The BBC have released a further two interviews with stars of the Christmas Special, The Snowmen, as part of their Adventure Calendar. The short videos are with Richard E Grant, who plays Dr Simeon, and Dan Starkey who reprises his role as the Sontaran Strax.

Other interviews:

The Radio Times features the eponymous Snowman by Raymond Briggs on its cover for this year's legendary Christmas double issue; inside, however, it does feature interviews with Doctor Who's stars Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman about their similarly named The Snowmen!

Smith also discusses his plans to stay with the series for 2013 and its fiftieth anniversary - and how his mother doesn't want him to give up the role! Talking about the influences on his Doctor, the actor said:

Meanwhile, BBC America conducted an online Q&A with the duo during a promotional visit to the United States last weekend, featuring questions that were submitted by the Tumblr community and answered via their official Doctor Who page.

Entertainment Weekly have also recently interviewed Jenna, during which she discussed getting the role, and how she dealt with the two characters Oswin and Clara.

Day Seven of the BBC Adventure Calendar sees the release of the second part of an interview with Jenna-Louise Coleman, who makes her debut as the Doctor's new sidekick in The Snowmen on Christmas Day.

Here, she talks about her fun in the role, and where she'll be on the day itself.

As with last year, the BBC are to present a number of special linking trailers to mark its festive programming on BBC One this Christmas. Introduced by a teaser trailer last week, this year sees comic actor Rob Brydon and his able assistant (actress Sarah Alexander) producing BBC One Christmas in a series of adverts created by Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R and directed by David Kerr through Red Bee Media.

The series is reported to involve Matt Smith, as well as David Walliams, Miranda Hart, the cast of Call The Midwife, Lee Mack, Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood, the cast of EastEnders and Pudsey the dancing dog.

Episode One - broadcast tonight on BBC One just before Eastenders and not on the 8th December as originally expected - does not feature Smith himself, but Doctor Who is represented instead in the form of the TARDIS being mistaken for a dressing room by Mrs Brown (Brendan O'Carroll from the BAFTA-winning sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys).

It's Showtime!

The BBC have launched a new festive daily game for UK residents to win presents on Facebook:

The debut story of Jon Pertwee has been given the high-definition treatment for Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.

Spearhead From Space - Doctor Who's first colour story - is the only adventure from the classic era that can be remastered into true HD say experts because, thanks to industrial action at BBC TV Centre, all four episodes were shot on location on 16mm film rather than being recorded on videotape - the only time this was ever done on the show.

The digital media services team of BBC Studios and Post Production was commissioned by BBC Worldwide to remaster the story, which was first broadcast in January 1970 and also introduced Caroline John as assistant Liz Shaw. The "facelift" has given the story a cinematic finish, and the Blu-ray is now scheduled for release on Monday 15th July 2013.

The original 16mm negatives were scanned and digitised using state-of-the-art equipment, and other work has included repairing damage done to one episode's negative caused by a reaction with chemicals during a printing process some years ago. Dirt has also been removed, grain lessened, joins cleaned up, and picture movement stabilised. The soundtrack, which had previously been remastered, was then added to the final master version.

Jonathan Wood, the team's lead colourist, said: Clive Hodge, the digital media services head, said:

The BBC have launched their traditional Adventure Calendar for 2012, which will once again feature videos, interviews, games, wallpapers, cards, quizzes, an original story by Joseph Lidster, and other items for fans to enjoy in the lead up to Christmas Day and The Snowmen on television.

In Day One, Jenna-Louse Coleman talks about her auditions for the role of Clara, plus some tantalising scenes from upcoming The Snowmen:

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Meanwhile, Doctor Who News is again pleased to be presenting Willy Phantom's Illustrated Advent Calendar, which will feature a new festive Doctor Who image in the sidebar every day until Christmas! Those reading news through other media will also be able to view these via our Facebook Album.

BBC Worldwide Sales and Distribution Latin America have announced that the sixth series of Doctor Who will be broadcast in the region via the exclusive DIRECTV Latin America channel OnDIRECTV.

Willard Tressel, OnDIRECTV's General Manager, said:

Helen Jurado, VP, Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide Latin America, said:

BBC Books is to bring out a number of publications next year in the run-up to Doctor Who's 50th anniversary.

Editorial director Albert DePetrillo said the "first official piece of anniversary publishing" would be out on Thursday 7th March with the reissue of 11 paperback novels - one per Doctor and with each book boasting a "little bit retro, but fresh" look. They will include Only Human by Gareth Roberts, Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell, Ten Little Aliens by Stephen Cole, Festival of Death by Jonathan Morris, and Dreams of Empire by Justin Richards.

Before that, though, comes the paperback edition of Shada by Gareth Roberts on Thursday 31st January, followed by A Silurian Gift by Mike Tucker on Thursday 7th February, the latter of which is for the Quick Reads range and will be the seventh Doctor Who title in the series so far. Shada can be pre-ordered here and A Silurian Gift can be pre-ordered here.

Next April will see three mass-market fiction books brought out: Dalek Generation by Nicholas Briggs, Plague of the Cybermen by Justin Richards, and Shroud of Sorrow by Tommy Donbavand. A specific date for their publication is yet to be announced.

DePetrillo said: In addition, the publication of the Melody Malone e-book The Angel's Kiss earlier this month could be the first of a number of similar releases. DePetrillo said: "That's certainly the hope. We are looking into it now and, considering the response we've had, we could do more."

BBC Books will also be updating the Doctor Who Encyclopedia app for the iPad so that it includes the five Series 7 episodes aired so far plus the 2012 Christmas special.

AudioGo have released details on audio titles in their spoken word range due to be released towards the end of the year.

After November's Destiny of The Daleks, the next in the television soundtrack range will also be the following adventure, City of Death, again with linking narration and bonus interview from Lalla Ward (Romana). Meanwhile, the next Eleventh Doctor story, Snake Bite, will be the final one to feature the characters of Amy and Rory.

BBC Worldwide have announced that they are to utilise the new UltraViolet technology for future DVD and Blu-ray releases, with the Doctor Who: Series 7 Part 1 boxed set forming one of the initial releases to benefit.

UltraViolet is a new approach to help combat video piracy by enabling purchasers to "buy one, play anywhere" - a digital version of the item they have bought is also made available, which can then be played on up to twelve different devices, such as computers, mobiles and tablets, as well as streaming and download for online/offline viewing.

As well as Doctor Who, the initial range includes Top Gear Special Commission, Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild, Rollercoaster (John Bishop). To enable UltraViolet, BBC Worldwide have teamed up with content delivery provider Flixster to provide the digital copies.

Claude London, Digital Director for BBC Worldwide Consumer Products, said:

Doctor Who: Series 7 Part 1 is available to pre-order in the UK on both DVD and Blu-Ray formats.