The BBC Worldwide press release for the 40th anniversary details additional developments in forthcoming books. The press info confirms the release of Doctor Who: The Legend on November 13, including a much larger version of the cover (at right; click the thumbnail for a larger version). Meanwhile, here are the press blurbs for forthcoming 2003 novels as issued by BBC Worldwide (skipping ahead to books where the cover blurbs haven't been made available yet):

BBC Worldwide's press release for the 40th anniversary has some information about this year's video & DVD releases. First is the story we previously reported of the release of The Horns of Nimon on June 2, as well as the November 24 date of the VHS release of The Reign of Terror Collectors Set, which features both the surviving episodes of the 1964 story The Reign of Terror (with, Outpost Gallifrey has learned, a linking segment for the missing episodes currently being put together by Ed Stradling) as well as the final unreleased individual episodes of the Patrick Troughton stories The Web of Fear (episode 1) and The Faceless Ones (episodes 1 and 3).

While it is not actually mentioned in the text, though, a cover illustration for the release of the only other Doctor Who story not yet put out on video, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, is listed as "Release date: to be confirmed," though it will hopefully be released either this year before the "Reign" tape or as the very last VHS release in early 2004.

BBC Worldwide has also confirmed the DVD's we've mentioned over the past several weeks and given them release dates, including The Dalek Invasion of Earth on June 16, Earthshock on August 4, The Two Doctors on September 8, The Curse of Fenric on October 6, and The Three Doctors on November 24. According to the press info, "The Three Doctors" will be packaged with a special Corgi model of the Doctor's car, Bessie (part of Corgi's anniversary release packages; see below).

The following are larger and much clearer versions of the draft cover illustrations of the forthcoming DVDs "Earthshock," "The Two Doctors" and "The Curse of Fenric" from the BBC press package, along with the video package for the eventual release of "Invasion of the Dinosaurs" -- an updated cover illustration with much more clarity than our original posting -- and the June release of "Horns of Nimon". (Special thanks to Julian Knott and the folks at Zeta Minor for initial press reports!)

BBC Worldwide today, at long last, issued a massive 27-page press kit called "Doctor Who Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Style" with articles, cover illustrations and press information for its 2003 slate of videos, DVDs, audios and books. Also included in the press package were several feature articles including "It was 40 years ago today...", "Doctor Who Still Makes the Headlines," "Awards," "40 Fabulous Facts" and an article called "Doctor Who: Britain's Best-Loved Eccentric" by Andrew Beech. (And OG was mentioned as one of the primary Doctor Who informational sites.) Following are the three major sections of release information for the forthcoming year. (With special thanks to David Howe, Julian Knott and Steve Roberts)

Steve Roberts of the Doctor Who Restoration Team announced on the RT's forum an interesting discovery this week while trying to find a clean print of the Colin Baker title sequence. "Finally tracked down a clean copy of both the opening and closing sequences on a tape logged under the 'Revelation of the Daleks' programme number," says Roberts, "listed on the library system as containing Philpott File & Dr. Who Titles - which indeed it did. But what the computer failed to say was that it also included an 80 minute compilation of studio recording material from 'Revelation' - basically a loose pull-together of all the material which would require video effects treatment. This includes some of the film sequences, including clapperboards and alternate takes of the model shots of the destruction of Tranquil Repose. There's a lovely little shot of Davros having a drink of water between takes, a BBC paper cup clasped in his good hand..." Hopefully we'll see some of this on an upcoming DVD release in good time.

Dr Who's grandson ready to exterminate opposition is the headline for an article that appeared in the May 12Daily Telegraph online, focusing on Jim Troughton, cricket player and grandson of the late second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. Says the article: "When your grandfather has defeated the Daleks and scattered the Cybermen, the prospect of engaging battle with Australian cricketers is unlikely to send you cowering behind the sofa in terror. They may be a dastardly enemy but by the time the next Ashes series comes round, there is every chance England's hopes of victory against the fearsome forces from Down Under may be boosted by a new weapon in the shape of Jim Troughton's trusty willow." Read the rest of it by clicking here.

Doctor Who was voted the most missed television programme in the UK in a survey by the electrical retailer Dixons. 500 customers were asked to vote for the show they wished would come back, restricted to shows that they had not seen for five years. Doctor Who was at #1, followed by Dallas at #2, Blake's 7 at #3, The Goodies at #4 and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin at #5. The other shows on the list, in order: Just Good Friends, Starsky and Hutch, 3-2-1, Tiswas, Not the Nine O'clock News, Treasure Hunt, The Muppets, Rent-A-Ghost, The Waltons, Man About the House, Hong Kong Phooey, The Adventure Game, Mork and Mindy, Jim'll Fix It, and Bod. (Thanks to Guy Clapperton, Callum Macfarlane)

Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier's The Doctor Who Programme Guide, long a staple of Doctor Who collections worldwide, has finally been reprinted by iUniverse. Says the press release: "The Programme Guide first appeared in 1981, and immediately established itself as the single, most important reference work about Doctor Who, and was reissued / updated twice in 1989 and 1994. This fourth, revised edition was again updated to include the television movie starring Paul McGann. This new edition also restores the original foreword written by Barry Letts in 1981." Click on the cover illustration at right for a larger version. (Thanks to Jean-Marc Lofficier)

BBC 1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey has gone on record about the future of Doctor Who in a letter to controller Ian Wheeler of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society. In the letter, published in the new issue of DWAS' periodicalCelestial Toyroom, Heggessey says, "Dr. Who is a classic BBC format, beloved by millions, myself included! If there was a refreshing, affordable treatment for a new series avilable and we could navigate ourselves around some potentially troublesome rights' issue, then I would consider reviving the series. It's only a wish, there is nothing substantial to back things up so I don't want to raise false hopes with die-hard fans! Suffice to say that Dr Who has its fans among my commisioning team, most of whom spent the 70s behind the sofa on Saturday evenings too!" Wheeler tells Outpost Gallifrey, "I think Lorraine Heggessey's honesty is refreshing. It means we can enjoy the anniversary without worrying about whether there will or will not be a new series this year." In addition to the exclusive with Heggessey, the new CT features an interview with Paul McGann. (Thanks to Ian Wheeler/DWAS)

The British satellite channel UKGold is having two Doctor Who marathon days in May, on May 5 and 26, showing every complete Dalek story. Monday May 5's list is The Daleks (7:20am), The Dalek Invasion of Earth (10:45am), The Day of the Daleks (1:35pm), Planet of the Daleks (3:25pm) and Death to the Daleks (6:05pm). Monday May 26's schedule is Genesis of the Daleks (9:50am), Destiny of the Daleks (12:35pm), Resurrection of the Daleks (2:30pm), Revelation of the Daleks (4:20pm) and Remebrance of the Daleks (6:10pm). These are being broadcast from the standard masters (i.e. no remastering has been done). (Thanks to BBCi, Phillip Madeley)

The UK magazine "TV Zone" says that Earthshock, the Doctor Who story starring Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse, will be out in the UK on DVD on August 4. While "Earthshock" has been one of the DVDs touted for release this year, there has been nothing official to substantiate this. (Thanks to Carl Akers)