TWIDW Update: Season 3 Confirmed! More (Non-Spoiler Only)
(posted 16th Jun 2005, 10:51am - TWIDW post #0315)

Wednesday night at the BAFTA screening of episode 13 (The Parting Of
The Ways) for media, guests, and members of the public who got the
tickets, news came out:

Doctor Who renewed for a Third series of 13 45 minute episodes and a
Second Christmas Special (presumably 60 minutes), ensuring at least
28 episodes after the current series!! 41 episodes made in total
through series 3 in 2007.

Series 1 (already filmed and finishing in the UK this Saturday)
Christmas Special 2005
Series 2
Christmas Special 2006
Series 3

The title of this year's special is The Christmas Invasion.
Casting information about the crew beyond the Doctor came out, but
as The Parting Of The Ways hasn't aired in the UK yet (let alone
anywhere else), I'll wait on mentioning who is back for the next
series.

No confirmation on the renewal of documentary tie-in show Doctor Who
Confidential, unless it's mixed in with spoiler news.

Pretty much every British newspaper today is full of spoilers for
Saturday's episode (in paper or online). The BBC's News section
http://news.bbc.co.uk has a major spoiler in their Entertainment
section in the article on Doctor Who's renewal for series 3. Outpost
Gallifrey http://www.gallifreyone.com has no spoilers but does
reveal the casting information on the New Series News Page.

Non-spoiler reviews of the episode think this finale will be a
classic. Sounds like a very exciting weekend on the way for UK Who
fans (and fans in neighboring countries with BBC One).

Meanwhile, in New Zealand ...

Prime TV http://www.primetv.co.nz ran an ad for Doctor Who last night with the music, the logo, and the words "Coming Soon" over a picture of Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. Most fans there are expecting a July premiere for the series at this point. Hopefully a premiere date will be announced sooner, not later.

Barring any utterly startling Doctor Who news (and if it's a spoiler
the TWIDW list probably won't even have that), the next update on
the list should be when the Overnight ratings come in for "The
Parting Of The Ways"'s premiere showing on BBC One.

Cheers,
Benjamin F. Elliott
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thisweekindoctorwho