The BBC have released the first promotional photo and details for the new series of Doctor Who:

Casting Update

As well as Mark Williams (who was busy filming on Monday), additional guest stars for the series have now been announced:

Rupert Graves Graves has had a long film and television career, including roles in The Forsyte Saga (2002-2003), V for Vendetta (2005), and even The Famous Five (1979). He appeared alongside former Doctor David Tennant in Single Father, but is perhaps most recognisable currently as Inspector Lestrade in the Steven Moffat/Mark Gatiss re-imagining of Sherlock.

David Bradley Another actor with a long career, Bradley has appeared on television ranging from A Family At War (1971) through to recent series like Five Daughters (2010), and has also worked with David Tennant, in Blackpool (2004). However, the actor is no stranger to the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who, having played a Shansheeth voice in The Death of the Doctor. He is probably most recognisable to the wider audience, though, as the scraggly caretaker Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film franchise.

Production Crew: Related Vacancy

BBC Careers have listed a job within Visual Effects for BBC Wales which, though not specifically advertised for Doctor Who, will encompass the show amongst others:
The role will "be responsible for delivering visual effects, to production requirements and standards, in either a support, or, lead role." Based in Cardiff, the closing date for applications is 4th March.

Matt Smith is to feature on Top Gear as the "star in the reasonably priced car" - recorded last Wednesday, his attempt will appear in the episode due to be broadcast at 8:00pm, 26th February on BBC2/BBCHD. Both of his predecessors have attempted this in the past, with Christopher Eccleston in 2005 (completed in 1:53:4) and David Tennant in 2007 (1:48:8, watch here).

Alex Kingston talks about the period setting on Upstairs, Downstairs (returning to BBC1 tomorrow evening at 9:30pm): "Oh yes, setting this series just before the Second World War is clever. In 2012, our world is changing radically and that is reflected in Upstairs Downstairs, too. These characters are on the verge of something, they don’t know what is going to happen and people will identify with their fears. This is the beginning of the modern world and here is a society just clinging onto what they know, but it is going to change irrevocably." [What's on TV, 16 Feb 2012]

Sylvester McCoy will be playing the lead role as Mr Peters in Plume by the Tron Theatre Company in Glasgow; it runs from 1st-17th March. The actor will also be a guest on Janice Forsyth's show on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday. [JaniceForsyth, 16 Feb 2012]

The CBeebies animated series Tree Fu Tom, featuring the vocal talents of Sophie Aldred and David Tennant, starts on Monday 5th March. [BBC Media Centre]

Cosima Shaw (Steffi Ehrlich, The Waters of Mars) plays Emma, Colin McFarlane (Alien Voices, Voyage of the Damned) Terrence, and Miranda Raison (Tallulah, Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks) Kate in the new three-episode series of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, based on the books by Douglas Adams. The transmission date and time are yet to be confirmed, but it is currently due to start on BBC Four during the week beginning Saturday 3rd March. [BBC Media Centre]

The theatrical version of The King's Speech, featuring Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill and which premiered in Guildford earlier this month, is to transfer to Wyndham's Theatre on Thursday 22nd March for a four-month West End run, following its provincial tour. [BBC News, 17 Feb 2012]

John Simm is appearing on stage as Jerry in Betrayal by Harold Pinter at The Crucible in Sheffield from Thursday 17th May to Saturday 9th June. [@john_simm]

Just opened in the West End - appropriately enough at the Noel Coward Theatre - is Hay Fever, Coward's classic comedy of bad manners, with Lindsay Duncan (Adelaide Brooke in The Waters of Mars) leading a cast that also includes Kevin McNally (Hugo Lang in The Twin Dilemma), Olivia Colman (Mother, The Eleventh Hour),and Sam Callis (Security Guard, Bad Wolf). It is on until Saturday 2nd June. [Broadwayworld.com, 17 Feb 2012]

Brian Cox (Voice of Elder Ood, The End of Time: Part One) and Ron Donachie (Steward, Tooth and Claw) are to star in a new three-part TV comedy called Bob Servant Independent. Set in Dundee and airing on BBC Four later this year, the show's origins lie in the hit BBC Radio Scotland comedy The Bob Servant Emails and the best-selling Bob Servant books, and will see the title character, played by Cox, bid to become the MP for Broughty Ferry. [BBC Media Centre, 16 Feb 2012]

Ronnie Corbett has received his CBE from the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace. As reported previously, the comedian, who played Ambassador "Rani" Ranius in the 2009 Sarah Jane Adventures special for Comic Relief, was recognised in this year's New Year Honours list for services to entertainment and charity. [BBC News, 16 Feb 2012]

The latest Doctor Who crewmember that can be followed on Twitter is James Strong (@jimmystrong); the David Tennant-era director's work has most recently been seen on screen in Law and Order UK and Downton Abbey, and the film United (which also featured Tennant).

In Memoriam

Fight choreographer and fencing Olympian Bob Anderson has died aged 89. He had just one role in Doctor Who - that of Fighting Guard in episode 4 of The Enemy of the World - but achieved great acclaim in the film industry, working with - among others - Errol Flynn and coaching Charlie Sheen and Johnny Depp. Most notably, perhaps, he played Darth Vader in fight scenes in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, standing in for Dave Prowse. [The Stage, 14 Feb 2012]

Karen Gillan was voted the second favourite Valentine's TV Crush in a poll run by Freeview; top spot went to This Morning's Holly Willoughby. On the male side, NTA host (and honorary TARDIS traveller!) Dermot O'Leary just pipped Sherlock Benedict Cumberbatch to the top. [Freeview, 14 Feb 2012]

The Radio Times also ran a Valentine's poll: for male TV stars Benedict Cumberbatch topped the list at 43.93% ahead of former Doctor David Tennant at 37.46%, with the top six also populated with Martin Freeman (6.23%), John Barrowman (3.12%), the current TARDIS incumbent Matt Smith (1.63%) and John Simm (1.40%); for female TV stars Doctor Who luminaries again did well though once more pipped at the post, with Louise Brealey taking 26.98% of the vote versus Billie Piper with 18.83%, the runners up being Lara Pulver (13.83%), Karen Gillan (13.45%), Alex Kingston (9.1%) and Freema Agyeman (3.24%). [Radio Times, 14/15 Feb 2012]

John Barrowman and sister Carole have continued their promotion of their new book, Hollow Earth; when asked about Torchwood's future on Live With Gabby (15th February), John mentioned that whilst the series itself was on hiatus, the show hasn't been forgotten: "I would love Torchwood to come back as I know thousands and millions of people would. We're writing a Torchwood novel, and can I just say to all the Torchwood fans out there the first chapter, what happens to Jack, is amazing - and I want that to go on screen!"

The pair were also presented with photos of the town of Millport on the Ilse of Cumbrae, the area of which features prominently in their book (transposed to the fantasy setting of Auchinmurn Island). [Largs and Millport News, 15 Feb 2012]

As part of the Charles Dickens bicentenary celebrations, Simon Callow, who has played the writer twice in Doctor Who, was among the star attendees at an event hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Also at the reception was Rowan Atkinson, who played the Doctor in Steven Moffat's 1999 Comic Relief spoof The Curse of Fatal Death. In addition, Callow and Barbara Windsor were in the audience for the specially-created play Mr Dickens And The Actors, which featured Sir Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond among the actors and was performed in front of the Queen at the Guildhall in London.[Mirror, 14 Feb 2012]

Callow continues his association with the writer by presenting a monologue in a production In Love With ... Dickens, to be broadcast on Sky Arts on 21st February. This series will also hear Karen Gillan performing the voiceover to Brief Encounter in In Love With ... Coward on the 12th March. Other Who names associated with the In Love With series include Sheila Hancock (Coward), Paterson Joseph (Wilde), and Russell Tovey (Wilde). [Stage, 15 Feb 2012]

In Memoriam

Whose Doctor Who documentary participant and former consultant physician Dr Eric Sherwood-Jones has died aged 90 from the blood disorder Wegener's granulomatosis. The pioneer of intensive-care units in the UK, who worked at Whiston Hospital on Merseyside, appeared in the 1977 BBC2 programme as an enthusiastic advocate of Doctor Who, remarking that it had far too wide an appeal to be categorised as either eccentric or immature. He added of the Doctor: "We're delighted and relieved that, like ourselves, he makes mistakes or errors and we envy his problem-solving capacity, because intensive care requires problems to be solved very quickly." Colleagues also commented how they had to keep up with the show to be on Dr Sherwood-Jones's wavelength! [St Helens Reporter, 16 Feb 2012]

Matt Smith spoke to the Guardian about returning for a new series of Doctor Who, which starts filming from 20th February; he said: I'll be shooting sort of now until December on Doctor Who. It's a long shoot, but we've got four or five scripts which look in really good shape, and the casting is going very well - I had a lovely bit of news this morning, actually, about someone who's going to be in it, I couldn't possibly tell you but it's exciting. You'll know him ... or her! Looking forward to it, I love making it."

The director for the first block of the new series has been named as Saul Metzstein, whose previous work includes the BBC's 2010 revival of Upstairs Downstairs (The Cuckoo), 2009's dramatisation of Sinclair/Acorn micro 'war' of the 1980s in Micro Men, and his award-winning comedy Late Night Shopping from 2001 (for which he won Best Director in the BAFTA Scotland awards).

During an interview published in the University Observer on the 8th February, lead writer Steven Moffat commented on production of the new series: "We just had our official day commencing pre-production on Doctor Who, so as for knowing when it's actually going to be shown is a little bit optimistic. But we'll definitely show it, and I'm pretty sure it will be the autumn." And on Amy and Rory's departure: I'm writing that right now, the big Rory and Amy heartbreaking finale. It will be quite heartbreaking, I think you’ll be in trouble watching it."

The series will be produced at the the BBC's Roath Lock Drama Village in Cardiff Bay. The site is to have its official opening in March, and has already been awarded a Breeam outstanding certificate - the first industrial complex in the UK to receive the highest possible environmental rating. The old port area surrounding it is to be further redeveloped, creating new shops, restaurants and homes. Business Minister Edwina Hart said: "Porth Teigr represents a long term investment by the Welsh government in the future of Cardiff our capital city and 2012 promises to be a significant year as we enter the next phase of regeneration and development. The presence of the BBC Wales studios provides a strong focal point around which we want to create a central hub and cluster for the creative industries across South Wales where companies can work together, share ideas and develop collaborative links with other facilities in the area." [BBC News, 13 Feb 2012]

The Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, has made Matt Smith a patron of its Young Writers' Festival. The event, running from 23rd February to 14th April, showcases promising talent from young British playwrights. Smith's first professional acting job was at the Royal Court in Fresh Kills by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, as part of its 2004 young playwrights' season. Catherine Tate, Ruth Jones and Kathy Burke (who had an uncredited role in Terminus early on in her career) are previous festival patrons. [The Stage, 10 Feb 2012]

Christopher Eccleston will play Creon in the National Theatre's production of Antigone. The tragedy by Sophocles opens at the Olivier Theatre on 30th May (previews from 23rd May) and runs until 20th June. Tickets go on sale to the general public on 15th February, with some seats costing as little as £12. [The Stage, 10 Feb 2012]

When asked if she'd return to the Doctor Who world as Ace, Sophie Aldred said: "It would be very nice to go back. Doctor Who is one of those things that stays with you throughout your career and I'm very happy with that. So, I'd love to do it again on TV but she'd have to be played by this strange middle-aged married woman with two children." [Independent, 8 Feb 2012]

John Barrowman and his sister Carole have been on the promotion circuit for their new book, Hollow Earth. Talking about writing, John said: "I'm not the writer, Carole is. The way we work is that we brainstorm the ideas, come up with plot lines and talk about characters, while she takes notes. Once we have done that, she goes and writes them down and hands me a chunk of pages, which I will either say are perfect or we will work on changes. It's a true collaboration." [Daily Record, 7 Feb 2012]

Catrin Stewart (Jenny, A Good Man Goes To War) is appearing as Juliet in Richard Icke's imagining of the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, until 18th February: "It was quite difficult at first because I have not done Shakespeare before. But the longer you do it you start feel it. The language feels part of me now rather than being a distraction. While I do feel nervous about performing it, I am now in love with it. After a while you can make the language sound natural for the audience." [Basingstoke Observer, 8 Feb 2012]

Tom Ellis (Thomas Milligan, Last of the Time Lords), Pooky Quesnel (Captain, A Christmas Carol) and Christine Bottomley (Margaret Hopley, Torchwood: A Day In The Death) are among the cast members announced for the pre-recorded dramas that will form part of BBC One's contemporary retelling of the Passion story The Preston Passion, which will air on Good Friday (6th April). [BBC Media Centre, 8 Feb 2012]

When asked if he'd be interested in playing the Doctor in a David Yates-helmed film version, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe said: "I don't know if I could play him. Matt Smith plays Doctor Who and does a wonderful job. They don't need me! I would never presume to jump into somebody else's franchise, not at all." [Digital Spy, 7 Feb 2012]

Jenny Tomasin's funeral took place at Islington and Camden Cemetery on 9th February. The actress's body was discovered at her London flat in January. According to the local coroner, she died of hypertensive heart disease on 3rd January but confirmation of her death was delayed as there were no immediate survivors. [The Stage, 6 Feb 2012]

And finally, the latest Doctor Who name to make her Twitter debut is Louise Jameson, who can be followed via @Lou_Jameson [Steven Moffat, 12 Feb 2012]

Cast

Karen Gillan has revealed what led to her leaving the show. "It was a mutual decision between me and Steven Moffat over a lovely dinner actually. We both opened up about where we were at with it and then came to the conclusion that this was the best time to go." She added that she would miss working on the programme but was looking forward to other projects (as previously reported, Gillan will be appearing in the film Not Another Happy Ending). "I've had the most fun, so that makes me sad to leave, and I've made my best friends on the show as well. But it's time to go on to other things and all stories come to their natural end so I'm excited." [BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, 31 Jan 2012]

Meanwhile, until such time as when the production team reveal the next TARDIS traveller, speculation over who it might be continues. News Corporation's IGN Entertainment ran a poll to see who their readers consider as the best candidate, with Harry Potter star Emma Watson named the favourite with 28.2% of the vote; runners up included Zooey Deschanel (New Girl, 22.01%), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies, 9.90%), Pixie Lott (singer, 5.53%) and Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, 5.06%). The male potential wasn't completely forgotten, with sixth place going to John Boyega (Attack of the Block, 4.68%). [IGN, 2/6 Feb 2012]

Matt Smith has described how he sees his future in the show and how the companions gap in the TARDIS could be filled. Speaking at the NTA Awards - where he won the gong for Outstanding Drama Performance (Male) - he said: "I'm really pleased with the award. We always try to do the best every day and try to improve the show as best we can. I wouldn't mind a male companion now that Karen has left. I've always believed me and Karen would have different journeys in Doctor Who. I'm sad she's left, but the show is bigger than all the actors who have been in it. I have no plans to leave, though. I've definitely got a year left in the show and I'll take it from there." [BANG Showbiz, 26 Jan 2012]

He added: "I just sort of take each year as it comes really. We've got all the rest of this year to get through and then we'll just sit down and review it from there and see where it goes. But I love playing the part and I love working with Steven Moffat." Referring to Tom Baker, the longest-running Doctor from 1974 to 1981, he added: "I think there will need to be a younger, cooler person than me - or maybe an older, cooler person, who knows? But I don't think I'll be doing it as long as Mr Baker." [Press Association, 30 Jan 2012]

Alex Kingston - shortly to be seen in Upstairs, Downstairs - has dropped a hint that she might be returning to Doctor Who as River Song. During the recording that featured her appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which aired on BBC One on 3rd February, she told the chat-show host: "You may see her again. Who knows? Let's just say Upstairs, Downstairs and Doctor Who don't film at the same time." That part of the recording didn't make the final edit, though. [Radio Times, 2 Feb 2012]

Production

Matt Smith reported on when filming would be kicking off for the new series: "we start shooting on the 20th February, and I start rehearsing on the 13th, we've got some corkers coming your way". [BBC News, 24 Jan 2012]

The actor also commented on how he stays healthy to cope with the hectic filming schedule: "Fruit, vegetables, good sleep if you can and preparation is the key," [Press Association, 30 Jan 2012]

In the programme for the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular held in Melbourne on 4th February, show runner Steven Moffat wrote: "Doctor Who's 50th anniversary is coming. In Cardiff, we're gearing up for the biggest, the best and the most ambitious season we've ever made. There will be shocks, surprises and heartbreak - the Doctor is about to say goodbye to his very best friends, Amy and Rory. And then he's about to say hello to someone very different - the Doctor is going to meet someone very new in the very last place he could ever have expected..." [Radio Times, 6 Feb 2012]

BBC Worldwide have announced a special event which took place at the Doctor Who Experience last night ...

Though voted the most stylish man in September, Matt Smith didn't quite make the grade for being the best-dressed in the latest poll results from GQ readers; the actor came in at third place, behind footballer Mario Balotelli and rapper Tinie Tempah. [GQ, 30 Jan 2012]

David Tennant was named best actor at the inaugural BBC Audio Drama Awards, which he also hosted. He won the honour for his portrayal of Franz Kafka in the Radio 3 play Kafka: The Musical, which was written and scored by Murray Gold. Also at the event, Stephen Wyatt won the Tinniswood Award for the Radio 4 Afternoon Play Gerontius. Despite being nominated for the best actress award for the role of Margaret Rutherford in the Radio 4 play A Monstrous Vitality, June Whitfield lost out to Rosie Cavaliero. [BBC News, 29 Jan 2012]

Sophie Aldred has joined the ranks of the Twitterati! In her first tweet she joked: "With my arm twisted behind my back, I have been forced to sign up to Twitter by @notdangle, @scott_handcock, and @robbfrank at @bigfinish." People can follow her here.

Meanwhile, Tree Fu Tom - a new CBeebies animated fantasy action adventure series featuring the voices of Tennant and Aldred - will receive its premiere at the BBC Children's Television 10th Anniversary event at the Salford MediaCityUK Studios on 18th February. [TennantNews, 27 Jan 2012]

Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are scheduled to appear at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in August, presenting a Sherlock Masterclass alongside the show's producer Sue Vertue. (Vertue is married to Moffat - they first met at the 1996 Television Festival!)

Matt Smith and Karen Gillan both triumphed at the National television Awards held Wednesday night at London's O2 Arena.

Matt Smith beat Torchwood star John Barrowman, Doc Martin and Snakedance star Martin Clunes and David Threlfall of Shameless, to win the award for Outstanding Drama Performance (Male) in the awards voted for by the British public. Both Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant have previously won the award for their performance of the Doctor.

Speaking after receiving his award Matt Smith gave some clue to the future telling Radio Times that he has one more year of Doctor Who left and then he was going to try his luck in Hollywood. Although he later told the BBC Entertainment News Team he has no plans to leave.

Karen Gillan won her award for Outstanding Drama Performance (Female) over Torchwood's Eve Myles, Suranne Jones from Scott & Bailey and who also stared in The Doctor's Wife last year, and Jaye Jacobs from Waterloo Road. She becomes the first Who companion since Billie Piper to win a National Television Award, both Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate both received nominations.

Doctor Who lost out in the main award for Most Popular Drama which was won by ITV's Downton Abbey

Matt Smith narrowly missed out being named Britain's Coolest Man in a poll by Zoo Magazine; the actor lost out to magician Dynamo, with other runners up including F1 driver Jenson Button, Prince Harry and singer Noel Gallagher. [Huffington Post, 17 Jan 2012]

Karen Gillan is about to start work on her first film, Not Another Happy Ending, directed by John McKay (who also directed We'll Take Manhattan); McKay said of the actress: "Every now and again, we produce somebody who really holds your attention on the screen and she’s got it. She is not just a small screen star, she is a big screen star. She really is one of Scotland’s greatest talents and can go all the way." [Daily Record, 20 Jan 2012]

John Barrowman and his sister Carole are due to appear at Waterstones in Bluewater on 4th February to sign their new book, Hollow Earth. [Dartford Messenger, 20 Jan 2012]

Actor and Never Mind the Buzzcocks captain Noel Fielding has his eye on a particular role: I wouldn't mind being on Doctor Who. I like the guy who does it at the moment and I thought David Tennant was amazing, but next I think we need an androgynous, slightly dippy Doctor who gets everything wrong... [Radio Times, 20-26 Jan 2012]

Speaking at the Radio Times Cover Party, actor Warwick Davis said about networking at the event: "Mr. Steven Moffat is somebody I want to talk to, certainly, cos I love Sherlock and I would love to be in Doctor Who. It's been a dream of mine for many years - I don't want to play the Doctor, but a villain or something like that would be good." [Radio Times (video), 18 Jan 2012]

John Simm has indicated on Twitter that he would consider reprising his Doctor Who persona; when asked, he said: The Master - of course! Mr Moffat is a brilliant writer. [@john_simm, 16 Jan 2012]

Writer Richard Curtis (Vincent and the Doctor) is about to direct a film based upon his own script; About Time is described as "a low-budget time-travel picture", and will be made by Working Title. [Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan 2012]