Issue #69 of Time Space Visualiser, the journal of the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club (and one of the best DW fanzines still in print today, in our opinion!) is out and features Rob Shearman's episode by episode critique of Season 21, Paul Cornell's experiences writing Scream of the Shalka on his New Zealand honeymoon, Fan video productions in New Zealand, Invasion of the Dinosaurs reappraised - with the aid of diagrams, The Horns of Nimon gets taken Beyond the Sofa, Andrew Pixley documents cut script extracts from The Daleks' Master Plan, the full results of the TSV 40th anniversary survey, reviews of the latest DVDs, audios and books and much more. For ordering details go towww.doctorwho.org.nz. (Thanks to Paul Scoones)

The play Forever Mine, a black comedy fantasy written by Rob Shearman, the popular Doctor Who audio dramatist and writer of one of the forthcoming episodes of the new series, will be broadcast on Radio Four on Monday June 14 at 2:15pm. The radio play stars Richard Briers ("Paradise Towers"), Pauline Collins, Janie Dee and Jane Goddard, and is directed by Martin Jarvis ("Vengeance on Varos"). Check it out! (Thanks to Rob Shearman)

The new MP3-CD release of Death Comes to Time, which went on sale on June 7, has a technical fault that apparently has been noticed and will be rectified in a second printing. "There is a slight problem with the first pressing which computer users may spot when watching Episode Three of the original animated version," says the press release from the BBC Radio Collection, "everything grinds to a halt three quarters of the way through. This is a technical glitch, which has now been solved, and the second pressing - due at the end of June - will be bug-free. If you're dissatisfied with your disc and would like to have it exchanged, you can contact BBC Audio customer services on tel. 01225 443400, or by email at info@audiobookcollection.com. Meanwhile, the problem with Episode 3 can be circumnavigated by selecting the 'Play All' option, in which the whole episode plays well. Range editor Michael Stevens said, 'We're very sorry about this hiccup. Joseph Conrad wrote that it's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes, and according to James Joyce errors are the portals of discovery. Here at BBC Audio, we say 'Hear, hear' - and add an epithet of our own. 'When adventuring with Doctor Who in the frontiers of technology, there's always a lull in Episode Three!'" (Thanks to Laura Burch at BBC Audiobooks)

As promised, Outpost Gallifrey is able to reveal the cover illustration for the forthcoming Howe's Transcendental Toybox: 2003 Update by David Howe and Arnold T. Blumberg, the guide to Doctor Who merchandise and collectibles. Click on the cover for a larger version (the full wraparound cover.) The 2003 update, as we previously noted, covers all material from that year and updates the previous release of the "Toybox" book, instead of a mere reprint of the same volume. We hope to have a special preview of the book up at OG soon! (Thanks to David Howe)

Two very brief press mentions this weekend:

The June 8 edition of the web magazine lowculture features an article about how "Doctor Who is about to become cool! Not the shonky old version where everything was made out of egg boxes and bubble wrap, of course (although we still think that was a little bit cool). We mean the new one, the one they're about to start filming in Wales with Christopher Eccleston and (shriek!) Billie Piper." There are the usual facts and lots of comments about such, most of which are quite positive. (Please note: the language and terminology used are definitely for adults only!) (Thanks to Paul Condon)

The Fashion section of the Weekend Magazine in this past Saturday's Western Mail featured an article called "Dr. Who's Back in Fashion" about various Doctor Who fashions over the years, comparing various previous companions with the fashion sense of new companion Billie Piper. "It is the fantastic costumes of some of the Doctor's female companions which really stick in your mind," says writer Claire Hill. "Well, they do have to compete with the Doctor's multi-coloured scarf." Pictures of Piper along with such former assistants as Bonnie Langford, Louise Jameson and Sophie Aldred are featured. (Thanks to John Campbell Rees)

A recent posting by one of the hosts on the BBC Four message boards confirms that Episode 1 of The Web of Fear, the classic Patrick Troughton serial in which said episode is the only extant segment of the story, may be broadcast as part of the forthcoming Sixties Season event on BBC4 on June 26. "We are attempting to clear The Web of Fear, but it's not been confirmed yet; we're trying," said the forum host. We know that the Restoration Team recently lent out a cleaned up episode to be transferred for broadcast; meanwhile, the Sixties Season section of the BBC Four website has had a Cyberman as part of that particular week's lineup, but no confirmation of a Doctor Who story as yet. We'll keep you posted. (Thanks to Barry Piggott)

According to ABC Shop Online, The Green Death will be out on DVD in Australia (and presumably New Zealand) in August 2004, a mere two months after its UK release. Pyramids of Mars has just been released there as well.Update: June 10: The Australian release date is August 5 but the New Zealand release date is September 2. (Thanks to David Dungey, Paul Scoones)

The Scotsman interviewed Steven Moffat, creator of "Coupling" and a writer of the forthcoming first season of the new Doctor Who series. Moffat discusses writing for the new show, including the controversial topic of sex in the TARDIS. "There always was," Moffat says. "Patrick Troughton had pretty girl, and boy, assistants, both in skirts. Russell is quite keen on an element of sexiness and, anyway, all TV now is cast with this question high up the list: do we want to go to bed with these characters? But that will never be the central element of Doctor Who. The show is still about saving the universe. You canÆt be thinking about lovey-dovey stuff when thereÆs that level of jeopardy involved." And there's even a hint of dialogue: "Doctor, no! ... " Ur, right. You can read the full interview at the Scotsman website.

Outpost Gallifrey has received both the cover illustration and cover blurb for the forthcoming BBC Books novel The Sleep of Reason by Martin Day, due in August. The blurb itself is more detailed than the earlier short-list blurb we posted from amazon.co.uk (and gives slightly less of the plot away!) Day sent us a scan of the tentative cover illustration (it will likely be the final version, but could possibly include minor changes as it goes to press); click on the thumbnail at right for a larger version. (Thanks to Martin Day)

The next issue of Doctor Who Magazine, #345 interviews Russell T Davies on his quest to find "the perfect new companion for Christopher Eccleston's Doctor: 'It wasn't exactly the search for Scarlett O'Hara, but it was close! Billie Piper was perfect - shining and clever and independent...'" Also, new script editors Elwen Rowlands and Helen Raynor are interviewed and Davies discusses the "tone" of the new series ("and you can find out which
episode contains the words 'zig-zag,' 'Hannibal' and 'decanter'!"); a tribute to Master actor Anthony Ainley; the final episode of the current comic strip, "Sins of the Fathers," conclusion of the series examining the workings of the Doctor's TARDIS, an interview with the series' first director Waris Hussein, part five of "Marco Polo" in telesnap form, and the usual news, views and previews. DWM 345 is on sale on June 24. (Thanks to Clayton Hickman)