A BBC Press Office document now in circulation states that the forthcoming Project Who? two-part radio show airing on March 22 and 29 on BBC Radio 2 will "feature newly recorded interviews with the cast and creative team behind Doctor Who. With exclusive excerpts from the new series, starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, the programmes examine how the format of the show has been developed and shaped for a new audience, how the character of the Doctor was cast, and how the series will be launched and marketed around the globe." The opening installment, "Bigger On The Inside," takes listeners back (without the aid of a Tardis) to September 2003, when Lorraine Heggessey, Controller of BBC One, announced that a new series of Doctor Who was being planned with Russell T Davies at the helm. The programme considers how the creator of Queer As Folk and The Second Coming approached the task of recreating one of the most popular and enduring formats on television." The document also notes that the new series will be complemented by BBC ThreeÆs "Doctor Who Confidential" documentary and the BBC Two Doctor Who night special. The BBC Radio 2 broadcast will happen on those days ôat approximately 8.33 pmö, with an extended double-CD release on May 2. DWM reports that Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Mal Young, Jane Tranter, Mark Gatiss, Nicholas Briggs, Clayton Hickman and Dave Golder (of SFX magazine) are among those interviewed. (Thanks to Tim Harrison, David Whittam)

According to the official Doctor Who site today, to mark the launch of the new series, BBC Two will celebrate Doctor Who with a special television night. "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. 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."

Interviewed in the latest issue of DWM, executive producer Julie Gardner says that both she and Russell T Davies want to do a second series of Doctor Who with Christopher Eccleston, should it be commissioned, and that they were having a meeting at the start of February to talk about what they'd do if they got the go-ahead. "We're already behind [because] to go again with the same number of episodes [...] we'd need to start filming at the same time as we did last year. On the first series, we were having those conversations in December [... but] I think there are lessons from the first series that we could implement to speed things up." Davies also mentions in his Production Notes that he and Gardner discussed his outline for 13 episodes for Series 2 during a train journey to London. "If Series Two ever exists, then these scripts will happen." Importantly, Russell prefaces this with "Of course, Series Two isn't commissioned yet - I suspect we won't know until a good few weeks into transmission of Series One - but we've got to plan ahead regardless." It's also noted that the BBC Four documentary on Davies shot footage of Russell and the production team watching "our very first viewing of The Long Game". So there is a chance that clips from that episode might be shown several weeks ahead of its actual broadcast (the documentary being scheduled for mid-March). For more on this, pick up Issue 354 of DWM, now on sale.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine reports that "the exact date of transmission can't yet be confirmed - schedules can change up to a fortnight in advance - [but] it is still likely that the new series will begin transmission on Saturday 26 March." Both the BBC and BBC Worldwide are said to be "gearing up for a major launch of the show this Spring." This includes UK press screenings in early March, probably Tuesday 8 March, "which will coincide with the start of major television advertising campaign", with photographs and interviews following in UK newspapers and magazines. There may be a specially written television trailer, as well as radio trailers and a nationwide poster campaign. ChildrenÆs BBC will run "special behind-the-scenes reports" on both Newsround and Blue Peter.

Joe Ahearne has been confirmed as the director of episode 11, which bears the confirmed title "Boom Town"according to DWM, confirming Outpost Gallifrey's report last month that Ahearne had signed on to the additional episode. Episode 11 is therefore no longer a separate block from 12 and 13, as "it made sense for Joe to cover the whole thing", according to producer Phil Collinson. The magazine also confirms "The Doctor Dances" as the title of episode 10, again confirming the reports made online some time ago.

Regarding casting, some new updates: Episode 10 has Vilma Hollingberry as Mrs Harcourt. Episode 11 includes Aled Pedick as Idris and Will Thomas (previously seen on television in Belonging) as Mr Cleaver. Episodes 12 and 13 starPaterson Joseph as Rodrick, who apparently "shares some very unusual scenes with Rose Tylerà but will he live to tell the tale?" The same story includes Jamie Bradley as Strood and Abi Eniola as Crosbie, with Sebastian Armesto, Kate Loustau, Dominic Burgess and Karren Winchester in unconfirmed roles. Episode 13, The Parting of the Ways, also sees the return of Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler and Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith.

The issue gives details for Episodes 4 to 7 of Doctor Who Confidential, which match the information given on the SFX site and reported here last week. One small additional detail is that Episode 5, Life on Earth, as well as looking at the DoctorÆs links to Earth, also "examines the new seriesÆ first cliffhangerà" See also the BBC website news below. There's also a foretaste from James Goss of the changes coming to the official website, a "teaser version" of which will launch in early March, with the full site beginning "with the first episode". The site will include "an astonishing amount of video û including 30 short films about the making of the showà WeÆre looking at clearing Doctor Who Confidential as well." There will also be broadband clips from the original run, desktop wallpapers, screensavers, sound files, hundreds of behind-the-scenes pictures, including "design sketches and photostories showingà how the TARDIS was built" and "some great games û including one where you get to drive a Dalek and anotherà how Monopoly would be if it were set in space, had tentacles, big weapons and a sense of humour. Some of itÆs written by Gareth Roberts". Also promised: "Some surprises".

There is a competition open to readers of DWM to see one of three exclusive preview screenings of the first episode on Monday 21 March in London. Entrants need to fill in a form on page 7 of the magazine and send it in; subscribers can e-mail their entries, giving their subscription numbers. The closing date and draw is on Wednesday 16 March. And the next issue, DWM 355à will include previews of The End of the World, The Unquiet Dead and Aliens of London, a set report on Rose, an interview with Simon Callow and behind-the-scenes on the creation of the TARDIS. ItÆs published on Thursday 31 March.

For further information on all of this, plus several exclusive interviews and all the regular features, pick up DWM 354 now on sale!

The new Doctor Who series will air beginning Tuesday, April 5 in Canada, according to a solid airdate confirmation from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and from several sources including Benjamin Elliott's "This Week in Doctor Who." According to the report, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has scheduled Doctor Who for Tuesday nights at 8PM starting April 5, 2005. So far only the April 5th broadcast (without episode title) is showing. They have put up a temporary webpage up for their Doctor Who broadcast, though there's nothing there.

If you live in Canada or are in a border section of the US with access to the CBC, the Doctor has a home on April 5. And this should put to rest any worries that the show will broadcast earlier in the UK...

According to a report today on IGN, "Sources close to the US cable network Sci Fi Channel have told IGNFF's Doctor Who Report that the network is not in negotiations for the new series." The report speculates on other avenues, but suggests that according to their own sources, the channel is not interested in showing the series. There is now no word on a US broadcaster.

Issue #354 of Doctor Who Magazine is out this week. Attached is the press release and cover illustration; click on the image for a larger version.

New series executive producer Russell T Davies is scheduled to be a guest on the Steve Wright Afternoon show on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday, March 10, as the host announced today on a run through of upcoming guests. The show is on Radio 2 from 2pm - 5pm; if you can't hear the radio station, you can visit the Radio 2 site that evening and listen to it on the BBC's Radio player. (Thanks to Jonathan Stockley, Steve Tribe)

Q Magazine, a popular UK music magazine, has published a glowing review of the new series in its latest issue, calling it "must-see TV for everyone". From the comments and some of the details given in the review it would appear that the reviewer, Boyd Hilton, has seen a number of episodes from the series - all of which impressed. Amongst many plaudits Hilton states that "the much-hyped return of rickety sci-f? classic Doctor Who lives up to all expectations: it's every bit as good as its mid-'70s heyday. Furthermore, this time around you don't have to be a geek to enjoy it." He goes on to comment on Eccleston's performance; "The inestimable Christopher Eccleston plays the ninth Doctor... replete with trendy leather jacket and wry sense of humour." As for Billie Piper; "the biggest surprise of the show is Billie Piper's performance as the Doctor's "assistant" Rose Tyler. Not only does Piper prove she can hold her own in the company of esteemed actors, but her feisty cockney character shows real depth. Importantly, Rose's relationship with the Doctor is as an equal, rather than just being there to whimper when the aliens show up." The special effects also impress: "Gone are the cardboard sets and naff-looking monsters of old, this time you see... [edited geographical location] ...landmarks come under thrilling alien attack, as convincing and exciting as anything shown before in a British TV series." Boyd ends by praising series writer and executive producer Russell T Davies for the "triumphant regeneration" of Doctor Who (the series rather than the person) and for "the slick, sharp dialogue". He ends by saying that "Doctor Who is no longer the domain solely of sci-fi spods, this is must-see TV for everyone". (Thanks to Roger Anderson / The Cuttings Archive)

Penguin Books will be co-publishing with BBC Books a new series of non-fiction releases tying into the first season of the new series, aimed at children. Due out on July 7, 2005, are The Doctor Who Sticker Guide, an 8 page paperback; The Doctor Who Activity Book (with a pull out board game), an 18 page paperback; and The Doctor Who Postcard Book, a 64-page paperback. Due for later release, on November 3, 2005, is Doctor Who: Make Your Own TARDIS, a 16 page paperback book. No further details are currently available on these titles.

Meanwhile, Panini (the company responsible for the monthly "Doctor Who Magazine") will be publishing the Doctor Who Annual 2006 on August 1, according to Amazon.co.uk. The book is released in hardcover. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)