People

Hello! magazine's readers have voted David Tennant the third most attractive man, after Sean Bean and Hugh Laurie.

Catherine Tate spoke to the Toronto Star about her comedy series and her return to Doctor Who as Donna Noble. "What's great about doing Doctor Who is that it has a narrative, so it means that I can approach it more as a straight acting role," says Tate. "It's just nicer to have a story arc that lasts longer than, like, four minutes."

Contactmusic.com quotes Russell T. Davies as saying that being gay helped give him "an edge" over other aspiring writers.

Eighth Doctor Paul McGann was one of the celebrities on hand for the official opening of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture, reports theLiverpool Echo.

And Johnny Depp has denied rumors that he was seeking a role on Doctor Who, reports Teletext. (The story is no longer available on Teletext's website.)

Torchwood

Several news sources have published reviews of Torchwood's second series debut, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang". These includeThe Times ("good, salacious knockabout fun"), The Times again ("funny, fast and daring"), The Daily Telegraph("leaden gags" and "a fantastically ungripping plot") and The Guardian ("parts of it were very, very funny").

American media are also covering the series ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" will debut on BBC America on Saturday, January 26); the Los Angeles Times calls the series "grown-up, dark, energetic and sometimes hard to keep track of." TheOrlando Sentinel (Florida), The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel(Wisconsin), the Akron Beacon-Journal (Ohio), the Erie News-Times (Pennsylvania) and the Fresno Bee(California) all report on the second series debut and/or Tuesday's DVD release of the first series.

The Huddersfield Examiner has an interview with John Barrowman.

The South Wales Echo has excerpts from an interview Eve Myles gave to Iconz magazine, in which she speaks of her love for Cardiff.

James Marsters' girlfriend enjoyed watching him kiss John Barrowman, according to The Sun andcontactmusic.com.

Miscellany

An article in The Sunday Times about the state of children's television in Britain quotes Russell T. Davies and notes that while television labelled as being for children is suffering, "family" programming like Doctor Who is thriving. Another column points to the success of Doctor Who as a model for adapting classic adventure novels to the screen.

Indeed, Doctor Who is such a success that BBC bosses are looking to apply its lessons beyond the realm of drama. In an interview with The Guardian BBC director general Mark Thompson used Doctor Who as an example of the sort of "creative energy" which the BBC should use in political coverage. Covering Thompson's remark, the Belfast Telegraphsuggested that BBC reporters covering Northern Ireland might already feel like time travelers.

Young Doctor Who fans in the Midlands can participate in a craft competition at the Stourport Library in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire. There are three age groups for the competition: ages 5 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 13. Entrants can color a Doctor Who picture (available at the library) or make a Doctor Who-themed model. The Kidderminster Shuttlehas details of the competition.

The West Sussex Gazette has a feature article about classic Doctor Who filming in West Sussex.

The Doctor Who Up Close exhibition in Cardiff will be adding costumes from "Voyage of the Damned" to its collection, reports the Western Mail.

A columnist in The Scotsman notes that "apart from reality shows and similar swill, Doctor Who is the only programme that brings the nation together simultaneously: ironic, given that the Doctor is a Time Lord."

Technology website The Register describes a small flying robot being developed by the US military as a "proto-Dalek".

Doctor Who news shows up everywhere these days. Materials Handling World has a short article about the forklift featured in "Voyage of the Damned". No matter what your field is, there's nothing like a Doctor Who story to spice up your trade news, eh?

And the South Wales Echo has a story about a dad who built his kids a five-foot TARDIS replica to keep their toys in. Bless.

David Tennant will this weekend appear on BBC Two's highest rated programme, the motoring show Top Gear, as the guest on the regular "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" feature. The feature involves Tennant being tutored in driving a Chevrolet Lacetti around the programme's test track by their resident expert driver, the mysterious, always-helmeted "Stig". Tennant will then complete a timed lap of the circuit, which he will then analyse and discuss in studio with presenter Jeremy Clarkson, and his time will be ranked against those of other celebrities to have taken part in the feature.

Both Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper have previously taken part in the same item on the programme, although Tennant's time will not be directly compared with Eccleston's as his lap took place when a different model of car was being used for the feature.

Top Gear is on BBC Two this Sunday at 8pm. It is repeated at 12 midnight on Wednesday 26 December, and then again on BBC Three on Saturday 29 December at 7.20pm. It will also be available, to UK viewers, on the BBC's broadband iPlayer "watch again" service.

Tennant's participation is reported in several sources, including an article in the Daily Mail.

At the premiere of "Voyage of the Damned" Tuesday evening, David Tennant dismissed speculation about how long he plans to stay on Doctor Who. Speaking about the Christmas 2008 special and three specials in 2009, he said, "I'm doing four more specials and beyond that no one's asked me to make any decisions and I'm quite happy to be enigmatic for as long as possible." Talk of Tennant's departure plans began Saturday whenCatherine Tate, speaking on Jonathan Ross's radio show, said that she thought that 2008 might be Tennant's last full series in the role of the Doctor.

"Catherine Tate stitched me up good and proper," said Tennant. "She goes on Jonathan Ross and makes up a load of old nonsense. Unbeknownst to me, she thinks I've made a decision - she'd clearly had too much coffee that morning. She said I was leaving, which was a decision I haven't made yet, maybe she's made it for me, but I'm going to keep people guessing for as long as possible."

Tennant continued, "I started getting all these phone calls on Saturday lunchtime saying apparently you're leaving Doctor Who. Catherine Tate's just announced it on Radio 2 - thanks Catherine! I said to her on Monday morning did you know you've caused a minor diplomatic incident? She was completely oblivious that the phone had been ringing off the hook."

Tennant's comments, as well as some spoilerish details about "Voyage of the Damned", can be found at BBC News andThe Blackpool Gazette. More details from the "Voyage of the Damned" press launch can be found at The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, The Sunderland Echo and The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail, Now Magazine and The West Australian are running with the Sun's story about Jennifer Saunders appearing as the Doctor in one episode.

UPDATED Wednesday 19 Dec: The late night Richard Bacon talk show on BBC Radio 5 Live has a report from the "Voyage of the Damned" preview. It includes an interview with Tennant in which he light-heartedly discusses Tate's comments about his future on Doctor Who: "It's a decision I've not been forced to make, so I'm just going to play my cards close to my chest as long as I can. Despite what Catherine might have you believe, I haven't made any decision about the next series yet."

To listen to the interview, go to this page and click on "Tuesday". The Doctor Who discussion begins approximately 1 hour 38 minutes into the program, and contains some spoilers for "Voyage of the Damned".

There is also a video piece on the premiere from BBC News available here, which includes clips from "Voyage of the Damned" and interview segments with Tennant. Speaking of his future on the programme, he says "It's a decision I haven't made yet... it's not a decision I've been asked to make yet, so I'm going to keep 'em guessing for as long as possible."

Thanks to "scheherezade" and "PolyG" of the Doctor Who Forum.

US readers are reminded that David Tennant will appear in the Extras Christmas special, which airs tonight (December 16) on HBO at 9 pm. Trailers for the special show Tennant in costume as the Doctor, indicating that the comedy will satirize Doctor Who.

The Extras Christmas special will air in the UK on BBC One on Thursday, December 27 at 9 pm.

In an article on BBC News published this morning, Catherine Tate says that the upcoming fourth Doctor Who series will be her last, and that it "could be the last for actor David Tennant" according to comments she made this morning on the Radio 2 Jonathan Ross programme. "I think it's maybe David's last series." The article notes that the BBC refuses to comment on Mr Tennant's future as the show's star. When pressed on whether Tennant would return to play the timelord in special Dr Who shows in future, Tate replied: "Possibly."

To listen to Tate's interview on the Jonathan Ross show, follow this link and click on "Listen again". The Catherine Tate segment begins approximately 2 hours 37 minutes into the program.

The BBC News article also quotes Kylie Minogue in Doctor Who Magazine as saying her appearance in the forthcoming Christmas special is "like stepping back in time. I really felt at home being back in the world of TV. I've definitely got the acting bug again!"

Bits and bobs from the media about Doctor Who actors:

Scottish television station STV has a video item about the Spirit of Scotland Awards, including a clip of David Tennant speaking from the TARDIS set. Also on STV, John Barrowman was recently interviewed for the program Scotland Today, and an extended version of the interview is available on the STV website. Barrowman discusses his Glasgow roots, his new album Another Side, as well as the return of Captain Jack in Torchwood Series 2 andDoctor WhoSeries 4. Captain Jack was recently voted one of the "Top 25 Gay TV Characters" by AfterElton.com.

The Sun reports that Sean Pertwee, son of Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, would like a role in Doctor Who, and once put a bet on himself becoming the next Doctor. The Sun also reports that ITV2 has picked up Billie Piper's sexually charged series The Secret Diary of a Call Girl for a second series.The Times has an interview with Pauline Collins (Queen Victoria in 2006's "Tooth and Claw" and Samantha Briggs in 1967's "The Faceless Ones"); Collins is appearing as the Fairy Godmother in the Royal Vic's production of Cinderella. Finally, Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) turned on the Christmas lights in Beccles, Suffolk.

David Tennant has been awarded the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland award in the "Screen" category. He beat film actors James McAvoy andTilda Swinton, who were also nominated in the category. The Scotsman has further details of the awards.

Thanks to PolyG of the Doctor Who Forum.

BBC Radio 2 have broadcast the documentary, X-Amining Kylie, in which David Tennant interviews Kylie Minogue.

Coinciding with the release of Minogue's tenth studio album X, Tennant talks to the pop princess about her life and work. The programme features a sneak preview of Voyage of the Damned, the BBC1 Doctor WhoChristmas special, which finds the Doctor aboard The Titanic.

The programme features a track-by-track taste of the new album, plus an exclusive song never before broadcast on the BBC.

The programme can be heard over the next seven days, via the BBC Radio Player.

The comedy drama Learners will be broadcast on BBC1 this coming Sunday (11th) at 9:00pm, and stars Jessica Hynes (Joan from Human Nature/Family of Blood), David Tennant (Who?!) and Shaun Dingwall(Rose's father Pete Tyler).

Promotion for the programme is gearing up, with Hynes (who also wrote the drama) having appeared on today's Breakfast (BBC1). As well as discussion of the new drama, it was inevitable that conversation would turn to her appearance with Tennant in Doctor Who last season! "It's a real treat being part of that 'gang'; it's a real institution, Doctor Who, and I particularly love David as Doctor Who, and Russell T Davies's interpretation of Doctor Who. It's fantastic, it's the best thing on television; to be part of it, and to be able to play a real role as well, is a gift."

Tomorrow will see David Tennant himself appearing on ITV1's Entertainment Today (from around 8:35am - possibly on GMTV beforehand too).

You can read more about Learners from the BBC Press releases from April and July. The BBC have also posted anofficial YouTube clip to promote the programme.