While it's not Doctor Who per se, the combined fourth and fifth (and final) radio series adapting former Doctor Who script editor Douglas Adams' The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy books four and five, "So Long and Thanks for All The Fish" and "Mostly Harmless," as well as additional material especially written for radio, debuts on May 3 on BBC Radio 4. Returning cast members Simon Jones (Arthur Dent), Mark Wing-Davey (Zaphod), Susan Sheridan (Trillian), Geoffrey McGivern (Ford Prefect), Stephen Moore (Marvin) and William Franklyn (the Book) are joined for this final eight-episode installment by Hitchhikers' veterans Sandra Dickinson and David Dixon (who played Trillian and Ford in the 1970's television series), Stephen Fry (who plays the Book in the new film adaptation), Rula Lenska (who played Lintilla and her clones from the second radio series), Bill Paterson (the Arcturan pilot from episode 7 of the radio show), Roy Hudd (reprising compere Max Quordlepleen from Milliways) and Jonathan Pryce (reprising Zarniwoop), as well as appearances by "Absolutely Fabulous" actresses Jane Horrocks (as Fenchurch) and June Whitfield (as the Raffle Woman), Miriam Margolyes (as the Photocopier Woman), Indian actor Saeed Jaffrey (as the Man on the Pole) and American comedian Jackie Mason as the East River Creature. Meanwhile, the long-awaited film adaptation of the first book, "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy," opens later this month with Stephen Fry, "The Office" actor Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, former "Doctor Who" Ninth Doctor candidate Bill Nighy (as Slartibartfast) and John Malkovich.

A slow news day (for once!)...

Episode three, "The Unquiet Dead", and its companion series Doctor Who Confidential (on BBC3), aired today. Preliminary ratings should be in tomorrow.

In "The Guide" this morning, The Guardian's listings magazine, the normally vituperative Charlie Brooker, in his "Screen Burn" column, finally turns its attention to Doctor Who. Says our correspondent Steve Tribe, "Everyone who reads Brooker's column does so in the knowledge that he will generally be more horrible to any show he deals with than any other reviewer; he's also the co-writer with Chris Morris of the recent Nathan Barley." Today, however, he has writen the following: "Before I go, a quick mention of Doctor Who (Sat, 7pm, BBC1), despite the blanket coverage the series has received elsewhere. Thing is, I simply can't stand by and let this week's episode, The Unquiet Dead, pass by without comment, for the following reason: I think it may be the single best piece of family-oriented entertainment BBC has broadcast in its entire history. It's clever, it's funny, it's exciting, it's moving, it's got shades of Nigel 'Quatermass' Kneale about it, it looks fantastic, and in places it's genuinely frightening. TV really doesn't get better than this, ever. Resistance is futile..." You can read the full review here. Another Guardian article indicates that Doctor Who is achieving some impressive penetration of the culture with the new series, rather than thirty-year-old gags about scarvesà

The Western Mail discusses Russell T Davies' recent serial "Mine All Mine," and notes that "He may be causing a stir with his scripts for Doctor Who but Russell T Davies has admitted that his last TV series proved to be a flop simply because it wasn't good enough." Says Davies: "People are always quick to blame the slot but when I found out when the first episode was going out I was dancing on air," as he spoke about his career at the Celtic Film and TV Festival in Cardiff yesterday. "It was the best possible start as we were up against nonsense on the other channels, including dull documentaries and a repeat. But it (Mine All Mine) still died - people started seeking out these dull documentaries!"

ITV1's Saturday children's magazine show, 'Ministry of Mayhem', featured a mad scientist sketch, featuring what was presumably his latest crazy creation: a sort of stretched web of skin on a rectangular frame, with a man's face poking through the middle (he was evidently just behind it, rather than CGI!). Yes, ITV is so impressed by the new series that they're doing instantly recognisable send-ups of Cassandra. Says Alex Wilcock, "Guess what they reckon all their Ministry of Mayhem audience watches on a Saturday night?"

A brief note in the Independent regarding the influence of the new series on the Doctor Who toys: "Television- and film-related items are particularly popular, especially if they are currently being aired. Dr Who toys are experiencing a revival, for example. A 1965 Daleks snowstorm with its original box recently made ú640 at a Vectis auction."

Issue #188 of the UKÆs TV Zone Magazine features an interview with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. Says Billie, on when she accepted the role of the DoctorÆs companion, "I didnÆt want to look at what had been, because weÆre dealing with a whole new thing. [Executive Producer Russell T. Davies] was very keen to make it contemporary, and deal with things that are occurring today. From what IÆve seen IÆve found that other Doctors and their assistants...I found it quite chauvinist at times, slightly patronizing. In this [series], theyÆre on a par, they work together through and through, and they celebrate each otherÆs brilliance and they educate each other." Eccleston adds that "thereÆs been no heroine out there for 8-to-12 year old girls, or women watching the programme û and weÆve now got one. [Rose] carries the series with me, we do it together. SheÆs a heroine û she saves his life in the first episode, she teaches him huge emotional lessons." When asked to pick his favourite villain in the series, Christopher chooses the Dalek, "because of the psychology that goes on between the Daleks and the Doctor. They know more than you all do about the DoctorÆs history, and they use it on him. ItÆs no so much the suckers and the lasers, itÆs the insight they have about the DoctorÆs history, and his personal and emotional history." According to Chris, æDalekÆ wonÆt be the only episode to have fans scurrying behind the sofa, "[æThe Doctor DancesÆ and æBoomtownÆ] are absolutely terrifying....you know, weÆre going end up with children ringing Childline because of what weÆve done." These excerpts are courtesy theGreat Link website, which has other stories about Doctor Who and other science fiction TV; check them out!

Finally... Doctor Who is back on the front page today of the BBC home page, which reminds everyone to tune into BBC3 on Sunday night for the repeat of "The Unquiet Dead."

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Alex Wilcock, Chuck Foster, Mark Ainsworth and Chris Howell of The Great Link)

Episode three of the TV series, The Unquiet Dead was the top rated British television program on Saturday, April 9, according to preliminary overnight ratings figures from ViewingFigures. Doctor Who was viewed by an average 8,339,880 viewers, a 36% audience share, with a peak of 8,914,240 viewers. By comparison, its competition on ITV, "Ant + Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway," had only a 32% audience share with approximately 7,136,000 viewers. "Doctor Who" therefore won its timeslot for the third week in a row, increasing its viewership over the previous week, and won the night... even beating two of the UK's biggest events of the year so far, the royal wedding and "The Grand National." The BBC3 companion documentary series Doctor Who Confidential episode three also achieved positive notes, with 542,470 average viewers (peaking at 601,740), rating a 4 with a viewing share of 3.62% in the 7:30-8:30pm time slot.

It is interesting to note how the final viewing figures of "Rose," the first episode, skewed upwards from these, so these results could, in fact, be higher when all data is in. Meanwhile, Doctor Who continues to prove its worthiness as a Saturday night staple, once again trouncing the competition and being the BBC's Saturday evening ratings jewel. (Thanks to Andy Parish)

Telos Publishing has released details of more of its books for 2005. Telos'Time Hunter series, the further exploits of Honore Lechasseur and Emily Blandish spun off from their Doctor Who novella "The Cabinet of Light," continues withPeculiar Lives by Philip Purser-Hallard, due out in July 2005, and Deus Le Volt by Jon de Burgh Miller (author of the BBC Doctor Who novel "Dying in the Sun") in October 2005. "Peculiar Lives sees Honore Lechasseur and Emily Blandish discover dangerous truths after a chance encounter with a strangely gifted young pickpocket. Born between the Wars, the superhuman children known as 'the Peculiar' are reaching adulthood û and they believe that humanity is making a poor job of looking after the world they plan to inherit.... In Deus Le Volt, Honor? and Emily are plunged into the middle of the first Crusade in 1098 on the trail of what appears to be a time travelling knight. As the siege of Antioch draws to a close, so death haunts the blood-soaked streets à and the Fendahl û a creature that feeds on life itself û is summoned. Honor? and Emily find themselves facing angels and demons in a battle to survive their latest adventure." Also noted in Telos' press release is The End of the World? The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Survivors, a complete guide to the the production of the classic television series created by Terry Nation (who created the Daleks for "Doctor Who"). They also note the revised cover illustration and release date for Back to the Vortex by J. Shaun Lyon, the guide to the first series of the new production of Doctor Who, which is due out in August.

Contrary to previous reports, it appears that the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles will not have an impact on transmission of "The Unquiet Dead" on Saturday. BBC One seems to have dropped an earlier programme from its schedules, allowing Strictly Dance Fever and Doctor Who to start on time.

The precise viewing figures for "Rose", episode one of the new series, have finally come in from the BARB. According to their official listings, the actual viewing figure for "Rose" is 10.81 million viewers, putting it at #3 in the BBC1 chart, and #7 overall for the week, beaten only by four episodes of "Coronation Street" and two "Eastenders" episodes. ("Doctor Who" is actually #3 in the top ten individual shows for the week, combining the "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders" episodes.) "Doctor Who"'s main competition, "Ant + Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway," came in at #20 for the week (#9 on the overall individual episodes list.) These figures exclude repeat/omnibus showings (e.g. the BBC Three repeats of EastEnders and Doctor Who) but do include figures for people who have recorded the show and watched it within seven days. "Rose" is also the third most watched non-soap show in the UK of 2005 so far, behind early March's "Comic Relief" and the New Year's Day special of "The Vicar of Dibley".

Some additional ratings information: Doctor Who was a huge success inCanada this week: 989,000 viewers watched the CBC broadcast of "Rose" on Tuesday, April 5. Says the Doctor Who Information Network, "Compared to the 9.9 million in UK this number might seem small...but for Canadian television numbers, and for the CBC this is HUGE, and exactly where we wanted the show to come in at." Also, the BBC3 repeat of episode 2 of "The End of the World" last Sunday at 7pm was watched by 402,980 viewers, according to ViewingFigures, representing a 2.78% share of all multi-channel viewing within the early evening time slot (6pm-8pm) and ranked 16th out of all the available multi-channels in the UK. This is another great performance considering there are over 250 multi-channels.

Russell T Davies appeared today at the Celtic Film Festival, in fact interviewed by his co-executive producer Julie Gardner, in the Balmoral Suite of the Holland House Hotel just outside the centre of Cardiff. Russell was interviewed on stage by BBC wales Drama chief Julie Gardner. the well-attended session commenced with an eight-minute montage of clips from Russell's work - including a lengthy clip from the Aliens of London story. Russell spoke at length and in great detail about his career, from his first drama writing credit on Dark Season (which he feels particularly fond of), through Queer as Folk and its attendant controversy, the Second Coming, Mine All Mine (the failure of which clearly baffles and frustrates him) and, of course, Doctor Who. An 'open mic' session finished off the discussion and several Who-slanted questions were forthcoming from the audience. A tabloid journalist asked if Chris eccleton's leaving the show had been a disappointed and both Russell and Julie stated unequivocally that it was always planned that he would do just one season and that the end of episode thriteen was supposed to be an enormous surprise for the audience - a surprise now blown. Russell stated that he ahd a very clear vision of how he wanted to do the seriesd, he spoke of some of the difficulties on mounting such an enormous production and when asked if they had favourite episodes both Julie and Rusell said their favourites changed from day to day. Russell said that 40-somethings would love the Dalek episode for the way it answered so many questions about the Daleks and said that the two-part story about to be shown is "very dark". Julie did reveal that the last scene of "The End of the World" is her favourite scene in the entire series. No news and details about the Christmas special or season two. We have a report in the SPOILERSsection below from a clip that was shown, along with the BBC Press Release details for the next story (see next item)

The BBC Press Office has this afternoon released programme information for Week 17 (16-22 April). This includes the Penelope Wilton interview from this week's Press Pack Four among the week's highlights features here (note: PDF file) as well as a spoiler-prone preview of Episode 5, "World War Three"(finally confirmed as the title!) in the highlights for their Saturday listing here(also a PDF file) with a preview article on that week's edition of Doctor Who Confidential. Click on the SPOILER TAG at the bottom for details!

The May issue of SFX Magazine, Issue 131, in the shops on April 13, includes a set visit from episode six of the new series, "Dalek". SFX was there on "Dalek Day", as Christopher Eccleston filmed the scenes where the Ninth Doctor confronts his mortal enemy for the first time. The SFX website will also be making a full transcript of their interview with director Joe Ahearne (conducted on the day of the set visit) available online, and they're running reviews of each episode of the new series as it airs. Issue 131 also comes with a pull-out A3 poster. one side of the poster features Billie Piper as Rose!

Meanwhile, the issue of TV Zone magazine released yesterday includes interviews with Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, and an in-depth look at the new Dalek, featuring Mike Tucker and Nicholas Briggs - and new photos from Episode Six, Dalek! The issue also includes special reviews of Rose from the TV Zone staff, plus opinions from guest reviewers Rob Grant (creator of Red Dwarf) and Sci-Fi author Stephen Baxter. The issue also includes interviews with the director of the new Quatermass Experiment, Sam Miller, and star Isla Blair, a special Flashback feature on the work of Nigel Kneale, and features on The West Wing and the new Captain Scarlet. You can order it using these links: UK Order and US Order.

The CBBC channel's Newsround Showbiz at 3.50pm on Saturday appears to be including a behind-the-scenes feature on the new series again - this is the third one, so it look like a series...

ITV Teletext today has an article titled "The monsters who take on Doctor Who" which begins by interviewing Mike Tucker who discusses working with scale models: "You do spend a lot of time making models and setting them up only to destroy them in a matter of seconds, but it's part of the job." He goes on to add: "And I got to work on the new Dalek - what a bonus!" Mike goes on to say that Doctor Who works now because it is so up-to-date. Meanwhile, 'Special effects specialist' Neill Gorton discusses how he had no idea what a big job creating monsters for Doctor Who would be. He explains that Doctor Who monsters are planned well in advance from such descriptions as "green, 8ft baby-faced monsters" and are a team effort. Discussing the challenge of designing the inside of the new Dalek he states: "It was glimpsed in an old Tom Baker episode, but only as a blob-like being, so we were really starting from scratch, and Russell T Davies had some very strong ideas about it... We went through a lot of concepts and designs. They were about 80 per cent Russell's ideas and 20 per cent mine. He always wins when he wants to!"

Buxton Today features an article about Bruno Langley, who appears in two episodes of the series playing the role of Adam. The article interviews his sister, Lakshmi Langley, who mentions that "Bruno spent two months filming the episodes in Cardiff ù which feature the Daleks ù and he had an absolutely brilliant time. He got on so well with Christopher, saying he was an amazing actor. Bruno's character is one of the good guys. He plays a sort of intellectual college boy ù a genius ù which made us all laugh." Diane Langley, Bruno's mum, said: "This will be something quite different for him. He wants to explore different sides of his profession and not just stick to the same things."

The media player on the official site has been updated to include "The Seventies", the second in the series of clips and contemporary music (and originally part of the "Doctor Who Years" video shown at DW conventions in the UK.) According to the site, the 35-minute programme includes "clips from each story, there are also some interesting off-cuts, including an almost unbelievable appearance by Tom Baker on Swap Shop." Also on the official site... very subtle additions to the BBC Doctor Who Who Spy portion of the website that may or may not be noticed by many. They are clarifying the exact placing of each photo and where it fits in to the series.

Reports in the Daily Record, Alien Online and icHuddersfield, among others, note that Patrick Stewart will be playing a role in "Eleventh Hour," a ú4.5m production being billed as ITV's answer to Dr Who and is written by Stephen Gallagher, who penned the classic Doctor Who series episodes "Warriors' Gate" and "Terminus".

The Metro's Green Room reports that the BBC will no longer put up posters for the new series, as they keep getting stolen! Says a BBC source: "... they are just getting steamed off and collectors are selling them on the Net."

Maureen O'Brien, who played Vicki in the early years of "Doctor Who," is interviewed in the Bucks Free Press as she directs the play "Structures" at the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham. Maureen admits that, although she and the cast are busy rehearsing in London, she did have time to watch the first episode of the latest of the series. "I really liked it. They really have something going for them and the casting is perfect. Christopher Eccleston reminds me so much of William Hartnell. All of the other doctors had something of a silly quality about them, that seemed to lesson the show somehow but, like Bill, Christopher is a really frightening, dangerous Dr Who. Slightly off-the-wall. And I think the reason why Billie Piper's goes off with him is great. I used to try and make my character, Vicky, a proper character but I don't think the 1960s were quite ready for that."

A snippet in the April 1 issue of Guardian, shopping section, titled "Dr Who's leather jacket": "Shame on you, Christopher Eccleston. No, not for quitting after one series. Shame on you for bringing the previously unimpeachable style of Dr Who into disrepute. Eight successive Doctors have steered the timelord's wardrobe through tricky sartorial waters, and now, after one single episode, Eccleston has stripped the Doctor of his style credentials. Gone is Tom Baker's long striped scarf legacy of the1970s. Its replacement? A shabby black leather peacoat. Nothing about this coat is stylish - it doesn't suit the cropped haired Doctor. We can only hope that now that Eccleston has bowed out, the jacket will be retired from duty too."

Express NewsLine says "The BBC's latest episode of Doctor Who is set in Cardiff, Wales, even though producers shot the sequences in Swansea. The episode set for broadcast Saturday portrays the Welsh capital in 1869, but a lack of period architecture drove the BBC team to Swansea, which has far more Victorian buildings than Cardiff, icWales reported Thursday. The show features Christopher Eccleston's battle with the eternal ghost-like aliens known as the Gelth and was written by author Mark Gatiss, who penned 'The League of Gentlemen.'"

"Who's back. And Who's looking vastly entertaining" says the Globe and Mailthis week, reviewing the first episode of the new series that was just transmitted in Canada. "Yes, the most distinctive theme music in the history of television is back, because that fella Dr. Who rides again," says the article. "Tonight's first episode of Dr. Who is terrific. It's wacky, colourful, lively and vastly entertaining. (I'll tell you here that I was never smitten with the series. Even when I saw it as a kid, I thought it was a very square drama.) In fact, it's a great example of a tired concept being expertly revived and cast. The BBC brought in Russell T. Davies, creator of the original Queer as Folk, to write it and he's done a superb job. ... Given the vast weight of the history of Dr. Who, the light, vaguely comic touch is absolutely necessary.

Manchester Online and BBC News report that Christopher Eccleston will star in the latest commercial created by the McCann Erickson agency for Manchester's Christie Hospital. The new campaign is part of a re-brand for the Christie charity and Eccleston will take part. "Scientists in Manchester say a cure for all types of cancer could be available on the NHS within five years," says BBC News. "The world's first patient trials in a technique which genetically engineers cells will take place at the city's Christie Hospital later this year."

Says icNorthWales, actor Rhys Ifans is not in line to play the Doctor, succeeding Christopher Eccleston. "I haven't the time," he jokes..

Billie Piper is profiled in Hello! Magazine, with details of her history and career to date.

Following up our story about CBBC presenter Devon Anderson wanting to be the next Doctor, BBC News is now reporting on the "campaign". "Describing himself as "a Doctor for the youth of today", Devon has been using his CBBC presenter slots to show how good he would be as the 10th Doctor."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Paul Mount, Dominic May, Paul Hayes, Craig Mullin, Dan Knight, Jamie Austin, Peter Weaver, Andy Parish, Rod Mammitzsch, David Farmbrough, Tony Jordan, Eddie Brennan, Stephen Graves and Ian Berriman)

Courtesy 2Entertain and the Tenth Planet store, we now have high-quality versions of the new Doctor Who series DVD boxed set coming out this fall from BBC Video; click on each thumbnail for a larger version. These are high-quality and larger than others you may find online. Warning - these are large files! (Thanks to Matthew at 2Entertain and Tenth Planet)

While we have no confirmation as yet, this weekend's transmission of the third episode, "The Unquiet Dead," may be pushed back a little, to instead air at 8pm on Saturday instead of 7pm due to the rescheduling of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles wedding due to the death of the Pope; the wedding in turn caused a reschedule of the Grand National Horse Race which may affect the transmission of Doctor Who. If and when we have more concrete information on a possible reschedule (it's not certain at this point!) we'll let you know.

Meanwhile, the FAQ page on the new series of "National Lottery Come and Have A Go" states that the show starts at 7.45 pm on Saturday 23 April, which means that the broadcast of episode five, "World War Three," won't be delayed after all. It appears that the 7.20pm timeslot which we previously reported on was due to some inaccurate writing on the part of the National Lottery, who actually appear to have meant that the 7.20 pm timeslot refers to the time when viewers can access the website to begin playing the game on-line (the blurb does refers to the show "from 7.20 pm") and not the time of broadcast.

According to Play.com, the new Doctor Who DVD series that we previously announced would feature the releases of Volume One (episodes 1-3) on May 16 and Volume Two (episodes 4-7) on June 13, have now been joined by Volume Three (episodes 8-10) on August 1 and Volume Four (episodes 11-13) on September 5. These "vanilla," no frills DVDs will be the episodes only. However, a boxed set will be released on November 21 which will include extras and feature all thirteen episodes. Play.com has posted a thumbnail of the cover illustration and the interior layout for the box, which you can see below. (Note: images removed; better versions are in April 8, 2005 news story, above.)

Radio Wales representatives contacted Outpost Gallifrey to let us know that the radio documentary series Doctor Who - Back In Time now has its ownwebsite; click the link to go to the site. Says Lisa Aguiar at Radio Wales, "The Listen Again section of the website allows you to listen to the previous two episodes of Doctor Who - Back In Time and just a little reminder that the final episode will be transmitted on BBC Radio Wales on Bank Holiday Monday - May 2nd at 13.10."

European viewers, take note: the FAQ pages of BBC Prime, the cable and satellite network widely available throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is now noting their intention to broadcast the new series when they get the opportunity. "We will be showing the new series of Dr Who at some point in the future however, we do not currently hold the rights to the series and they are unlikely to be made available until the show has been broadcast in the UK." It asks that viewers keep an eye on the website for details of possible future transmissions. On the other side of the globe,PrimeTV in New Zealand is still confirming that they're carrying the new series, and now notes it on their website... at some point "this winter," meaning likely after the Australian ABC broadcast. (Debut is likely scheduled for June or July.)

The official BBC Doctor Who website has been updated again with a new theme matching the next episode, "The Unquiet Dead," complete with theatrical banner board!

The purchase of the new Doctor Who series in Australia which we reported on yesterday was mentioned on the BBC Press Office website, as well as the official Doctor Who site. It's also been extensively covered today by the press, including News.com.au, The Advertiser (Adelaide), The Courier-Mail (Brisbane), Daily Telegraph Australia,The Australian, Melbourne Herald Sun, The Age, C21 Media, Bordermail, The Mercury,Worldscreen.

The Radio Times website lists an extra repeat for the fourth edition of Doctor Who Confidential ("I get a side-kick out of you"). In addition to the previously listed screenings at 7.45pm on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 April, it can also be seen at 3.40am on the night of 16/17 April.

On the heels of yesterday's release, yet another press release, Press Pack Four, was issued today, this time an interview with actress Penelope Wilton, who plays Harriet Jones in the two part story starting on August 16, "Aliens of London". "Penelope Wilton is one of Britain's most distinguished actresses, with credits including everything from acclaimed stage and TV productions to successful feature films. But she had no qualms about throwing herself into a double-episode story in the new Doctor Who - which features a surfeit of passed wind and sees her being chased by green monsters! 'What attracted me to the role was the quality of the writing,' she explains. 'I'd worked with Russell T Davies on Bob and Rose, and I really do believe he is one of our very best television writers. The episodes I'm in are extremely exciting and terribly funny.'" She notes that her character "represents some remote constituency and is as straight as a die - I think she's the kind of caring politician that anyone would like to have. Harriet also shows tremendous resilience and courage when these awful creatures, the Slitheens, make themselves and their plans known." She says she would enjoy a return to Doctor Who - if the script is right. "The Doctor looks into the future and sees Harriet as a future Prime Minister, so you never know - she might be back one day..."

Canada's airing on CBC Television took place last night... and we're happy to confirm that CBC broadcast the first episode in widescreen format! Also during the broadcast, a promo spot aired with Christopher Eccleston introducing himself (and the show) to North American audiences. He also popped up between commercial breaks to let viewers know about a "Doctor Who" contest CBC's currently running. He made mention to having "the coolest space ship in the Universe".

A new trailer has been airing on BBC television channels for this Saturday's episode; like the one for "The End of the World," this begins with "D'you wanna come with me?" before a selection of clips from the episode, most of which are from the "Next Time" section at the end of the previous episode.

This Is Gwent has a feature today on the filming done last year in Monmouth for the episode airing this Saturday. "It looks like a scene from Dickensian times," says the article. "Tight security surrounded the set as fake snow was poured onto the streets, and many residents watched in awe as the town was whisked back to the Victorian era. A large team of set builders dressed Beaufort Arms Court to become the entrance of a funeral parlour in Llandaff, Cardiff, and adapted St Mary's Street and White Swan Court to look as they might have done in the century before last." The article quotes Simon Callow, who plays Charles Dickens: "l get sent a lot of scripts which feature him as a kind of all-purpose literary character, and really understand little, if anything, about [Dickens]. But, as well as being brilliantly written, the script was obviously the work of someone who knows exactly what Dickens is all about, and the script very cleverly connects his idealism, which ends up being restored by his experiences, with The Doctor's desire to save the world." It notes that the first scene filmed in Monmouth involved an elderly woman, dressed in black, and wailing... which Outpost Gallifrey notes is actress Jennifer Hill, who plays Mrs. Peace (and whose portrayal of the moment was captured in several photos taken by fans at the filming last year, as seen in our New Series Photo Gallery.)

Actor Ronnie Corbett ("The Two Ronnies") would like to be included in the selection process for the new Doctor, according to today's Times. "Ronnie Corbett might be 74 but he is hoping age will be no barrier to the BBC considering him for the role of Dr Who after Christopher EcclestonÆs abrupt exit. 'I'd love to be considered for the part,' he said. 'Mind you, the episodes are likely to be somewhat shorter.' Boom, boom."

David Tennant, the noted favorite to play the role after Eccleston, is noted in tomorrow morning's review of "The Quatermass Experiment" in theGuardian. "This was a useful dummy run for David Tennant, who is heavily backed to be the next Doctor Who, playing a doctor confronted with a man eating vegetable. Tennant can do wide eyed with, so to speak, his eyes shut but, when the world is about to be destroyed, I think he should take his hands out of his pockets. It's the sort of thing that happens in a live production."

An article that ran last week in the Wishaw Press interviewed Jimmy Vee, who played the Moxx of Balhoon in last Saturday's second Doctor Who episode, "The End of the World." "I got the part through a friend that was working on the prosthetics and things for Doctor Who," said Vee. "He got a list through for the characters heÆd have to make, and a list of what kind of actor theyÆd need to play each part. He then let them know he knew someone who would be suitable for the part. I was told nothing about the part before I got it. All I had to do was travel down to Cardiff, turn up, learn the lines, I was put inside the costume, and then had to shoot. IÆm not allowed to say too much about it all." He noted that it took over three hours to put on his costume, and featured a two-foot head weighing more than half a stone. Once the outfit was on, Jimmy couldn't go to the toilet for 10 hours and its weight meant the pounds were falling off him. "I must have lost a stone in a week, even though I was drinking to rehydrate constantly. As soon as I got out, I had to eat everything I could get my hands on. It took me about three-and-a-half hours to put the costume on, and it was quite heavy."

Billie Piper apparently found herself battling with the British transport system after a night out on the town with a couple of friends at the weekend, says today's Express. "The soon-to-be-ex Mrs Chris Evans was spotted in London's Soho in the wee small hours trying to negotiate a good deal for a taxi home. 'We expected her to have a lift all sorted but nope, she was sticking her head through car doors trying to get a cheap cabbie to take her home - just like I was,' says a fellow partygoer. 'She wangled a good deal before I did anyway,' sighs the informant." Where's the TARDIS when you need it?

Today's Western Mail talks about Cardiff Theatrical Services, "the Welsh set-building company which helped regenerate Doctor Who is looking to enter a new dimension of growth." It notes that CTS is hoping that it will be commissioned to work on the second series of Doctor Who. "It was a really satisfying contract to win," said Simon Cornish, CTS construction manager, "even though we had been sworn to secrecy about the design. The creative vision behind the Tardis was in the same vein as many of the opera designs we have worked on over the years but this time it was faded hi-tech, not faded elegance. The structure itself would have been impossible to build even 10 years ago without the use of the kind of computerised templates for each piece of the steel structure we are able to call upon now."

Richard E. Grant topped the list in a Sky Showbiz Online poll asking who the next Time Lord should be. "A poll by Sky Showbiz Online revealed the Withnail and I star is the clear favourite to replace Christopher Eccleston," says the report. Comedian Eddie Izzard took second place, Bill Nighy third, Robbie Williams fourth and David Tennant fifth. Ananova also reported on it.

This is Bolton notes that Christopher Eccleston is "taking time out from travelling through space to take up a more down-to-earth cause. The actor ... has put his name behind a campaign to raise funds for Christie Hospital." Eccleston has provided the voiceover for the commercials which boast "Towards a Future Without Cancer". "I am very proud to be able to support this new campaign - and I hope everyone else will too," said Eccleston. "What is so important about the Christie is that the team is committed to driving research and treatment forward."

Some regurgitated comments from Billie Piper, already reported on in the media some time ago, nevertheless have been part of today's press in theIslington Gazette and subsidiary papers.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Chuck Foster, Justin Thomas, Marc Price, Dave Greenham, Lisa Aguiar, Robert Booth, Daniel Baum, Greg Miller, Paul Willmott, Ian Warren)

The new Doctor Who series makes its debut tonight in Canada, the first country outside the UK to see the series' broadcast. Episode one, "Rose," will air this evening, Tuesday, April 5, at 8:00pm on the CBC network (8:30pm in Newfoundland). Canadian viewers can check out the CBC's website which includes information on the "Planet of the Doctor" web documentary and other general information about the series broadcast, or the website of Canada's national Doctor Who fan group, The Doctor Who Information Network, for further details.

Will Doctor Who soon move to a new time slot... or is its lead in, "Strictly Dance Fever," going to be shifted? That's the big question, as the BBC'sNational Lottery website states that "Julian Clary is hosting The National Lottery Come and Have a Go on BBC ONE, April the 23rd, from 7.20pm." As our correspondent Dominic May wrote, either "Strictly Dance Fever" is considered a flop and Doctor Who moves to an earlier time slot... or perhaps Doctor Who moves to a slot after the lottery show. (Perhaps "Casualty" moves to Sundays?) Either way, it would also impact the transmission of "Doctor Who Confidential." As soon as we know for sure about the time switch, we'll let you know.

Phase Three of the BBC Doctor Who Press Pack was released today. The first segment is an interview with Simon Callow, who plays Charles Dickens in the next episode to be transmitted, "The Unquiet Dead." "When I heard that Dickens was going to be in Doctor Who, my heart rather sank," Simon admits. "I get sent a lot of scripts which feature him as a kind of all-purpose Victorian literary character and really understand little, if anything, about him, his life or his books. But, as well as being brilliantly written, Mark [Gatiss]'s script was obviously the work of someone who knows exactly what Dickens is all about." He also discusses what his career might have held, had the BBC been paying attention: "When the BBC decided to bring Doctor Who back as a feature film a few years ago, one national newspaper ran a poll to ask its readers who should be the new Doctor, and I topped it. Sadly, the producers failed to take note of this highly important statement of public opinion, so I never got my chance!" Writer Mark Gatiss is also interviewed, where he talks about the ideas for his episode. "The original idea came from Russell T Davies, but it was ideal for me - a Victorian ghost story set at Christmas with dead coming back to life! I've always had this thing about possession. Alan Bennett once said that we all have only a few beans in the tin to rattle, and I do tend to keep coming back to the idea of things being possessed. They're always my favourite kind of stories and it really must scare me on some basical level, the concept of being occupied by other entities." Of course, being part of the series was a dream come true for Mark: "Being asked to write for the new series was the best present I've ever had. But having wanted the show to return for so long, it was also a bit daunting and I think we (the writers) all ran around like headless chickens for a while. But then you just have to get on with it and the hard work really starts, but it's always a joy because of the love and loyalty we have for the show."

The Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada features an article entitled "Who's Back. And Who's Looking Vastly Entertaining" regarding the debut of the series tonight on CBC Television. "If you've never been exposed to Dr. Who, you're probably wondering why there is all the fuss. Well, there are plenty of reasons for the fandango of interest," says the article. "Tonight's first episode of Dr. Who is terrific. It's wacky, colourful, lively and vastly entertaining. (I'll tell you here that I was never smitten with the series. Even when I saw it as a kid, I thought it was a very square drama.) In fact, it's a great example of a tired concept being expertly revived and cast. The BBC brought in Russell T. Davies, creator of the original Queer as Folk, to write it and he's done a superb job." You can read the full review (note: spoilers!) at the Globe and Mail site. Interestingly, the American newspapers the Detroit Free Press and Seattle Post Intelligencer also discuss the new series briefly; obviously, American viewers close to the Canadian border will likely luck out in this situation. Meanwhile, other Canadian newspapers including the Toronto Star and The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario) are covering the series' debut in their print editions.

Colin Baker, writing in his column in the Bucks Free Press, today gave his own impressions of the new Doctor Who series. "I watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who with a mixture of delight and ruefulness. Delight because it is precisely the mix of innovative creativity and connection to the past that the future of the programme needed," Baker wrote. "Christopher Eccleston is absolutely spot on. He looks splendid; that's the costume I would have liked black leather jacket, black T-shirt - although, I must admit it looks better on him. He has just the right mix of humour, passion, quirkiness and single-mindedness to provide the dynamo that is necessary at the centre of the programme. Billie Piper too is an unexpected revelation and has made the perfect start. And the writing, special effects, filmic style and "look" have been pitched at precisely the right level. All of which has contributed to a whole fresh and inspiring feel to the programme." He notes that Eccleston is "following a Liverpudlian (Paul McGann), a Scot (Sylvester McCoy), and another Mancunian (me) none of whom would have been invited, or allowed, to play the role as a northerner," and finishes up with the comment "The Doctor is back with a vengeance."

Simon Pegg is the subject of an article that ran in several places today noting that he "has revealed he has been cast as a villain called The Editor in the new series of Doctor Who." The article notes that (spoilers... select to read): "He makes a cameo appearance in episode seven of the sci-fi show, as controller of the 500th floor of a mysterious building from which time travellers do not return. The Spaced actor is one of several guest stars in the BBC1 drama, featuring Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord and Billie Piper as his assistant. Pegg, 35, who told Nuts magazine he had been cast as The Editor, said, 'I'm in one episode of the new Doctor Who. I think it's going to be spectacular.'" The article's been carried at This is London, Daily Record,Sky News, Scotsman, RTE, UTV, and Western Mail.

"Doctor Who meets Dickens!" says the cover of today's new edition of Radio Times (9û15 April) and, although there's no front cover picture, the magazine is maintaining its high level of new series coverage. Once again, this week's episode is the first selection in RT's pick of the week's best television (page 4) and a photograph of Simon Callow as Charles Dickens accompanies a short blurb: "Corking episode written by the League of Gentlemen's Mark Gatiss, when the Doc, aided by Charles Dicken (Simon Callow), fights the spirit world." Reader's Letters (page 9) include three very positive responses to the first episode ("I've not felt so enthused about a TV programme for years") under the heading "Saviour of Earthlings...", while a fourth letter is headed "... or an obvious spoof?" and suggests that "As comedy it was great, but as serious sci-fi, well, pull the other one." A standard publicity shot of the Doctor and Rose is captioned "putting the fun, and fear, back into Saturday nights." This week's "Doctor Who Watch" (page 16) presents an interview with writer Mark Gatiss and features four small photographs from Saturday's episode. (It's worth noting that no other television series gets a weekly feature to itself in this way - even EastEnders is covered as part of a general soaps column.) The Radio Times television editor, Alison Graham (page 61), notes that "The first episode [...] secured nearly ten million viewers and garnered great critical praise. As audiences become ever more fractured, it's heartening to see a genuine piece of popular teatime family viewing. Surely it's good for kids to have a communal TV touchstone that isn't a soap opera." (She does rather ruin things on page 94 when she suggests the presenter of a property show as Eccleston's replacement.) She also notes that Doctor Who was "the obvious winner over Easter", giving ratings for the weekend's other "success stories": Colditz 5.3m, Fingersmith 4.9m, The Queen's Castle 6.5m, Strictly Dance Fever 4.9m. Once we get to the week's listings (page 62), The Unquiet Dead is Saturday's Pick of the Day: with a nice photo from the story, "it's as blackly comic as you'd expect [from Mark Gatiss]. [...] It's all terrific fun and everyone throws themselves into it with gusto. There are genuine shivers, so be warned û tinies may find it disturbing." Another photo (of Eccleston and Callow, page 64) highlights the actual listing: "When the dead start walking and creatures made of gas are on the loose, Charles Dickens proves to be an unlikley ally for the Doctor and Rose". Doctor Who Confidential asks "Where - or rather when - would the Doctor be without the Tardis? [...] the programme looks back over the 40-year history of the intergalactic time machine" (page 65). Meanwhile, BBC Four takes advantage of this week's episode - on Saturday at 8.15pm, the channel is broadcasting The Mystersy of Charles Dickens with Simon Callow as Dickens, and there are other Dickens programmes throughout the week. UKTV Gold is offering The Horns of Nimon for anyone who prefers their Christmas panto a little less Dickensian! And Sunday's TV listings (page 73) confirm a repeat of the third part of Doctor Who Confidential on Sunday, immediately after the second showing of The Unquiet Dead. Finally, Russell T Davies: Unscripted (reported on OG on 4 April) is one of the week's Digital/Cable Highlights on Monday (page 78); it's on BBC Four at 10pm, repeated at 1.10am and 3.25am, and on Thursday 14 April at 11pm, while BBC One's showing of Davies' Casanova with David Tennant continues on Monday at 9pm.

Today's Times features a convincing argument for "why the next Doctor Who should be black." "When it comes to casting black characters, the producers of Doctor Who seem to be on another planet. The BBC should do more to provide positive role models. ... Like, I expect, many black people in the UK I watched the first episode of the new Doctor Who and cringed. When you are watching television, you tend to identify with people like you. Women identify with other women, men with other men, and people from one particular ethnic group with other people like them. The only character from an ethnic minority in this programme was the boyfriend of Rose - Doctor Who's new sidekick. ... There has been a lot of talk about positive role models for young African and Caribbean boys in the UK. Positive role models in society may improve kids' results at school. They offer a sense of belonging and being part of the mainstream. They give you something to aim for. But negative role models marginalise black kids, increasing their interest in other sources of positive affirmation, pride and respect, such as gangs, hip-hop and gun culture. The BBC may think it is doing its bit by having black presenters and other characters on TV. But that is not what inspires people. For that you need black people to be protagonists and heroes. And you rarely find black heroes on TV. ... But here is an idea. Christopher Eccleston, the ninth incarnation of the doctor is giving up at the end of the series. A new Doctor is required. All of them so far have been white men. Why can't the tenth Doctor be black?" The article, written by a societal psychiatrist who specializes in causes of mental illness, racism and social capital, is a very interesting read.

Christopher Eccleston will take part in a televised concert, A Party to Remember, to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day. The concert, on May 8, will be hosted by BBC presenter Natasha Kaplinsky and GMTV host Eamonn Holmes. Among the other celebrities involved are singer Will Young, Kate Melua, Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins and Heather Mills McCartney. Articles discussing the event can be found at BBC News, ic Network, theScotsman.

CBBC Newsround has a review of the second episode from one of its teenage readers.

Today's Daily Star has a brief note that mentions that Rhys Ifans, who was Hugh Grant's scruffy lodger Spike in hit movie "Notting Hill," is in the running to play the Doctor... but this could be a simple case of putting the actor's name into the papers.

Several papers and online news sources today carried the story about the BBC's apology to Christopher Eccleston, which we reported yesterday, including Channel 4, CBBC News, MediaGuardian, Manchester Online,This Is London,The Examiner, WaveGuide, ITV News, ContactMusic,The Telegraph, DigitalSpy, BreakingNews, andBrand Republic.

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Dominic May, Chuck Foster, Paul Hayes, Louise March, Zoe Hudson, Tony Jordan, Paul Jobber)

After false starts and plenty of speculation, today's Herald Sun confirms that the ABC Network in Australia is the latest broadcaster to acquire the new Doctor Who series, which will debut on ABC in the middle of May. "Doctor Who fans have cause for celebration after the ABC snapped up the rights to the new series of the hit British sci-fi show," says the article. ABC Head of Programming Marena Manzoufas said, "This is Doctor Who, 21st century-style, and it most definitely will appeal to people who are new to the Doctor Who phenomenon, as well as long-term fans. I am in no doubt that a whole new Australian audience will be attracted to the series." "Doctor Who is one of the most significant BBC dramas of the year," BBC Worldwide's head of sales for Australasia, Julie Dowding, said. "It's the ultimate adventure series with the ultimate cast. We're very happy that it's come to earth in Australia." As soon as there's a more concrete date in May for ABC's broadcasts, we'll bring it to you. (Thanks to Ken McRae, Tim Errington, Jarren Gallway, Daniel Burke)