David Tennant talks about taking up the role of Jimmy Murphy in the BBC film United: "I am famously not that much of a football fan at all, so when the script arrived I didn't think that it was going to be for me. However, it really knocked me back and the emotional power of the story is what hooked me. The way I saw it was if it was affecting me, then it's one that is going to get to everyone." [Sunday Mail]

John Barrowman commented on how he feels the need to get back in shape: "I know I'm good-looking but I'm not egotistical, I have flaws. I have to dye my hair twice a month to get rid of all the grey, Scott doesn't like it grey. I also have these eye-flaps and bags. I have let myself go in the waist area; when I see myself naked, I know I'm heavy and out of shape - I need a hot personal trainer!" [Now Magazine]

Guardian critic Vicky Frost writes of high expectations for Steven Moffat: "As the successor to Russell T Davies at the helm of Doctor Who, Moffat had already become one of the few British TV writers to acquire the kind of recognition usually reserved for those on screen. But last summer's Sherlock, which Moffat co-wrote with Mark Gatiss, propelled him to a whole new level. "I've found myself in this situation and, let's be honest, I won't be in it for that long," Moffat says. "Nobody in their right minds could have expected this. It's ridiculous. I can't think of anyone having this much fun in TV at the moment."" [Guardian]

Moffat's Sherlock stablemate Mark Gatiss will be appearing at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury on 7th January in aid of the Banbury and District Samaritans; described as an informal evening hosted by John Arthur, enabling the audience to meet and chat with the actor/writer. [with thanks to Steven Moffat]

Alex Kingston is due to be a guest on the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS on 6th January. Kingston recently filmed in the UK and US for the next series of Doctor Who (and Matt Smith appeared on the show when shooting in the States in November). [with thanks to Dominic May]

Kylie Minogue (Astrid, Voyage of the Damned) has celebrated reaching five years since beating breast cancer. "I had a lot of support from around the world. A lot of it I didn’t see or hear, but I felt it. That might sound a little bit cosmic but in that kind of ­situation you need to reach for any positive feeling that you can. I really felt people’s good ­wishes. Sometimes you don’t want to be mollycoddled, you don’t want people treating you like you’re so ill. But what I found helpful is you have to let them help you. They are grieving as well. You have those moments when you’re down and so ­horribly, ­horribly low, but you still come up again, so believe in that." [Mirror]

Barney Harwood (Totally Doctor Who, The Infinite Quest) is to become the 35th presenter of the long running BBC children's show Blue Peter. He joins joins current presenters Helen Skelton and Andy Akinwolere on 17 January 2011. [BBC Press release]

Sophie Okonedo (Liz Ten, The Beast Below, The Pandorica Opens) was award with an OBE for services to drama in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2010. She received press attention when the medal fell from her dress and landed at the feet of the Prince of Wales, from where she had to retrieve it. The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace on 17 December.

Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) will feature in Sky 1's Little Crackers tomorrow (Monday) night at 9pm. Catherine has written and directed a short 10 minute film about her time as a shy schoolgirl who "would rather wet herself in class than put her hand up to ask to go to the toilet". You can watch a preview of her film and more on the Little Crackers website.

David Tennant and Derek Jacobi (Professor Yana/The Master, Utopia) will be reading Bedtime Stories for CBeebies over the Holiday period. Full schedule here.

Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) and Katherine Jenkins (Abigail Pettigrew, A Christmas Carol) have done Q&A's with Digital Spy about their time working on this year's Christmas special.

While many viewers in the English speaking world will be enjoying Matt Smith's first Christmas special as The Doctor this year, viewers in France will be bidding farewell to the Tenth Doctor when France 4 broadcasts both parts of The End of Time this Christmas Day.

Docteur Who : La Prophétie de Noël will be broadcast at 8.35. The title translates as The Christmas Prophecy.

The story was dubbed into French last March with David Manet making his swan song as the voice of the Tenth Doctor. A full cast list can be found here.

Update 19th December: readers in France may watch previews for parts one and two from the France4 website.

Former Doctor David Tennant joined a number of celebrities (including current James Bond actor Daniel Craig and singer Geri Halliwell) who took to the ICAP trading floor in order to raise money for Prince Charles's charities, Youth Business International and Prince's Teaching Institute.

Having announced having a role in the forthcoming The Hobbit film back in October, the official press conference for the film formally confirms Sylvester McCoy as playing wizard Radagast the Brown; other names in the film include Martin Freeman (who plays Watson in Steven Moffat's other popular show Sherlock), Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, and the return of Cate Blanchett (who played Elven Queen Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings trilogy).

Christopher Eccleston attended a special charity screening of what he has called his most important work, Hillsborough, after which he gave a 30 minute discussion about the film with attendees; the actor had nominated the drama to be shown as part of fund-raising for the Clapperboard Youth Project.

Writer Stephen Gallagher (Warriors Gate, Terminus) will be writing and producing a new drama for Fox Television: The Danger List will be a medical thriller in which a doctor with a complicated past investigates medical abuses, crimes and conspiracies.

The latest star to join the Doctor Who 'family', Sir Michael Gambon (in this year's Christmas special A Christmas Carol), is in the Stage's shortlist for the Greatest Stage Actor; the public poll also includes the likes of Sir Ian McKellen, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Laurence Olivier, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith.

Several Doctor Who stars have contributed to a new project to raise money for a charity providing special days for seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the United Kingdom.

Organised by The Willow Foundation and British artist, Julie-Anne Gilburt, Stars on Canvas is an exhibition of 20x20 cm canvases, each created by different stars from the worlds of sport, art, design, fashion, music and entertainment.

The charity was founded in 1999 by Bob and Megs Wilson as a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died aged 31. Anna battled cancer for five years, yet during these years she and her family and friends experienced some of their most memorable moments and quality times. The Charity's aim is to replicate the positive impact special days had on both Anna and her family for other seriously ill 16 to 40 year olds throughout the UK.

Pictures online include submissions from Freema Agyeman and Billie Piper, David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Russell T Davies.

The results will be displayed at the Catto Gallery, in Hampstead, North London from 2 to 5 December 2010.

From 26 November until 5 December 2010 each Canvas will be sold online through an eBay auction with profits going to the charity. To register your interest and receive a notification prior to the eBay auction going live, please email your name to starsoncanvas@willowfoundation.org.uk

Tenth Doctor David Tennant is to star in a new BBC drama based on the true story of Manchester United's legendary "Busby Babes", the youngest side ever to win the Football League.

United is a BBC Two film which portrays events set around the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of the team's number number and the extraordinary spirit of a city that rebuilt the side in the wake of the disaster.

Tennant will play coach Jimmy Murphy, alongside Jack O'Connell (Skins, Dive) as Bobby Charlton, the youngest of the Babes, and Sam Claflin (Pirates Of The Caribbean, Any Human Heart) as star player Duncan Edwards. The film draws on first-hand interviews with the survivors and their families to tell the inspirational story of a team and community overcoming terrible tragedy.

The drama is written by Chris Chibnall, who wrote last year's two part Doctor Who story The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood as well as the 2007 story 42, and who has also written numerous episodes of Torchwood. It is directed by James Strong who has directed several episodes of Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Simon Heath, Executive Producer, World Productions, says:
United starts filming later this month in and around the North East of England.

David Tennant's return to BBC One last Sunday was watched by 5.1 million viewers according to unofficial overnight figures. The drama Single Father has received rave reviews and scored an Appreciation Index figure of 87. It continues on Sunday.

The new BBC One controller has been named as Danny Cohen. Cohen has been in charge of BBC Three since May 2007 after previously working for Channel 4 and E4. As Controller he is responsible for the commissioning and scheduling of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Live continues its tour around the UK. Currently at the Glasgow SECC it moves to Birmingham on Monday.

British musician Mitch Benn, best known for his humorous songs performed on BBC Radio has released a song praising the output of the BBC, in which Doctor Who gets no less than three mentions. The song will be released for download from iTunes, Amazon and other reputable sites on November 1st.

Former Doctor David Tennant has returned to Doctor Who - at least in documentary form! In his first series-related work since leaving the show, the actor filmed material in June for a feature to appear on the forthcoming Revisitations II boxed set, due out next year.

The words Doctor Who once more adorn the cover of Radio Times this week, along with a picture of Tenth Doctor, David Tennant.

The magazine is promoting Tennant's latest venture, playing the lead role in Single Father, a four-part drama for BBC One about a man struggling to raise his four children after the death of his wife. Written by Mick Ford of Ashes To Ashes, the series is set in Glasgow, and tells the story of Dave, a photographer facing the seemingly impossible job of bringing up his four kids alone. Things get even more complicated when he begins to fall in love with Sarah – his wife's best friend.

Tennant was asked about the timing of his departure from Doctor Who. Tennant was also asked about the recent series and new Doctor, Matt Smith

The BBC has released a Drama Showreel showcasing the new drama output coming up on the BBC over the next six months, featuring clips from the 2010 Christmas Special of Doctor Who.


The showreel was previewed at an event marking two years in post for BBC Controller of Drama, Ben Stephenson.

Other dramas featured include performances from the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors:

Christopher Eccleston stars in an episode of Accused, a new drama series from Jimmy McGovern for BBC One.

David Tennant plays Dave in Single Father coming to BBC One on Sunday 10 October.

Matt Smith plays Christopher Isherwood in Christopher and his Kind coming to BBC Two next month.