With the popular cult telefantasy series Life on Mars returning for a final time on BBC1 this Tuesday, the Independent on Sunday newspaper have a profile and interview with the lead actor, John Simm, which starts off with the statement:

"Travelling back through the years for hit show 'Life on Mars' has given the actor more fame than he knows how to cope with. But now he reveals to Liz Hoggard a new role that will mean seeing a Doctor."

During the course of the interview the article goes on to seemingly confirm a rumour first raised in the Sun by saying the following:

"Although the BBC is planning a spin-off to Life on Mars - called Ashes to Ashes, set in the 1980s and starring [Philip] Glenister, Simm is bowing out. 'My instinct tells me not to hang around too long.'

"He'd like to do some comedy 'in warm weather - preferably on a beach. I always seem to be doing drama in horrible brick locations.' And for years he's been dying to play a proper villain or a serial killer. The problem is Simm still looks 35 going on 15, but finally he's got the chance: he's just been cast in Dr Who - as the Master, the Doctor's evil nemesis. He'll be quite brilliant, of course, but heaven knows how he'll cope with a whole new horde of obsessive Tardis fans."

David says this about Smith and Jones - "The Judoon are pretty extraordinary, they're sort of intergalatic stormtroopers who take Martha and I off to the moon. It's just part of the madness and brilliance of doing this show that it seems to keep bettering itself every time."

Of Martha, David says: "She's a very different character to Rose" and of the blue suit - "Its an alternative suit, but that doesn't mean we lost the old one."

He also talks of guest stars coming up, all names we already know about - Anne Reid, Roy Marsden, Dean Lennox Kelly and Mark Gatiss. There is also small bits about the Shakespeare Globe, Professor Lazarus and confirmation that there will be Art Deco Daleks!