Coming soon: the release of a BBC licensed TARDIS CD/DVD Box collectible; the provisional artwork for the box packaging is at right (click on the thumbnail for a larger version.) Says the press information: "This is the most accurate model Tardis ever produced commercially, and is based upon the prop used throughout the 1980s. The scale is 1:5 (same as the remote-control Daleks), so it is 55cm / 22 inches tall. The box includes an A2 wall-chart, with images of the various Tardi used through the years, and a history of the TV props. It can store either 28 DVDs, 60 CDs, 20 novels, 36 audio cassettes, or 14 videos, or be used as a bread-bin, medicine cabinet, bedsit larder, etc. Each box has a unique numbered plaque. Doors can open inwards and outwards. There are two adjustable shelves. The lamp can be lit - details of flashing unit to be confirmed (available seperately). Made in Britain, by Cod Steaks Ltd - a large model-making company in Bristol, currently producing the miniature sets and props for the forthcoming Wallace and Gromit animated feature film 'The Great Vegetable Plot.'" This TARDIS box was featured in the newest issue of Radio Times and will be available in May. (Thanks to Anthony Sibley and Matt Sanders)

Note: This column originally started by covering press clips, but has now become a daily update on any and all developments in the world of the new series of Doctor Who, so read on. Updated 23 March 0320 GMT with more information...

Part one of the two part Project Who radio documentary aired on BBC2 today, featuring interviews and clips and lots of spoiler stuff. "This opening programme considers how the creator of 'Queer as Folk' and 'The Second Coming' approached the task of re-creating one of the most popular and enduring formats on television," says the official notice at the Project Who Website. Interviewed in the first chapter of the two-part documentary: actors Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper; executive producers Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Mal Young; producer Phil Collinson; BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey; BBC Head of Drama Jane Tranter; director Joe Ahearne; writers Paul Cornell and Mark Gatiss; visual creative consultant Bryan Hitch; Doctor Who Magazine editor Clayton Hickman; Dalek actor/writer Nicholas Briggs; SFX editor Dave Golder; Heat magazine editor Boyd Hilton; Outpost Gallifrey editor Shaun Lyon; and Barry Letts, original series producer (1970-1975). Among the comments made: that Heggessey's claim of looking at Doctor Who and wondering why it wasn't on was met with a rousing "Get it sorted! We've been waiting for this movie that hasn't appeared... the viewing public should have it as its own" as rumored; that Russell T Davies loved the sonic screwdriver and the TARDIS blue police box and never once had any intention of changing them; and according to Julie Gardner, everyone knew Russell would be the "anchor" for this show, and was the only person anyone wanted to do it. You can listen to the broadcast now using RealPlayer from the site, as well as yesterday's Steve Wright Showinterview with Christopher Eccleston and other audio streams.

The BBC Press Office today revealed their second Press Pack which includes discussions of several topics related to the new series. The press pack includes discussion of The Mill, the visual effects house providing computer generated effects, including some facts and figures about their experiences on the first season: 800 special effects, a team of 21 people working 10 months, and some detail about the character Cassandra (voiced by Zoe Wanamaker) in "The End of the World": "...one computer-generated character needed four minutes of lip-synching, which is a huge undertaking in a TV project." Edward Thomas is profiled; he's the production designer on the new series: "I just waded in there because it's Doctor Who and it's a legend, and it was the thought that I might get the chance to help recreate and refresh what had gone before. Reality dawns on you when you realise there's a fanbase that's kept this series alive for 15 years, which is pressure enough, let alone making it visually-exciting and stimulating for a younger audience with little idea what Doctor Who is about." It notes some facts about Thomas and the production team, such as the fact that there have been approximately 650 sets created during the series from location builds to studio builds. Mike Tucker of the BBC Miniature Effects unit -- who also worked on the original series and has written several Doctor Who books since: "What [Davies has] brought back is Doctor Who, but Doctor Who re-invented for the mindset and viewing tastes of the 21st century viewing public. The kind of things we're doing now couldn't have been done 15 years ago when the show was last on. Computer technology in visual effects was in its infancy." And Neill Gorton of Millennium FX, the prosthetics and special make-up designer, is profiled: "I was delighted when I saw episode one because it's new, it's fresh but it's still recognisably Doctor Who. I grew up with the old series, and it's part of the reason I do this job. When it came back, I just had to be involved." There are several photos and spoiler notes about aliens in the first season, too.

According to the Radio Times website, Simon Day of "The Fast Show," and currently appearing on BBC3 in the Russell T Davies miniseries "Casanova," is appearing in episode two, "The End of the World". This is the only piece of casting so far announced other than the three guest players confirmed to date: Zoe Wanamaker (as the voice of Cassandra), Yasmin Bannerman (as Jabe) and Jimmy Vee (as the Moxx of Balhoon).

BBC Radio 1's Jo Whiley confirmed on her show today that Christopher Eccleston will be appearing with her on her show on Thursday. The Jo Whiley show airs on BBC Radio 1 on at 10am; you can visit the website here.

The new series of Doctor Who will be aired on television in the Netherlands on public channel Nederland 3 at some point later this year or early next year, according to the Dutch CEEFAX teletext service today. The message noted the day of the launch on the BBC this weekend. No word as yet on an official broadcast date.

The official site now has two new features: the Mastermind questions and answers from this weekend's "Doctor Who Night" extravaganza, and also an online "Launch the TARDIS" item that puts a Flash-based animation on your browser of the TARDIS moving around the screen.

icLiverpool "meets the two Merseysiders responsible for the new-look Doctor Who," interviewing Davy Jones andLinda Davie, "the award-winning make-up and design team who looked after the latest Doctor Who." The interviewer chats with the two, a husband and wife team who are integral parts of the first season. "Davy and Lin are still sworn to secrecy on what happens but are confident that the new Doctor will be a triumph. 'Chris and Billy [sic] have a great chemistry on screen,' says Davy. 'There's great strength with the pair of them and she makes for a good female assistant. By the end of the series she's shown to have changed and matured. She's not portrayed as a bimbo at all - she's a feisty streetwise girl from a local housing estate.' Lin agrees: 'This new series has got appeal for all from a teenage audience upwards. It's not really for young children which the old Dr Who was sometimes aimed at. It's very hip. Both characters are the type of people you'd want to hang out with.'"

News from Australia: in last Saturday's Sydney's Daily Telegraph, ABC head of programming Marena Manzoufas has said the network has now seen the first episode and they "hoped to buy" the new series. They were apparently concerned about whether it would work for a non-fan audience, but now having seen it, they think its "fabulous" and you can "come in cold and be engrossed." "It will be in the schedule this year, and we expect it will be in a prime-time timeslot," said Manzoufas. The article also mentions Channel 9's interest, and the first-refusal agreement between the ABC and BBC; there are also pics of three alien races from new series plus details of others.

Tomorrow morning's Telegraph features a recap of Andrew Marr's experience being part of the new series. "After a career whose high points include stumbling over my words outside Downing Street, being sacked, having my picture painted by Hockney because he was amazed by the shape of my head and cavorting on national television in fishnet tights, a fixed smile and little else, I have at last reached the acme, the summit, the final glistening pimple of worldly success. In short, I have a vanishingly small part in the new run of Doctor Who. Thanks to a small miracle of lateral thinking, I play a bat-eared political reporter. Filming this took a long time and a frightening quantity of technology, including a man with a tape measure interposing himself between a lens and my nose. But, hey, Doctor Who? I would have happily played a cactus on a windowsill or Billie Piper's missing sock. This obsession goes back, as most do, to childhood, much of which was spent behind the reassuringly bulky family sofa when the theme music started. I don't suppose I saw very much of Jon Pertwee and friends, but I heard a lot. (Social history is full of false memory. But the suggestion that most children spent the 1960s hiding behind sofas from silver teapots in kilts is true.) Many bad things have happened to me since. Indeed, I've done quite a lot of bad things since. But nothing was half as awful as being invited to my best friend's house across the road just after Christmas and having the door opened byà a Dalek! Other small boys might have asked themselves whether it was entirely likely that the Daleks would begin their assault on Earth in a small village outside Dundee. But I've never been entirely solid under fire. And anyway, it wasn't even a silver one. It was one of the really horrible black onesà Uughh."

Today's Variety mentions Doctor Who... "àbut can cult sci-fi classic save BBC again?" "BBC execs hope 'Doctor Who' will play a key role in combating ITV's 'Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway' in the Saturday evening ratings battle," says the article, "as well as highlighting the quality public service fare that will help the Beeb keep its license fee." The article goes through all the Doctor Who basics, including quotes reprinted from elsewhere.

Louth Today today said that "the lid has been lifted on Doctor Who's latest frightening enemy, man-eating wheelie bins," referring to a plot point in the first episode. "But while they note the irony, objectors to the introduction of wheelie bins in Louth say the subject is no laughing matter," it continues, with a few minor notes about current Louth area affairs!

"Everyone's talking about...The Return of Dr Who" according to icCoventry, which says that "Saturday telly will take a nostalgic turn this coming weekend." The writer talks about the 'classic' days of the series and ends with a bright note: "So clear behind the sofa, get in some crumpets, and pile in front of the telly this Saturday for a chance to relive your childhood, and, of course, to see if the Daleks have finally worked out how to negotiate stairs."

New program listing: the Peter Cushing film "Dr. Who and the Daleks" will be broadcast in Wales on S4C (Welsh version of Channel 4) on Saturday 26 March at 12.15pm. (It's not technically new series-related but it is because of the new show, no doubt...)

Today's South Wales Evening Post notes the original success of the series: "The BBC's head of drama told Doctor Who's original production team that he wanted no 'bug-eyed monsters' in the show, but they ignored him and created the Daleks, whose design was based on a canteen cruet set." It then discusses the new series: "Now Christopher Eccleston has taken control of the Tardis. Will another series follow? We'll have to wait and see."

"Who's That Girl?" asks today's Daily Star: "Sexy Billie Piper bursts back into the spotlight this weekend when the BBC finally unveils its revamped version of the cult series Dr Who. ... It also heralds a whole new beginning for former pop babe Billie." It quotes several recent interviews, but also makes a few statements not previously seen: "She says: 'In the past, the girls have been fairly weak characters, screaming and running away. And I always thought The Doctor was chauvinistic and patronising to women. But this has all changed. Rose is on a par with him. She even saves his life in episode one. As the series progresses, people will see how the two educate each other. They show each other new things - they're perfect for one another.'"

"Who is this Doctor?" asks today's Evening Standard, written by Matthew Sweet (the host of last week's Culture Show story on BBC2.) "When Christopher Eccleston grins at you, it is hard to know whether to smile back at him, or to jump on a chair and scream," says Sweet. "It is the eyes. Hypnotic, glittery things that make you ponder two questions: is this a nice man - or is he about to go for my neck? You may feel the same when you tune into the new series of Doctor Who on BBC1 on Saturday and watch the scene in which he first meets his new companion..." The installment biographies Eccleston and makes several positive comments about the future of the series.

Eccleston's praises are also sung today on Manchester Online, today, which mentions a second series is already in the planning stages. "But can Doctor Who defeat his greatest enemy - ITV1 rivals Ant and Dec? Even in an age where we can all time travel via video, DVD and hard disc drive recorders, that remains to be seen. Davies believes viewers are simply being offered a very good alternative. 'Those lovely boys will outlast me,' he concedes." Also, today's AOL's UK news coverage says that "Christopher is modern day Time Lord". The article basically repeats many comments made in previous press articles.

Some of today's other articles include an interview in the Manchester Evening News, the Mirror, the Sun and Alien Online.

Some of the other mentions in the press today including "Total TV Guide" 26th March-1st April 2005 (front cover and one and a half page article); "TV and Satellite Week" 26th March-1st April 2005 (front cover and two page article); "Heat" 26th March-1st April 2005 (half page article, picture and review on Saturday TV page); "What's On TV" 26th March-1st April 2005 (small photo on cover plus half-page article); "TV Choice" 26th March-1st April 2005 (small picture on front cover and half page article); "Closer" 26th March-1st April 2005 (picture on TV page and Saturday picks); "TV Quick" 26th March-1st April 2005 (two page article, plus picture in this week TV "quick loves" and on Saturday TV page).

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Jeroen Nieuwenhuis, Rajiv Awasti, Benjamin Elliott, Mark Murphy, Daniel O'Malley, Lorna Mitchellk, Jamie Finlayson)

A new book will soon be out from the British Film Institute. Entitled "BFI TV Classics: Doctor Who", it will be a critical analysis of the series by film critic and author Kim Newman -- best known to Who fans as the author of the first Telos novella "Time and Relative". This book is part of a new "BFI TV Classics" series which will also include Buffy, The Office and Our Friends In The North (which starred none other than... Christoper Eccleston!) More details are available at the BFI website. (Thanks to Daniel O'Malley at Timelash)

SciFiCollector has been granted a licence for the new series and are producing one of their First Day Cover stamp releases, being launched on March 26 to coincide with the first tranmission. The cover is a limited edition of just 5,000 and it is number 1 in the series, and they have announced they will be producing a cover to go with each new episode. Details are available at their website. Click on the thumbnail at right for a larger version. Meanwhile, SciFiCollector have confirmed that Tom Baker and Louise Jameson will be their guests at the forthcoming NEC Memorabilia fair in early April (see the events page!)

Radio updates: Billie Piper will be on The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 show this Wednesday morning, March 23, at 7.00am. And BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Simon Mayo announced this afternoon that Christopher Eccleston will be the guest on his show on Thursday 24th March, just after 2:00pm GMT. The show can be heard at the Five Live site.

BBC Birmingham, in association with local fans, have organised a small display in the public area of their new studios in The Mailbox, Birmingham City Centre, to publicise the return of "Doctor Who". The display comprises replicas of the TARDIS, a Dalek and an Auton, and it commenced today (March 21).

BBC Ouch (yes, you read that right) has a Doctor Who feature today celebrating the new series and a serious topic: "As Doctor Who returns to BBC ONE on Saturday nights, disabled comedian Laurence Clark takes a humorous look at how the series has portrayed disability over the years."

The latest issue of Radio Times has the TARDIS on the cover - which, opened, reveals the Doctor and Rose standing inside. The 16-page collectors special features interviews with Russell T Davies, Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper and Ed Thomas (production designer) and a look at the effects and make-up of the series. There are also really nice photos of various creatures from "Rose" and "The End of the World" - including Lady Cassandra, the Tree people from The Forest of Cheem and the Moxx himself. Also noted on the back of the special it says that the title for episode 8 is Father's Day(though this wasn't the actual title a few weeks ago, but could have recently changed...)

In today's issue of The Sun, Christopher Eccleston is interviewed... and it says that he is "not completely sure" he wants to do a second series, citing the fear of typecasting. "I need to think about it," he tells the paper. "It's more than a huge responsibility to shoulder. And no, I don't want to be thought of as The Doctor to the exclusion of everything else I've done or may do in the future. So I'll have to think long and hard about it before I make the final decision to say yes or no. I am keenly aware that the whole thing could be a poisoned chalice." He says that Davies will write six episodes of the second series and he calls the new show "amazing". It also says he did watch some old episodes when he was offered the role, contradicting what he told DWM. This story is also reported by ContactMusic and icWales. Meanwhile, the internet version of the Sun quotes Eccleston: "The first scene had me as the Doctor chasing this very brilliant, very famous actor down a street while he was dressed as an alien pig. I thought, æIt doesnÆt get much bonkers than this!Æ It was such fun to do.ö

Eccleston told the Manchester Evening News, however, that is is "proud" to be the latest Doctor. "I didn't even think about it," says Christopher of his surprise move. "I approached writer and executive producer Russell T Davies. I read that he was going to do it and emailed him and said, 'When you draw up an audition list put my name on it'. It was just because I'm a fan of his writing and worked with him on The Second Coming. I loved his other stuff as well, Queer As Folk most of all I think, because it changed television in a way. So it was easy. Which is a great in a way because it is a big deal. I now realise," he laughs. The article says the experience was "a gruelling and often surreal shoot for the actor who had to deal with new experiences such as paparazzi hounding the set for snaps of his co-star Billie. 'We just looked after Billie and ignored it,' says
Christopher. But what was more galling for the actor was the first episode of their work being leaked onto the internet. 'It's kind of sick,' he says. 'It saddens me because we've all worked really hard on it and we want it to be seen as it's intended to be seen.'" On a second series, he does hedge a bit: "I won't allow myself to be absorbed completely. . . . I've been in the game 18 years so there's a certain amount of knowledge of how this business works and how you should conduct yourself with the public and things. But I've met a number of Whovians, real serious Doctor Who fans, and they've been so kind and generous to me and excited about the series. They're not interested in gossip about me or the set, but interested in the myth of the Doctor. I think I can handle that."

Lots of Billie Piper coverage today. The Daily Star says that Billie "will NOT be tuning in to see the re-launch of the classic sci-fi series - because she'll be out getting blitzed. The former pop singer ... confessed: 'I won't be watching on Saturday. I'll do what I always do on transmission dates . . . I'll go to the pub and get lashed! ... I'm too close to Dr Who at the moment because we only recently stopped filming. If I watch when it starts I'll be too critical and I'll be looking for all the things I could have done better. I'll wish I could have changed things. It's better for me to see the show in a few months' time when I know there is absolutely nothing I can do about it all.'" The Mirror also reported this online. Also, according to the Newsquest Media Group, Piper "has admitted she didn't enjoy her singing career." She also discusses her foreknowledge of the show: "I am too young to be a Doctor Who fan but I knew the music, it's like a track at a wedding reception. You know what the song is but can't place it." And today's Times says that "Doctor Who's assistant is by tradition a bit of a bimbo, so the role might do Billie Piper no favours." The article discusses some of her personal life issues over the past several years in the music industry before it turns to Doctor Who: "I worry about the Who gig. Everyone presumes that the role will finally airlift her out of her previous life and on to the A-list, but I think it's quite a long shot. First, the career track record for former assistants of the Doctor is poor. It was, after all, the only thing strong enough to kill off Bonnie Langford's television career. And secondly, in the first episode of the new Who at least, Billie underwhelms." (Ironically, most of the comments made about her is that her performance in the first episode is one of the best things about it...)

BBC Norwich has posted a feature interview with Karen Davies, winner of this weekend's Doctor Who Mastermind, aired during BBC2's "Doctor Who Night" special. The EDP24 website has also reported this.

BBC Radio Leicester are running a series of interviews to find Leicestershire's biggest Doctor Who fan this week; they are interviewing fans from the county about the programme including pitting fans against one of their presenters in a light hearted quiz (which our correspondent, Del Shorley, was the first one, and won!) You can listen to the rest of the week's interviews at the site.

More coverage of the story we reported yesterday on Welsh minister Rhodri Morgan can be found at the BBC News Ireland site, icWales, the Sun, Ananova, and a new version in the Scotsman; it was also mentioned in the Metro newspaper.

(Thanks to Martin Barber, Chuck Foster, Steve Tribe, Huw Turberville, Steve Hatcher, Paul Engelberg, "NellyM", Lee Thacker, Del Shorley, Mark Murphy, and Laurence Clark)

Below is a collection of screen grabs from today's Blue Peter which featured a live appearance by Christopher Eccleston and an interview with Billie Piper. (Of note, the photo of Eccleston scratching his ear is actually him noting the Ninth Doctor doll "has his ears!") (Thanks to Gavin Worby, Richard Bignell)

Updated 21 March 2335 GMT: Here also is a summary of the events of the day on "Blue Peter" courtesy our reporter John Bowman:

Children's magazine programme Blue Peter featured Doctor Who extensively today (Mon 21 Mar, BBC1, 4.55pm GMT) - and not surprisingly, as the editor, Richard Marson, is a major fan and the show has always had a close relationship with it. Possibly the most interesting thing about it was the announcement by co-presenter Matt Baker that there would be a full behind-the-scenes report on Doctor Who "later this summer".

Billie Piper was supposed to be on the show with Christopher Eccleston but was unable to make it as she was unwell, the programme's presenters said. The show was preceded by the Rose "I've got a choice" trailer and then it launched into the Blue Peter titles but with the Doctor Who theme playing over it instead of the usual hornpipe signature tune, plus clips from the new series. Eccleston then appeared in the TARDIS, which was followed by the "trip of a lifetime" trailer, then it was back to the studio and Eccleston giving a description about the Doctor and the TARDIS - no doubt for the benefit of the majority of viewers for whom Doctor Who is a new phenomenon.

Instead of having Piper interviewed in the Blue Peter studio, a pre-filmed insert was shown, with Matt Baker talking to her during filming on set. It was difficult to make out which episode they were working on - possibly episode 4, as Matt later said he had a part in that episode. The clapperboard said it was a Joe Ahearne-directed episode and indicated that filming was taking place on 3 November last year. The clapperboard also had a crudely drawn Blue Peter ship logo on it. In the insert, Piper described the character of Rose and how she and the Doctor educated each other. Clips were shown from Rose, including her entering the TARDIS for the first time.

Back in the studio, which had the Face of Boe, a clip from Spearhead from Space was then shown, and Eccleston defended the production values of the old shows. Talking about taking over the role, he said he was very excited about it and that he "felt ready to do something which had that kind of responsibility", having been an actor for about 18 years. He also praised the scripts, which he said were "so strong". Eccleston then talked about the reasons for the Doctor having a battered leather jacket, saying that it was scripted by Russell T Davies, who thought it would be good because it was quite practical as the Doctor was a traveller, and the jacket is tough and it is a very physical role.

Mention was also made of Davies writing in to Blue Peter some 25 years ago suggesting they organise a competition to create an alien for the series. Asked what the hardest thing about filming Doctor Who was, Eccleston said it was "the fact you don't have any life". He said that not only were there the 12-to-14-hour days of filming but he then had to learn his lines at night because of his lead role. He said it was an honour and privilege but it took over your life.

Also featured on the show were Doctor Who models made by a viewer, including one of Eccleston and one of Piper, plus a compost bin in the shape of a Dalek, which was made by two other viewers. Details of how to make one of these compost bins would be shown in a future programme, the presenters said.

Saturday's Parkinson (19 Mar, ITV1, 10.15pm GMT) had Billie Piper as its second guest (yes, a major commercial channel was happily plugging a show that'll be on its main terrestrial rival!), following celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and preceding Ewan McGregor. For the benefit of Outpost Gallifrey readers who don't know the one-hour chat show's format, each interviewee stays on from arriving, which allows for a bit of interchange with one another as well as having their "exclusive" slot. Piper's main segment lasted 12 minutes, with just under five minutes of that specifically about the new series of Doctor Who, the rest focusing on her pop career and relationship/failed marriage to Chris Evans. As ever, she came across as bubbly, sparky and thoughtful. A clip (presumably from Rose) was shown - which actually revealed more of Christopher Eccleston's talents than Piper's; it's the one (also shown on Friday's Newsnight Review) in which the Doctor replies to Rose's question "Who are you?" - before Piper appeared on the Parkinson set.

She began by saying that she never used to watch Doctor Who, adding: "It's like one of those songs you hear at wedding receptions - you donÆt know how you know the words but you do and you sing along." She described the character of Rose as "contemporary", saying: "She's gutsy, she's ballsy and she goes with her instinct. She hardly ever applies logic and she's just a great girl." Asked by Parkinson what Rose was like with aliens, she said: "She's actually quite good in confrontation, because she'd rather kind of talk her way out of it as opposed to pulling any kind of crazy kick-boxing stunts - she's not too hot on those." Talking about the relationship between Rose and the Doctor, Piper said: "When they first set eyes on one another they fall in love with each other . . . She lives this very ordinary life. She gets up, she goes to work, she comes home. There's nobody really in her life that's challenging her ideas or broadening her horizons and then suddenly this 900-year-old bloke rocks up in a blue box and he's like 'Come with us' and she's like 'Yeah!' and she takes off! She's quite ruthless. She just ditches life as she knows it and hops in the old TARDIS."

Parkinson used the age-difference angle to move the interview on to talking about Piper's relationship with Chris Evans, noting "it's not the first time you've run away with a man older than yourself", which Piper took in good humour. She referred to how tough the 11-day-fortnight shooting schedule in Cardiff, which lasted almost a year, had been, keeping her and Evans apart when previously they had basically been living in each other's pockets, but reasoned that the split would have happened eventually anyway as they both wanted different things. Parkinson commented that Russell T Davies had said the next step for Piper would be Hollywood, and Piper, to her credit, gave a level-headed response of "Who knows what could happen?" She said she had no plans for the future right now and was just happy being in the moment. Describing herself as "a hopeless romantic", she said she hoped she would get married again sometime in the future, and that it might be in two months' time, maybe in five years. (Form an orderly queue, guys . . . ) (Thanks to John Bowman)

According to Planet Who, "BBC2's Doctor Who Night pulled in a high of 10.73% of the audience share last night, dropping to 7.56% during the special Doctor Who Mastermind edition at 8.40pm. Approximately 2.4m tuned in to watch The Story of Doctor Who between 7.30-8.30pm."

The repeat of "The Story of Doctor Who" was an edited repeat, featuring absolutely no new material but removing a few segments. Lost was the original pre title intro from Jon Culshaw (aka Tom Baker) also lost was a small section towards the beginning of the programme about Hartnell and a longer section of Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts discussing their era.

Welsh assembly first minister Rhodri Morgan faced a rather interesting moment recently, according to several press accounts. Says BBC News: "First Minister Rhodri Morgan almost became a tree-like monster in an episode of Dr Who after being mistaken for an actor, it has been confirmed. Mr Morgan arrived at BBC Wales' Cardiff studios to appear on the political show Dragon's Eye at the same time as a group of extras on the sci-fi series. The mix-up was noticed as he was ushered into a make-up room to become a tree-like sidekick of new monster Jabe. An employee from London has been blamed for the case of mistaken identity. A spokesman for the First Minister confirmed the accident and said: 'They were filming Doctor Who at the time and there were loads of extras at the BBC Wales studios. A meet-and-greet guy from London obviously did not recognise him. A young make-up artist then came in and said to Rhodri: 'Oh are you one of the trees?'. Rhodri then twigged and had a good chuckle about it. He thought it was really funny. Viewers will have to watch Doctor Who to see if Rhodri is in it.'" The story has been reported by BBC News, in the Guardian, This is London, theScotsman, Wales on Sunday, the Express, UTV Internet.

Most of the UK's Sunday press had some coverage, largely in the form of previews in their weekly TV listings. Amongst others, the cover of the Sunday Telegraph's TV and radio listings magazine section features the Doctor and Rose, and previews Project: Who?, Confidential and the first episode ("a winner"). The Observer has a full-page interview with Christopher Eccleston in its review section and also previews next week's programmes and episode (although it's not very complimentary about the episode). And the Independent on Sunday has a fairly lengthy interview with Billie Piper in its reviews magazine, as well as the usual (this time positive) previews in its listings.

The Mail on Sunday featured an extensive two page spread on Delia Derbyshire, the lade that put the "wooo ooo" into one of television's greatest signature tunes, illustrated with images of the TARDIS, Delia in the Radiophonic Worskhop as she composed the theme, how she appeares shortly before her death and the billboard poster image of the Doctor and Rose. Doctor Who was also on the opening page of the television guide section of the "Night and Day" magazine, and was their "SWITCH ON!" choice for Saturday 26 March, illustrated by the picture of the Doctor performing his card trick.

Also in the Sunday Mail today: a list of the Doctor's "special friends," reviewing many years of assistants and their take on romance in the TARDIS. "I haven't the foggiest who Billie Piper is but I'd tell her to be careful of turning her role into a romantic one. It may not work out," says Lalla Ward. "I think actors can get muddled up in their heads, until they don't know the difference between themselves and their characters. You spend two years prancing around with somebody on TV and you end up thinking it's really you. It would be hard to go back once you crossed that line." Says Louise Jameson: "Everything has to change, obviously, but part of Doctor Who's charm is its innocence. It's very important the girl has sex appeal to keep the male viewers interested but it would be a shame to make the story itself sexy. It brings a whole other connotation." Jameson also notes the danger of being typecast: "Doctor Who is for life - not just for the short duration you're acting in it. If Billie plays her cards right and keeps the fans happy, that's what she will face. When she leaves the series, she should try to do a lot of work in the theatre until people have forgotten her role." Debbie Watling has some different ideas: "To me, the relationship was always more fatherly. It kept the children interested and made the fathers think they were in with a chance. It's got to have an innocence or you're lost. ... The fact there were little men inside the Daleks made them hard to appear menacing. I'd tell Billie to get all of her giggles out in the rehearsals. When the cameras come on, no matter how ridiculous the monsters are, you've got to keep a straight face."

The Sunday Express featured a two page spread as well, this time on the female companions of Doctor Who. Listed were Susan (with an interview with Carole Ann Ford), Vicki (with an interview with Maureen O' Brien), Polly, Zoe, Liz (with an interview with Caroline John), Sarah (with an interview with Elisabeth Sladen), Leela, Romana I, Nyssa, Tegan, Peri (illustrated with a photo of Janet Fielding), Mel and Ace.

Many articles this weekend also featured reviews. Today's Guardian says that "The rule in adapting much-loved properties - whether an old TV show or a Jane Austen novel - is that you're in trouble if aficionados of the original story absolutely hate it but equally doomed if they completely love it. Like a political party, a television series needs to reach beyond the obvious fan-base. ... The first story suggests that Davies has found the right balance between respect and renovation. The internet and the London Eye play significant roles but the Tardis retains its 50s exterior and an interior representing a 60s idea of the future. And - despite the possibilities of computer generation available to this revival - the opening episode rather encouragingly uses monsters who look as if they could have been knocked up by BBC props 40 years ago. ... The risk was always that this: 'Who' would lead to the question: 'Why?' but there's a strong chance that another generation of children will, each Saturday, be asking: 'When?'"

Today's Independent on Sunday ABC magazine - the Arts Books Culture section of the quality broadsheet - had Billie Piper as its cover feature. Also flagged up on the front page of the main paper as part of the promo strap underneath the masthead, the three-page piece - including a full-page BBC portrait photo of Piper - looked at her life and career to date and asked if she could handle the superstardom that seemed certain to be hers. Craig McLean, who met her five days before the press launch in Cardiff, reported favourably on Piper and the series, incorporating the opinions of Canterbury Tales co-star James Nesbitt, Tales update writer Pete Bowker, Brian Hill, who directed her in last year's BBC2 drama Bella and the Boys, Russell T Davies, former Smash Hits pop magazine editor Gavin Reeve (she was chosen to star in a promotional campaign for the magazine at the age of 14, which started her pop career rolling), and Innocent Records label boss Hugh Goldsmith (Piper was signed to Innocent). The piece, which also carried a photo of Piper with Chris Evans, a BBC promo photo of Piper as Rose with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, and one of her while she was a singer, finished with Piper saying she wouldnÆt be watching Doctor Who this coming Saturday - instead, she'd be down the pub! McLean's conclusion? Piper is someone "we underestimate . . . at our peril". The magazine's front-page illustration of Piper was a caricature by Andr? Carrilho. In addition, the show was TV choice of the week in the preview section, while Doctor Who Confidential was also marked as one of the TV choices for next Saturday (26 Mar).

Several reports covered the Doctor Who: Mastermind event from last evening that aired on BBC2's Doctor Who Night. "A Norwich woman has helped break the sci-fi buff stereotype after beating thousands to win a Dr Who Mastermind special," says Norwich Evening News's report. "Karen Davies, of Nelson Street, said she was astounded at winning the TV contest after going on it for a bet to prove a woman 'with a life' could win. Ms Davies was picked along with three others from 7000 applicants to go on Saturday's show. 'I wanted to show Dr Who fans are not all nerdy boys and some of us do have a life,' she said. She put on her application form that she wanted to dispel the anorak image, something which Mastermind quiz master John Humphrys asked her about. But the 39-year-old health club manager said: 'It's no different to going to Carrow Road every weekend.'"

The Daily Record asks, "Who's Sexiest in a TARDIS?" "Billie Piper has already lost her first battle as Doctor Who's new assistant," it says. "The 22-year-old former pop star has been beaten in a poll to find the sexiest Doctor Who assistant by former EastEnders actress Louise Jameson. Jameson proved a hit with fans, who remembered her as the scantily clad Leela, who was companion to Tom Baker as the Doctor in the late 70s. ... In fact Piper, who will be seen as new Doctor Christopher Eccleston's sidekick Tyler Rose for the first time on Saturday, was beaten into fourth place in the poll by two more actresses old enough to be her mum. Wendy Padbury, 57, who was assistant Zoe in the late 60s, proved a hit with her leather catsuits to claim third place. And little--known Nicola Bryant, 43, who played American college student Peri 'Perpugilliam' Brown opposite Tom Baker, took third place. She caused outrage during the mid-80s with several scenes in just a bikini." The report quotes an "internet poll" but we haven't found it...

The Sunday Herald (Scotland) has a new series preview with some spoilers, but there's a nice comment about Christopher Eccleston. "Ah, yes, the Doctor. He's Christopher Eccleston, of course, casting as inspired as making Vincent D'Onofrio a cop. We first encounter him planting a bomb, like a distracted terrorist. Except this guerrilla is fighting to keep us safe. Dressing down for a Doctor - where the dandy of old plumped for crushed velvet and scarves, he sports a battered black leather jacket - Eccleston nevertheless has other trademarks in place. He's feeling his way into the role, just as the Doctor is feeling his way into his new body. But there's already an odd, intense, Tom Bakerish charm, grins flashing at inopportune moments. Then he's irritable, unknowable, cold, with the sudden snappy bitterness the best Doctors always had. More than once, he refers to humans as "apes". There's melancholy, too. The episode ends with Rose agreeing to accompany him on his adventures; but the important thing is the half-hidden yearning with which Eccleston asks her along, more for himself than for her. He's patient, but cosmically lonely."

Today's Sunday Independent (Ireland) says "we should all be grateful for Billie's involvement. Among those tipped for a starring role alongside the Doc during the 15-year gap since the last series was Pamela Anderson. But kick-ass Pam wouldn't have been right as one of the Doc's sidekicks." And how! "There are those who'll want to compare and contrast Christopher Eccleston's performance as the ninth doctor with all those who've gone before; but for many, it's enough to know that the Daleks are on their way back."

What makes Doctor Who special? The Scotsman asks that today. "Last year, the BBC ran a competition to select the best on-screen boffin. More than 40,000 people voted but it was still a fix. The winners were Honeydew and Beaker from The Muppets. Doctor Who came a poor third (after Mr Spock) with only 13 per cent of the vote. That can't be right. ... Forget American puppets who need wires to make themselves animated. And definitely forget Spock, whose character is actually the epitome of an eastern seaboard, Ivy League intellectual of the Kennedy era, busy getting the Federation into some galactic Vietnam War. Give me British sci-fi heroes every time - Dan Dare, Jeff Hawke, Jet Morgan, with the eponymous Doctor high on the list. Why? The answer gets to the heart of the enduring appeal of the Doctor (and of Quatermass, who is also about to be reincarnated, on BBC4)." The article goes into the heroic aspects of Doctor Who: "Like the ancient Greek heroes, Doctor Who was always at the mercy of the Gods and a wayward navigation device in the TARDIS. That's the whole point of heroes - they show you how to deal with an indifferent, even perverse, universe with wit, courage and a stiff upper lip. There was indeed a definite alien quality about the Doctor: he was still archetypally British in an era when being British was an embarrassment. Pretending to be from Gallifrey and having two hearts was an elegant ruse. Audiences could indulge in following a great British hero without feeling the cringe factor. The fascinating thing about British heroes is that they are quintessentially anti-establishment, like Doctor Who. They draw their courage from their own individuality. Nelson gleefully put the telescope to his blind eye. In similar circumstances Captain Kirk might defy Star Fleet Command, but he'd have a moral fit doing so." But the author, George Kerevan, also waxes on the future: "In this era of I'm a Celebrity and Pop Idol, the temptation will be to dumb down the Doctor or eviscerate his character. The Americans did it in 1996, when the impostor Paul McGann pretended to be Doctor Who in the one-off TV movie. McGann used violence and fell in love with an Earth girl. This was Captain Kirk, not the true hero from Gallifrey. ... But if all else fails, there's still the cerebral Professor Quatermass to save us from ourselves."

Today's Observer discusses Doctor Who collectibles. Writer Guy Clapperton interviews David Howe and Jeremy Bentham to discuss collectibility: "[Howe] says: 'Standard collecting terms apply - anything that's in the box is going to be worth more than any thing that isn't.' Anything complete with instructions and factory sealed is probably going to be in demand, 'but if all you've got is one Louis Marx Dalek out of the box, that's still probably worth ú50 or so: anything from the 1960s is rare.' ... [Bentham] points to the first Dalek playsuit as particularly desirable. Made by Scorpion Automotives in 1964, it was well made for a kids' toy. The factory shipped a few out and then burnt down, with the rest of the stock inside. 'You can pay anything from ú1,000 to ú2,000.' It was replaced by others from other manufacturers, but if yours says Scorpion Automotives on it, it's worth as much as a second-hand car."

The Wanadoo portal site has some coverage of the new series, including photos and a list of the eight former Doctors rated.

Finally, a word from Russell T Davies himself in today's Sunday Telegraph. "I remember shop-window dummies coming to life. I remember maggots. I remember devils coming out of the sea, an evil plant bigger than a house and a Frankenstein's monster with a goldfish bowl for a head. And if you're somewhere over 35, you might remember the same things. That's Doctor Who, the show that burned its way into children's heads and stayed there for ever, as beautiful and vivid as a folk tale. Now the good and constant Doctor is coming back, and I'm one of those in charge of it. This week, I'm trapped in the tornado of the BBC publicity machine as the launch, on Easter Saturday, approaches. I'll do anything to sell this lovely show." Davies tells the reader what he thinks is so special: "I think the gaps in production made the viewing experience interactive long before digital television was invented. The gaps in the finished product allowed your mind inside, whereas Star Trek, so glossy and perfect and shining, seemed closed: it made you watch, not participate. With Doctor Who, we watched what was, and imagined what could be. ... Meanwhile, back in the real world, the years passed and Doctor Who's reputation declined, and sometimes it felt as though I was the only one still watching. Those lovely gaps in the production became the only thing that we remembered." Davies obviously writes with a lot of passion for what the show means tto him: "As for me, I had one perfect opportunity to close the circle, to link my childhood fantasies with the modern image. The shop-window dummies are back, by virtue of the fact that they are, as The Simpsons' Comic Book Guy would say, the Best Idea Ever. And this time, they jerk to life. They step forward. They raise their hands; they chop down. And after 35 years of waiting, finally, the glass shatters. And the screaming starts

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Martyn Hunn, Paul Hayes, Paul Gordon, Kenneth Smith, Steve Chapman, Scott Wortley, Daniel Hirsch, Alan Darlington, Hugh J. Cregan)

Following Thursday's (17 Mar) edition of The Culture Show on BBC2, the same channel gave even more intellectual credence to Doctor Who when Friday's (18 Mar) Newsnight Review (11pm GMT) devoted eight minutes to a discussion about the return of the programme. Host Mark Lawson was joined by best-selling novelist Ian Rankin, critic and writer Bonnie Greer plus Professor John Carey, the chief book reviewer for The Sunday Times, for a lively - and at times heated - analysis of the show. All three men were obviously fond of Doctor Who, whereas Greer, admitting she had "no idea what this is all about", came across as quite hostile towards it. It could even be argued that she was unwilling to suspend her disbelief and use her imagination. A lengthy clip from (I guess) Rose was shown, in which Billie Piper's character asks the Doctor "Who are you?" and he gives an evasive, yet spine-tinglingly revealing response. The reviewers, perhaps forgetting most of us haven't seen the show yet, gave spoilers galore, none of which shall be repeated here, but Rankin was very enthusiastic about the new-look show, saying: "It's got something for everyone. They've updated it very well." Greer, however, wailed: "The thing looks really cheap . . . The stories are all over the place. Who is this for? Is it for my generation? Is it for fortysomethings? Is it for babies? . . . They haven't made up their mind who they're talking to. That's the big problem for me." She added: "The acting is wonderful, the writing is wonderful, but it looks thin, it just looks cheap." Carey leapt to the show's defence, saying: "The cheapness is part of the point. It's very British. The fact that it's done on a shoestring is very important. It's self-mocking. It's not to be taken too seriously. In my opinion, the cheap things were the best things." Rankin was quick to point out, however, that "compared to the early Doctor Whos the effects are not cheap in this. It's a series that's been waiting for digital, the age, to come along. It's been waiting for CGT so they can actually do some of the effects that would have been impossible." He added that the teaser they had been shown for the second episode "looks absolutely fantastic - it looks like Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Very camp. Full of fantastic aliens. I think it will be a big hit." Greer, however, said it resembled a movie storyboard, and said there was nobody in it, nobody on the street. But Carey countered this by saying that the show failed when it went the other way - "The further they get away from trying to explain where all the mystery is, the better it is. The empty streets and the cheapness don't matter," he said. Lawson revealed that the show was a hit when put to a "sofa test" of children, saying that they reacted exactly as they were supposed to, were fascinated by who Doctor Who was, and wanted to see the rest of the episodes. One thing that Greer, Lawson and Rankin were in agreement on was that Eccleston was an excellent choice to play the Doctor, with Lawson saying that he had "a sense of danger", Greer commenting on his "incredible face" and Rankin saying that Eccleston was the best Doctor since Patrick Troughton, whom he referred to as the last "really good edge-of-craziness Doctor". Carey, however, said that he found Eccleston "too ordinary". A transcript of the Newsnight Review panel's opinions of new Who will be available here, although probably not for about a week. (Thanks to John Bowman)

A new edit has been made to the 'Trip of a Lifetime' trailer, which was shown during late night BBC1 programming on Friday night. They have removed all but the specially recorded Doctor scenes in the Console room and him running from the fireball and have inserted his opening sentence, "Do you want to come with me?" at the very end. It's around 10-15 seconds long. The show was also trailed in a DVE squeezed box during the end credits of the first film's showing on BBC2 this afternoon, though this was just a couple of clips from the beginning of Rose with a voice over from the continuity announcer spoken over the top, who went on to announce the evening's DW night and then following the credits trailed the first part of Project: Who over a Radio 2 slide.

The BBC has moved the Tommy Boyd hour on March 26 to an earlier time slot, 9:00pm, in anticipation of their coverage of the new Doctor Who series debut earlier in the evening.

There's an article about the new series in the Times Educational Supplement this week (published March 18); you can have a look at the cover at their website website, and follow the link bottom left that says "TES Teacher" although the article apparently cannot be read on the site.

BBC Radio 7 will play their radio comedy show, Dead Ringers, at 8:30AM, 10PM and 3AM on Friday 25th March: "The team with queries for You and Yours and who is the next Dr Who. From October 2003". This is a best-of repeat broadcast from October 2003. Dead Ringers is the show that spawned Jon Culshaw and his well-known impersonation of Tom Baker's Doctor.

Today Radio 2 comedy programme "The Day the Music Died" included a "Vision On" Gallery sequence with descriptions of pictures of new Doctor Who aliens supposedly sent in by musicians. It's about 18 and a half minutes in, but the programme as a whole is well worth a listen here.

The Saturday 19 March edition of the Daily Telegraph carries two Doctor Who articles, one an A to Z of the show by Matthew Sweet (who presented the Culture Show piece on Thursday evening), the second an interview with Mark Gatiss. The A to Z includes a few choice morsels - Q is for Quillam (from Vengeance on Varos), F is for Fanboys ("approach with caution") and O is for Outing Doctor Who fans. Read the A to Z here and the Gatiss interview here.

Today's The Express wonders "Why Billie has Fallen For A Dalek." "You'd never guess it in a million light years. But new Doctor Who star Billie Piper has admitted to a growing attachment with a Dalek. Talking about her role in the BBC1 revival of the classic series, she revealed: 'I had this quite emotional scene with a Dalek. "I'm sat there the night before the take thinking, how am I going to tap into my emotions? This is a hunk of junk! And then, I think because it is so beautifully written with human emotion, I am stood there and I am actually feeling for this thing.'" It also mentions her appearance on tonight's Parkinson.

An article in today's Telegraph, primarily about Quatermass, mentions Doctor Who serveral times. "The low-budget but endlessly inventive Doctor Who owes its existence to an even more pioneering television creation, Quatermass. ... That charisma and anti-Establishment mind-set were transferred in 1963 to Doctor Who, his spiritual successor. Though pitched at children, this series bore many of the same characteristics, infusing sci-fi with a gothic aspect. Both these shows were often less Isaac Asimov and more Mary Shelley. In Quatermass, the fate of Victor Caroon - Quatermass's astronaut, brought back to Earth with an alien infection, who soon becomes a haunted wasteland-dwelling fugitive - has very strong echoes of Frankenstein. At the climax of Quatermass and the Pit, a vast flickering image of a horned demon hovers in the night sky over London. In the second serial of Doctor Who, the doctor's companion, Barbara, is pursued through a weird, deserted alien citadel by something unseen by us but clearly so appalling that her scream echoes over the closing music. It is, of course, a Dalek. ... The notion that sci-fi could be low-key and unsettling ensured the doctor's longevity. But the rebellious spirit of Quatermass reached out further. In 1978, the crew of Blake's Seven took off into space, taking a stand against proto-fascist aliens across the galaxy, in what sounded like a spaceship with wooden floors. This was the golden age of the quarry location, when actors in spangled costumes ran around pretending to fire space weapons at each other just outside of Reigate. But the anti-Establishment theme prevailed. In those days, when you could get a convincing laser beam for neither love nor money, the only alternative was robust and gaudy scripting."

Today's Scotsman features a commentary called "Who says I'm a geek?" about a viewer who remembers back when he was 12 and still feels the excitement of the new series. "I am abuzz with anticipation, fizzing with excitement. All my adult worries and responsibilities have receded, replaced by an obsessive childish concentration on just one thing: next week, after nine years in televisual limbo, Dr Who is returning to our screens. Yes, it's true, Dr Who, my childhood hero, my two-hearted intergalactic friend, will be dematerialising in the corner of my living room in just a few days' time. ... "Of course, Doctor Who has never really been cool. The Who-niverse is the province of the geek, a socially shunned sub-culture which sees sweaty men in wash-shrunk jumpers weeping in quarries at the discovery of some discarded Cyberman hosing from 1974. Critics still harp tiresomely about wobbly sets (they were never that wobbly) and shoddy special effects (errrm ...), as if the show was some sort of slapdash pantomime rather than the incredibly imaginative and original slice of televisual manna which, at its best, it actually was. Doctor Who fans always get enormously defensive when discussing their beloved obsession, usually shooting themselves in the foot with arguments like, 'Pah! If it's rubbish TV sci-fi you're talking about, just look at Blake's 7!" which just make you look twice as insane. But I don't care. I'm not ashamed to admit my allegiance. It's geeky and silly and about as likely to impress women as a trip to an oil refinery, but I'm so irrefutably fond of the series, it would be an act of pitiful self-denial to claim otherwise."

Today's Times Online has an article called "Billie the kid" which biographies Billie Piper, including comments about her marriage and her other performances in preparation for the new series. She also makes note of some of her favorite moments from filming the new series.

(Thanks to Will Hadcroft, James Armstrong, "C Kent", Tom Boon, Steve Tribe, Faiz Rehman, Paul Engelberg, Dan Harris, Steve Chapman)