The actor David Walliams has revealed that he will appearing in a forthcoming episode of the next series of Doctor Who.

Speaking on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show this morning, when asked about which franchises he'd like to be in, the actor said:
(he also mentioned his Comic Relief projects including a spoof band Fake That for which he would include Catherine Tate (portraying a man) and David Tennant in the cast if he could!)

The interview is available to hear on the BBC's iplayer service (from 2:34:35) for the next seven days. BBC Radio 2 have also made the studio webcam recording of the segment available via their YouTube channel:




Walliams is a professed Doctor Who fan, and leant his vocal talents for Big Finish's audio adventure Phantasmagoria. He also appeared in a number of sketches alongside Mark Gatiss for BBC2's Doctor Who Night in 1999, and in December 2008 newspapers reported the odds on him replacing David Tennant as the Doctor dropping to 8-1.

Christmas last year also saw a Dalek checking in at FlyLo Airlines in trails for the Walliams/Lucas mockumentary Come Fly With Me.

Who's That Girl? the autobiography of Elisabeth Sladen is due to be published in the UK later this year.

Originally planned for release in April the book is now expected in the Summer or Autumn.

The 320 page hardback book will tell the story of the woman behind one of Doctor Who's most enduring characters, Sarah Jane Smith. Elisabeth Sladen first took on the role of in 1973, playing opposite Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, a role she is still playing today in the hugely successful Sarah Jane Adventures. The book tells the story of her remarkable career: giving a unique, insider’s view of the world’s longest-running science fiction series; and of British television yesterday and today.

The book is published by Aurum Press Ltd on 25 April 2011 and will be priced £16.99

Publishers Aurum have also announced that their biography of Terry Nation, The Man Who Invented the Daleks, will be published in May.

The book, which was first reported last July, looks at the life of the man behind Blake's 7, The Survivors and The Daleks.

David Tennant is to become a father according to a report in the British tabloid, The Daily Mail. Tennant is expected to marry his long term girlfriend Georgia Moffett early next year. The paper claims that the couple's first child is expected this spring.

Sean Pertwee the son of Third Doctor Jon Pertwee, has made a sci-fi foray of his own with Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie, based on the tabletop game. A DVD of the film has just been released, with Pertwee voicing the character of Brother Proteus. In an interview with the Sunday Mercury he talks about the film and of growing up with his dad as Doctor Who.

James Corden, who played Craig Owens in The Lodger, will present the 2011 Brit awards on 15 February. He last presented the awards with Kylie Minogue in 2009. Peter Kay who played Victor Kennedy in Love & Monsters presented the awards in 2010.

Oxford University Press have updated their Oxford Dictionary of National Biography this month with the biographies of some 216 people who died during 2007; the list includes Doctor Who's original producer Verity Lambert, who died on the 22nd November of that year.

Though much the Dictionary is only available free for users in subscribing institutions (and most UK residents with library cards through their local library and via the remote access scheme), their Lives of the Day articles are accessible to the general public for a week, and you can read the article on Verity Lambert on the ODNB site until next Tuesday (alternative link to the article may be found here).

The article has been illustrated with a photo of Lambert with the alien delegates from Mission to the Unknown; previous entries on the ODNB that have included images relating to Doctor Who include William Hartnell (the Doctor with Sensorites) and Jon Pertwee (publicity shot with the Daleks).



The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is a collection of more than 57,000 specially written biographies, which describe the lives of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond from the 4th century BC to the 21st century. Online since 2004, the dictionary is updated three times a year, with January concentrating on those who died four years previously.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate appeared on BBC's Breakfast this morning to chat about their latest project together.

The two are to appear in a production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which opens in London's Wyndham Theatre from 16th May 2011. They will be playing the roles of combative lovers Beatrice and Benedick in the play, being directed by Bush Theatre Artistic Director Josie Rourke.

This is the duo's first full collaboration together, though they have been firm friends since meeting for the first time on the set of Doomsday and have presented The Jonathan Ross Show for BBC Radio 2 together a number of times. Catherine Tate explained:
David Tennant's last appearance on the stage playing Hamlet met with critical acclaim, and he talked about returning to the theatre:

David Tennant is not a stranger to the role, having previously played Benedick in a BBC Radio 3 adaptation of the play alongside Samantha Spiro as Beatrice. The play first broadcast September 2001, was repeated in November 2005 - a month before his debut story as the Doctor, The Christmas Invasion.

Catherine Tate is currently appearing in Season's Greetings at the National Theatre, alongside Mark Gatiss and David Troughton.


The issue of tickets were discussed on the programme (available to book now from the theatre), especially in regard to how quickly tickets sold out for Tennant's performance in Hamlet - subsequently this morning has seen the booking facilities for the play overwhelmed by fans of the duo trying to obtain tickets!

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]

Matt Smith tells Now Magazine that he isn't worried about being type-cast: "playing the Doctor hasn't prevented Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant from taking on other parts." He also commented on the length of Karen's Gillan skirts in the series: "I know those short skirts caused a furore but I say bring them on. I see nothing wrong with celebrating women and their sexiness. There's absolutely nothing exploitative or demeaning about it."

Karen Gillan made a special appearance on Monday at her old haunt the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, where she was called onto the stage to help clean it and then get gunked in goo as part of the show's "grotty totty". Says theatre marketing manager Laurie Piper: "all the way through the show the writer, Iain Laughlan, incorporated 23 Dr Who jokes, so some audience members might have had an idea what was going on. When Karen was called on to the stage, the kids loved it and everyone was delighted. She did it in great spirit." The actress recently became Arts Education Ambassador at the theatre. [Aberdeen Press and Journal]

John Barrowman has had to pull out of his pantomime Aladdin (SECC, Glasgow); the theatre reports: "In terms of future performances, as time goes on it is a case of evaluating his health prior to a performance to see if he is match-fit. John is genuinely disappointed at not being able to make the performances he has missed due to the flu virus – he is a professional who will always perform should he be able to. He is doing everything he can to make a full recovery." Meanwhile, his role is being played by his cousin Greg Barrowman. [Glasgow Evening Times, Herald Scotland]

Former Doctor David Tennant came fourth in a poll of the "most sexy celebrity in glasses", carried out by the College of Optometrists. He was beaten by fashion designer Gok Wan, actor Johnny Depp and comedian Alan Carr.

Finally, the New Years Honours list sees a couple of Doctor Who guest stars honoured: Burt Kwouk (Lin Futu, Four to Doomsday) is to be awarded an OBE and actress Sheila Hancock (Helen A, The Happiness Patrol) will receive a CBE for services to drama. [more details and video for Hancock at BBC News]

John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) has won the Christmas edition of Strictly Come Dancing. He told the Daily Mail that on the possibility of hosting the dance show: "If [Bruce Forsyth, current host] were to offer those dancing shoes to me, I would gladly take them. It would be an incredible gig.".

Katherine Jenkins (Abigail Pettigrew, A Christmas Carol) was due to sing for the troops with James Blunt in Afghanistan but because of the snowy weather hitting the UK the plane was unable to take off. She posted to her Twitter account: "Am so gutted - words can't describe how disappointed we all are." The BBC have a video of Katherine singing for the troops on board the plane.

Jane Espenson (Writer, Torchwood: The New World) has indicated via her Twitter page that she'll be producing the episodes that she writes for The New World.

David Harewood (Joshua Naismith, The End of Time) has joined the cast of forthcoming US Showtime drama pilot Homeland. Deadline has more information about his role.

Carey Mulligan (Sally Sparrow, Blink) is on the front cover of ELLE UK for January 2011 which features an interview with her. There is a behind the scenes video of the photo shoot for the magazine. Click here for more details about the issue.

Daphne Ashbrook (Grace Holloway, TV Movie) has released her first music CD entitled Grace Notes. It is available to download from iTunes and other online stores. Daphne was talking about her new CD and musical career with The Happiness Patrol podcast.

David Tennant has narrated Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice. The BBC YouTube channel has uploaded 3 preview clips. 1, 2 and 3.

Barney Harwood (Totally Doctor Who, The Infinite Quest) is to become the 35th presenter of the long running BBC children's show Blue Peter. He joins joins current presenters Helen Skelton and Andy Akinwolere on 17 January 2011. [BBC Press release]

Sophie Okonedo (Liz Ten, The Beast Below, The Pandorica Opens) was award with an OBE for services to drama in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2010. She received press attention when the medal fell from her dress and landed at the feet of the Prince of Wales, from where she had to retrieve it. The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace on 17 December.

Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) will feature in Sky 1's Little Crackers tomorrow (Monday) night at 9pm. Catherine has written and directed a short 10 minute film about her time as a shy schoolgirl who "would rather wet herself in class than put her hand up to ask to go to the toilet". You can watch a preview of her film and more on the Little Crackers website.

David Tennant and Derek Jacobi (Professor Yana/The Master, Utopia) will be reading Bedtime Stories for CBeebies over the Holiday period. Full schedule here.

Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) and Katherine Jenkins (Abigail Pettigrew, A Christmas Carol) have done Q&A's with Digital Spy about their time working on this year's Christmas special.

Former Doctor Colin Baker is appearing at the Kennet Centre in Newbury today, signing copies of his books based on his column in the Bucks Free Press, Look Who's Talking and Second Thoughts.

Filming continues on United (a film about the Manchester United team Munich plane disaster in 1958), which features David Tennant as assistant team manager Jimmy Murphy. Last week saw them filming at Carlisle United's Brunton Park, where their media officer Andy Hall said: "A couple of us had the chance to squint at a couple of pages of script that David Tennant was practising and it was powerful stuff. We thought David Tennant wouldn’t speak to us but he talked about Doctor Who and other stuff he has done. I don’t get starstruck often but it’s not every day you are set opposite a Time Lord. He said he was not much of a football fan but he’s from Paisley and said he looks out for St Mirren’s scores." (reported in the News and Star)

Filming also commenced yesterday in Bolton on Exile, a new BBC drama starring John Simm (The Master) and Jim Broadbent (The Doctor, The Curse of Fatal Death); the drama is a psychological thriller about the return of a journalist (Simm) to his hometown to be reacquainted with his father (Broadbent).

David Morrissey (Jackson Lake, The Next Doctor) will be one of the Final judges for the 2010 Costa Book of the Year; the winners are chosen and announced on 25th January 2011.

The Daily Mail has reported that Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) could be about to play Eliza Doolittle in a West End version of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. Other members of the cast could be Rupert Everett (reprising his role as Henry Higgins from the Chichester Festival Theatre production), Angela Lansbury and David Jason.

Bonnie Langford: Christmas in New York opens at 59E59 Theaters on the 14th December; part of the Brits Off Broadway festival, the show sees the star (who played Melanie Bush) perform songs from shows she has appeared in, and talk about the people she grew up with in her showbiz career.

Michael Gambon (Kazran, A Christmas Carol) is about to appear in his first US television series in a new drama from HBO called Luck; the show stars Dustin Hoffman, and follows the ins and outs of horse racing.