BBC Worldwide today issued a press release announcing a deal with Character Options to become the master licensee for toy products for the new Doctor Who series. The press release is reprinted below. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

Two Doctor Who connections to this year's Academy Awards nominations: Sophie Okonedo (Alison in the BBCi animated DW serial "The Scream of the Shalka") was nominated for Best Actress for "Hotel Rwanda," and John Debney(composer of the music for the 1996 TV movie) was nominated for Best Original Score for the film "The Passion of the Christ". (Thanks to Paul Hayes, Brent Johnson)

Jack Kine, who was instrumental in the creation of the BBC Visual Effects department during the 1950's, died yesterday at age 83 according to the Bucks Herald. He and his effects partner, the late Bernard Wilkie, only worked on one story together, "The Mind Robber," but both were involved behind the scenes in the many innovations which came before and led to the show's success. An interview with Kine from a 1967 edition of "Late Night Lineup" was included on the Tomb of the Cybermen DVD. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

Outpost Gallifrey has learned that Joe Ahearne, director of the sixth and eighth episodes of the new series, has returned to direct the eleventh episode of the show, which we're told bears a working title of "Boomtown" (though that may not be the final title used.) Apparently, Ahearne's direction style has been well received by cast and crew alike, leading to his return to work on the series.

Actor Mark Benton, who plays the role of Clive Finch in an episode of the new Doctor Who series, is interviewed today by the Designer Magazine site (mostly a music website but with interviews). He mentions his Doctor Who role in one part of the interview (which we've put in the spoiler tag since it contains a small spoiler about his role!) You can read the full interview here. (Thanks to Jonathan Morris)

Issue 7 of Black Scrolls has been released. A 36-page full color fanzine with cover by Adrian Salmon ("Professor Bernice Summerfield"), the issue features the last interview recorded with Michael Craze from 1997, an interview with Salmon, humor and much more. For more details, visit their website. (Thanks to Steve Preston)

Some updates from Mad Norwegian Press. The release of About Time 5 by Lawrence Miles and Tat Wood has been delayed until March but has greatly increased in page count ("it only covers four seasons of 'Doctor Who,' but they're an extremely busy four seasons in terms of cast changes, continuity and stylistic alterations"). The next volume is due in May, then the next in July, and the final in August. Lance Parkin's A History of the Universe will now be out in July, while several other releases (including "I Who 4") have still not been scheduled for final release dates yet. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

As we reported on December 19, Project Who is "a two-part BBC Radio 2 program that will air around the time of the new series" and will be released on CD. Originally scheduled for April, the new release date is currently May 2. As noted in our previous report, the contents are as follows: "Tying in with transmission of the new BBC1 Saturday night series of Doctor Who, this two-part BBC Radio 2 programme takes a look at the Doctor Who phenomenon. Why is now the right time for it to return? There will be interviews with the stars and producers of the new series, location and set visits, and interviews with famous people who are fans of Doctor Who. This CD release will feature additional material not included in the Radio 2 broadcast." (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

Galaxy 4 is reporting the release of Doctor Who At the BBC: Volume 3 due on September 5; this would presumably be the third in the series of audio clips from BBC Radio interviews and features, possibly narrated by one of their earlier narrators, Nick Courtney or Elisabeth Sladen.

Newly listed on Amazon is Doctor Who, Novella No. 1 from BBC Audio for release on June 6; there's no information but it seems likely that the Ninth Doctor books will be released as audiobooks (Eccleston/Piper being obvious candidates to read them). Also, as previously corrected on our Releases guide, the Ninth Doctor novel formerly "Death Players" is now called Winner Takes All. It and the other two Ninth Doctor books ("Clockwise Man" and "Monsters Inside") as well as the non-fiction book "Monsters and Villains" are all out on May 19.

Various sources are reporting different additional DVDs for the summer and fall of 2005 in the UK, including possible boxed sets of "Trial of a Time Lord" or "The Beginning" (which includes the first three stories), plus "Attack of the Cybermen," "Mawdryn Undead," "The Web Planet," "Revelation of the Daleks" and "Survival," but nothing has been confirmed as yet by BBC Worldwide.

Finally regarding merchandise, according to the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, the media firm Orange 20 (whose logo appears in the magazine credits of DWM) has "planned a coordinated approach to Doctor Who marketing in the run up to the series launch, tying the new series and 'Classic Who' together in DVD and book schedules, magazine features and media promotion." The same article also talks about the Pertwee/McGann logo being retained for 'Classic Who' and the new logo being exclusively for Ninth Doctor stuff; it's not clear whether this is any more than the speculation that's been doing the rounds for ages.

We have confirmation that the new series' imminent sale in the US has impacted the 'classic' series being syndicated in the US. In a statement to PBS station WCET Channel 48 in Cincinnati, Ohio, which was released by their promotions department, a BBC report states the following: "Sadly, it is true. This Saturday, January 22nd, is the final broadcast of Doctor Who on our air. ... As for the reason why: the BBC is eager to sell the new series with Christopher Eccleston here in the United States and is not renewing contract with PBS stations at this time. The official word from our contact at the BBC states: 'Unfortunately, we won't be able to proceed with a renewal of Doctor Who at this time. The new series of Doctor Who is currently being shopped around to various commercial broadcasters. For this reason, we have been asked not to make any syndication agreements on this title until further notice. I'm sorry if this has caused you inconvenience. Our sales department has been under strong pressure to get this new, glossy series highly placed. Unfortunately, this was a commercial strategy decision,and we do not have enough of an existing PBS user base to bid against cable or the commercial giants, some of which are taking the new series in consideration. Thank you for understanding.'" So, no deal for US broadcast, but it's expected soon, and meanwhile, the original series is slowly disappearing from all markets. (Thanks to Benjamin Elliott)

Some additional casting updates: in the story "The Empty Child," Florence Hoath plays Nancy, and Albert Valentineplays Empty Child. Also, some crew updates: Matthew Savage is currently the main conceptual artist on the series, providing the vast majority of drawings under the supervision of Ed Thomas, and was responsible among many other things for producing the concepts for the new Dalek. Liz Griffiths is currently the Set Decorator, having taken over from Peter Walpole when he and props designer Patrick Begley moved to another production. The current props makers are Mark Cordory and Nicholas Robatto, with others working in their shop. Meanwhile, the first assistant director on episodes 9 and 10 is Jon Older, who wrote to Outpost Gallifrey to let us know that, in the location shoot report from January 14, "it wasn't the Director (nice bloke that he is) that went over to thank the little group of fans who were watching us shoot for agreeing to get out of shot - it was me. And also to point out that security guards aren't the most reliable source of info regarding plot points and schedules!"

Peter Davison's daughter, Georgia Moffat, has revealed that she auditioned for the part of Rose in Doctor Who. Interviewed in the 22 January edition of 'Saturday' (a magazine given free with the Daily Express), Georgia says: 'They told me straight away that I wasn't right, which didn't bother me too much. It might have been a bit twee if I'd got it, as dad had previously played Dr Who (sic).When I told him I was up for the audition, he was excited as he really enjoyed the role and still plays tapes of the show to my two step brothers (Louis, four, and two-year-old Joel)'. (Thanks to Ian Wheeler)

By the way, we're hearing that internally at the BBC, March 26 is still the target date for the return of the series.