This is a quick round-up of recent news on David Tennant's filming projects.

As if one Doctor taking on pirates wasn't enough, (The Curse of the Black Spot, tonight 6:15pm BBC1/BBC1HD), another will encounter some swashbuckling action too! Former Doctor David Tennant will provide the voice of Charles Darwin in The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, a new film from Aardman, during which the famous naturalist will team up with a pirate crew led by the Pirate Captain - the lead role being voiced by Hugh Grant (who himself had a brief flirtation with the role of the Doctor in Steven Moffat's The Curse of Fatal Death).

Other characters will be voiced by actors such as Martin Freeman, Russell Tovey, Salma Hayek, and Imelda Staunton (as pirate-hating Queen Victoria!).

The animated tale is based on two books from The Pirates! series by Gideon Defoe, who also wrote the screenplay, and is the first collaboration by Aardman with Sony Pictures Entertainment (their previous films being with Dreamworks). It is due to be released in cinemas March next year.

The BBC has released more information about the new BBC Two drama starring David Tennant as coach Jimmy Murphy.

United is based on the true story of Manchester United's legendary "Busby Babes", the youngest side ever to win the Football League; the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of their number; and the extraordinary spirit of a city that rebuilt the team in the wake of the disaster. The Munich Air Crash killed 23 of the 43 passengers on board, including supporters, journalists and embassy staff.

The drama was shot between November and December 2010 in and around the north of England and was written by Chris Chibnall and directed by James Strong, both of whom have previously worked on Torchwood and Doctor Who.

Tennant was asked in an interview with BBC; "What attracted you to United?"
You can read the full interview here.

United will broadcast in Week 17, 23rd - 29th April. An exact time and date is still to be announced.

The Daily Mail is reporting that David Tennant and Georgia Moffett are celebrating the birth of a daughter.

The baby, named Olivia, is understood to have been born earlier this week.

Tennant and Moffett are believed to have became engaged over Christmas, although they have never talked publicly about their relationship. A family friend confirmed the news to the Mail saying "Georgia and David could not be happier, Olivia is beautiful and their families are over the moon. They did very well in keeping everything very nearly private and keeping things under wraps. Georgia was a lot more pregnant than people thought when the news first broke."

Georgia Moffett is the daughter of fifth Doctor Peter Davison, who becomes a Grandfather for the second time.

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The Royal Mail are to release a new collection of stamps featuring six iconic images from the Royal Shakespeare Company to celebrate 50 years of the company's charter.

Each of the six stamps features a scene from The Tempest, Henry VI, King Lear, A Midsummer's Night Dream or Romeo and Juliet - the 1st Class stamp will feature Hamlet, as portrayed by David Tennant!

The stamps are due to be released on 12th April 2011, with the 1st Class stamp costing 46p at the time of issue.

News links: Norvic Philatelics, Anglotopia

Matt Smith's first full series as The Doctor comes to France 4 next month when the channel begins showing the 31st series of the show, starting with Le Prisonnier Zéro (The Eleventh Hour) on February 12, at 8:35 PM.

Viewers in France got to see the end of the Tenth Doctor last Christmas day when France 4 showed La Prophétie de Noël.

The series will continue with Épisode 2 — La Bête des bas-fonds and Épisode 3 — La Victoire des Daleks.


In addition French-speaking Doctor Who fansite Beans On Toast has revealed that series 4 of Doctor Who will be released on DVD in French.

The news has been confirmed by France Television Distristribution, the DVD editor in charge of the DVD releases of the first three series in France. French-speaking fans have been campaigning for a DVD release of the series with Beans on Toast launching an online petition in August 2010.

Series 1, 2 and 3 are also to be re-released on DVD, and this time, the series 3 boxset will include the original English version with French subtitles. The current DVD edition only offers the French dub.

For discussion on this news see the Beans On Toast Forum.

Items of clothing worn by Tenth Doctor David Tennant when he worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company, are among more than 10,000 costumes and accessories that go on sale next month at the company's rehearsal rooms in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The sale, on 12th February, includes over 1,000 pairs of shoes, 500 shirts, 300 hats, Egyptian head-dresses, a variety of military uniforms, cloaks and clerical outfits. It includes numerous items worn by Tennant, including his understudy costume from the 2008 production of Love's Labour's Lost, a green brocade doublet with bronze ornate buttons, breeches, leather boots and socks and his backstage slippers. Tennant himself was a guest at the 2011 British Comedy Awards which took place at London's O2 Centre on Saturday evening, where he presented the People's Choice Award to comedienne Miranda Hart.

Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, has revealed on his blog that he is currently filming an episode of the BBC daytime drama Doctors. Baker has appeared in the series three times before, in 2001, 2006 and 2009. His theatre tour playing Inspector Morse in House of Ghosts has now finished, although Baker notes there are plans to try to get a tour list together either in the Autumn of 2011 or Spring of 2012.

Fourth Doctor Tom Baker, who celebrated his 77th birthday last week, has said on his Forum that he has decided on two projects for Big Finish Productions. Baker indicated in the past that he is keen to work with Big Finish. He has completed two stories for BBC Audio, Hornets' Nest and Demon Quest.

David Tennant is to become a father according to a report in the British tabloid, The Daily Mail. Tennant is expected to marry his long term girlfriend Georgia Moffett early next year. The paper claims that the couple's first child is expected this spring.

Sean Pertwee the son of Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, has made a sci-fi foray of his own with Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie, based on the tabletop game. A DVD of the film has just been released, with Pertwee voicing the character of Brother Proteus. In an interview with the Sunday Mercury he talks about the film and of growing up with his dad as Doctor Who.

James Corden, who played Craig Owens in The Lodger, will present the 2011 Brit awards on 15 February. He last presented the awards with Kylie Minogue in 2009. Peter Kay who played Victor Kennedy in Love & Monsters presented the awards in 2010.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate appeared on BBC's Breakfast this morning to chat about their latest project together.

The two are to appear in a production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which opens in London's Wyndham Theatre from 16th May 2011. They will be playing the roles of combative lovers Beatrice and Benedick in the play, being directed by Bush Theatre Artistic Director Josie Rourke.

This is the duo's first full collaboration together, though they have been firm friends since meeting for the first time on the set of Doomsday and have presented The Jonathan Ross Show for BBC Radio 2 together a number of times. Catherine Tate explained:
David Tennant's last appearance on the stage playing Hamlet met with critical acclaim, and he talked about returning to the theatre:

David Tennant is not a stranger to the role, having previously played Benedick in a BBC Radio 3 adaptation of the play alongside Samantha Spiro as Beatrice. The play first broadcast September 2001, was repeated in November 2005 - a month before his debut story as the Doctor, The Christmas Invasion.

Catherine Tate is currently appearing in Season's Greetings at the National Theatre, alongside Mark Gatiss and David Troughton.


The issue of tickets were discussed on the programme (available to book now from the theatre), especially in regard to how quickly tickets sold out for Tennant's performance in Hamlet - subsequently this morning has seen the booking facilities for the play overwhelmed by fans of the duo trying to obtain tickets!

The British Tabloid, The Sun, has reported that Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, has got engaged to his long term girlfriend Georgia Moffett.

According to the paper the couple plan to marry early next year.

Georgia Moffett played Jenny in the 2008 story, The Doctor's Daughter as well as providing the voice for Cassie Rice in the 2009 animated story Dreamland.

The actress is the daughter of Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison.