Doctor Who Wants to Be A Millionaire: The May 20 edition of the US version of "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" on ABC-TV featured a Doctor Who question. The question, for a total amount of $32,000, was "On the long-running BBC TV series Doctor Who, what does Dr. Who's spaceship look like from the outside?" The answers were A) Mailbox; B) Taxi cab; C) Phone booth (the correct answer); and D) Potted Plant. The contestant was not able to answer the question and had to walk away. (Thanks to Justin Horne for the info & screen capture; click on the graphic for a larger version)

Dapol: "We Have NOT Lost Our License": After online rumors concerning new Who film developments mentioned a possible shutdown by Dapol UK, Outpost Gallifrey was contacted by George Smith, Dapol's Director of Corporate Affairs, with a statement: "At the moment there is a rumour circulating throughout the various Doctor Who web sites that we at Dapol have 'Lost our License'. Can I therefore quash this rumour once and for all: Dapol have NOT lost or relinquished their license. Dapol is still committed to developing the brand and indeed will have the first of a whole new range of high detailed solid pvc figurines in the market by about late June 2001. Subject to permission from both the BBC and agents of the actors, Dapol also intend to commence manufacture of 'DOCTORS' and 'COMPANIONS'." The communication further states that Dapol will release further information through various sites, including providing info to the Outpost. (Thanks to George Smith of Dapol)

A Police Box Appears...: Artist Mark Wallinger recently installed two police boxes in England, according to the UK's Channel Four news, on the front lawn and inside the Oxford Natural History/Pitt Rivers museum. Wallinger, the man who created the first sculpture to grace the fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square, is said to be taking a TARDIS to this year's Venice Biennale (literally, not in terms of travel within, we assume!) where he will be Britain's representative. There is a nice photo of one TARDIS in the museum grounds at www.oum.ox.ac.uk/tardis.htm plus a piece on the artist himself briefly explaining the TARDIS project at www.oum.ox.ac.uk/artist.htm. (Thanks to Andrew Davis and Chris Burnside for the news, and Steve Woolfall for the links!)

The Missing Episodes Campaign: The BBC website features some information about a new campaign to recover missing episodes of BBC TV shows, in tandem with a recent BBC TV news report which featured several Doctor Who luminaries and fans discussing the loss of the historical archives of Hartnell and Troughton shows. A clip (in RealMedia format) available by clicking here features a very short clip of the title sequence from "Vampire From Space" (the original title of "The Claws of Axos") in color, as well as brief comments from Sue Malden, director of the BBC film & TV archives. (Thanks to Peter Anghelides and Matthew Adams)

Doctor Who: Sixth Greatest TV Character of All Time: The UK's Channel 4 conducted an online survey to determine who the "greatest TV character" of all time was. On May 6, it was announced on a live four-hour broadcast: the good Doctor came in at a very high 6th place. (And who came in first? Homer Simpson, followed by Basil Fawlty and Blackadder.) For complete results, visit www.channel4.com/100_tvs. (Thanks to everyone who let us know!)

Sladen Portraits: Artist Duncan Gutteridge -- well known for his many celebrity portraits including stars of Star Trek, Buffy and other SF shows -- has created a new art print featuring Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith). Sanctioned by Sladen, the print is limited to 100 copies signed by both the actress and the artist. More information is available at www.duncangutteridge.com. (Thanks to Roger Clark for sending us the artwork thumbnail with Sladen & Gutteridge's permission)

Even More Dead Ringers: Says Nev Fountain of BBC Radio on the popular radio comedy series: "There's going to be an election special in early june, and the next series starts in August. A call with Colin Baker was recorded, but didn't turn out as good as we hoped - no-one's fault, it just happens like that sometimes. He's probably going to be the last, as we've heard Peter D is a bit 'grouchy' and McGann's a bit shy, but the possibility doing a few of the better-known companions has been a subject of 'pub talk' after the last recording. If you haven't caught many shows, then there's four episodes available on cassette (the first series) and four more available in june/july (the first half of the second series). Not a huge fan of series one myself- it took a few episodes to find a style - but series 2 is very good." Fountain recently announced on a Doctor Who message board that "Jon Culshaw recorded two spoof calls today that might interest you... He rang up both Colin and Tom Baker, and one or both of them will be included on this week's show..." The results of that were heard in late April. (Thanks to Mustafa Hirji and Nev Fountain)

Host Yourself in the Eye of Harmony: Eye of Harmony Hosting Solutions, a non-profit web provider operated by Indelible Promotions (the group behind the "Day of the Daleks" conventions), is offering special hosting deals for Doctor Who websites. Visit www.eyeofharmony.co.uk for more information.

Classic Moments and Talking Daleks!: Product Enterprises are releasing "the greatest Doctor Who toy ever!," talking Daleks, as well as their "Classic Moments" Collection, a series of detailed statues featuring "An Unearthly Child" (a TARDIS, First Doctor and Susan statue) and statues of a Sensorite, Lynx the Sontaran, a Draconian, a Quark and a Zygon. The talking Daleks, meanwhile, will be available in three colours with flashing lights. Below are links to the two graphics we have (smaller to conserve space). Product Enterprises are the makers of the popular Dalek Rolykins statues. (Thanks to Steve Walker at Product Enterprises for contacting us directly!)

Strictly Ink Card Release: The first in a series of trading cards from the Strictly Ink company was released on March 31. Retailing for £49.99 per box, it contained 36 packs of 8 cards (guaranteeing a full 120 card set), two signed cards and twelve foil cards in each box. The Series One Definitive Collectors Edition 1 contains: 6,000 numbered boxes worldwide (300 cases); 2 hand signed actors autograph cards in every box; 120 card basic super premium card set; 18 Radio Times Gold Foil Subset; Subset images & story cards, covering all of Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell's story Episodes; Unpublished BBC Archive Black & Whites; 15 Actors Autograph; trading cards including all the living TV doctors and many companions; 2 giant scarce Doctor and companion cards in each case of 20 boxes limited to 300; free Rare Uncut test Sheet with each case (Redemption form enclosed- worth up to £60); and Jumbo Doctor Who Collectors Postcard in every box, 9 to collect in series one. For more information, visit www.strictlyink.com. (Thanks to Gallifrey 5)

Orbital To Do Second Who Theme: Orbital will be releasing a new version of the Doctor Who theme tune on their new forthcoming album. The Altogether is expected to be released on 16th April. The "jungled-up" version of the theme (a live favourite) will be the subject of an interview between Orbital and the magazine 'Q' (May edition) acompanied by various photos of them posing with a Special Weapons Dalek and a 60s Cyberman. Click here for a preview. Meanwhile, according to the British music magazine "Q" (click here) the song also includes a sample from the show (of Tom Baker). A recent issue of the magazine also included some interesting pictures of the band with the Special Weapons Dalek as well as a Troughton era Cyberman. (Thanks to Shawn Channell)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fan Produced Documentaries:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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