According to North American distributors Diamond Publishing, both "SynthespiansTM" and "The Sleep of Reason" are being distributed in the US and Canada in September, with "The Algebra of Ice" slated for early October. Apparently, however, these are in smaller numbers. "After the BBC lost a lot of money with the former US distributor, they decided not to take a chance with Diamond and have limited the number of books they will send to the USA," Keith Bradbury of WhoNA told Outpost Gallifrey. "Apparently, according to BBC America, these books are a special print run only for the USA. I know the books that come through Diamond have the USA pricing on the back, so unless the UK books do not have this pricing, I cannot imagine how the print run would be any different between the two markets. What does all of this mean? Quite simply, when we sell our last 5 copies of Shalka, we will have to get any additional copies from the UK, which means increased prices on the titles." This explains why we're not seeing large numbers of copies of the books on store shelves in the US and Canada: that the print runs for the continent have been vastly decreased. (Thanks to Keith Bradbury/WhoNA and Diana Dougherty/Ambrosia Books)

Big Finish's plans for the forthcoming UNIT audio miniseries are being reported in the latest issue of DWM. Set in the modern day, the UNIT series stars Nicholas Courtney as retired Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, who is joined by Siri O'Neal ("Full Fathom Five") as Colonel Emily Chaudhry; Nicholas Deal as Colonel Robert Dalton, UNIT's new commanding officer; and Robert Curbishley as Lieutenant Will Hoffmann. The first two stories have already been recorded; part one is written by Iain McLauglin and Claire Bartlett and directed by Jason Haigh-Ellery, while part two is by Jonathan Clements and directed by John Ainsworth. More details soon.

According to the new issue of DWM, progress on filming the new Doctor Who series will continue throughout the fall and into early 2005, as the deadline for finishing actual production is February. DWM also breaks down the five "blocks" of production, each with a different director: episodes 1, 4 and 5, directed by Keith Boak, are already shot; episodes 2 and 3 directed by Euros Lyn were underway at the magazine's press time. Block 3, which Outpost Gallifrey noted several days ago would be directed by Joe Ahearne, will consist of episodes 6, 7 and 8, while blocks 4 (episodes 9 & 10) and 5 (episodes 11-13) will see work with later directors. Some brief notes on casting include those of John Barrowman and Mark Benton, which we previously reported, as well as a comment from Phil Collinson about a guest appearance from David Jason: "We read the reports of David Jason's casting with some surprise! ... if the right part came along, we would be delighted to approach him. But for the moment, I have to confirm that he's not on board."

Production of the new Doctor Who series will be moving north for several days in the near future as the production goes on location in the Welsh community of Monmouth, Outpost Gallifrey has learned. According to a letter sent by series location manager Clive Evans to residents in the town of Monmouth, "the scenes are snow scenes and are at night, so for one evening, you will be treated to a Christmas scene outside your window and an insight into the work of the BBC special effects team. We will also introduce horses and carriages, background artists in period costume and the use of braziers to take us back to Christmas 1869 [this might give you a clue that it might not be a silent night]." This will likely be the episode that features a guest appearance by actor Simon Callow. The letter goes on to note that emergency access will be available as usual for local residents. Out of respect to the series production team, so as to not disrupt the production work, Outpost Gallifrey won't report on the exact dates or specific Monmouth locations given in the letter at this time, but it will take place in the next several weeks. (Thanks to Jonathan Knibbs)

Katy Manning (Jo Grant), long a resident of Australia, is now a citizen of that country, one of 200 people around the world to receive citizenship from Governor-General Michael Jeffery at Government House according to the official Doctor Who site. "It's absolutely terrific because I've been a gypsy for so many years," Manning told the News.com.au site. "This is the first place out of all the places that I've lived that I actually woke up one day and I thought this is really truly where I want to be, this is where my heart now is."

SFX has posted a second gallery of entries for their "Re-design the Daleks" competition. (Thanks to SFX/Ian Berriman)

Tom Baker is on the cover of next week's edition of Radio Times, albeit in his new role in the series "Monarch of the Glen".

Today's icLiverpool has a brief story about next Sunday's Evening with Colin Baker at the Alexander's Jazz Theatre in Chester, sponsored by Enigma Events.

Meanwhile, Sylvester McCoy is starring as Mr Bennett in "Pride and Prejudice" at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey UK from the 14th - 18th September, alongside Rula Lenska ("Resurrection of the Daleks"); more details available at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre website.

According to today's edition of Professional Casting Review (PCR), a UK casting and trade periodical, Joe Ahearne is the director for the "third block" of the first season of the new Doctor Who series. Ahearne's directing credits include the TV series "This Life," "Strange," "Trance" and "Walking with Spacement" as well as the miniseries "Ultraviolet". What episodes are included in the third block remain unknown right now. PCR was our previous source of the first new series director, Keith Boak (May 24 news item) and, prior to that, the identity of series casting director Andy Pryor (February 23). (Thanks to "Alex/Speedway1975")

Glyn Owen, who played Rohm-Dutt in the Fourth Doctor story "The Power of Kroll" and returned many years later to play Commander Harlon in the Big Finish audio "Nekromanteia," died Friday from complications due to cancer. Owen's career spanned 50 years, including roles on "Emergency Ward 10," one of the first "big soap operas" on British television; as Jack Rolfe in "Howard's Way," perhaps his best known role; and on "Casualty," "The Saint," "Thorndyke," "Heartbeat," "Survivors," "Peak Practice," "Juliet Bravo," "The Professionals," "All Creatures Great and Small" and in two episodes of "Blake's 7" (in "Cygnus Alpha" and "Space Fall" early in the show's first season). Owen is survived by his wife Carrie, daughter Cathy, and son, actor Lloyd Owen ("Monarch of the Glen," "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"). He was 76. At right is a photo of Owen from a recent autograph signing at the Tenth Planet store.