Steven Moffat has announced changes to the episode order for the 2011 series of Doctor Who.

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, the executive producer revealed he has shuffled the running order of the series with the Mark Gatiss penned story moving into the second half of the season, due in the Autumn.

The story was originally scheduled to run in the first part of the series due in the spring. The empty slot will now be filled by an episode written by Steve Thompson. Although new to Doctor Who, Thompson is an established writer who is best known for his work with Moffat as the author of the second Sherlock episode, The Blind Banker. He won the Arts Council's Meyer-Whitworth Award for new writing for his first play, Damages, in 2004.

Thompson's script will run as the third episode in the series, with the long awaited Neil Gaiman script moving into position four.

Moffat told the magazine the changes are purely to balance out the look of the series and to combat worries in the production team that there was "not enough outside" in the first half of the series.

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]

Karen Gillan and Steven Moffat have both been nominated in Screen Category in the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland awards. The awards scheme honours Scots who aim to exceed all expectations in their chosen fields across Scotland's rich cultural spectrum. Other nominees in the category are Paul Welsh and Martin Compston.

An error has been reported on one of the Series 5 soundtrack tracks. SilvaScreen have issues a statement saying "The CD is being repressed with the amended track and this will be available soon".

DVD Commissioning Editor Dan Hall has confirmed on twitter that a commentary recording for the Fifth Doctor story Frontios has been recorded and edited. Conformation of a commentary is no indication of a story's imminent release.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine looks in detail at next weeks story in The Sarah Jane Adventures which not only features Matt Smith as The Doctor, but also sees the return of Katy Manning to the role of Jo Jones (nee Grant) some 36 years since she left the series.

Death of the Doctor is written by Russell T Davies who talks to the magazine about the story, along with Katy Manning, Elisabeth Sladen and Matt Smith, who says on working with his two co-stars.

Also this issue:

• The Fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker is out to lunch with costume designer June Hudson in the streets of Soho, London. DWM tags along and discovers a wealth of stories about Seagulls, Ice Queens and crumbly pastries, not to mention Baker’s return as the Doctor in Demon Quest.
• They’re everyone’s favourite race of militaristic clones. Yes, the secrets of those squat, troll-like monstrosities, The Sontarans, are finally revealed, as The Watcher's Guide presents the definitive low-down on one of the Doctor’s most enduring foes.
• DWM meets Fin Jones, who plays Santiago in Death of the Doctor, to talk monsters, Matt Smith, and the possibility of his character’s return to the series.
• What have rain gods, Daleks and Karen Gillan’s legs got in common? Find out, as Neil Gaiman writes exclusively in DWM about his much-anticipated Doctor Who episode in Production Notes.
• It’s the show of the century. DWM goes behind the scenes of the brand new touring production, Doctor Who Live, and talks to stars Matt Smith, Nigel Planer and Nicholas Briggs, and writer Gareth Roberts about the new stage show.
• Things look grim for the Doctor and Amy as the Axons invade Tokyo. It’s action all the way as the new comic strip, The Golden Ones by Jonathan Morris and Martin Geraghty continues.
• The Fact of Fiction journeys back to 1983 and 1977, to look at the time-bending, Bliovitch-limiting, UNIT-dating-controversy-causing Fifth Doctor adventure Mawdryn Undead and reveals all you need to know to make sense of the temporal paradoxes presented.

Also Doctor Who’s executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat tells DWM all the latest official news; the latest DVDs and CDs are previewed; merchandise reviews; prize-winning competitions; and much more.

This months Doctor Who Magazine talks to the man who provides the voices for the Doctor’s greatest enemies, the Daleks and the Cybermen. Nicholas Briggs tells all about his time as a Dalek, his life-long love of Doctor Who and just what he can do with his ring voice modulator
Also in the magazine

• He’s one of the best-loved and most respected authors in the world – and now he’s written a Doctor Who book. Michael Moorcock talks to DWM about his new novel The Coming of the Terraphiles – plus there's also an exclusive extract.
• Toby Haynes, director of the 2010 series finale, concludes his exclusive Director’s Diary and tells DWM how Doctor Who changed his life.
• Tokyo’s children are turning into Axons – and the Doctor, Amy and UNIT are involved in a breathtaking fight for their lives! All in the second part of the DWM comic strip The Golden Ones, by Jonathan Morris with art by Martin Geraghty.
• What do the Eleventh Doctor, Jo Grant and K9 have in common? They’re all in the fourth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, which is back on TV in October. DWM previews all twelve new episodes and talks to all the writers – Russell T Davies, Phil Ford, Joseph Lidster, Rupert Laight, Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman.
• The Doctor and his companions appreciate the gravity of the situation as they leap around on the Moon and encounter the sinister Cybermen! The Fact of Fiction scrutinizes the 1967 adventure The Moonbase and extracts a wealth of information from this classic Second Doctor tale.
• DWM presents the ultimate guide to the men of steel – the Cybermen. Discover how they’ve evolved over the decades, as the Watcher reveals everything you need to know – and some surprising secrets, about one of the Doctor’s most persistent foes.
• He’s back. Former UNIT Captain Mike Yates has returned to action alongside the Fourth Doctor in the new audio series Demon Quest. DWM catches up with the man who plays him, actor Richard Franklin, and finds out what he thinks about Yates’ comeback – and his opinion of Doctor Who today.
• Doctor Who’s showrunner Steven Moffat provides some clues as to what adventures lie in store for the Doctor, Amy and Rory, and has the last word on what the next season should be called – in Production Notes.

A number of news outlets have picked up from the Radio Times that the British actor Martin Shaw (The Professionals, Inspector George Gently) turned down the chance to play James Bond in the late 1970s. Digital Journal, however, leads on the fact that Shaw would consider playing the Doctor, albeit if the commitment was a lot less than is currently expected of Doctor Who's leading actor!

Elsewhere in Radio Times, Phil Collinson is interviewed about his plans for Coronation Street as it approaches its 50th anniversary and beyond, which has been reported here. RT attributes Collinson's savviness on Who under Russell T Davies as being part of the reason ITV Studios have entrusted him with Corrie's birthday celebrations, which Digital Journal has picked up on, too.

Steven Moffat, meanwhile, has been talking in Doctor Who: The Brilliant Book and Doctor Who Magazine about the 2010 Christmas special and the cliffhanger between the two 2011 series (Easter and autumn) of  Doctor Who. His comments have already been picked up by a number of outlets, including Den of Geek, Digital Journal and Digital Spy.

Tenth Doctor David Tennant has been spotted on a banner taken from the remake of the 1985 horror film Fright Night. In the film due to be released next year, Tennant plays Peter Vincent, a master of illusion. The film also stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Toni Collette and Imogen Poots.

Steven Moffat and his wife Sue Vertue will be giving a BAFTA master class exploring how the modern day version of Sherlock Holmes arrived on our small screens this summer. The event on Thursday 9th September is part of the Kaleidoscopic Festival taking place at Glyndŵr University and Wrexham Library in North Wales. Limited tickets are available from BAFTA.

Sixth Doctor Colin Baker has been talking to the Yorkshire Post prior to his arrival at the Grand Opera House York later this month to play Inspector Morse in a new murder mystery, House of Ghosts. He told the paper "I loved my time on Doctor Who, loved it, for three years it was among the happiest times of my career".

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Steven Moffat has announced that the next series of Doctor Who will be split in two with a 'gamechanging' cliffhanger in episode 7.

"The split series is hugely exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!"

The BBC press office describe the split transmission as the result of a request from Steven Moffat to write a new Doctor Who story arc which involves a big plot twist in the middle of the series. "By splitting the series Moffat plans to give viewers one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers and plot twists ever, leaving them waiting, on the edge of their seats, until the autumn to find out what happens."

The Guardian, who host the annual television festival, have uploaded a video clip of Moffat making the announcement here.

Karen Gillan will join Steven Moffat at the Edinburgh International Television Festival for a question and answer session about Doctor Who. The Masterclass is being held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Sunday morning. Moffat will also appear on the panel for special Question Time on Saturday night alongside Diane Abbott MP and Mariella Frostrup.

Update: It was announced Saturday that the Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss production of Sherlock has been recommissioned by BBC One controller Jay Hunt. There will be three new 90-minute episodes in Autumn 2011. Talking of the Sherlock recommission, Gatiss and Moffat, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the warmth of response to our new Sherlock Holmes and John Watson and can't wait to take them on three new adventures next year. There'll be baffling new puzzles, old friends and new enemies – whether on two, or four legs. And we might well be seeing the cold master of logic and reason unexpectedly falling. But in love? Or over a precipice? Who can tell?"

David Tennant has been listed as one of the top ten Hamlets by The Guardian newspaper. Tennant, who played the role in Stratford and London in 2008, was described as sardonic and volatile, a Hamlet so graceful that at times he seemed almost to dance across the stage.

BBC4 is to dramatise Douglas Adams's 1987 novel about anti-hero Dirk Gently. Adams was Script Editor for Season 17 of Doctor Who and wrote The Pirate Planet and co-wrote City of Death. He was writing a third Dirk Gently book, The Salmon of Doubt, at the time of his death in 2001. The books have formed the basis of a play and a BBC Radio 4 series but have never before been filmed for Television.

Andrew Smith has been talking to the Rutherglen Reformer about his return to Doctor Who and his new script for Big Finish Productions. Smith wrote the 1980 Fourth Doctor story Full Circle. The new story is called The Invasion of E-Space and once more features Lalla Ward as Romana. Smith told the Reformer: "I wrote the first draft, sent it off, and I didn’t hear back for a little while. I was getting really paranoid as I had no idea how it had gone down, but I was quite relieved when they got back to me and said they loved it."

Doctor Who Magazine issue 425 sees the return of the Seventh Doctor to the cover as Sylvester McCoy gives his most candid interview to date, lavishly illustrated with never-before-seen photos. McCoy talks at length about his long career, on being the Seventh Doctor – and what he thinks about Doctor Who today

Also this issue:

• A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIMEY-WIMEY
  Time travel – what are the rules? And can those rules be broken? In an in-depth feature, DWM examines the knotty problems of paradoxes and time loops, and explores the incredible phenomenon of timey-wimeyness throughout the history of Doctor Who.
• A NIGHT AT THE PROMS
  It’s the music event of the year! DWM dons its dinner jacket and journeys to the Royal Albert Hall to talk exclusively to the people responsible for the Doctor Who Prom, including composer Murray Gold, conductor Ben Foster and executive producer Steven Moffat. Packed with behind-the-scenes photos from the Prom.
• THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION
  The Doctor and Amy take a trip to Tokyo and discover that too much TV can be really, really bad for kids, in the first episode of a brand new comic strip adventure by Jonathan Morris and Martin Geraghty
• ART TREASURES OF HISTORY
  What have a Roman mosaic, a painting by Toulouse Lautrec and a long, floppy scarf got in common? They all feature in the brand new audio series starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Demon Quest! DWM catches up with the legendary fourth Doctor, co-stars Richard Franklin and Susan Jameson, writer Paul Magrs and many more in a report from the recording of the adventures.
• THE WORLD’S GREATEST PLAYWRIGHT
  William Shakespeare – the most talented dramatist in history or a letch with bad breath? Find out the truth (according to Doctor Who!) behind the man and his works, as The Fact of Fiction extracts every nuance of meaning from the literary triumph that is the 2007 Tenth Doctor adventure, The Shakespeare Code
• THE WRITER’S TALE
  Doctor Who’s head writer, Steven Moffat, reveals all about being shy, being recognised, and the Eleventh Doctor’s most recent adventure – defusing a bomb at the Proms! – in Production Notes.
• THE ANGEL OF THE NORTH!
  DWM catches up with Hex, the hunky nurse who accompanies the Seventh Doctor and Ace on their audio adventures, aka actor Philip Oliver, who reveals his experiences of attending conventions, being recognised in the street and what he really thinks about Doctor Who fans.

Plus! All the latest official news, Previews, Reviews, Competitions and much, much more, out in the UK on Thursday 19 August.