In this week's Radio Times, Russell T Davies talks about how he goes about casting Doctor Who. "You can't really write with a guest star in mind - well, only in very exceptional cases. Kylie Minogue was one. There's a great danger in writing for someone and then they get offered a film, or they just don't fancy it. So it's dangerous territory to enter."

One of the things I love about this job is working with actors. It's such a strange process where you hand the script over to a bunch of complete strangers, but you have to trust them, and when you cast it well, that trust is paid back. Undoubtedly, they have fun doing it, but not so much fun that it looks like fun on screen." Every guest actor says, "My children would have killed me if I hadn't taken the part." Even those who haven't got children have nephews and nieces. Not just some of them say it – every single one of them does. It's a litany as they arrive. And it's absolutely true!"

Catherine Tate tells of her reaction when asked to reprise the role of Donna Noble, "I couldn’t have been more surprised. I went out to lunch with [executive producer] Julie Gardner and I thought we were just there to chat. When people say, “My jaw hit the floor". I know what they mean!". David Tennant talks about the Doctor's reaction to the reunion. "He’s pretty gobsmacked. Donna’s quite a force of nature, she doesn’t really take no for an answer."

The Magazine also contains an article on first producer Verity Lambert, and looks ahead to the tribute on BBC Fourthis weekend. It was to Lambert’s 60s version that Davies turned for inspiration when kick-starting new Doctor Who in 2005, because, "It was before the series became bogged down in any continuity. There was just mystery. An open road – that’s what she created."

BBC News Online features an article on the press launch of Series 4. The executive producer Russell T Davies tells how he wants David Tennant to stay on forever. When quizzed about his own future with the programme, Davies told reporters it was "none of their business. Never mind what happens behind the scenes," he said "it's what happens on Saturday night that's important." The website includes video interviews with Tennant and Tate and clips from the new series.

The launch is also featured in a number of national newspapers. The Telegraph reviews the first episode and asks Who is the best Who? The Mirror andThe Sun also review the first episode.

The start time of Series Four of Doctor Who is likely to return to 7.00pm around Episode Five or Six according to the BBC's internal magazine Ariel.

The show's Executive Producer, Russell T. Davies, interviewed at the Series Four Press launch, admitted he would have preferred a later time slot, but was diplomatic about the scheduling decision which he said last week could lose the show a million viewers.

"It's not a time slot I agree with, but I know that no one wants to damage the brand", he said calmly. "In the past we’ve got higher figures when it went later, but it will shift later on in the run, around episode five or six, which the BBC was going to do anyway."

Also at the launch Ariel spoke to Jane Tranter, BBC controller BBC Fiction who thanked the "loyal, professional and all round excellent team" in Cardiff, most of whom have worked on all 56 episodes. "The success of Doctor Who is to a great extent theirs," she said. Tranter described new companionCatherine Tate as "the most empathetic, big hearted and extraordinary of the Doctor's companions", praising her "versatility, bravura and humanity as an actress".

Meanwhile David Tennant promised the series four finale would be the "biggest, boldest, maddest, saddest, most exciting story we've ever done".

The website of the BBC's listings magazine, the Radio Times, has revealed that the magazine has once again givenDoctor Who the honour of gracing the magazine's cover for the start of the new series. This time there will be four different versions of the cover available. The new issue, which also extensively previews the series inside, will be available across the UK from tuesday.

Tha magazine reveals the almost complete list of Episode titles for Series 4. Episode 12's title is being kept secret for the time being.

Ian Wylie of the Manchester Evening News posted a report from today's press launch for Series Four.

The evening began with an introduction from Controller of BBC Fiction Jane Tranter, who enthused that "this fourth series of Doctor Who is our best yet".

The first two episodes (Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii) were screened, followed by a question-and-answer session with Executive ProducerRussell T Davies and series stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate.

Wylie relates some of the highlights of the evening and promises more detailed reports in days to come. The article is mildly spoiler-ridden.

Also reported by BBC News.

Posted By John Bowman

A new trailer for Series Four is now available to view online at the official website's home page as well as on the BBC's YouTube channel.

Lasting 39 seconds and given from the perspective of new companion Donna Noble, it includes three of the monsters that will be appearing in the new series.

UK TV licence restrictions may mean the trailer cannot be viewed by overseas visitors to the sites.

(NB: While hovering your mouse over the official website home page, a box currently pops up with the following text: "Watch the second new trailer tonight at 8.30pm, BBC One and online." However, this does not tally with today's schedule for BBC One.)

BBC7 is producing a weekly show called "Doctor Who - The Commentaries". "The Commentaries" premieres Sunday 6 April at 6:30PM and 12:30AM British Summer Time. It will air the Sunday after new episodes as part of a block with Paul McGann Big Finish Doctor Who stories that BBC7 has aired before.

"Doctor Who - The Commentaries" will be a recap show, probably similar to the Heroes radio show BBC7 did last year. David Tennant and Catherine Tate are listed as the hosts for the 6 April edition.

BBC Internal magazine Ariel has reported that Executive Producer Russell T Davies is unhappy with the news series time slot.

The 6.20pm position is the earliest the series has been placed since it returned in 2005. In previous years earlier time slots have resulted in a decrease in viewing figures for the programme.

Update

This is now also being reported by Broadcast.

The BBC Press Office have released details of Episode Two of Series Four, The Fires Of Pompeii.

The episode will be broadcast on Saturday 12th April on BBC1, and features guest stars Peter Capaldi, Phil Davis and Tracey Childs.

The BBC has confirmed that Episode One of Series Four, Partners in Crime, will be broadcast at 6.20pm on Saturday 5th April. The episode will be followed by an edition of Confidential on BBC3 at 7.05pm and will be repeated on BBC3 on Sunday 6th.

Saturday 5th is also when BBC Four will be screening a tribute night to Doctor Who's first producer, Verity Lambert. The evening will include three episodes of classic Doctor Who.