Sci Fi Wire has released details from an interview with Noel Clarke, which they believe may have casting information for Series 4. For more information, please click on the Spoiler link below.

One of the New Series' most popular monsters, the Ood, are scheduled to reappear in the Fourth Series, according to the Times Online and confirmed on the Official Site.

The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) will encounter the fearsome aliens in an episode called "Planet of the Ood".

Show runner Russell T. Davies commented: "We're delighted the Ood are making a welcome return to Doctor Who. They were last seen falling into a black hole back in series two and we think it's only fair for the viewers to find out what the Ood have to say for themselves. Donna is certainly in for a shock."

According to the article, the episode will delve into the Oods' origins. No word yet on when in the series this episode occurs.

Various news services are reporting a rumour that American film icon Dennis Hopper is in talks to make an appearance in Doctor Who next year, probably as a villain. According to an insider, talks have been going on for a while, but Hopper's schedule is proving very difficult to work out. The unnamed source reports that "Dennis is a big fan of the show and bosses are really keen to get him on board."

As always, treat this news as only what it is at the moment -- a rumour -- until official word is announced by the BBC.

The official BBC Doctor Who website has announced that comedienne and actress Catherine Tate, who guest starred in the 2006 Christmas episode The Runaway Bride, is to return to the role of Donna Noble as a full-time companion of the Doctor throughout the fourth series of Doctor Who in 2008.

Executive producer Russell T Davies is quoted by the site as saying: "Catherine was an absolute star in The Runaway Bride and we are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us for the fourth series. Viewers can expect more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Tate herself added that: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."

Tate replaces Freema Agyeman (Martha) as a regular cast member; Agyeman will appear in several episodes later in the season, and three episodes ofTorchwood.

The Press Association today syndicated a story about both Tate and Kylie Minogue appearing in the series.

Update: This story has featured in a number of newspapers today, including The Guardian, The Sun, The Independent, The Times, and The Mirror, as well as BBC News.

In an interview with the Sci-Fi Wire website, Noel Clarke has hinted at Mickey's possible return in the upcoming fourth season of Doctor Who. When he was asked whether he had written any more scripts for Torchwood, he replied: "I'm not doing the second season of Torchwood, because I'm doing things that I can't talk about."

When asked how would Mickey's return would be explained, Noel Clarke said: "The only thing I could say is that it's sci-fi, right? And in sci-fi, there's no real rules, is there?"

The Mirror this morning reports on some changes in store for the TARDIS crew during the course of next year - if correct the article contains a number of spoilers!

The article also ends with a comment from "Beeb's drama supremo" Jane Tranter: "One thing is certain, Doctor Who will be around on BBC1 for years to come."

Details are below, and you can read the full article at the Mirror's website - do so at your peril!

Doctor Who Magazine has announced the writers for Doctor Who Series 4. Helen Raynor and Steven Moffat are both back, each penning a two-part story for the season. Joining them are returning writers Gareth Roberts, Tom MacRae, andStephen Greenhorn, with an episode each. Writing their first episodes for the series are James Moran and Keith Temple. Russell T Davies will be writing 4 episodes plus the Christmas Special.

More details are available in Doctor Who Magazine 383, available at newsstands throughout the UK and specialist dealers around the world.

Executive Producer Russell T Davis has confirmed that there will be a fourth series of Doctor Who. The announcement was made during a Question and Answer session after the screening of the opening episodes at a special Press Launch in London on Wednesday evening. The commissioning of the fourth series is now also reported by BBC News, though that link does contain a mild spoiler for the opening episode.

A fourth series of Doctor Who has been commissioned, according to an interview piece withRussell T Davies in the Seven magazine section of The Sunday Telegraph.

The extremely lengthy article, which includes a feature called The Russell T Davies Effect, also suggests that there will be a Christmas 2007 special, states that Series Three will start on March 31 at 7pm - and hints that Davies wants to move on from the show.

It says he is looking for a new challenge and quotes him as saying: "I've always wanted to adapt The Old Curiosity Shop. I love it. It's about time someone had the nerve to rewrite Dickens. The whole plot is a mess", although Davies ruefully points out that ITV is in the process of doing it.

The print edition of the magazine has Davies on the cover and the editorial features are liberally illustrated.