At the Tenth Planet signing in the UK on September 29, Janet Fielding (Tegan), in a rare Doctor Who-related appearance, confirmed that she would soon be in-studio recording the commentary for Earthshock, which she said would be released on DVD some time during 2003. Fielding also mentioned that, according to her information, the hopes were to have Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse all present for the commentary. (Thanks to Jon Frame, Zygon Curry)

The Oxford Shorter English Dictionary has come out again, and this time included in this popular edition is the word TARDIS. The word previously appeared in the much larger version, but this is the first mainstream book to include the Doctor Who title. Some of the other words to be included in the Oxford Shorter English Dictionary, due to their use in the vernacular, are Jedi, Klingon, Dilithium, Warp Drive, get real, text messaging and just war. (Thanks to Jonathan Baldwin, Ivan Philpot)

A late addition to the forthcoming DVD release of The Three Doctors is a recently located high-quality audio copy of the BBC News obituary of William Hartnell, the first Doctor, loaned to the Doctor Who Restoration Team by fan Ronald McDevitt. The RT is currently locating photo stills of Hartnell to be used alongside the extra, which will likely be featured as an easter egg on the disc. Meanwhile, the Restoration Team has also updated their site with a new article about the cleanup and restoration work done on the forthcoming DVD release of The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton; visit the Restoration Team site, click "DVD Releases" and "The Seeds of Death". (Thanks to Steve Roberts & the Restoration Team)

Big Finish has released further info about three upcoming books. The short story anthology reported first in DWM (which we mentioned last week) is called Short Trips: Zodiac, edited by Jacqueline Rayner; it features 12 stories each representing signs of the zodiac by authors Simon Forward (Leo), Sarah Groenewegen (Virgo), Simon Guerrier (Libra), Paul Magrs (Scorpio), Todd Green (Sagittarius), Joseph Lidster (Capricorn), Andrew Collins (Aquarius), Alison Lawson (Pisces), Mark Michalowski (Aries), Paul Leonard (Taurus), Tony Keetch (Gemini) and Ian Potter (Cancer), with introduction and linking story by Jim Sangster. Meanwhile, Big Finish also confirmed two releases for 2003: Doctor Who: The Audio Scripts - The Best of Big Finish and as as-yet-untitled "Making Of" book about the run of the Doctor Who audios. The script book is set for September 2003 and features four rehearsal scripts (as opposed to final versions) for "Loups Garoux" by Marc Platt, "The Holy Terror" by Rob Shearman, "The Fires of Vulcan" by Steve Lyons, and "Neverland" by Alan Barnes, with an alternative episode one script for "The Fires of Vulcan" that featured Ace instead of Mel. The hardcover making of book will be edited by Benjamin Cook and feature photos, interviews with writers, actors and directors, unpublished cover illustrations and "Doctor Who Magazine" style archives on the making of each installment. (Our own The Kar-Charrat Files, a release supported by Big Finish, is an actual episode guide as opposed to this making-of book.) Finally, in a separate story, Big Finish announced that their Music From the Fifth Doctor Audios CD is being delayed slightly as Peter Davison signs all of the subscriber copies. (Thanks to Big Finish)

Could Doctor Who be back next year? That's the conflagration of rumors that have started after an interview with BBC1 chief Lorraine Heggessey, who spoke to Simon Mayo of Radio Five Live on Tuesday. "Doctor Who was a fantastic series," said Heggessey, "and I think we should be looking at ways to reinvent it. ... Discussions are going on at the moment, but they are in the very early stages. There is an awful lot to sort out, including copyright and so on, but, yes, it could be coming back. And tea-time on Saturdays would seem an appropriate place." Many online and print media in the UK have picked up the story as a confirmation that the show is coming back, but of course reading Ms. Heggessey's comments don't specifically make note that the show will be back, only that it's being considered. While this is more of the same we've come to expect since the cancellation, this is perhaps one of the brightest discussions about the show's future, as it seems that those high-up at the BBC are indeed interested. We'll bring you more detail as we get it. (Thanks to the over 40 emails we received this morning about the comments, and BBCi for some clarification.)

Journalist Dwight Whylie passed away recently in Bermuda. He played a small part as a voice-over announcer in part four of the Doctor Who serial "The War Machines," a part for which he was selected from the BBC's announcers pool. Whylie's numerous journalistic accomplishments included a career as a radio newsreader at the CBC in Canada, major journalistic initiatives in Guyana, Jamaica and Bermuda, and as a member of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's Hall of Fame. (Thanks to Eric Briggs)

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, #322 is now available. The issue includes the first part of a new series, "Guess Who?," by Gareth Roberts; part two of a three part interview with Colin Baker and a chat with Anneke Wills; the final chapter of the comic strip "Uroboros"; "The Moonbase" in the archives; the return of the Time Team; and all the usual reviews and features. The cover illustration is at right. (Thanks to BBCi and DWM)

Actors Wendy Padbury (Zoe) and Frazer Hines (Jamie), director Michael Ferguson and writer Terrance Dicks will be featured on the forthcoming DVD commentary track on the release of The Seeds of Death, the Patrick Troughton serial. Padbury, Hines and Ferguson will be doing the commentary on episodes 1 and 2; Hines, Padbury and Dicks on episode 3 (along with Ferguson briefly); Dicks and Ferguson on episode 4; and all four on episodes 5 and 6. The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, on sale this week, broke the story on the commentaries. Outpost Gallifrey has also learned from the Doctor Who Restoration Team that the Seeds disc contains a 25 minute documentary called 'Ssssowing the Sssseedssss', in which Ice Warrior actors Sonny Caldinez and Alan Bennion and make-up designer Sylvia James talk about the process of bringing the Martians to life. (Thanks to DWM, Steve Roberts and the Restoration Team).

BBCi has obtained the cover illustration and info on the forthcoming Heritage by Dale Smith, October's BBC novel featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace. Also online there now is a sample chapter of the subsequent novel The Infinity Race by Simon Messingham and an excerpt from the Dalek Survival Guide, plus an interview with BBC books range consultant Justin Richards. Among some of the notable items he mentions: "The main delivery from BBC Books [for the 40th anniversary] will be a massive, heavily illustrated and very lavish book that goes into the whole story of Doctor Who - the narrative side of things, telling the entire 40 year story right from the start in considerable detail. Of course there’s behind the scenes stuff as well and lots of new material. It’s an enormous project, but it’s looking really good so far." To read the full interview or the sample chapters click here for BBCI, and click on "September Telepress" in the News items. For Heritage (click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover):


HERITAGE by Dale Smith

"Things go missing on Heritage. It's one of the hazards of living here. One of the many hazards."

Nobody visits Heritage. Why would they? Dry, dusty and hot, it's nothing but a failed mining colony too stupid to realise that it's actually dead. No-one wants to visit, least of all Ace. But the Doctor's got his hearts set on a flying visit, just while they're in the neighbourhood. That's when he finds out that Heritage wants visitors just as much as visitors want them.

So, while Ace is getting friendly with the locals, the Doctor is trying his best to convince them he's not interested in their secrets. All he wants is a few quiet days and a nice cup of tea.

Trouble is, secrets have a way of unearthing themselves when the Doctor's around. Whether he wants them to or not.

This adventure features the Seventh Doctor and Ace.