Davies Show to USA

Saturday, 28 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
While producer Russell T. Davies continues to work on the new Doctor Who series, another of his productions has been shipped to America: the USA Network has remade Touching Evil, a 1997 ITV serial that Davies wrote scripts for, with Bruce Willis serving as the executive producer for this new show. In an interesting twist, one of the producers of the new version is Antony Root, who was script editor on Doctor Who in the early 1980's. The US version of "Touching Evil" will be out in March.




FILTER: - Russell T Davies

Russell Hunter

Thursday, 26 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Russell Hunter, the Scottish born actor best known to Doctor Who fans as Commander Uvanov in the classic serial "The Robots of Death," died today, February 26, from complications due to leukemia. Born in Glasgow in 1925, Russell Hunter was a shipyard apprentice before taking up acting, appearing in the very first Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1947. His best-known role was his character Lonely in the TV thriller series "Callan" opposite Edward Woodward; he also appeared in "Casualty," "Ace of Wands," "A Touch of Frost," "Up Pompeii," "Sweeney Todd" and "Born and Bred" (his last TV role, last June). Hunter reprised his Doctor Who role as Uvanov the past two years for Magic Bullet Productions' series of audio spinoff adventures, "Kaldor City". Hunter, who is survived by his wife, actress Una MacLean, was 79. (Thanks to Ben Morris; some details from Scotland Today; photo courtesy Magic Bullet Productions)




FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

DWM 341 and 1st Doc Special

Wednesday, 25 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Out on March 4 is Issue 341 of Doctor Who Magazine, featuring part two of the interview with Lalla Ward; the first of Russell T. Davies' production diaries on the new series; Daniel O'Mahony's coda to "Accidental Tourist"; part four of the comic strip "Bad Blood"; Andrew Pixley's Archive Extras focuses on "The Ultimate Adventure"; plus information on the new series writers and, as Outpost Gallifrey has learned, word of an important discovery from the show's first season that has been rumored about for the past several weeks. Meanwhile, out March 18 is The Complete First Doctor, the sixth in their series of special editions focusing on a particular era of the show, including photographs and reviews and an afterword by Verity Lambert. Covers for both are below.




FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Walking in Eternity

Wednesday, 25 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The editors of the long-out-of-print charity anthology Walking In Eternity have announced that they have an additional 100 copies of the book to sell. The copies "are the readers edition, which has page 308 missing but we supply the missing page as a loose-leaf sheet and are a bargain at only 5 pounds plus p&p!" says editor Jay Eales. The book was published to benefit the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death and features contributions by both fans and professional Doctor Who authors. Additionally, some rare illustration is available by comics artist Mike Collins. Visit thewebsite for details.




FILTER: - Books

When An Axis Isn't an Axis...

Wednesday, 25 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The Axis of Evil, the latest installment of Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield audio series (featuring the further adventures of the former Virgin Doctor Who: The New Adventures novel companion) by Paul Cornell, is out... but they've pulled a fast one. Indeed, "The Axis of Evil" isn't actually the story's title, as Big Finish have managed to keep hidden the real title - it gives away an important clue about the story. SPOILER WARNING... highlight the following text for details, and remember, you have been warned!!! The actual title of the serial is Death and the Daleks, not "The Axis of Evil," and features the true masters of the Fifth Axis, the dreaded Daleks. The back cover blurb reads as follows: "The Braxiatel Collection has been occupied by the Fifth Axis. Who seem to be led by a figure from Bernice's past. Behind him lies the evil time travelling power of the Daleks. As Bernice's friends rise up to end the occupation, Bernice embarks on a desperate rescue mission, to somewhere she last went long ago. Braxiatel confronts his destiny, Jason risks all for his love and lives are shattered and lost as the battle of the Braxiatel reaches it's epic conclusion. Our heroes will live free or die..." (Thanks to Matt Gayno




FILTER: - Audio

Return of the Autons

Tuesday, 24 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
A quick piece of gossip from Gallifrey 2004: apparently Bill Baggs of BBV recently negotiated with the BBC over the rights to the Autons, the plastic invaders from the Doctor Who serials "Spearhead from Space" and "Terror of the Autons". The BBC apparently negotiated rights with Baggs (who produced three Auton films) in order to procure them for an upcoming project... perhaps the new series itself? Stay tuned!




FILTER: - Production - Series 1/27

Power, Evil Singles

Tuesday, 24 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
As we reported yesterday, the Dalek Tin is indeed being discontinued; however, according to BBCi, both Power of the Daleks and Evil of the Daleks will be released individually on CD on August 2.




FILTER: - Classic Series

BBC Kids Canada Schedule

Tuesday, 24 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC Kids, which airs Doctor Who across Canada, has announced a slight change in their broadcast schedule. "Due to a technical issue, our current weekday broadcast of 'Kinda' (on February 20th & 23rd) and 'The Visitation' (on February 24th & 25th) were pre-empted. Both stories will be included in the next weekday run of episodes. Our weekend showings of the Davison years remain uninterrupted. Both stories will run on their regularly scheduled weekend dates: 'Kinda' (all four episodes) on Saturday, February 28th at 1:00am & 3:30am 'The Visitation' (all four episodes) on Sunday, February 29th at 1:00am & 3:30am".




FILTER: - Canada - Broadcasting

A Labyrinth of Histories

Monday, 23 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The sixth audio in BBV's Faction Paradox series, A Labyrinth of Histories by Lawrence Miles, has apparently been released in the UK (despite no update to BBV's website noting such!) The audio is the latest in the spinoff series featuring the "time-travelling voodoo cult" originally created by Miles in the BBC Books Eighth Doctor novel series. The cover illustration is at right; click for a larger version. (Thanks to Lars Pearson)




FILTER: - Audio

DMP in Australia

Monday, 23 February 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The MP3 CD release of The Daleks' Master Plan will be out in March in Australia & New Zealand (thanks to Liam McNicholas)




FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series