Big Finish Update

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Big Finish has issued the cover illustration for the fourth installment of the Dalek Empire III serial; click on the thumbnail at right for a larger version. Also updated: details on A Life Worth Livingedited by Simon Guerrier, a new Bernice Summerfield hardcover anthology with 14 stories about the further adventures of the former Doctor Who novel companion. Click on the thumbnails for larger versions of each cover.

Update 10 Sep, 0500 GMT: A couple of things missed in the first go-round... Darin Henry's "Game Time" is now called The Game; that would be the January 2005 Big Finish audio starring Peter Davison. AndClockwerks is no longer on the schedule; the Paul McGann-starring Terror Firma is the sole July release, and Caroline Symcox's The Council of Nicea has moved up to August 2005.

A LIFE WORTH LIVING, edited by Simon Guerrier

The war is over. The Braxiatel Collection is back to normal. Better than that, people are all making more of an effort to rebuild, to get on, to re-establish the Collection at the forefront of academic excellence. Benny and Jason are back together. Life is good.

It's not going to last, is it?

Soon Benny is up to her eyeballs in strange deaths, sinister cults, peculiar love affairs and a Collection full of people who haven't yet stopped fighting.

Includes "Misplaced Spring" by Paul Cornell, "Welcome to the Machine" by Sin Dinez, "Final Draft" by Cameron Mason, "Against Gardens" by Eddie Robson, "A Summer Affair" by Joseph Lidster, "Denial" by Ian Mond, "Sex Secrets of the Robot Replicants" by Philip Purser-Hallard, "The Blame of the Nose" by Ben Woodhams, "Reparation" by Gregg Smith, "Nothing up my Sleeve" by Richard Salter, "Buried Alive" by Kate Orman, "There Never Need be Longing in your Eyes" by Ian Farrington, "Mentioning the War" by Nick Walters, and "Fragments" by Stewart Sheargold.

FILTER: - Audio

Davies, Gardner on Casanova

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

New series producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner will follow up production of the first season of "Doctor Who" with a lavish three-part period production of "Casanova" for BBC1, according to Broadcast Magazine. Originally commisioned by ITV from Granada's LWT in May 2002, Davies was originally set to produce it for ITV, but then Gardner, who was originally with Granada Television, joined BBC Wales as Head of Drama. Says Broadcast, "Her departure is thought to have prompted Davies to take the project to the BBC and sign it as part of a deal that also included him agreeing to write the new series of Doctor Who, which Gardner is overseeing." BBC controller of drama commissioning Jane Tranter told Broadcast: "We were keen to do what Russell wanted to do and to enable Julie to continue an ongoing relationship with Russell on Casanova and Doctor Who." Outpost Gallifrey is aware that Davies will be producing "Casanova" beginning in October 2004, and will hopefuly return to production of the second season of "Doctor Who" in the new year. (Thanks to Martin Day)

FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Series 1/27 - Julie Gardner

DVD Releases

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

North American fans, take note: Pyramids of Mars and Earthshock are now available on DVD. For UK fans, Ghost Light was delayed and will be out Monday, September 20.

FILTER: - USA - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Jaeger Press Obit

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The Guardian has run an obituary about the death of Frederick Jaeger ("The Invisible Enemy") which Outpost Gallifrey reported last week.

FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

Lost in Time DVD Cover

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Outpost Gallifrey has been sent what we believe is the final version of the cover for the forthcoming UK DVD release of Lost in Time, the boxed set featuring orphan episodes from the William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton eras. (We've contacted artist Clayton Hickman to find out if it's the actual final version.) Click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Tenth Planet as always for sending it!)

Update 10 Sep, 1415 GMT: Yes, this is indeed the final version of the "Lost in Time" UK cover. (Thanks to Clayton Hickman for confirming it!)

FILTER: - William Hartnell - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Series Publicity Document: New Details

Thursday, 9 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

A one-sheet advertisement page from BBC Worldwide Television which will be featured in several forthcoming sales presentations in the UK, obtained by Outpost Gallifrey, shares some very interesting -- and exciting -- information concerning the new Doctor Who series. The BBC document states that the airtime for the first season of the new series is "Spring 2005," synching with the March 2005 transmission date Outpost Gallifrey has previously reported as being the likely target date. It also notes five cast members under the "Starring" block: Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, Camille Coduri as Jackie Tyler, Noel Clarke as Mickey Smith and Mark Benton as Clive; this is interesting because it's the first time a surname has been published for the Mickey character on a public document, and the first time Mark Benton, only previously rumored to be in the series, has been confirmed anywhere.

Most especially, the text of the press document has an interesting summation of the new series, including some heretofore unknown details; they're in the text box below. Meanwhile, the press document also contains at least one overseas broadcast note: it confirms the involvement of Canadian broadcaster CBC, who is says has purchased the series ahead of delivery and will be transmitting it as soon after the UK transmission as they can.

We'll keep you posted when any other documents such as this come out of BBC Worldwide.

Christopher Eccleston's Doctor is wise and funny, cheeky and brave. An alien and a loner (it's difficult keeping up with friends when your day job involves roaming through time and space), his detached logic gives him a vital edge when the world's in danger. But when it comes to relationships, he can be found wanting. That's why he needs Rose.

Rose is a shop girl from the present day. From the moment they meet, the Doctor and Rose are soulmates. They understand and complement each other. As they travel together through history and across the universe, the Doctor shows Rose things beyond her imagination. She starts out as an innocent, fettered by earthly concerns. But she ends up an adventurer who, by the end of the series, can never go home again...

As the two forge a friendship across time and space, brace yourself for some exhilarating experiences and deadly confrontations. Far, far in the future, Rose witnesses the natural end of the world, as the sun expands and the solar system dies. Journey back to Victorian times for an encounter with Charles Dickens and the mysterious Geith -- gaseous monsters with deadly plans for humanity. While back in 2005, an alien crash-landing diverts attention from a conspiracy that leads to the very heart of the government.

Wherever they go, whoever they meet, every story will come back to Earth. For all the danger and tension, this is a fundamentally optimistic series. The human race will survive - but only with the Doctor's help. Prepare for brand-new, spellbinding adventures in the human race...

FILTER: - Production - Press

The Muppets Beat The Doctor

Tuesday, 7 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Muppets Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker defeated Dr. Strangelove, Dana Scully of "X Files" fame, Star Trek's Mr. Spock and the Doctor himself to be voted Britain's favorite screen scientists, according to a poll published Monday and reported on CNN.com and other online sources. They beat their closest rival by a margin of 2 to 1 and won 33 percent of the 43,000 votes cast; Spock came in a distance second with 15 percent followed by The Doctor, from Dr Who, who garnered 13 percent. Scully, the only woman in the poll, came in sixth. The poll, sponsored by the BA and the BBC cult television website, gave the public five weeks to choose their favorite scientist from a shortlist of 10 that included Dr. Evil from the film "Austin Powers," Dr. Frankenstein, Frank N. Furter, of the "Rocky Horror Show Picture Show," Dr. Emmett Brown, of the film "Back to the Future" and Q of James Bond fame.

FILTER: - Press

North America VHS Backstock Deletions

Tuesday, 7 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

The total takeover of DVD means that VHS backstocks are shrinking, Doctor Who included. Steve Manfred has compiled a list at the Doctor Who Video FAQ site with a complete rundown of what's still in production and what's been deleted.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

SFX's Dalek Redesign

Tuesday, 7 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

SFX Magazine's Dalek Redesign competition has 25 designs; fans can look at them in the SFX gallery by clicking here; meanwhile, SFX is also giving away five copies of the "Doctor Who at the BBC Volume 2" audio here.

FILTER: - Magazines

George Gerwitz

Tuesday, 7 September 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Today's WhoSpy photo on the official site reveals that George Gerwitz is the First Assistant Director on the new series (at least a part, possibly the entirety). Gerwitz also served as First A.D. on "Sea of Souls" produced by Phil Collinson, one of the new Doctor Who series' executive producers.

FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

Previous 10 Stories

Big Finish Update

Davies, Gardner on Casanova

DVD Releases

Jaeger Press Obit

Lost in Time DVD Cover

Series Publicity Document: New Details

The Muppets Beat The Doctor

North America VHS Backstock Deletions

SFX's Dalek Redesign

George Gerwitz

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