Big Finish has released several new cover illustrations for its forthcoming fall releases. At bottom left is the cover illustration for Zagreus, the 40th anniversary three-CD set starring Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker and Peter Davison and a host of other Doctor Who performers. Next is the cover illustration for Exile, the final Unboundserial starring Arabella Weir as the Doctor. The "Zagreus" cover art is duplicated on the Doctor Who: The Inside Story hardcover book release featuring an inside look at the making of all of the Doctor Who audios; and finally, the cover for the next Short Trips short fiction anthology, Short Trips 5: Steel Skies, for which the cover blurb is available below. Click each thumbnail for a larger version.

Human League lead singer Philip Oakey will be offered the role... or so says the League Online website, although we suspect that it's a bit of publicity without merit. The article says that the Human League may be offered the possibility to update the "world-famous theme tune" (again, probably a bit early and likely simply speculative!) Oakey is said to be a massive Doctor Who fan; in fact, the B-side of one of their early singles was in fact caled "Tom Baker". (Thanks for the September 27 stories, by the way, to Peter Ware, Chuck Foster, Russ Merryman, Craig Hinton, Neil Billinness, Matthew Wood)

The following are links to the media coverage of the announcement of the new Doctor Who series:

The word has crossed all of the news services; the BBCi Doctor Who page updated; breakfast-time shows in the UK have been running the story all morning. Even CNN's international edition features the story on its front page. Outpost Gallifrey (and our Forums) have been flooded with readers new and old. We continue to monitor for new information.

Says the BBC's official press release, "No budget has been set for the new series; the number of episodes and their duration is under discussion. It will be a family show, but no details are available as to when it will be scheduled." Outpost Gallifrey has reason to believe that the six episode quote from the Telegraph article may be incorrect, and the number of episodes may even eventually be higher than that. We'll keep you posted.

The Irish Examiner has picked up the story with new quotes from Mal Young, BBC controller of continuing drama series. "It's time to crank up the Tardis and find out what lies in store for the Doctor," says Young. "We're thrilled to have a writer of Russell's calibre to take us on this journey. However we're a the very early stages of development and further details including casting will not be available for some time." We've also received reports from folks online that Sky News Radio Overnight has reported the story but it's not yet on their web service.

BBC News confirms the story; see top of this article for details. The story confirms that BBC Wales Head of Drama Julie Gardner will executive produce with Davies and Mal Young. "Russell is one of Wales's leading TV writers. It will be a thrill for BBC Wales to work with him on such a landmark TV series," Gardner is quoted as saying. "This is very early days and it is unlikely anything will be on screen for at least two years but it is very exciting and I can't wait to get started."

The Ananova newswire service (often spurious with its information) features another report that just crossed the wires: "Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies is the bookies' favourite to become the new Dr Who. ... William Hill have made Alan Davies 8/1 favourite to land the role of the Doctor. Richard E Grant is second favourite followed by Sean Pertwee - whose dad, Jon, played the time lord in the 1970s. Other names in the frame include Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart and Cold Feet star James Nesbitt. And Lenny Henry is 33/1 to become the first black Dr Who in the show's 30 year history." Speculation, of course, but it's speculation about a confirmed new series so why quibble? (Thanks to Steve Freestone!)

The story broke in the Friday morning London Daily Telegraph newspaper, whose webservice featured a headline article (already released to their web service) entitled Doctor Who ready to come out of the Tardis for Saturday TV series by Tom Leonard, Media Editor - an article that hit shortly before midnight UK time Thursday evening. Outpost Gallifrey had received a few emails over the past week hinting that something "was soon to be announced" but waited until the news hit Thursday evening in North America as the Telegraph's article was released, and then we heard that numerous Doctor Who experts such as Mark Campbell ("Pocket Essentials: Doctor Who") and the editors of Doctor Who Magazine were contacted for comment. Shortly after 0400 GMT, BBC News confirmed the story, which has now been carried on most major UK, US and Australia news services (including CNN, MSNBC, ITN News, Associated Press and Reuters).
          The Telegraph article, which was first on the story, said that "in a move that heralds the most eagerly anticipated comeback in television history, BBC1 said yesterday that it is developing a new series of the sci-fi classic," which BBC News confirms will be produced by BBC Wales for BBC-1 Television. But, says the article, "in a development that may alarm purists, the new series is being written by Russell T Davies, the creator of Queer As Folk, the controversial Channel 4 drama about gay life in Manchester, and Bob and Rose, an ITV drama about a homosexual man falling for a straight woman," among his many other television credits, which also include "Second Coming," "Touching Evil," "Springhill" and "The House of Windsor"... and, of course, the Doctor Who: The New Adventures novel "Damaged Goods" for Virgin Publishing. (Davies was also mentioned several years ago as a possible bidder for a new series, a prospect that obviously stayed a possibility...) Davies says he wants to 'introduce the character to a modern audience'. It will also be limited, at this time, to one six-part series, says at least one report.
          Lorraine Heggessey, controller of BBC-1 and a recent champion of Doctor Who, is apparently completely supportive of the whole thing (though she makes note that the Doctor will not be gay, despite the subject matter of the writer's previous material, noting that Davies was chosen because of his knowledge of Doctor Who and experience in television. Heggessey also apparently says in the article that it is "too early to say which of the Doctor's most famous enemies, who include the Cybermen, the Master and the Sea Devils, would return, but insiders said it was unthinkable that the Daleks would not be trundling back into action." Casting has not been undertaken at press time but the article mentions Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann and Alan Davies as possible choices. Heggessey then discusses the rights issues. "Worldwide has now agreed," she says, "that, as they haven't made the film and I've been waiting for two years, it's only right that BBC1 should have a crack at making a series." The series is not likely be be broadcast before 2005. Says Davies: "The new series will be fun, exciting, contemporary and scary."
          The Daily Telegraph article can be read online by clicking here (you have to register, but it's free); the BBCi News report confirming the story is located here. Other news services have been picking up the story over the past few hours... only confirming what we've suspected since word first broke: that Doctor Who fans truly have cause for celebration today.

Doctor Who is the big winner of the latest Radio Times poll asking which show readers would like revived, according to a report circulating this morning on the Ananova web news service. With 31% of the vote, Doctor Who is the first choice, followed by "Blackadder" and "Fawlty Towers" in second and third position. The magazine also asked which UK show should be retired, with top honors going to "Last of the Summer Wine". The full results of the television poll are in the latest issue of Radio Times. (Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know!)