Doctor Who was voted the 6th most addictive show of all time in a recent poll by UK online rental company lovefilm.com. The show was the only British show to feature in the top ten.

Darren Bignell, Communications Manager of LOVEFiLM.com, said: "We're a nation of comfort lovers and the thought of curling up on the sofa with our favourite programmes is a very tempting one. "Although crime doesn't pay, as our list reveals, it most certainly pulls in the viewers, and shows like 24 have clearly found the right mix of suspense, drama and action to keep us coming back for more."

Reported by The Telegraph, The Live Feed

The media have been quick to act on the announcement of the first day's filming for the new series of Doctor Who.

The Daily Mail have published a selection of photographs of new Doctor Matt Smith and companion actress Karen Gillan on location, featuring the two leads along with what appears to be a new, slightly tweaked, police box prop for the TARDIS. The Metro has also published a photo of the two with the TARDIS.

Meanwhile, The Sun have also covered the filming, with a photo revealing a well-known guest star also appearing alongside the two time-travellers. Digital Spy reports a BBC spokesperson as confirming the person in question, whilst SFX, the London Paper and Holy Moly published more photos from the proceedings.




Scott Frankton has kindly provided a report on today's filming:


Finally, the BBC itself has acknowledged the interest fans and the audience have in the series, with entertainment correspondant Lizo Mzimba appearing on BBC News's E24 to discuss how popular the series remains, including the press in attendence for filming as shown in this video!

BBC1's Breakfast will be taking an exclusive look at the new Doctor Who costume this morning, currently scheduled for 8:55am with BBC Entertainment correspondant Lizo Mzimba and DWM/The Writer's Tale co-author Benjamin Cook.

As part of an ongoing debate over the past few days concerning the state of BBC television drama, sparked by comments made by legendary television producer Tony Garnett, the BBC has passed onto The Guardian newspaper's website several comments made by writers currently working for the corporation about their experiences.

One of those quoted is Doctor Who's chief writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, who says that:

Various news sources online and in print - including science-fiction website io9 and British tabloid newspaper the Sun - have in recent days been running a picture from behind-the-scenes of David Tennant's forthcoming two-part finale in Doctor Who. The image, apparently a screen grab from a video, shows Tennant along with guest star Timothy Dalton and another actor, whose presence in the story may be considered a spoiler, so his name is given in the spoiler box below.

Dalton's role in the forthcoming specials is not currently known.

The BBC Press Office has announced the successful applicants to succeed Phil Collinson as the producer of Doctor Who. Collinson left the series at the conclusion of the fourth production block, to take up a new post as Head of Drama for BBC Manchester.

Collinson is to be succeeded by two people: Tracie Simpson and Peter Bennett. Simpson was the producer of the Easter Special, Planet of the Dead, and was a production manager on the programme for several years. Bennett is the producer of the forthcoming five-part third series of the Torchwoodspin-off, entitled "Children of Earth".

Also joining the production team as a third executive producer alongside Piers Wenger and Steven Moffat will beBeth Willis. Willis was formerly the producer of successful BBC One drama Ashes to Ashes, and will join the production team as part of a new remit to work alongside Wenger on a range of BBC Wales dramas.

Lead writer and executive producer Moffat is quoted as saying of the appointments:

"Beth and Tracie and Pete aren't the A Team, they're the people the A Team call. Tracie and Pete are the backstage stars of Doctor Who and having them on board as producers isn't just the best possible news for Matt Smith's first series, it's a massive relief. And Beth Willis, fresh from the brilliant Ashes To Ashes, is joining Piers and I as an executive so finally there'll be someone to wear the trousers."

The press has been following filming for David Tennant's final Doctor Who story. Reports have focused on new filming by Catherine Tate, who confirmed on Radio 2 last Saturday that she and Bernard Cribbins will be appearing in the two-part Christmas story. Also spotted during filming are actress June Whitfield ("Terry and June", "Absolutely Fabulous") and actors Barry Howard ("Hi-de-Hi!") and Karl Collins ("The Bill").

Recent filming in Swansea has been covered by The Western Mail, The South Wales Echo, The South Wales Evening Post (with stories Mondayand Tuesday), The Daily Mail, and The Sun.

The Sun also claims that Russell T Davies is considering a spin-off series built around the characters of Malcolm Taylor (Lee Evans) and Capt. Erisa Magumbo (Noma Dumezweni), who appeared in "Planet of the Dead". The newspaper also managed to make a story out of the trailer for The Waters of Mars.

Finally, the Liverpool Echo has an interview with Elisabeth Sladen about her life and career. Sladen will be co-presenting a concert titled "Music from Outer Space" at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall this Saturday.

Thanks to the posters on the "Media Watch" thread on the Doctor Who Forum.

Saturday's Daily Telegraph has an interview with Russell T Davies in which he talks of his love for the series and his plans for a grand finale. An extended version is available here.

Davies is also interviewed in this week's Time Out.

Davies's co-writer on Planet of the Dead, Gareth Roberts, is interviewed in the Pink Paper. The paper also features a preview of Katy Manning's new show and a photo news story on Russell T Davies at BAFTA.

To celebrate the Easter Special the Telegraph is offering a free Doctor Who Adventures USB stick. There are only 25,000 units available and these are not available in any shop, it is a one off, strictly limited promotion. Postage and Packing costs apply. Applications can be made online.

The Weeping Angels have been voted the scariest Doctor Who monster of all time, according to a poll of young Doctor Who fans. Although the statues only appeared in one episode of the TV series, 2 out of 5 readers of Doctor Who Adventures magazine voted the Weeping Angels the monster they're most likely to dive behind the sofa at the sight of. The poll, conducted to coincide with the Easter special, saw the Weeping Angels secure 41% of reader votes with the Daleks coming in second with 22% of votes, followed third by the Cybermen with 8% of the votes.

RadioTimes.com has just published some new content. There is now a Planet of the Dead homepage featuring two galleries, one taking a look behind the scenes and one previewing the episode with 60 images.

This month's edition of the UK Internet magazine .Net has a four page feature about the origins and the future of theDoctor Who Website, written by designer and writer Paul Wyatt. With behind the scenes information on creating exclusive web content for the show and an interview with Rob Francis, Doctor Who web producer. The article also reveals titbits about the new branding expected for next year. This article is available from newsstands in the UK and in the States under the name Practical Web Design.

A signed Doctor Who script is one of the items being auctioned for the charity Beat Bullying. The script to The Sontaran Stratagem was donated byCatherine Tate and signed by herself and David Tennant.

The Radio 2 show hosted by David Tennant and Catherine Tate and featuring John Barrowman, is available tolisten again for the next 7 days. Pictures of Tennant arriving at the studio, and being mobbed by fans, are here.

Tennant also appeared on this morning's edition of BBC Breakfast talking about kissing co-stars Kylie Minogue andBillie Piper, leaving the show and why he is named after a Pet Shop Boy.

David Tennant is participating in a media blitz in the run-up to "Planet of the Dead" (airing at 6:45 pm Saturday on BBC One). Today, Tennant appeared on three radio programmes and discussed "Planet of the Dead", his feelings about winding up his time on Doctor Who and his future plans.

In the morning, Tennant appeared with Christian O'Connell on Absolute Radio's Breakfast Show. On O'Connell's show, Tennant confirmed that along with Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate will be appearing in his final two-part story, which is currently filming.

At midday, Tennant joined Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1. Tennant discussed the remaining Doctor Who specials, and mentioned that discussions are underway for a television adaptation of the RSC's production of "Hamlet".

And in the afternoon, Tennant was interviewed by Colin Murray, standing in for Simon Mayo on his BBC Radio 5 Live programme.

All the programmes are available on the internet:

• Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (edited podcast, Tennant interview only)
  
• Jo Whiley Show (Tennant interview begins at approximately 2:10)
  
• Simon Mayo programme (Tennant interview begins at approximately 1:05)
  

Additionally, Michelle Ryan promoted "Planet of the Dead" on CBBC's Blue Peter and on The Paul O'Grady Showon Channel 4.

Thanks to the posters in the Doctor Who Forum's Media Watch thread.