Hi all - it's been a little while since I posted but this post accompanies pretty major updates to both the cuttings and to the New Series News page. Where to begin, where to begin...

Cuttings

Details of these are in full on the main page suffice to say here that the update is big, very big - perhaps the biggest single update we've had. Lots of goodies in there including some very rare cuttings from the early 1970s as well as a lot of new series news related stuff.

Our next update should take place within the week and will see the new series related cuttings brought right up to date (apart from anything that's still on the newsstands that is). This effectively clears the decks for the flood of articles and news we expect after the press launch in Cardiff on the 8th of March - and on that subject:

New Series News

We've added a lot of news to the New Series News page over the weekend, partly in order to catch up with things (news updates have been a bit slow from us over the last month and a half) and partly because there's exciting news to tell.

This includes details of the lovely Doctor Who Confidential logo as well as some details of what's in the show. Additionally we have news of an exciting radio documentary narrated by Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard in Star Trek The Next Generation), new series BBC books and much more.

Most excitingly we can confirm, from independent sources, that the most likely date for the premiere of the series is the 26th of March (probably at 6.45 or 7pm). Do be aware though that until there is an official announcement made this may still change. We also have full details of the events leading up to the premiere; these include, the press launch, dates for the first tv and radio trails as well as major interviews (radio, press etc.), appearances and photo shoots that Chris and Billie will be involved in. There's much more so do take a look.

The Future

As mentioned above we are effectively clearing the decks for what we anticipate will be a lot of press coverage following on from the 8th (effectively the week starting the 5th of March). This will lead directly into the series and we have plans for covering it on a weekly basis in a unique way, but more on that later. All we can say for now is that we will be unveiling new pages, features and information and a rolling programme of weekly updates very soon.

These are exciting times and I anticipate we are all about to experience a big change in Doctor Who and fandom in particular.

Even if the series is not an enormous success in critical and ratings terms there are liable to be numbers of new fans attracted to the show and consequently surfing the net for Doctor Who sites and getting involved as fans. However, judging by the glowing review that Q Magazine has just published (see our News Page), where they describe the series as "must see TV for everyone", there may well be a very positive reaction to this series in the press and elsewhere - in fact it might just be some of the best Doctor Who we have ever seen.

This means that an awful lot of people will be appearing, some as fans and some, gasp, as normal interested members of the public; they will be viewing this and other websites for the first time, many of the new arrivals may well be younger than we have been used to here and elsewhere so for a start let's be welcoming and kind to them wherever we meet them.

It's also very probably the case that they will, at least initially, know very little about the classic series so we'll all have to do a lot of explaining - no problem here! :-)

So, we may be on the brink of something big - let's sit back and enjoy the trip!

(We'll be back very soon though with lots more.)

Roger :-)

Published @ 12:30 AM (UK local time)