What's UMD?

UMD stands for Universal Media Disc. This is the disc used to store movies on Sony's new PlayStation Portable (PSP).

BBC DVD are releasing DOCTOR WHO SERIES 1 VOLUME 2 as a UMD on 17 October 2005. That's nice. RRP £17.99.

29 November - The BBC DOCTOR WHO site has finally been notified that the NEW SERIES will be released on UMD. Click UPDATED NEWS for their coverage.

Nice cover.

SFX magazine (136) heralds "Brit Sci-fi", with DOCTOR WHO leading the way ahead of ITV's THE ELEVENTH HOUR (with Patrick Stewart). The main WHO feature is a (not very conclusive) chat with producer, Phil Collinson is interviewed.

Better stick with DOCTOR WHO COMIC.

It was only a matter of time (to tie-up the loose ends of the 'other' ninth Doctor) but SCREAM OF THE SHALKA is be released on DVD in (the Spring of) 2006.

The animated BBC ONLINE six-part story (written by Paul Cornell) with Richard E Grant has been cleared for release by BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION.

• EPISODE ONE - Duration 14m 35s
• EPISODE TWO - Duration 10m 13s
• EPISODE THREE - Duration 12m 11s
• EPISODE FOUR - Duration 14m 35s
• EPISODE FIVE - Duration 12m 39s
• EPISODE SIX - Duration 15m 03s

The animated presentation is Directed by Wilson Milam and Produced by Muirinn Lane Kelly.

Thanks to UNIT NEWS for the information.

As part of today's GREAT NORTH RUN (held in Newcastle and South Shields), Christopher Eccleston took part (running for leukaemia research). His stats?

• Christopher Eccleston
• DOB: 16/02/1964
• Race Number 52253
• Time: 01:27:19
• Position 354

Interesting interview with Eccleston.

Don't forget that the actor's OFFICIAL website will be launched later this year: bookmark www.christophereccleston.co.uk

You can never let sleeping dogs lie.

Janet Fielding is renewing her EQUITY membership to join the BIG FINISH 'repertory company', reprising her role of Tegan Jovanka for a 2006 audio adventure (alongside Peter Davison), SUMMER IN THE CITY (written by Joseph
Lidster, and features the Cybermen).

BIG FINISH has also confirmed that Mark Strickson will reprise the character of Turlough (again, alongside Davison's Fifth Doctor) in the story, SINGULARITY (by James Swallow).

Additionally, Colin Baker (Sixth Doctor) and Nicola Bryant (Peri Brown) return in CRYPTOIOSIS. Though this will be released as "subscribers only" single-disc. It will be scripted by Elliot Thorpe.

Good news and bad news.

DWM visits Patcham High School in Sussex to find out what the kids thought of the new series of Doctor Who. Did they take to the Ninth Doctor and Rose? Did they find the Daleks scary? And what about that oh-so-cute Space Pig?

The other overpriced pages of the comic include:

• DOCTOR WHO production designer Edward Thomas takes an episode-by-episode look at the last series
• A peek at how the new DOCTOR WHO exhibition on Brighton Pier was created
• Interviews with authors Justin Richards, Gareth Roberts and Steve Lyons about their latest DOCTOR WHO novels published by BBC Books
• Meanwhile, in the third part of The Cruel Sea, the new comic strip adventure written by TV writer Robert Shearman, things take a turn for the surreal. Just what is real and what is imaginary?
• A chat with the DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL producers
• a sneak preview of BBC Audio's DOCTOR WHO AT THE BBC - Volume 3
• And for one issue only, script editor Helen Raynor takes over Production Notes
• Gallifrey Guardian
• The Time Team

DWM 361 goes on sale on Thursday 15 September.

At the annual TUC Conference, The Writer's Guild of Great Britain has praised the re-launch of DOCTOR WHO.

The Guild commended the series, stating that: "The popularity of the series demonstrates that there is still an audience for quality family entertainment, and that distinctive UK television productions can still provide a talking point for the nation."

Link to BBC NEWS article.

In addition, the article states that the first David Tennant episode, THE CHRISTMAS INVASION, will be broadcast on Christmas Day (Sunday).

Whether the originator of the article has 'crossed wires' or it could correct. eyeofhorus.org.uk has been initially told that the 60-minute Special is scheduled for Christmas Eve (Saturday) - thus retaining the Saturday branding.

The BBC NEWS page has been updated to remove the word "Day" from the final paragraph. Someone has had a word in their ear. So, back to the bets on Christmas Eve, then.

A pitch invasion? Sort of.

The victorious England Cricket Team, fresh from their THE ASHES Test Series against the Australians, paraded through the streets of London.

At one point, Wicketkeeper, Geriant Jones, caught a flying (and inflatable) Dalek, as it announced "Aussies exterminated".

The Dalek was escaping the Strand's The Stamp Centre at the time.

eyeofhorus.org.uk can appreciate that minor spelling errors play havoc with deadlines, so we can empathise with BBC DVD and 2ENTERTAIN announcement that the release of DOCTOR WHO - THE WEB PLANET is delayed.

A minor typographic error on the printed sleeve.

The retail launch is now expected on Monday 3 October 2005.

The DVD can be pre-ordered at , and AMAZON.CO.UK for £13.99 (within the UK). See the bottom of this page for direct links to the retailers.

It could this year's Buzz Lightyear. A best selling toy that sells out at Christmas due to a manufacturer's miscalculation of its popularity.

Character Options' REMOTE CONTROL DALEK is selling out, with retailers having only initially pre-ordering a few items. AMAZON.CO.UK has indicated that release dates will be at the beginning of October (assuming whilst it awaits stock). Even the 7 September release for the SONIC SCREWDRIVER has been delayed by three weeks.

Character Options' Rachel McQuaid has indicated that "The Dalek is selling very well at the moment and we have to allocate orders out to all the retailers accordingly" and that "there are some Daleks on the water to us at the moment and again all Daleks will be distributed accordingly. The  Sonic Screwdriver has not been imported into the country yet. Again this is on the water to us." (Re: "...water..." = the Far East).

So, if you haven't ordered the RC DALEK - do it today, to avoid disappointment.

And as we exclusively revealed this week, a reminder that later this year Character Options are providing TOYS R US (UK) an exclusive EMPEROR DALEK. No details whether this is a Remote Control toy or just an interactive version.

TOYS R US will be also stocking the REMOTE CONTROL DALEK WITH CLAW.

More fantastic Character Options merchandise.

eyeofhorus.org.uk can exclusively reveal that Christopher Eccleston will be launching an OFFICIAL (approved by Eccleston's Casting Agents) website later this year at www.christophereccleston.co.uk

More details later.