According to the DVD Bits website, Roadshow has changed its DVD release schedule... to be expected considering the UK dates. The Claws of Axos will now be released on July 7, because the story isn't out in the UK until May. Horror of Fang Rock will be released on April 7. (Thanks to "Cyberman Dan")

An Australian film newsletter recently reported on a new Doctor Who computer game coming soon. "Film Victoria provides funding for digital media projects" is the headline for the article, which states that "Film Victoria will support the development of six innovative digital media projects through its Digital Media Fund (DMF) program. Game Prototype Development investment funding was provided for two projects. IR Gurus Interactive Australia will develop a game of the worldÆs longest running science fiction television series Dr. Who, and Iron Monkey Studios will develop Darkenlight, a darkly-twisted, humorously spooky game of fighting action and exploration set in an enigmatic world where nothing is quite what it seems." More details as we get them. (Thanks to Paul Denny)

December 1's icWales published an interview with Noel Clarke (Mickey), called "This time it is Auf Wiedersehen" discussing the end of that series (which Clarke stars in as Wyman) and his next job, the new Doctor Who series. "It seems to be that whenever they're rehashing a show from 20 years ago, I get a call!" he tells icWales. "Actually, I wish it was like that because I'm sure there'll be more old stuff coming up. ... I watched both of the series when I was young and to grow up and then be in them is really rare. It's fun and just what you imagine it would be like, especially with Dr Who. When I was little I dreamed about running from monsters and Daleks and 20 years later here I am doing just that. I got really excited when I went inside the Tardis for the first time." He notes that his relationship with Rose (Billie Piper) will be "a Ross and Rachel thing. You want them to get together but you're not sure if they're going to." (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

Billie Piper (Rose) was interviewed for the January issue of the "Marie Claire" women's fashion magazine. "My Life After Chris - Her first Interview since the split" is the title of the article, in which she talks about her life and relationship, auditioning for parts, why she wanted to begin acting... and then the interview turns to Doctor Who. When asked what it's like working with Eccleston: "He's so brilliant. What a top bloke." Piper is told that lot of actresses must have wanted the job of Doctor Who's assistant: "Yeah, apparently they saw a sh*tload of people and then, I don't know, it just worked straight away, it really did." About the unspoken sexual frisson between the characters of Doctor Who and his assistant: "Yeah ... absolutely. I think in the past, though, it's been played differently to how it's being played now. The great thing about this Doctor Who is that as much as it's sci-fi, it's so much about the Doctor's and Rose's dynamic and their journey and about educating each other. About him expanding and challenging her ideas and, you know, just showing her stuff that she would have never seen. And it's her teaching him to be more human and be sympathetic towards things. So they're kind of like a good friendship or a good marriage or whatever. Of course, you desperately want them to get together." The interview then continues on about her time with Chris Evans and her new found singleness, along with photos. (Thanks to Danny Lamb)

New series guest star Simon Callow was on The Frank Skinner Show on ITV1 on December 2 talking about Phantom of the Opera and the new series of Doctor Who. He said that Doctor Who fans were "weird" and that he was aware that "once you're in the series you're part of Doctor Who forever." He claimed that fans would turn up during the filming in Cardiff at 3am dressed in Doctor Who costumes amid the paparazzi who were climbing on things to take pictures (though we know that the only people in costume were actually working on the series!) Callow noted that his character Charles Dickens "teams up with the Doctor to save the Earth from alien infestation." (Thanks to Gavin Rymill)

Outpost Gallifrey has seen several articles noting that BBC employees have been "inundated" with death threats from crazed Doctor Who fans who are making changes to their beloved series. Fear not - these are actually massively overhyped tabloid articles based on rumors and hyperbole (including comments picked up right on our very own forums!) These same papers are reporting that Billie Piper has a new "boyfriend". The lack of journalistic credibility and integrity on the part of these reporters stuns us. (That's sarcasm! - Ed.)

The New Zealand television station Prime TV have announced that they've picked up the new Doctor Who series, according to a press release on their website. "BBC Worldwide announces today the licence of the new series of the cult classic Doctor Who to Prime Television New Zealand," says the release. "Only the second international deal to be finalised, the new series will deliver to Prime Television in the first quarter of 2005. Starring Christopher Eccleston (The Second Coming, Cracker, Elizabeth) and Billie Piper (Canterbury Tales) and written by a team led by Russell T Davies (Queer As Folk) the series sees Doctor Who, the alien loner and his companion Rose forge a friendship across time and space. Fans out there should brace themselves for some exhilarating experiences and deadly confrontations. This ninth Doctor will take viewers from the natural end of the world far in the future to Victorian times for an encounter with Charles Dickens, from gaseous monsters with deadly plans for humanity to alien crash-landings and conspiracies that lead to the very heart of the government. The show delivers all the excitement of good drama, with a hero who never carries a gun. The human race will survive, but only with the DoctorÆs help! It has been over 40 years since Doctor Who hit our screens and sparked a fan base that spans the world. International conventions, fan clubs with members numbering in the thousands and books, videos, DVDs and merchandise are just part of the on-going phenomenon that is Doctor Who. David Vine, BBC Worldwide Managing Director Asia Pacific, says, 'This series has been long anticipated. We are very excited that Prime will bring the new Doctor to New Zealand audiences. If you are a long-time Doctor Who fan you wonÆt be disappointed but equally if you are someone who has never heard of a Tardis or a Time Lord you will be able to climb on board and travel through time and space for the first time. Prepare for brand-new, spell-binding adventures.' PrimeÆs Programming Manager Andrew Shaw says, 'I am delighted to have acquired this fantastic new drama from the BBC. Doctor Who promises to be an outstanding series. We very much look forward to placing it in our primetime schedule. This series will captivate a whole new generation of fans who have never experienced the legend that is Doctor Who.'" (Thanks to Paul Scoones, Jon Preddle, Alden Bates, Dean Brown, Christopher Feyrer, Paul Engelberg)

The official Doctor Who website today features a brief clip from the BBC's Winter Highlights promotion featuring the new Doctor Who TV series... the first official footage shown from the new show. You can see it at the official site; it's in RealPlayer format.

A press release today from the BBC (which has been covered in several media outlets today) mentions the new Doctor Who series as part of the "Winter Highlights," noting the forthcoming series as being targeted for debut in 2005. "Acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston hits our screens this winter as Doctor Who with Billie Piper as the Doctor's companion Rose Tyler. More details will be released early next year," says the press release. An expanded version of the release is also online from the Drama department, with more details: "Acclaimed actor Christopher Eccleston plays Doctor Who in a new series for BBC One next year," says the press release. "Billie Piper, who made her acting debut in the critically acclaimed Canterbury Tales - The Miller's Tale, stars alongside Eccleston as the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler. Travelling through time and space, the Doctor and Rose come face to face with a number of new and exciting monsters - as well as battling with the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Daleks. The series, which promises to surprise and entertain a new generation, also features Penelope Wilton, Noel Clarke, Annette Badland, Camille Coduri and John Barrowman, Bruno Langley and celebrated theatre, film and television actor Simon Callow. Filming in Cardiff until 2005 for transmission on BBC One, Doctor Who is written by Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell and Robert Shearman." It is important to note that, while the appearance of the item intimates an early 2005 time frame -- noting the show "hits... screens this winter," there is still no guarantee whatsoever that the show will appear during that time, as the show is currently around the halfway point in filming, with at least six episodes of 13 that have not as yet gone before the cameras, and will depend on how quickly the show is completed before an actual debut is set. (Thanks to everyone who passed along the press release and media links...)

One more piece of news from the ChicagoTARDIS convention that wasn't in yesterday's report: Big Finish will be keeping the current logo (the one used since the 1996 TV Movie) on the covers of their audios, as the current logo symbolizes the "classic" era of Doctor Who. It's possible the "new" logo will only be used for tie-ins that have to do with the new series (perhaps BBC Books novels featuring the Ninth Doctor and Rose?) More details as we get them.

The cover illustration (courtesy BBCi) and cover blurb (courtesy the BBC Shop) are now available for Match of the Day, the Fourth Doctor/Leela novel due out in January by Chris Boucher ("Psi-ence Fiction").

Noise Monster Productions is a new audio production team created by Big Finish producers John Ainsworth and Nicholas Briggs, branching out to create independent audio dramas; among the people also involved are such Doctor Who notables as Marc Platt ("Spare Parts"), Jonathan Clements ("Sympathy for the Devil") and Steve Foxon (sound designer). The production company's first audio series is based on Space: 1889, the science fiction role playing game and early computer game; among the cast members are Simon Williams (Group Captain Gilmore from "Remembrance of the Daleks"), Ivor Danvers ("Nekromanteia") and "Star Wars" legend Anthony Daniels (See-Threepio), as well as several actors from the casts of Doctor Who and spinoff audios from Big Finish and BBV including Ian Brooker, Katarina Olsson, Toby Longworth and Jo Castleton. More details are available at their website at http://www.noisemonster.com

Outpost Gallifrey has several pieces of news for upcoming Big Finish projects from this past weekend's ChicagoTARDIS convention. Two forthcoming Big Finish audios now have known writers attached to them: next June's Seventh Doctor audio Unregenerate! is by David A. McIntee ("Excelis Rising"), while July 2005's Eighth Doctor audio Terror Firma is by Joseph Lidster ("Master"). The previously announced Dead Man's Hand by John Ostrander has been delayed due to the author's current work schedule but will hopefully be added on at a later date; meanwhile, Big Finish did confirm that there will still be two audios featuring the new companion Hex (Philip Olivier) in 2005. Additionally, Big Finish will be releasing their series side by side throughout 2005: the UNIT miniseries runs this December through March; the secondGallifrey audio series runs April through August; and the previously rumored Cybermen four-part miniseries will start in August 2005 and run through November. Finally, when asked if there would be any possible return of the characters and situations from the Dalek Empire series, possibly even in their regular Doctor Who series, there were indications that the ideas had been discussed but no announcement was made as of yet. More details soon.