The BBC has announced a major licensing deal with Canada's CBC TV, which will broadcast the second series of the latest Doctor Who adventures in 2006 preceded by a Doctor Who Christmas Special that will air on Boxing Day (December 26th).  For those of us who have the misfortune to live below the 49th parallel the good news is that the BBC is releasing the box set of the first season of the new adventures of Doctor Who starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper in a Region 1 version (which will play on all North American TV sets) in Canada on February 14th.

In addition to releasing the new series on DVD the BBC has also appointed Buzzworthy as the merchandising agent for the Doctor Who brand in Canada in order to produce and distribute new and existing Doctor Who products including toys, clothing and gift items based on the latest incarnation of time-traveling Tardis master.  The success of the new series in Canada should eventually provide a Doctor Who product stream that will flow south and provide pop culture retailers with enough material to sustain a potential cult hit.

The revived Doctor Who series was both a critical and popular success in England (see 'Doctor Who's Boffo Premiere') in large part due to excellent writing by Russell Davies who brought a strain of socio-political satire to bear on the venerable property, which became relevant once again and never lacked for commitment from an excellent cast headed by Eccleston.  The Complete Season One Box Set includes all 13 episodes, plus an exclusive 14th episode containing behind-the-scenes footage from The Christmas Invasion, as well as a host of commentaries and featurettes.  Valentine's Day can't come soon enough.