Missing Pieces: As noted in Doctor Who Magazine, "Missing Pieces" is a large-format Doctor Who fiction anthology, sold as a charity fundraiser equally divided for the Downs' Syndrome Association and the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death. Edited by Mark Phippen (creator & co-editor of "Perfect Timing") and Shaun Lyon (editor of Outpost Gallifrey), the book features an introduction by Peter Davison, an afterword by Sylvester McCoy and original fiction by Colin Bakerand Wendy Padbury. Over 30 professionally-published Dr. Who authors have participated in the collection, including Peter Anghelides, Trevor Baxendale, Arnold T. Blumberg, Colin Brake, Simon Bucher Jones, Jonathan Blum, Daniel Blythe, Stephen Cole, Martin Day, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Steve Emmerson, Craig Hinton, David J. Howe, Paul Leonard, Steve Lyons, Paul Magrs, David A. McIntee, Jon deBurgh Miller, Jonathan Morris, Jim Mortimore, Lance Parkin, Lars Pearson, John Peel, Gary Russell, Rob Shearman, Cavan Scott & Mark Wright, Dave Stone, Keith Topping, Mike Tucker and Nick Walters, as well as many prominent fan authors and illustrators. 380 pages, full color cover art by artist Nathan Skreslet, perfect bound. Ordering information is now available, visit http://www.gallifreyone.com/pieces.htm. The book was launched at the Gallifrey 2001 convention; the first group of 250 orders has been fulfilled, and the second batch is currently being shipped. A third batch is planned for the summer.

Walking In Eternity: A new charity fiction anthology edited by Julian Eales, with contributions from Doctor Who authors Stephen Gallagher ("Terminus" and "Warriors' Gate"), Paul Magrs, Mark Clapham, Simon Bucher-Jones, Mark Michalowski, Kelly Hale, David Bishop, Jon DeBurgh Miller, Lance Parkin and Dave Stone plus many other authors. The book is a new benefit collection for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death. For more information, emailwalkingineternity@ntlworld.com.

Time Space Visualiser 62: The latest issue of TSV is now out, and features a whole host of features, including an interview with Colin Baker, the first part of an interview with Big Finish producer Gary Russell covering the McGann stories and more, Andrew Pixley examines cut scenes from the Spearhead from Space camera script, the first of a three-part tenth anniversary overview of the New Adventures, the Beyond the Sofa boys reappraise The Tenth Planet and Attack of the Cybermen, the Pertwee era reviewed, the Karkus takes on a War Machine and Pex finds out the truth about Cyberleader Krang... all this and more in this 92 page A5 zine from the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club - available to fans worldwide. For ordering details, visit www.doctorwho.org.nz.

The McGannzine: Everything you could want to know about the Big Finish Eighth Doctor audios and more... in a new UK fan magazine. "The McGannzine" features interviews with all of the writers of the first Eighth Doctor series, India Fisher and Michael Sheard; the original plans for a companion - named Kirsty; which story had a working title; how the final cut of a story is assembled; how covers are designed; and much, much more, in 40 A5 packed pages of fanzine fun! Order information is available via email to univex@ksmith.demon.co.uk or, for more information, write Kenny Smith, 15 Burncleuch Avenue, Cambuslang, Glasgow, G72 8NU UK.

Eye of Orion 7: After a slightly longer hiatus than the editors intended (although not quite as long as the 1985/86 one in the series), EYE of ORION issue #7 is now available. There's the continuation of the comic strip, written by Paul Castle and drawn by Alex Naylor as well as fiction by Jonathan W Dennis, Helen Fayle, Alison Jacobs and Mark Phippen. Features include reviews of _The Cat Who Walked Through Time_ and the first year's Big Finish output. Phil Pursar-Hallard examines the EDA's 'Compassion Arc' and articles by Matt Michael and Simon Bucher-Jones looking at two different aspects of _The Twin Dilemma_. Plus the EYE's readers discuss whether DOCTOR WHO is still a unified series, and our usual variety of drabbles and more. Issue #7 is 48 pages, A5, b&w. A full listing of the main fiction and articles can be found at our new website: www.eyeoforion.plus.com.

Trenchcoat Finale: The Trenchcoat Farewell Project -- started to close the book on the ten-year-old Trenchcoat/Ninth Aspect fanzine series -- will reprint and remaster the 33 alternate eighth and ninth Doctor stories in the five published fanzines plus eleven other stories that would have appeared in two additional issues that were never finished. With redone artwork, the issue will be released as a single, 800 page hardbound volume; the Project hopes to see release this coming September. For more information, visit www.sitehouse.net/trenchcoat or email jamesbow@home.com.

Ten Years of Doctor Who Novels: A special issue of Enlightenment, the fanzine of the Doctor Who Information Network. "Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the publication of original Doctor Who novels (in the New Adventures and the Eighth Doctor Adventures), this extra-sized edition, features year-by-year reviews of the past decade's books by some of North American Who fandom's best reviewers; a look at some of the strengths of the series; an assessment of the Seventh Doctor's character as portrayed in the New Adventures; an analysis of the effect the books has had on fan fiction; and an interview with author (and future Enlightenment columnist) Lance Parkin. You're not likely to find this much coverage of this event anywhere else this year!" For more ordering information, email ggburk@aol.com.

The Six Minute UNIT Files: The Curse of the Vampire: The latest Six Minute Movie (a series of 6-minute fan videos) is from BTR Productions, an Australian group. "After hearing disturbing reports from a "friend of a friend" of unearthly occurrences, Professor Jennifer Langard and Captain Rainor Vance of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce decide it's time these reports were investigated...." For more info, or to view it online (at a site hosted by the Federation), visitfedvideo.net/6m2/unitcurse.htm.

Fan Produced Documentaries:

Davros Box Set Release: A special video release, specifically for one of the major chain retailers in the UK (but, as stated by the Restoration team, definitely not Woolworths), of the five Davros stories already in release on BBC Video: Genesis of the Daleks, Destiny of the Daleks, Resurrection of the Daleks, Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks. This is not an official BBC Video release, but instead was prepared by BBC Worldwide at the request of the retailer as a special. (Thanks to Nigel Potter)

Calling All Researchers!: Paul Vanezis of the Restoration Team has put out the following call for action: "I've had a message that Patrick Troughton episodes were screened on Channel 9, a CBS affiliate in Washington DC in the late sixties/early seventies. The report comes from someone who remembers seeing 'The Wheel in Space' after school (round about 4pm)and that Gilligans Island re-runs had just been introduced. The person also remembers that these programmes were replaced with an afternoon film some time later, one of which was 'The Creature from the Black Lagoon'. Are there any US TV researchers out there who have access to TV listings from around about then? We're talking about 1969, possibly 1970. It's also worth pointing out that I have contacted the TV station (now WUSA-TV) who say they did not screen the episodes and do not have any copies. Also, our scant records indicate that the series was not sold to this market at that time." If you have any information that can be provided to the Restoration Team, please visit the Restoration Team Discussion Forum.

UK TV Movie Video In Deletion: Says Steve Roberts of the Restoration Team, "UK fans should be aware that the VHS version of the McGann TV movie is about to be withdrawn and deleted. This is because the unedited DVD is shortly to be released and will have a higher certificate. BBFC rules currently don't allow a title to be available in two different certificated versions at the same time." The DVD will be out in the autumn in the UK; no word on Australia/New Zealand release. (A North American release of the TV movie in any format is unlikely.)

Australia Video Update: The Sunmakers will see release in September, with Four to Doomsday in November. However, at this stage, Roadshow has no plans to release Delta and the Bannermen, as BBC Worldwide have not made clearances for certain pieces of music, performed during the story, outside the UK market. The practical conclusion is that the story will not see video release in Australia (for the foreseeable future at least), with the only way of purchasing this story being direct from the UK. (Thanks to Jason Fraser & Dr. Who Club of Australia)

Blackstar Video Promotion: UK video retailer Blackstar is running a special Doctor Who promotion with reduced-rate Doctor Who titles selling for the low price of only £7.99. The stories on sale include An Unearthly Child (remastered edition), The Edge of Destruction/Original Pilot, Carnival of Monsters, Horror of Fang Rock, The Face of Evil, Nightmare of Eden, Time Flight, The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Silver Nemesis and Battlefield as well as The Colin Baker Years and More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS. Click on the graphic to visit their site!

2001 UK Releases: "Delta and the Bannermen," originally scheduled for early March, is now due for release on March 26. Tenth Planet has arranged for a special pre-release on March 10; videos will be in stores on the regular date after that. A re-release of "City of Death" (Tom Baker) is planned for May 7, 2001. July 9, 2001 is the new confirmed release date for "The Sunmakers", the Tom Baker season 15 story. After that, the final unreleased Peter Davison story "Four to Doomsday" is on the schedule for September 3, 2001. The BBC's official website is now confirming our earlier report that "Colony in Space" and "The Time Monster," both Jon Pertwee serials, will be released in a package together on November 5, 2001 as "The Master Box Set". A possible Patrick Troughton clips tape and a compilation of episodes from missing stories remastered in better format is rumored to be planned for 2002. (Thanks to Doctor Who Magazine and the BBC Official Website for much of this info.)

North American Release Update: "The Tenth Planet" starring William Hartnell was released on May 8 (instead of being part of a twin release with "Attack of the Cybermen," it is being released separately here.) With the release of "Tenth Planet," BBC Worldwide Americas has officially put its VHS video releases for the remainder of 2001 on hold while they concentrate more fully on DVD (see section below), and so the planned releases of "The Daleks: Remastered" and "Attack of the Cybermen" have been held. They may be released in late 2001, but at this point are not on the 2001 schedule. (Thanks to our contact at BBC Worldwide Americas for the release information.)

Edge of Destruction - North America Re-release: The "Edge of Destruction, Original Pilot & Missing Years" tape has been re-released by BBC Worldwide in America; it is being spotted across North America at retail shops. Warner Home Video has reclassified this new release as E1578 (the older release # being E1497); to avoid the cost of printing new sleeves, the new catalog number is stickered on the back of the sleeves. The original version was released with substantial errors, including the broadcast version of "An Unearthly Child" and the syndicated master of "Edge of Destruction" rather than the home video master. (A good way to tell from the tape: the second episode of "Edge" on bad tapes is missing the lead-in to "Marco Polo".) (Thanks to Graeme Burk, Matt O'Grady, Steve Roberts, Steve Manfred and BBCWA.)

More Rumors About New Series Persist: Rumors are flying concerning possible plans for a new Doctor Who series. Outpost Gallifrey confirmed in late May that at least one proposal had been submitted to the BBC by a name fairly well-known in Doctor Who circles of late, and that the proposal was specifically requested from this individual by internal BBC executives. Dan Freedman, the person behind the "Death Comes to Time" BBC Radio proposal, has revealed little information other than vague hints on the BBC's official site discussion forum, though it has become fairly well known now that Freedman is indeed behind one of these proposals. Meanwhile, SFX magazine reports in their newest issue that they have heard rumors about a possible revival of the series timed to coincide with the series' 40th anniversary in the fall of 2003. SFX makes note that some BBC officials have been well aware of the interest surrounding possible plans for a film project, while at least one report out of the BBC suggests that they have become aware of the apathy about a film (as opposed to a series). What is certain is that the BBC is planning something to mark the anniversary, though what sort of event this ultimately turns out to be is uncertain. We'll keep you posted.

Here We Go Again...: Various internet sites are reporting that a Doctor Who film announcement may be imminent, based upon a variety of purely coincidental happenings. First, the BBC Films bureau announced at Cannes in early May that they had secured over 100 million pounds for funding of several big-budget film projects, though Doctor Who was never specifically mentioned, and that they had secured film deals with Cobalt Media Group. Cinescape Online recently featured a story which suggested (based, as far as we can tell, on earlier rumors) that this might include Doctor Who. The reports (erroneously) state that Doctor Who toy merchandiser Dapol has been instructed not to release any new merchandise (stating that, coincidentally, this same sort of thing happened before the 1996 TV movie) but Dapol has denied this; see "Miscellaneous" below. We stress that (a) yes, we've heard all of this, and (b) we've heard it before; see the report "And Yet... It May Happen" below.

Hugh Grant is Not The Doctor: Various news sources reported in mid April that actor Hugh Grant (who already participated in a Doctor Who story, the 1999 Comic Relief parody "The Curse of Fatal Death") had been approached to star as the Doctor in a forthcoming feature film. The report was subsequently picked up by a variety of respectable sources including BBC America and MSN. There is no truth to this... Hugh Grant's publicity office told the online magazine Empire Online that it was all news to him. "I spoke to Hugh and he hasn't heard anything about it at all," Karin Smith, Grant's representative at his film company, Simian Films, told Empire. "It's a hypothetical question, so I couldn't comment on that." The BBC later completely denied the story. (With thanks to the multitude of readers who emailed us in the past 24 hours about this...)

Story Arcs Continue: BBC editor Justin Richards revealed to DWM that "a shocking new series of twists and turns" is part of the current commission series of Eighth Doctor books for the latter half of 2001, leading up to the BBC's 100th DW novel released in January 2002.

Cover Redesign?: A redesign of the BBC books' covers in the near future is now inevitable. BBC Worldwide wants to revamp the covers to bring them more in line with the DVD covers (which, by reactions elsewhere on the web, are almost universally hated). This report is confirmed in Doctor Who Magazine #299, which states that the covers will be changing beginning with the April books, though we have received word that this is not the case, and instead will be featured later in the year. "Eater of Wasps" was supposed to feature the new book design, however, the regular artwork has been seen for it. Indeed, preliminary cover art sent to authors for books in release later in 2001 feature the same design as before, and our best information suggests that if it does happen, which seems likely, it wouldn't be until late in 2001 at the very earliest. We can also tell you that editor Justin Richards and associate editor Jacqueline Rayner have no input on this, so emails of complaint to BBC Books apparently will do nothing, sorry! Though other pages have stated that their sources claim that this is not happening, we have been informed by BBC Books that it is. Stay tuned.

The Five Missing Books: Five Doctor Who novels from BBC Books went unreleased in 2000 due to computer glitches at the North American distributors, London Bridge: "The Ancestor Cell," "The Burning," "Heart of TARDIS," "The Banquo Legacy" and "Prime Time". After repeated delays, London Bridge assured retailers that these books would be released in 2001. The impasse seems to be subsiding as "The Banquo Legacy" is now available to retailers and is being seen in shops across the US. Further rumors of delays -- including an error on Amazon.com that suggests that "The Quantum Archangel" is not available until December 2001 in the US and Canada -- are incorrect, as all BBC books to the February installments ("Escape Velocity" and "Archangel") have been released.
     Meanwhile, author Dave Stone has taken the ball, so to speak. "Free the Fatal Five" T-shirts and other merchandise are now available via the CafePress website, with a logo created by Stone (the author of one of the five books in question, "Heart of TARDIS"). As of April 27, all five books are now widely available in North America.

And Welcome "The Near-Fatal Sixth": "The Shadow in the Glass", the April 2001 BBC Past Doctor novel by Justin Richards and Stephen Cole that was a last minute replacement for Gary Russell's delayed "Instruments of Darkness" has ended up caught in the paperwork crossfire in North America. London Bridge was informed by Ken Barr of Ambrosia Books that the novel's release had occurred in Britain; the London Bridge retail representative corrected the release date -- to a fashion. Retail outlets are now able to order the book as of April for a limited time; however, after early May, the book will be withdrawn and held to its new "proper" release date, July 2001. If you wish to receive this book in April, your local bookstore can order the book with the ISBN number: 0563538384; tell them it is not listed in Books in Print but is available for order from the London Bridge distributor.

New BBC Submissions Guidelines Online: BBC Books has shared with Outpost Gallifrey the latest version of the submission guidelines for prospective Doctor Who fiction. Check it out by clicking here. (Thanks to Jac Rayner.)

BBC Book Release Notes (Fiction) (Some information thanks to Justin Richards and Jac Rayner of BBC Books):

Author Updates: Some of the more interesting things happening with some of your favorite Doctor Who authors nowadays (some courtesy Henry Potts and other correspondents):

Jack Watling, father of actress Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield) and Doctor Who guest actor (as Professor Jack Travers in "The Abominable Snowmen" and "The Web of Fear") died on May 22. Watling, a long-serving actor in British film and television, had been battling cancer. A family spokesman has asked that any condolence letters to Debbie Watling and their family be sent to debwatling@aol.com and that they will be passed on as soon as possible.

Norman Kay, opera composer, critic and music director -- and composer of Doctor Who scores during the William Hartnell era -- died on May 12 at age 76. The obituary is at www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,60-203018,00.html. (Thanks to Matthew Kilburn)

Tom Baker's brand new-look website recently relaunched. You can visit it at www.tom-baker.com. There's a fairly active message board, a fan area, merchandise and more.

Douglas Adams, former screenwriter for and script editor of Doctor Who and the author of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, one of the most prominent and best-loved science fiction satires in modern literature, died on Friday, May 11 of an apparent heart attack after collapsing at a gym near his home in Santa Barbara, California. The man who brought the very familiar concepts of "42" as the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything, the Infinite Improbability Drive, Milliways and Earth's status as mostly harmless, "was not ill," Elizabeth Gibson, a family friend, told the Associated Press. "This was completely unexpected." Adams' most famous creation began as a BBC radio series in 1978; twelve episodes were produced with the irascible Arthur Dent, ex-president Zaphod Beeblebrox and aloof Ford Prefect. The radio series later was adapted to television as well as into a novel, which sold 14 million copies around the world; four additional sequels were written by Adams -- "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe," "Life, The Universe and Everything" (which had started off as a concept for a Doctor Who proposal, "Doctor Who and the Krikketmen"), "So Long and Thanks For All the Fish" and "Mostly Harmless" -- as well as a best-selling Infocom text adventure for the computer in the 1980's and a plethora of media tie-ins. Earlier, Adams had penned the Doctor Who story "The Pirate Planet" starring Tom Baker which had opened doors for him at the BBC; he later joined the series as its script editor during the 17th season and wrote the screenplays for "Shada," the untransmitted story from the tail end of that season, as well as "City of Death," arguably one of the most popular stories of the entire run of the series (and also, according to viewing figures, its highest-rated ever.) Geoffrey Perkins, the BBC's head of comedy, told the Associated Press that Adams was "absolutely one of the most creative geniuses to ever work in radio comedy... He probably wrote one of the greatest radio comedy series ever, certainly the most imaginative." Adams was born in Cambridge, England in 1952 and worked both on many high-profile and long-forgotten serials. He followed "Hitchhikers" and his stint on Doctor Who with "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" and "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul" featuring new characters (though parts of the stories were borrowed from his earlier Who stories); a book about endangered species, "Last Chance to See"; and with John Lloyd, the alternative dictionary "The Meaning of Liff". Adams also founded a multimedia company called Digital Village, for which he created a computer game, "Starship Titanic". Adams had been working on and off for several years on a "Hitchhikers" feature with director Jay Roach ("Austin Powers") and was a fervent supporter of the Macintosh computer, as he had become a spokesperson in later years. He is survived by his wife, lawyer Jane Belson, and six year old daughter Polly. Science fiction fans across the world -- including this editor, a huge fan of his works -- mourn his passing.

Sophie Aldred is opening her own website at www.sophiealdred.com - it's nothing but a title page now, but will feature all sorts of things in the months to come including the pilot trailer for "Death Comes to Time".

Forthcoming Who Audio Releases: BBC Audio has released "The Myth Makers," the audio track of the lost William Hartnell Season 3 story narrated by Peter Purves; and a CD rerelease of "Slipback," the Eric Saward-penned BBC Radio play from the 1980's starring Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Valentine Dyall and Jane Carr. "The Celestial Toymaker" starring William Hartnell and narrated by Peter Purves (linking narration written by Michael Stevens), and "The Moonbase"starring Patrick Troughton and narrated by Frazer Hines (linking narration written by Sue Cowley) are slated for release in April 2001. Then in July 2001, "The Abominable Snowmen" starring Patrick Troughton, narrated by Frazer Hines from linking narration by Michael Stevens, will be released, as will a double set, "Genesis of the Daleks/Exploration Earth: The Time Machine", containing both the 1979 abridged version narrated by Tom Baker as well as the 1976 radio documentary about the origins of Earth starring Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen. Neither were expected to be released on CD. Then, the big one: October 2001 will see the release of "The Daleks' Master Plan", including all 12 episodes of the William Hartnell classic as well as the one-episode story "Mission to the Unknown," fully remastered with linking narration by Sue Cowley and read by Peter Purves, likely in a five-CD jumbo jewel case with a souvenir booklet (though this may change at any point before release). Finally, January 2002 will see the release of "The Savages" starring William Hartnell, likely narrated by Peter Purves, and "The Faceless Ones" starring Patrick Troughton, likely narrated by Frazer Hines. Also, later in 2002 will likely see the releases of "The Smugglers" starring William Hartnell and "The Underwater Menace" starring Patrick Troughton, both fully remastered and likely featuring linking narration by Anneke Wills (Polly); Ms. Wills confirmed this to fans at the Bluebox IV convention, but Outpost Gallifrey has been told that neither of these releases are as yet confirmed and no contracts have been signed. (Thanks to Michael Stevens, Stephen James Walker, Doctor Who Magazine, David Brunt, Andrew Meadows)

Australia Release Information: ABC Audio, distributors of the BBC Radio Collection range of audio CDs and cassettes have announced that "The Celestial Toymaker" and "The Moonbase" missing audios will be released in June. Based on past experience, this means that missing audios will be released every three months, with an average two month delay from the UK release dates. (Thanks to Jason Fraser & Dr. Who Club of Australia)

Possible 2002 Audio Releases: Additionally, according to the BBC's official website, the following stories are under consideration for release in 2002: "The Space Pirates," "Enemy of the World," "The Evil of the Daleks," "The Wheel in Space" and "Marco Polo" (which may be on the schedule for later in 2002; no official confirmation has been forthcoming).

A History of the Doctor Who Theme: Ayres has also presented a hefty research article on his website devoted to the history of the theme music. You can visit it at ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Mark_Ayres/DWTheme.htm.

Vote For The Greatest TV Character: The UK's Channel 4 is conducting an online survey to determine who the "greatest TV character" of all time is. You can cast your vote (and we'd hope it would be for The Doctor, #94 on the list), at www.channel4.com/100_tvs/vote.cfm. (Thanks to a bunch of people for letting us know!)

Museum Curators Looking for Items: The Letchworth Museum & Art Gallery, a local authority museum in North Hertfordshire, is looking for Doctor Who display items. "Every summer we put on a popular exhibition for all the family, and this summer we intend to organize one on Dr Who. We are hoping to borrow all kinds of Dr Who items from collectors. Everything we borrow will be insured, and displayed in locked showcases, in a large gallery which is also covered by CCTV. The exhibition will run from mid-July through August. We also hope to have a really big opening day, with one of the Doctors, and lots of merchandise on sale. If you know anyone who might like to lend from their collection, I'd be really grateful if they could e-mail me at the museum." For information, email letchworth.museum@nhdc.gov.uk. (Thanks to Mark Campbell)

Doctor Who in the Dome?: BBC Worldwide, is in discussions with partners (thought to include the Tussauds group) to enter the race for the Millenium Dome, with plans to re-open the site as a visitor attraction based on the BBC's most popular television characters. Any financial input into the project would come from the corporations commercial arm, rather than out of license payers money. (Thanks to Doctor Who Shop)

Orbital To Do Second Who Theme: Orbital will be releasing a new version of the Doctor Who theme tune on their new forthcoming album. The Altogether is expected to be released on 16th April. (Thanks to Doctor Who Shop)

Own Your Own K-9: This Planet Earth, responsible for full scale Dalek and TARDIS products, have added K9 to their range, licensed by BBC Worldwide. Priced at a rather expensive Ј795 plus postage, the offer is currently only available in the UK. Says the press release: "As in the original, K9 is constructed mainly in fibreglass. In order to accommodate the remote control unit (planned for the second quarter of 2001) K9 is fitted with an MDF base and four small castors. This base is removable. K9's purchased now will be compatible with the add-on remote control kit which will be a base board with the motors and wheels etc fitted to the board. The lights etc on K9 are non-operational. The FUTURE REMOTE CONTROL ADD-ON will feature forwards, backwards, left and right motion only. This is for reliability reasons. We are selling large volumes of K9 and therefore wish to eliminate any potential problems with failure of additional features. The original BBC K9 was renowned for needing repairs very regularly on the set. However there is scope within the design of the K9 that we produce to enable the customer to fit their own additional features. A dog tag is supplied with K9. K9's head is in a fixed position." For more information, visit www.thisplanetearth.co.uk/. (Thanks to Doctor Who Shop)

Dalek Rolykins: Product Enterprises have announced some new Rolykins toys for 2001. Included will be a movie Dalek released this summer, and a seven-inch talking Dalek which will make use of new chip technology; both will come available in three different colours, with classic voice commands and flashing lights. The company will also feature a new website in the coming months to advertise their products. (Thanks to Doctor Who Shop)

Dead Ringers Update: The BBC's official Doctor Who site has put up a new page dedicated to the parodies from this radio series at www.bbc.co.uk/cult/doctorwho/deadringers/index.shtml. The popular radio comedy series returns this week in the UK, and, as before, features a wickedly accurate impression of Tom Baker making strange phone calls to unsuspecting members of the public and celebrities. The series airs on Fridays at 6.30pm on Radio 4, and is repeated on Saturdays at 12.30pm. (Thanks to the official BBC website, and to James Goss at BBC Cult for the link information)

First Day Covers: More new stamps were released recently. Two new ones, "UNIT ReUnited" features images of Benton, Yates, the Brigadier and the Fourth Doctor, with their original signatures; the other features Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor with his signature. Both are limited to 1500 copies and are seen below. Others have included: Tom Baker and artist Chris Achilleos, featuring Achilleos' his first new montage design since 1983; "The Assistants United" featuring signatures from seven former companions; one with all seven Doctors; one featuring Sylvester McCoy; and one focusing on Tom Baker. A launch for the UNIT cover is planned for 12th April when Tom Baker, John Levene and Richard Franklin will be present at the Stamp Centre. Information is available at http://stamp-centre.co.uk. The following is the artwork for two recent stamps, followed by five previous issues below that; click anywhere to enlarge them. (Special thanks to Nigel Potter at Gallifrey 5)

Porcelain Figures: Classic Sheercast have issued the first in a BBC licensed series of limited edition porcelain figures - William Hartnell as the Doctor. All seven BBC Doctors will eventually join the range. There's a website for more information at http://www.doctorwhofigures.co.uk. They've also got a limited edition set of busts out as well, go to http://www.doctorwhofigures.co.uk/busts.html for those.

Dalek Empire: At last, long-rumored "Dalek Empire" audio plans from Big Finish appear to be true. Four new Dalek Empire audio plays are set to be released next year. Although linking into this year's three Dalek adventures these new plays "will be completely Doctorless and promise to evoke some of the spirit of the fondly remembered Dalek annuals and strips of the Sixties and Seventies." Nicholas Briggs will be directing and writing all four plays "so expect them all to be closely linked with many of the same characters appearing in each story." The new Dalek Empire plays will be released in June, July, October and November 2001.

Kaldor City: A new audio adventure series spun off from both "Blake's 7" and the world of the DW story "Robots of Death" (and its novel sequel, "Corpse Marker"). Currently in production, Chris Boucher (author of "The Robots of Death" and two BBC novels with the Fourth Doctor and Leela) and Alistair Lock (sound engineer for Big Finish) are involved with the project, which is being put together by Alan Stevens (who was responsible for The Mark of Kane, The Logic of Empire and Travis: The Final Act). The first story, called Occam's Razor has been written by Alan Stevens and Jim Smith. The second story is entitled Death's Head and is writen by Chris Boucher. Stars Paul Darrow (Kaston Iago), Scott Fredericks (Carnell; the actor reprises this role from "Blake's 7"), Russell Hunter (Captain Uvanov, reprisal of role from "Robots of Death"), Trevor Cooper (Rull), Brian Croucher (Cotton), Peter Miles (Landerchild), Peter Tuddenham (Strecker) and Patricia Merrick (Justina). Release is expected in early 2001. For more info visit www.hermit.org/Blakes7/news/Kaldor.html. (Thanks to Chris Sutor and DavrosDW)

Layton's Mission: A new audio production starring Anneke Wills (Polly), Michael Wade and Bryonie Pritchard, "Layton's Mission" is a science fiction story with intrigue and suspense. For more information, visit www.whap.fsbusiness.co.uk.

BF Welcomes Iris Wildthyme: Big Finish will debut a third series of Who-related merchandise in 2001, as announced on their website. Iris Wildthyme, the popular character featured in several BBC books written by author Paul Magrs, will feature in her own book and audio series from BF. Wildthyme, a fellow renegade Time Lord who has enjoyed a long-standing tryst with the Doctor (and has encountered him in several incarnations), will debut in a book written by Magrs, along with an audio play written by Stephen Cole. No casting or release date information has yet been posted.

A New Beginning for the Benny Summerfield Adventures: Paul Cornell, who owns the rights to the character, advised on an anthology that kicks off the new publishing foray; all books and audios will now have the moniker "Professor Bernice Summerfield And..." before the name of each production. They will not be called New Adventures, however, as BF only has the rights to certain individual characters and not many of the other creations in the earlier Virgin book range. Says the new website: "And so, we now prepare to pick up the story of her life, and those around her, some time later- at the dawn of the twenty-seventh century in fact. Benny has now set up home on The Braxiatel Collection, a small planetoid that her old chum and fellow academic Irving Braxiatel has created to house what is, probably, the biggest and best collection of... well things that people with money collect, in the galaxy. Scholars, researchers and interested parties the cosmos over flock to The Braxiatel Collection to see the art, literature, history and science on display there. Or they will, when Irving gets around to actually finishing it." Meanwhile, a new series of Benny audio plays will be issued bi-monthly, alternating with the novels. These new stories will not be adaptations from Virgin Books. Paul Cornell may be editing a second anthology in 2001, with an open submissions policy.

The new website for the releases is located at www.bernicesummerfield.com.

Regeneration: The long-delayed "Regeneration" hardcover book by Philip Segal and Gary Russell is now in release from HarperCollins Press. A soft-cover version is being planned for release in July; we have been told that the authors are attempting to correct small bits of incorrect information in the earlier release. Non-UK international release is currently planned; this is a correction to earlier reports that only import shops could get the book. "Regeneration," a book about the production of the 1996 Doctor Who movie (Segal was the executive producer and driving force behind the film), was originally scheduled to be printed in 1999 by Virgin Publishing, but Virgin shelved it after the final draft of the book was turned in. (Thanks to Richard Bignell, Philip Segal and Gary Russell)

Campaign: Jim Mortimore's now-canceled Doctor Who novel is available as a fan-published, bound volume direct from the author. The book, which was canceled by BBC Books due to contractual reasons, is available priced UK 5.99 (paperback) or UK 12.99 (hardback) plus UK 3.00 postage from Jim Mortimore, 27 Colston Rd, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6AA. "Add 5.00 P&P for overseas," says Mortimore, "and if it's any different I'll sort 'em out on an individual basis when I go to the post office." Says online rep John Parkinson: "If people aren't sure I'd suggest getting an NA and weighing it, then add a bit extra weight for packaging and use some method (I think the RoyalMail website has details) to work out how much it should cost to ship to the country of your choice." A thumbnail of the cover art is available on the Forthcoming Releases page. Further information on ordering this volume can be obtained directly from Jim Mortimore at jimmortimore@jimbo98.freeserve.co.uk (email address given with permission of Mr. Mortimore). Additionally, Ambrosia Books in California has this book in stock, signed by the author.

The Doctor Who Scripts: BBC Books will be publishing the first of what is hoped to be an ongoing series, "Season 12: The Scripts"; Justin Richards is contributing editor, Barnaby Harsent is co-editor and Andrew Pixley is the book consultant. According to Richards, the book will be "heavily illustrated in both black and white and colour. There will be complete camera scripts (not the camera instructions though) for each of the season 12 stories, plus 'front matter' consisting of a review, background production notes, transmission, cast & crew details, etc. Each script will be heavily annotated to show deletions, additions and specific production details". The book was to be published in November 2000, but has been delayed due to clearance delays and other, more recent, publishing delays. According to Justin Richards, the book is to be released in the Autumn of 2001, not in April as the BBC Worldwide press release says. (It also says the background info is all coming from In-Vision, and that isn't true either, though IN-VISION will be one of the major sources.)

I, Who 2 On Horizon: After the success of the first volume, author Lars Pearson has announced "I, Who 2," the sequel to the original "I, Who: The Unauthorized Guide to Doctor Who Novels". The reference work is expected sometime in 2001 and will include books published after the ones in the first volume, as well as additional adventures (such as "The Masters of Luxor," the unfilmed Hartnell story), the realm of DW comic adventures, and even covering some of the charity fiction anthologies of late.

The Doctor's Effects: Author Steve Cambden's follow-up book to "The Doctor's Affect" is now complete and at the printers, and will be available in mid-2001. Says correspondent Richard Bignell: "Steve had hoped to make this a large format book, but he's had to scale this down somewhat, so it will now be the same size as his previous book, 'The Doctor's Affect' - only with more illustrations and photographs." To preorder the book, visit www.alphawaves.net/doctor/.

Doctor Who Location Filming: Author Richard Bignell is currently finishing a licensed book on Doctor Who location filming for Reynolds & Hearn, which will be available by the end of 2001; details forthcoming.