New series concept artist Bryan Hitch spoke to the readers of the Outpost Gallifrey forum today and made some comments about the current state of affairs on the new series. "Ed [Thomas, series designer] and I attached to the project around the same time in very early pre production and we've both been active on the game for about six weeks to two months," Hitch posted. "The crew is all set (just about) and major design work with the whole design team has been running about a month. A series this ambitious doesn't get done quickly and something as iconic as the TARDIS design is a lengthy process of approvals (though it actually went swimingly.) And to clarify, as Production Designer Ed's genius is employed in overseeing and coordinating the overall visual scope of the series from locations, costumes, lighting, set construction and of course design. He's a member of staff, I'm freelance. As Russell puts it, I'm more of a "consultant" who rushes into meetings, flings ideas and sketches at anyone and everyone and runs out leaving folks scratching their heads and looking shell shocked. I do have specific design duties such as the TARDIS set and other key wonders I can't say anything about. And the TARDIS is looking just doozy." Hitch also mentioned that, from all the speculation in the OG Forum, what he's seeing on the new show "is beyond all of your expectations. There as never been a more visually ambitious show made in this country and the BBC has never done anything like this before. I'm not teasing here either, Russell has it nailed." Finally, a joke about the TARDIS: "We are going for something completely different this time around by making the TARDIS much smaller on the inside than on the outside, sort of a novelty really; inside it will be the size of a poodle kennel." Or is it? Time will tell! (Our thanks to Bryan Hitch)

New Doc Christopher Eccleston is a featured player in "Crossing the Dark Sea", a 30-minute play on BBC Radio 4, 23:30 [BST] on Saturday 5th June. Eccleston plays the role of soldier Alec. The program should also (hopefully!) be available on the Radio 4 web-site for playing at any time during the following week at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4. (Thanks to Tom Boon)

According to today's Daily Record, Sylvester McCoy, our beloved seventh Doctor, has "threatened to chain himself to the BBC's gates in London to make them broadcast Still Game nationally." He's referring to the Scottish TV comedy series that isn't networked across the UK, created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill. Says the Scotsman McCoy, "'I find it completely incomprehensible why this series has not been shown down here. It is very well written and visually very funny. I can't understand it. There's no excuse. The BBC are desperately looking for good stuff and there is not one ounce of doubt that this is brilliant comedy." Read the full article by clicking here. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

The cover illustration for Synthespians™, this summer's BBC novel by Craig Hinton with the Sixth Doctor and Peri, is now online. Outpost Gallifrey previously brought you the cover blurb in late April; it's on the releases page. Click on the thumbnail at right for a larger version of the cover.

At right is the cover illustration for the forthcoming novel Warlords of Utopia by Lance Parkin, the next chapter in the Faction Paradox novel series (based on the Faction characters and situations created by Lawrence Miles in the BBC Doctor Who novel series). The cover is once again by Steve Johnson, who has been the series' regular illustrator. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)

Tenth Planet has provided us the cover illustration for the forthcoming Dalek Empire: The Scripts book from Big Finish, featuring the complete scripts for their popular Dalek Empire series. The cover illustration is a full wrap-around (although we're told that the fonts on the back cover may change by press time); click the thumbnail for a larger version.

Someone's in the kitchen! Nicola Bryant and Sylvester McCoy will be appearing together on June 4 at 9pm on ITV's popular reality series "Hell's Kitchen," the celebrity cooking challenge, as celebrity diners at the restaurant where contestants are competing to win. And speaking of Nicola Bryant, check out her new official website. (Thanks to Gary Finney)

Award-winning comics artist Bryan Hitch, the man behind titles such as The Authority and The Ultimates and winner of last yearÆs SFX Reader Award for Best Comic Book, is the concept artist for the new series. Says Russell T Davies, "This is entirely thanks to SFX. The Head of Drama at the BBC had talked about getting a concept artist right from the start, so we were already beginning to think about it. Then out of the blue Nick Setchfield at SFX got in touch, saying that Bryan Hitch had heard about the new series of Doctor Who and wanted to help. Now, IÆm an old comics fan... and I couldnÆt believe this was the Bryan Hitch. IÆve got the Ultimates collection, and that beautiful hardback of The Authority. ItÆs just brilliant... I showed Julie and Phil [producers Julie Gardner and Phil Collinson] the comics, they went mental, we summoned the Hitch, and here we are... Now Bryan can give us concepts and wild ideas to spark us off in new directions. Thank you SFX, itÆs really appreciated!ö Hitch will be in charge of the signature look of the new series, working alongside production designer Edward Thomas; the two will develop the TARDIS interior, new aliens and technology for the series. Hitch's previous Doctor Who work was a one-issue comic strip in DWM 139 and the cover for Mad Norwegian's "I, Who 2". More details are in the new SFX, due out June 9. (Thanks to SFX Magazine)

Telos Publishing has sent Outpost Gallifrey the official pre-press release for the forthcoming Howe's Transcendental Toybox Update 1, the 2003 supplement for the bestselling guide to Doctor Who merchandise and collectibles. We mentioned that Telos was publishing this yesterday, and publisher David Howe kindly sent us the release (below) about the forthcoming book, due out in September. Meanwhile, Telos has updated their website with the cover illustrations for the next three installments of the Time Hunter series, the spinoff novella series which features characters and situations from the Doctor Who novella "The Cabinet of Light"; you can find them, and the book blurbs, on our Releases page. (Thanks to David Howe)

According to the Galaxy 4 retail store, the originally planned BBC Radio Collection CD release of The Crusade starring William Hartnell has been postponed to 2005, instead of this August as originally planned. Update: According to Play.com, the release of "Crusade" is slated for February 7, 2005. The Underwater Menace is also a likely release for the first half of next year. (Thanks to Galaxy 4, Gary Reed)