) featured a report on the return of the series. Host Stephen Smith arrived in a TARDIS, sat behind the sofa and introduced a montage of clips, including scenes from the show, interview clips with news media people and children who haven't a clue what "Doctor Who" actually is. The new series also appeared on an edition of Newsround with several clips from the first episode of the new series and brief interview clips with Eccleston and Piper.

SFX Magazine now has a review of the first episode to go along with the spoilers we mentioned to you that were on their site in the last press clips report. Check out the review, and read that article about their coverage of the press launch. Meanwhile, you can find those spoilers under our spoilers tag below.

Today's The Sun has an article with huge SPOILERS from what we believe is the second episode (called "The End of the World") about several new aliens. We've listed them in the spoilers tag below; note that this is pretty extensive and the article features photos (which we haven't reproduced but you can see them on the Sun site.)

BellaOnline today ran an article "Doctor Who 101ùA Newbie Viewing Guide to the Classic Series" which takes a lighthearted look at the original series in preparation for the new. A very amusing line in its Trivia section: "The special effects were bad even in their own day, thanks to a virtually non-existent budget. Imagine, if you will, creating a green lumpy monster by wrapping someone with green-painted bubble wrap. They did that. Yes, this show was famous for its cheesy effects."

The Guardian features a story, "Why can't Daleks go up stairs?" which discusses the peril of the classic monsters and how they've been updated for the new series. "As terrifying as Dr Who's arch enemies might have seemed, the fact that they could be outwitted by a simple staircase made them a shade less menacing. It's a design fault that has been rectified in the new BBC television series, due to begin at Easter."

The leak of the first episode was mentioned on American public radio network NPR's show Talk of the Nation hosted by Neal Conan, during a story called "Movies, Technology and the Future of Viewing". Conan mentioned the first episode and that downloaders "must feel that it's pretty cool to see the new Doctor Who three weeks before the BBC airs it," although the story itself was about the transformation of media and the new digital age. Also, a Reuters story on the Rose leak was on the front page of Yahoo (USA Yahoo, not UK Yahoo) for a while today... obviously, though America doesn't yet have a broadcast deal, it's still in the American consciousness.

The CBC Television network in Canada now has its own website for its broadcast of the new series. Meanwhile, on Thursday March 10th at 9:15am (EST) CBC Newsworld will be airing a feature on the leaking of the first episode of the new Doctor Who series. CBC's Allison Smith will be interviewing Canadian fan and DWIN member Rod Mammitzsch about the new series of Doctor Who, and the recent leak of the first episode onto the internet.

Today's Daily Record features an interview with Jimmy Vee, the 3'8" actor who plays a role in the new series. We've fully protected this information with our spoilers tag; read it below.

AND FINALLY... Over the past several days it's been a whirlwind keeping up with all the press clips, so I'd like to thank and credit the following people who have been providing updates, news and information: the incomparable Paul Engelberg and Steve Tribe, without whom this couldn't possibly happen; plus Paul Hayes, Malcolm Prince, John Ryan, John Molyneux, Steve Roberts, Paul Vanezis, Chuck Foster, Graeme Burk, Mike Doran, Rowan Bridge, Matt Chayt, David Baker, Darin Patea, Andrew Harvey, Richard Dinnick, Matthew Godley, Nick Johnson, Shannon Patrick Sullivan, Assad Khaishgi, Ian Beard, Richard Carletta, Michael S. Lucart, Kevin Elhart, James Crout, Simon Howe, Kenny Davidson, Ryan Piekenbrock, and Benjamin Elliott.

The new issue of SFX, (in the shops from Thursday 17 March) features Billie Piper on the cover, and includes another 8-page feature on the new series. As well as more of in-depth chat with Russell T Davies, the feature also includes interviews with the following: writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat; production designer Edward Thomas; the team from The Mill (CGI effects), and Neill Gorton (monster prosthetics). One little teaser for you: prepare to learn about Dalek graffiti... The feature is illustrated with stills from "Rose" and "The End Of The World," including a close-up of the TARDIS console, spread over two pages. The issue also comes up with a free A1 poster of the new Doctor Who art by Chris Achilleos that was used in the previous issue.

Interestingly, the Guardian has posted a second and far more upbeat review of the new series, perhaps suddenly realizing theirs was the only negative review... and including quotes from some of the people who attended the press launch. "They've kept the feeling of the show. It's still Doctor Who and I think Christopher Eccleston is very good," former script editor Terrance Dicks is quoted as saying. "I'm so pleased. The last Who, I hated it. It was aimed at the mid-Atlantic; I've always said it should be made in England. They've kept the feeling of the show. I think Christopher Eccleston is very good. There's a gap in the market for something both good and popular. There's stuff that's critically acclaimed and stuff that's popular, like reality TV. But this does both." Says Barry Letts, the producer of the series during the Jon Pertwee era, "I was desperate for it to work and it has. Russell T Davies said what he was doing was carrying on the torch from our time. He's a big fan. It's a relay race, you stagger on for so many years, then pass the baton on when you're exhausted. They've managed to give a few nods to the past, which the old Doctor Who fans will appreciate, without making it confusing for anybody coming to it fresh. They've done a brilliant job of updating it." And Tom Spilsbury, deputy editor of DWM, notes that he "really enjoyed it. Chris and Billie were great. It was great to see everyone else enjoying it. They laughed at the funny bits and were scared by the scary bits. It bodes very well for the series. I think kids will love it. It's exactly the sort of thing I fell in love with as a child. Christopher Eccleston still feels like a Doctor Who. He'll be looked back on by kids in 20 years' time as their doctor."

The Guardian's Media Monkey column posted some quips regarding the press launch, including the following. "BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey was very much the regal Time Lady at the launch of Doctor Who - and deservedly so. Monkey is sure the series will be a huge smash for a Saturday teatime audience, and probably be the crowning glory of Heggessey's reign at BBC1 - she certainly had to battle for years to get it on air. Heggessey showed she could mix it with rabid Whovians in an impeccably pitched speech to the audience gathered in a Cardiff hotel last night. After a little bit of Welsh, she won over fans by quoting from no less than the good Doctor in an episode from way back in 1964 after he had defeated the dalek invasion of London. ... As many know, Lorraine Heggessey is shortly to give up her BBC1 post and regenerate into the chief executive of Talkback Thames. But will one of her last BBC1 acts be to recommission Doctor Who for a second series? Many in the commercial arm of the BBC certainly hope so and executive producer Russell T Davies attested last night that he had already worked out the storylines. When Monkey put the question, all the great lady could offer was a enigmatic, Gallifreyan-style smile." Regarding any possible unflattering articles or reviews: "it may well be due to the fact that many hacks were exhausted after returning to London via an uncomfortable coach that took three hours to reach London from Cardiff. One reporter was overheard asking if it had really been worth it as he hunted for a cab in the vicinity of Baker Street station at 2am." Also noted were some of the guests that turned up: "Matt Lucas, from Little Britain, Charlotte Church and Robson Green. But one unexpected attendee was Beryl Vertue, the stately executive producer of the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Vertue told Monkey that her son in law, Steven Moffat, had written two episodes of the new Doctor Who series and was currently in Australia and desperate for a report about the launch and first episode. Vertue then revealed that in the 1960s she has been the agent of Who legend and daleks' creator Terry Nation when he had negotiated his copyright agreement with the BBC, the one that caused the BBC all that trouble last year when Nation's estate refused to allow the metallic monsters into the new series. Everyone was all smiles last night, but there must have been times over the last year when the BBC wished it had driven a harder bargain back in 1963."

BBC News today collected several of the various news stories seen in today's papers in an article entitled "Papers feature Dr Who's monsters". (We spend all this time collecting and collating a couple of hundred stories in a couple of days, and then BBC News goes and does the job for us!)

Richard Wilson, who plays the role of Dr. Constantine in the two-parter written by Steven Moffat, was interviewed byManchester Online regarding the upcoming Red Nose Day charity event. Says the article: "During the launch, he spent a morning chatting with a group of teenagers there who suffer from a variety of stress and anxiety disorders, and gave them an insight into his imminent appearance on our screens again - this time in Dr Who. 'I play a doctor in an episode set in the Second World War and am in two episodes. I was excited when I was approached to play a part and as soon as I read the script for the episodes they wanted me to feature in I made my mind up that I wanted the role. As well as the kudos of starring in Dr Who, it was also good to play alongside Christopher Eccleston, because although I know him socially I'd never had the opportunity to work with him until now. He's made a very good Dr Who and has brought a fresh touch to the role.'"

Also in today's Manchester Online: a feature with several new comments. "I'd like to see an episode set in Salford in the sixties," Christopher Eccleston says, referring to his home town, and noting his northern accent. "It's good that we say to kids: `Actually people who sound like this can also be heroic and very intelligent.' It's a good message to send." On whether he's prepared for the role and to be identified with it: "The death scene in Cracker has been that for me. But I intend to keep busy and keep doing very different things. If people remember me just for this - I'd be happy to be remembered." Bruno Langley, who plays Adam in at least one episode (the reprot notes he's in two, as Outpost Gallifrey has always maintained), notes that he had nightmares about being chased by Daleks. But he says it was a price worth paying: "It's probably one of the biggest gags in the series. I was very privileged to be given that line," referring to the term "Elevate!" when the Daleks fly. The report also suggests that "a second series is already in development, although Eccleston is undecided about whether he'll return to the role."

Sky Showbiz today quotes Billie Piper, in terms of how co-star Christopher Eccleston helped her "get over her broken marriage." "Christopher and I have shared a lot during the past eight months. We had heavy schedules and personal lives and we're joined at the hip. ... We get on famously. It was instant - it just worked straight away. ... Me and Chris had a great time while we were together and that's all that concerns me. We're best buddies and always will be." The story was also picked up on Ananova

Today's Steve Wright show on Radio 2 at 3:25pm featured a radio trailer for the series, which starts "Coming soon..." and uses the "I'm the Doctor, by the way" exchange; Wright reckons Eccleston looks like a really cool Doctor - "he might go to gigs"; and a Dalek voice (Nicholas Briggs, perhaps?) proclaiming "Doc-tor Who-oo on BBC Radio 2!"

The Independent noted that the BBC invited several MPs to the press launch, and it was a "hot ticket - until, that is, the Government decided to hold yet another debate on its draconian anti-terror Bill." "Several guests are reported to be gutted, not least the Tory education spokesman, Tim Collins, a lifelong fan who has appeared on TV documentaries about the Time Lord. 'Terror debate or not, I'll be very surprised if Tim misses the screening,' reckons a colleague. 'As for the rest of us, we'll have to decide which is more important: the invasion of the Daleks, or the invasion of al-Qa'ida.' Best leave it to your consciences, chaps."

The latest edition of the BBC's in-house magazine / paper Ariel ( Week 9, dated 8.3.05 ) has a two page feature spread on the return of Doctor Who by Clare Bolt. There's precious little material that's new, although there's a little bit about the filming of "The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances," as well as mentions of 'a sub-aquatic monster' and 'a multi-tentacled Victorian submarine'. There are also a handful of behind-the-scenes photos, including the TARDIS prop being erected at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and a rooftop being blasted with fake snow.

There were various inconsequential reports (but still fascinating due to the number) popping up all over the internet about the impending return of Doctor Who, including the New York Times, Waveguide and a variety of papers such as the Aberdeen Press and Journal, Fort McMurray Today (Alberta) and the Liverpool Daily Echo. There's also a two page interview with Billie Piper in "Now magazine", the March 16 issue. Lots of press coverage today!

Finally, the photos below are all press release photos, some from the second episode, including a larger version of one of the Tree People (Yasmin Bannerman), a group of alien monks, the Moxx of Balhoon (Jimmy Vee), the Face of Poe, an attack by Autons, and Eccleston's card trick.

(Thanks for submissions today to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Andrew Harvey, Chuck Foster, Paul Hayes, Daniel Northover, Andrew Farmer, Lorna Mitchell, Tom Beck, Andrew Foxley, John Bowman)

According to RRP, a UK DVD trade magazine, the group currently responsible for the production of the DVD's, 2Entertain, is finalising the plans for a staggered DVD release of the new 13-episode series, due to air from the end of this month. According to the report, there are four single vanilla DVD releases planned, in May, June, August and September. A lavish box set, complete with scores of extras, is due in November. "The new series promises to be one of the biggest TV events of the year and we are confident of being able to sell half a million units in 2005," said 2 entertain's Matthew Parkes. (Thanks to Anthony Townsend)

The BBC Press Office has issued an extensive press release with several sections on the new series, including a feature on the show, one on Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, one on Christopher Eccleston and one on Billie Piper. It mentions the stars and producers (including quotes), the writers, plus the "Doctor Who Confidential" series presented by Simon Pegg, the BBC Radio 2 "Project Who?" series and the official Doctor Who website. The release notes that the site will carry "over two hours of specially shot on-set videos (even the Daleks have sent in a video diary)"; the entirety of "Doctor Who Confidential" on-demand; "The Doctor Who Years," three 30 minute specially edited video compilations, mixing classic tunes and Doctor Who clips in a nostalgia tour of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties; "Conquer!" the BBC's first multiplayer online role-playing game; "hidden sites" where one can "enter the world of the programme through a series of hidden sites referenced in the TV show. Can you find the Doctor?"; classic series clips, MP3 downloads and mobile wallpaper, exclusive trailers and photos and more. Finally, it mentions the March 19 Doctor Who night on BBC TWO: "In a one-off Mastermind Doctor Who Special, four Doctor Who aficionados will be put through their paces by Mastermind host, John Humphrys to find out who will be crowned the UK's top Doctor Who fan. The prize will be presented by the new Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. So Some Things You Need To Know About Doctor Who will be packed full of Doctor Who trivia, plus there is another chance to see The Story of Doctor Who - a nostalgic archive documentary about the longest running TV drama series." Check out the press release for the full four-page document. (And ignore the big typo in it, which says that the show starts on Sunday March 26 instead of Saturday... thanks to John Bowman for noticing that!)

Updated 9 March, 0635 GMT

Tonight's press call has already made headlines on BBC television, including behind-the-scenes moments and clips from the trailer. The official site now has several of today's new trailers online; check them out! (You need RealPlayer installed on your machine.)

BBC News features an article today about the press launch. They quote Christopher Eccleston as saying it was an "easy" decision to become the ninth Doctor Who. "I just wanted to work with Russell T Davies. It's a fantastic series and I am proud to be a part of it." Also covered in the press this evening: articles in The Sun and the Telegraph (which calls its article "Ailing BBC pins revival on Doctor Who").

The date for Christopher Eccleston's interview with Steve Wright was announced today on the Radio 2 website - it takes place on Monday, 21 March. The show runs from 2:00pm GMT and you can catch it at the Radio 2 website.

According to today's The Sun, the newspaper sent a Dalek along with singer Charlotte Church to the press launch this evening. "Our baddie ù who led a successful campaign to reinstate the Daleks after problems with their contracts ù rolled up to the bash in Cardiff. But security guards refused to let him in to the screening with stars Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper and Charlotte, 19. A BBC spokesman said: 'I'm sorry, but there is no room for your Dalek.'" It also notes that Eccleston has warned fans against watching the downloaded episode: "It's a rough cut without special effects. Wait to see it in all its glory." The article was accompanied by a photo of Church with the Sun's Dalek, as the newspaper once again boasts that it somehow affected the Daleks' return to the program.

Christopher Eccleston is not very pleased with the early online reactions to the leaked episode, likely brought on by the largely negative reviews posted on AICN which have been widely publicized in news reports covering the leak of the episode. (Outpost Gallifrey invites members of the production team reading to go into our Forum, where the reviews in the "Rose" spoiler section have been overwhelmingly positive!)

More coverage today in UK and international press of the leak of the first episode, "Rose," onto the Internet, including articles in the Herald Sun (Australia), New Kerala (India), Sydney Morning Herald, The Mercury (Australia),BigNewsNetwork, ContactMusic, CNet News, Washington Times, CBBC Newsround, Morons.org,Silicon.com, AfterDawn, TV NZ, Daily Record, RTE, Australian IT, Media Life Magazine, Stuff.co.nz, CJAD(Canada) and Canoe (Canada), as well as an article in the Times Online today which mentions a couple of very minor spoilers, as noted in the spoilers tag at the bottom of this news report. Meanwhile, today's Daily Record had this subtle quip: "THE BBC are rightly furious that their new episode of Dr Who was prematurely leaked on the internet. Especially since it featured a new monster, the Not-Yeti."

Finally, a screen image news coverage tonight (thanks to "Bazzerbill"):

Here's a recap of some of the reviews in the newspapers of the first episode (with no spoilers):

The Times: "It's a funny feeling. When the dum-de-dum, dum-de-dum starts, and the new-look title sequence begins, the hairs on your arms stand up, and a smile fixes itself, rictus-like, to your face. This warm feeling alone is enough to transport you blithely through the first five minutes of the new Doctor Who before any critical faculties kick in. And when they do, you realise that you're enjoying yourself."

Manchester Online: "This is a bold restating of what Doctor Who was always about - scaring the kids and entertaining families on a Saturday night. Old series monsters the Autons - recreating the famous shop window breakout of their 1970 debut - keep the show in touch with its past, while the energentic direction and decent special effects show off its new coat of paint cheerfully. To coin a phrase - he's back, and it's about time."

The Daily Express: "So much of the BBC's shiny new Doctor Who has been lovingly assembled according to a clear philosophy of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. ... But it comes at a souped-up pace and delights in showing off the results of the huge resources of budget and talent that have been thrown at a programme whose sets were once only out-wobbled by those of Crossroads. Between [Eccleston and Piper] they are a revelation. ... To be successful Doctor Who needs to look brilliant, crack along with never a dull moment, and excite and amuse in equal measure. By the look of the first episode it will do that in spades."

The Sun: "The new Who doesn't wear a scarf or fancy coat - but from the start Eccleston is outstanding. And the script from Queer as Folk writer Russell T Davies is sparky, witty and will please even the most ardent fans."

This Is London: "As a fan I really hope this new series succeeds. It's lively, wellfilmed and the special effects are up to scratch. There is humour, a vital ingredient if the new series is to be a success. ... We can only hope that Christopher Eccleston really does represent a return to form as the best Doctor since the golden days of Pertwee and Tom Baker. A children's programme it might be, but played for laughs, never."

Daily Telegraph: "The first Doctor Who series for 16 years could give the BBC a much-needed hit for its ailing Saturday night schedules if the verdict of critics, fans and children is correct."

The Guardian: "It is unfair to review a restaurant on opening night, but an event as important as the return of Doctor Who after a hiatus of 15 years (not counting the ill-fated 1996 US TV movie co-production, to which BBC executives have the same regard Stalin had for Trotsky) is of such importance to millions of fans around the world that instant judgments are required. The good Doctor is most definitely back... and many traditionalists are going to greet this radical new version with utter dismay. ... As a diehard Who fan, I will watch all the remaining episodes wishing, hopefully not totally in vain, that they had laid off the Ritalin."