In an announcement that quickly swept the globe and electrified the sprawling DOCTOR WHO fan community, BBC1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey - a long-time vocal supporter of the show and its potential return - announced that the Doctor would indeed be returning to BBC1 for an all-new six-part live-action serial to be aired in 2005. This continuum-shattering news ends the 14-year absence of the Doctor's time-and-space traveling TARDIS from its home on UK television (notwithstanding the 1996 TV-movie co-produced with Universal and starring Paul McGann) and arrives in the midst of the build-up for the celebrations surrounding the 40th anniversary of the series this November 23.

Heading up this new production is DOCTOR WHO fan and prolific television writer Russell T. Davies, who is well-known to British and American audiences as the creator of the controversial QUEER AS FOLK. Davies was quoted as saying he intends to preserve the family feel of classic DOCTOR WHO, possibly even preserving much of the show's rich heritage while still introducing the Doctor to a new generation of viewers. Casting is still up in the air, although McGann (still serving as the Eighth Doctor in a series of audio-only WHO dramas), Richard E. Grant (who will voice a 40th anniversary animated DOCTOR WHO webcast on BBCi in November), and popular British comedian Alan Davies were all mentioned in the announcement.

While it's still far too early to speculate about what classic foes might return to face the Doctor, it's almost certain that the robotic Daleks - themselves pop culture icons celebrating 40 years since their debut - will not be present for the serial as legal entanglements currently prevent the BBC from using them. It's also rumored that an announcement as to the casting of the Doctor might come as early as next week.

SCOOP will keep you up to date on this exciting news and will offer more WHO coverage as the 40th anniversary draws near.

For the most up-to-date news and information on new and old DOCTOR WHO, check out the world's largest and best WHO site, Outpost Gallifrey, at http://www.gallifreyone.com/.