This evening BBC News are reporting how David Tennant has been voted best ever Doctor Who in a survey carried out amongst 4,000 readers of Doctor Who Magazine.

The report quotes editor Clayton Hickman as saying: "This is an incredible result for David, and shows how quickly viewers have taken to him. The iconic image of Doctor Who has always been of Tom Baker in his floppy hat and long, multi-coloured scarf, but it looks like that's been replaced."

The poll results are quoted in the report as follows:

1. David Tennant - 28.2%
2. Tom Baker - 26.5%
3. Christopher Eccleston - 11.4
4. Jon Pertwee - 9.6%
5. Patrick Troughton - 8.8%

David Tennant will guest present the first episode of the new series of The Friday Night Project, according to The Sun. He follows in the footsteps of Billie Piper, who was the guest host of the Channel 4 show in January this year.

According to a press release from the BBC Press Office, and noted on the official Doctor Who website, the three Tenth Doctor novels expected in April will be published with audiobook versions, and that these will all be read by David Tennant. The CD releases will also feature more than just readings of the novels: the audiobook commissioning editor, Kate Walsh, says that "having David read means we can include some added extras for those interested in hearing more about him, on top of the terrifically exciting stories written by Stephen Cole, Jacqueline Rayner and Justin Richards. They will make fantastic publications!" It says, "Set for release in July, David will start recording next month. The three titles are new adventures for the Doctor and his companion Rose and is the first time David will feature in his role as the Doctor outside of the television series. The CDs will also include special bonus material featuring children from across the UK asking the Doctor everything they've ever wanted to know about life as the Time Lord." The new Doctor Who titles are "The Stone Rose," "The Resurrection Casket," and "The Feast of the Drowned"; Amazon.co.uk released two of the three novel covers last week (and they were subsequently added to our news page).

Last night the annual Radio Times Covers Party, a celebration of the magazine's cover stars over the previous year, was held at the Savoy. Hosted by Graham Norton, the party was accordingly attended by Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Sir Bob Geldof, Dame Vera Lynn, Charles Dance and Dame Helen Mirren, as well as many Doctor Who personalities. With Doctor Who having such a strong presence in the magazine over the last year, we're told it was no great surprise to find that David Tennant, Billie Piperand Russell T Davies were all in attendance, although David appeared on stage to collect a "Casanova" framed cover. Apparently, one surprise came when Russell went up to collect his cover... the lights dimmed and a Dalek appeared from the wings, crossed the floor and threatened him. (The Dalek, we are told, was probably a genuine BBC model and that Nicholas Briggs was in attendance providing the voice.) The Dalek became a key (and popular) prop for official Radio Times photograph sessions. David, Billie and Russell were all snapped; no doubt a selection of the pictures will appear in print for a future issue.

Editor's Note

To the readers of the News Page... sorry for the brief delay in getting the latest news update out; the editor's been working on a project (theGallifrey 2006 convention) that took up free time in the evenings. This catches us up with the press coverage from the past week.

On Television

CBBC Newsround online last Friday looked at this year's "rising stars", including David Tennant, noting without comment that the second series will be onscreen "from April"... "You might be aware of him from The Christmas Invasion episode of Doctor Who, and of course, as barking mad Barty Crouch Jr in the Goblet of Fire, But this man is going to be huge this year! Doctor Who is already one of the BBC's most popular programmes, and David Tennant will be on our screens every week from April as the 10th Time Lord. His performance on Christmas Day suggests he's going to be a quirky but loveable Doctor, and a HUGE heart-throb."

David Tennant will play philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau in BBC Two's serial "The Romantics" about English Romantic poets; it's written and presented by Peter Ackroyd and starts very soon, completing its run on 4 February.

John Barrowman was a guest on C4's Richard and Judy show on 9 January.

The official Doctor Who website has a short piece on Murray Gold, composer of the music for the current series. It says that "Doctor Who composer Murray Gold will feature in this Wednesday's edition of Blue Peter. Find out all about the man, his music, and now, his orchestra! Tune into Blue Peter this Wednesday from 5pm on BBC1." That's Wednesday 12 January.

People

Will Billie Piper quit Doctor Who for a new starring role? Lots of papers are asking that after reports indicate that Piper has assumed her first leading role: in an adaptation of Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart stories. "But Billie's success will further fuel speculation that she is about to quit Doctor Who," says the Daily Express. "Billie will start work on the first Sally Lockhart story -- The Ruby In The Smoke -- in May. 'The Sally Lockhart episode is being shot in between season two and three of Doctor Who so it doesn't mean Billie couldn't shoot series three,' a BBC spokeswoman said. However, other television insiders said it was unlikely Billie would return. 'She has made a terrific impression in Doctor Who, and for a young relatively inexperienced actress to hold her own against Christopher Eccleston [in series one] was no mean feat,' said one experienced drama producer. 'She has been a major part of Doctor Who's success. But at the same time, now she has proved herself why would she want to get trapped in the part of Rose, when such other riches are on offer careerwise?'" A BBC press release includes comments from Laura Mackie, Head of BBC Drama Series and Serials, who says, "I am absolutely thrilled to have acquired the rights to Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart Mysteries. Philip is without question one of Britain's leading novelists. His books are full of absorbing characters, engaging multi-layered plots that appeal to both adults and children alike. The adaptation of these novels furthers BBC ONE's commitment to offering more varied and ambitious drama for its audiences. Billie Piper is an extremely versatile actress whose talent has deservedly been recognised by critics and audiences alike. Following on from her success as the Doctor's fearless companion Rose Tyler in Doctor Who, and the endearing Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Billie is the perfect choice for bringing to life this engaging and fearless heroine." Philip Pullman's "The Ruby In The Smoke," the first book in the quartet, charts the adventures of Sally, a feisty young Victorian heroine, who is on a journey to discover the truth behind her father's death, and unravel the mystery behind 'The Seven Blessings'. "Adapted by the highly-acclaimed writer Adrian Hodges (Rome, Charles II: The Power & The Passion, The Lost World), The Ruby In The Smoke is a gripping tale of mystery, danger, puzzling letters and a jewel soaked in blood. The film is set in the heart of Victorian London. ... The Ruby In The Smoke will start filming in May 2006, followed by the second novel, The Shadow In The North. The executive producers are Sally Woodward Gentle and Laura Mackie. The producer is Kate Bartlett. Director and further casting details to follow." Sky Showbizasks "Is Billie Bigger Than Chris?" referring to her husband Chris Evans, another popular headline about this story. Other news agencies reporting this include BBC News, The Sun, The Stage, The Scotsman,Media Guardian, Daily Record, Times Online, Ananova, Hello Magazine,SwindonWeb, icLiverpool, RTE,Daily Mail, the Irish Examiner, C21 Media, Daily Snack, CBBC and The Mirror.

Piper also guest hosted The Friday Night Project on 6 January. The event featured Q&A's for her from the audience, and there was a TARDIS present too -- out of which came characters from which Billie had to guess the year in which they were well-known. Said the Sun the day of transmission, "Billie Piper looks to have upset a Cyberman by laughing at him on C4's The Friday Night Project. Comics Justin Lee Collins and bespectacled Alan Carr join in tonight's giggle. The show sees joking Billie, 23, lead monsters on an ice rink conga." Digital Spy has a brief review.

Word out is that Christopher Eccleston's play "The School of Night" was canceled. Albemarle-London says it was scheduled to open 27 February but "has now been cancelled. The School of Night was due to star Christopher Eccleston as the playwright, poet and spy Christopher Marlowe. No reason for the cancellation, barely six weeks before it was due to start preview performances, has been given." The cancellation has also been noted at The Stage, Official London Theatre, What's On Stage,Broadway.com, Broadway World, Playbill, Brand Republic.

Fourth Doctor Tom Baker was voted fourth in a BBC poll of the world's most eccentric stars; singer Bjork came in first place. Reported at BBC News, The Daily Mail, The Scotsman, The Independent,BreakingNews.ie, Evening Echo, Irish Examiner, U.TV,Entertainment News Australia, Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand Herald.

The Eastern Courier Messenger in Australia ran a feature article aboutTristram Cary, one of the fathers of electronic music and one of the early greats in Doctor Who's musical history. "The 80-year-old Glen Osmond composer recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Adelaide Critics' Circle for his contribution to music in England and Australia. Over a 50-plus year career, he has composed scores for well-loved movies such as The Ladykillers, Hammer Studios horror flicks, Dr Who episodes and BBC Radio shows. 'I grew up in music, my mother sang for my father every night. People would come around to our house in Oxford and play and sing and I thought all homes were like this,' he said. 'When I went into the navy in 1943, suddenly there was not any music and I discovered that it was the most important thing to me.' A love of electronics led him into the navy's radar corps, where he began to hear whispers about a new way of recording music on tape. 'The only problem was that we could not get one of the new tapes because the Germans had it. He continued to dream of combining his electronics and music and after leaving the navy, music became his world. He went on to design the VCS3 Putney synthesiser and in 1967 he founded the electronic music studio at London's Royal College of Music. In the mid-'70s, he moved to Australia, where he continued to lecture and compose. Mr Cary is now dividing his time between composing, writing his autobiography and compiling an archive of his life's work." Cary's music for Doctor Who was featured two years ago on the BBC Music CD release "Devil's Planets: The Music of Tristram Cary."

Former companion Caroline John will be starring in a one woman show written by actress Lynn Redgrave, "Nightingale," which will have its world premiere this winter at the U.K.'s New End Theatre in Hampstead. The one-woman piece, starring John and directed by the author, is scheduled to run from January 17 through February 18. Inspired by memories of the playwright's maternal grandmother, Beatrice Kempson, mother of the late Rachel Kempson (also known as Lady Redgrave), Nightingale is the story of Mildred Asher (John) whose voice, like the song of the nightingale, can only be heard in the dark.

Australia's Gold Coast Bulletin said on 5 January that "Doctor Who star Katy Manning will come to Brisbane in the off-Broadway smash hit Me and Jezebel. HRH and I saw a one-off production of this show a couple of years ago at the StageDoor Dinner Theatre and loved it! Katy Manning plays in this one-woman show with authority and style, and it is directed by Aussie theatre legend Barry Crocker. Me and Jezebel is Elizabeth Fuller's true-life account of how Hollywood actor Bette Davis came to her home to stay for one night and ended staying for a month - turning her household upside down, teaching her child profanities and nearly wrecking her marriage. Again, it is playing at StageDoor Dinner Theatre, (underneath 12th Night Theatre) on Cintra Road, Bowen Hills. The season runs from February 3 to the end of March. This is very good stuff and performed beautifully. Catch dinner and show or show only at this intimate venue. It is recommended unconditionally. Book at the StageDoor DinnerTheatre box office, phone 3216 1115."

Rula Lenska, who guest-starred as Styles in the Peter Davison serial "Resurrection of the Daleks", is currently one of the housemates on this year's Celebrity Big Brother, currently being broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.

Books

According to Amazon, the second Justin Richards-penned Monsters and Villains paperback, due to be published on 18 May, has now been retitledAliens and Enemies. The book has also gained a synopsis: "The Cybermen are back to terrorise time and space - but luckily the new Doctor, played by David Tennant, and Rose are back to stop them. Picking up where "Monsters and Villains" left off, this fully illustrated guide documents the return of these metal menaces, as well as the Sycorax and other foes from the new series, plus first series terrors like the Gelth and the Reapers. More classic baddies such as the Celestial Toymaker, Sutekh and the Robots of Death also make a welcome appearance."

Last week's edition of The Bookseller noted that Panini's Doctor Who Annual 2006 had "time-travelled back in the right direction" in the Top 20 Children's Books chart, rising from 15 to 13 with unit sales of 9,984 in the seven days to 24 December. The trade magazine also previews new books being published in April, spotlighting The Science of Doctor Who by Paul Parsons (Icon Books): "Here's How Who Does It. Account of the cutting-edge science, as well as the science fiction, behind Doctor Who, including why time travel isn't ruled out by the laws of physics, how genetic engineering is being used to breed Dalek-like lifeforms, and the medical truth about the Doctor's two hearts and the real creature that has five. Parsons is the editor of the BBC's monthly science and technology magazine, Focus, as well as a life-long worshipper of Doctor Who. There's also a foreword by Arthur C. Clarke."

Meanwhile, Kingsway Publications will soon release Behind the Sofa: A Closer Look at Dr Who by Anthony Thacker. "The Doctor Who series has taken the BBC by storm, with millions of viewers and multiple awards. This book discovers the spiritual themes behind the series, as well as facts about classic Doctor Who. It includes various discussion questions." The book is due out on March 1.

Miscellaneous

In the Australian Sun-Herald Magazine "Sunday Life" (dated 8 January 2006) Scott Ellis writes the following in reference to television worth watching in 2006: "Alien Invaders -- Invasion (Nine), Surface (Ten), Supernatural (Ten) and Doctor Who (ABC): Science fiction is back on the agenda with visitors from space, from under the waves and from inside our own memories. Best of the bunch, however, remains the Doctor, who returns with a new body (courtesy of Casanova star David Tennant)." There is also a small photo of David, Billie and the TARDIS taken from the launch of the new costume. Interesting, since as far as we know, the ABC has not yet confirmed that it is buying Series Two...

The Spectator, a right-wing periodical, has this to say about "The Christmas Invasion": "Russell T. Davies's Doctor Who special... had the new Doctor Who David Tennant showing worryingly peacenik tendencies. Just after the Doctor had persuaded an evil race called the Sycorax to bugger off in their gargantuan, rock-shaped spaceship and never trouble Earth again, the Prime Minister Harriet Jones, after brief consultation with Washington, sent up a huge rocket and blew them to smithereens. Our wussie new Doctor was outraged by this underhand behaviour, but it seems to me that the Prime Minister was only doing her job. What guarantee had these hissing, slimy, alien creatures provided that they would never try to conquer Earth again? None at all. I hope the nation's kiddies were sensible enough to see through Davies's dangerous pacifist propaganda."

The January 2006 edition of UK toy industry trade magazine Toy Newsfeatures Doctor Who as its cover story, with the new series logo adorning a publicity picture of ranks of new series Daleks with the Houses of Parliament in the far background, and the headline "We are the supreme beings"! Inside is a two-page Supplier Focus feature on Character Options, which has the licence for Doctor Who toys, looking at what sort of shape the City-listed company is in as the year starts. The main images, in colour, are of the David Tennant and Billie Piper action figures plus a Slitheen figure. Character Options has also made a name for itself with its Robo line (RoboSapien, RoboRaptor, RoboSapien V2, RoboPet) but the article, by Stuart Dinsey, points out this is "only one ingredient in the product mix". The article, interviewing marketing manager Jerry Healy, says "in-house development is at the heart of Character's long-term strategy, as this offers better margins and wider distribution potential. Examples of this are the popular Dr Who (sic) products introduced last year, with an expanded range and even better sales expected this year." No actual sales figures are given or predicted. The piece finishes by saying Healy expects that this year Character will "make headway in the boys' sectors thanks to a number of Superman products and Dr Who, which sees the addition of the Cybermen later this year". Also in the magazine, as part of the retail sales trends section, Dr Who (sic) is named best property progression for November 2005. Illustrated with a pic of the David Tennant action figure, it says: "Dr Who has been progressing well since the launch of the new series last autumn (sic). Whereas in October the property was still outside the top 100, November saw it climb the ladder considerably. So far, RC Dalek is the best selling item in the range." Character Options will have a stand at the 2006 Toy Fair, taking place at ExCel in London's Docklands from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 January. This is the UK toy market's annual showcase.

Brand Republic mentions the publication of the new "Doctor Who Adventures" periodical from BBC Magazines, while the BBC has now issued apress release about it.

The Sun ran a story on 9 January noting that "Barmy fans of Doctor Who want to hire a psychic to track down missing episodes of the hit show." Picking up on a small handful of tongue-in-cheek posts on the Outpost Gallifrey Foru, the Sun said that "More than 100 programs of the sci-fi classic are lost and now fans are turning to out of this world powers to locate them. Fan Brian Wilson said: 'If people can use psychics to reunite family with deceased loved ones then it is quite conceivable we can use a psychic to track down these missing episodes. These shows are important to the heritage of Dr Who.' Members of the world's largest Doctor Who forum, Gallifrey One, have banded together in their search. One desperate fan, Supervoc posted on the forum: 'I am on my knees in hope and desperation. I will be through the roof if even just one more story is found. We must live in hope!' Another Ian7 said: 'I am convinced there are countless missing episodes yet to be found. I know it is going to happen. I have complete and utter faith. I believe we should all have this faith. Think it. Feel it. Wish it. It is going to happen!' ... Wilson added: 'A lot of fans are extremely passionate about finding these episodes, it is a nostalgia thing.' The fans want to get Derek Acorah from Most Haunted to use his powers to help in the search. Acorah is rumoured to be making a guest appearance in an upcoming episode of the new series of Dr Who on the BBC in April." Of course, one should not expect hard hitting journalism from The Sun...

Unit News has a feature story on Lancasters Armourie, who constructed the Sycorax swords as featured in "The Christmas Invasion." Our main customers are full contact re-enactors and have only recently started selling them for TV production although they have been used on stage for a number of years," they tell the site. "We use Chrome Nickel Molybdenum steel (commonly known as tank armour) this is a very expensive steel but it does last and we have to buy it a tonne at a time. We also have our own recipe for tempering them which is what makes them that bit more special." Read the full article at the website.

Other stories: EDP24 discusses the launch of a line of celebrity bottles, with David Tennant mentioned as one of the backers; The Day mentions that there's no broadcast date but apparently DVDs will be in the US soon (now disproven); the Mirror ran an "exclusive" on 9 January about casting in the new series... exclusively ripped off from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine, that is; Now Playing Magazine has a "Christmas Invasion" review; The Scotsman reports that David Tennant may join the festivities for the 40th anniversary gala of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company; theWanstead and Woodford Guardian discusses a home made TARDIS in Epping; theMirror notes that Peter Davison has "joined the great and good as one of 32,000 names in Who's Who".

(Thanks to Paul Engelberg, Steve Tribe, Peter Weaver, John Bowman, Paul Hayes, Dominic May, Griff Phillips, Kevin West, Darren Pickles, Adam Kirk, Murray Harper, Jonathan Hall, Mike Mould)

The past three days have seen a ton of news clips and articles about "The Christmas Invasion" and Doctor Who in general. Outpost Gallifrey cuts through the hodgepodge with this late-week report from the past three days:

The Christmas Invasion

David Tennant appeared yesterday on the BBC Radio 1 "Colin and Edith Show" as well as last night's "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross". On both, Tennant discussed the cutting of the line about the Doctor's accent and noted how relieved he was that everything would finally be starting up (referring to the transmission of his episodes, at least the first one!) He also noted that the production team returns on January 3 for filming, with work being done through April and then a break before series three begins filming in July. On Ross' show, he found out about the new Tenth Doctor action figure and clips were shown (see the story above with screengrabs!)

Meanwhile, you can listen again to the Colin and Edith Show at theirwebsite; click on the "listen again" feature.

Camille Coduri and Noel Clarke also appeared on television, appearing on Friday morning's GMTV in a brief interview; at right is an image of the two appearing on GMTV (thanks to Mark Naisbitt for the image!)

The Sun wonders if "Doctor Who may pull in as many viewers for BBC1 tomorrow as the Only Fools And Horses festive shows. Bosses hope 15million will tune in. A source said: 'With Kat and Alfie's departure from EastEnders and Doctor Who, we hope to have viewers hooked to BBC1 - harking back to when Only Fools was watched by the entire nation.'"

'The Christmas Invasion' took over the BBC TV homepage on Friday. The episode was also a major part of BBC News's round-up of festive TV highlights in an article entitled "Christmas TV reflects on its past": "David Tennant's arrival as Doctor Who is key to the BBC's schedule. By far the greatest example, and the show that only soaps will exceed in the ratings, is Doctor Who, due to be screened on Christmas Day. Four decades ago to the day, Doctor Who was in its heyday with everyone in every family watching what turned out to be a rather daft Christmas special with William Hartnell as the Doctor. Now the show is back better than ever. The new Christmas special may have moments of daftness but it also has a new Doctor in David Tennant. If it is not the best show of the season, many people will still watch just to see him."

The official Doctor Who website has posted the "Fear Forecast" edition -- the reviews of the story by four children, as done during the transmission of Series One.

Last Thursday's The Times noted that "Skybet have cut EastEnders to 2-5 (from 1-2) to be the most-watched television programme on Christmas Day. Doctor Who, another runner for the BBC stable, is quoted at 2-1, with Coronation Street being friendless at 4-1, having initially been offered at 11-8. The Queen's Speech is a 100-1 chance."

Several sources including the Scotsman and UTV note that "New Dr Who David Tennant will watch his timelord debut after tucking into Christmas dinner with his parents, if he can escape his busy schedule. The actor, who has already revealed he would like to do a second series, hopes to fly to Scotland to spend the day with his parents at their home in Paisley. He will appear on screen alongside Billie Piper in the first episode of the latest BBC series at 7pm. His former church minister father said the whole family will be tuning in after their turkey, hopefully with the 10th timelord himself. The Very Reverend Sandy McDonald, 67, told the Scottish Press Association: 'We will certainly be watching it and all being well David will be with us. But he's got a very busy schedule and there's still a question mark over whether he'll make it. We are looking forward to seeing the show, all our kids have grown up watching Dr Who.' Mr McDonald, a former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said he and wife Helen will be joined by David's sister but his other son would be staying at his home south of the border."

There are several mentions of 'The Christmas Invasion' in The Guardian in the 'Guide' section today, and even a glowing write-up for the official website. As happened a couple of times during Series One, television previewer Charlie Brooker has praised the Christmas special as "the greatest Christmas episode of any programme ever". Says Brooker's column: "Tradition. That's what you associate with Christmas: tradition. And drink-driving. And despair and loneliness. And Argos. But mainly tradition. All of which is bloody fortunate, because this year's Christmas TV is more traditional than it's been for years - yet it's also somehow futuristic at the same time. Watching the box this year is going to feel like travelling simultaneously backwards and forwards in time. Thank God you'll be drunk through most of it - it'd be far too disorientating otherwise. ... Perhaps the best thing about Christmas TV is the fact that it signals a brief respite from the usual year-long arseburst of poxy bloody reality shows and poxy bloody makeover specials and poxy bloody sneering bloody awful bloody rubbish, all of which gets temporarily stifled in favour of old-fashioned traditional storytelling (OK, perhaps not always "old-fashioned": this year, ITV's key offering is Whatever Love Means (Wed, 9pm, ITV1), a dramatised retelling of the romance between Charles and Camilla - which at a push might be of interest to 10 or 12 people). ... Anyway, this new version's [of My Family and Other Animals] really rather good, in a cosy, watching-from-your-armchair kind of way, which is just what you want at Christmas. Yet it shrivels into insignificance alongside the most wildly anticipated show of the season - the Doctor Who Christmas Special, or The Christmas Invasions (tomorrow, 7pm, BBC1) to give it its proper title. "Wildly anticipated" because a) Doctor Who was the best show of 2005 by about 16 billion parsecs and b) it's our first proper chance to see David Tennant in action. Thank God, then, that this doesn't disappoint in the slightest. In fact, it's possibly the greatest Christmas episode of any programme ever. Having been set an insanely tough act to follow by Christopher Eccleston, and despite being bed-ridden and unconscious for half the episode's running time, the moment David Tennant finally springs into action, he immediately and effortlessly makes the character of the Doctor his own. If anything, he's even better than Eccleston was - which ought to be impossible. The episode - the storyline of which I won't give away - treads a fine line between "carefree romp" and "apocalyptic horror" without putting a foot wrong, contains several sequences which appear to have been designed specifically to spook out the kiddies, and also takes the opportunity to hammer home an unsubtle-but-why-the-bloody-hell-shouldn't-it-be message about the futility of war and the arrogance of power. In other words, it even manages to contain a traditional Christmas moral without being corny or rubbish. At this rate, I hope and fully expect to see Russell T Davies immortalised on our national currency within my lifetime. Anyway, there's your Yuletide telly line-up - hope it chokes you. Oh, and merry Christmas." The note about the official site: "Among the highlights is a film of Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper's finest moments set - rather dramatically - to Run by Snow Patrol, sounds you can download onto your PC or phone; Simon Pegg's excellent Doctor Who Confidential series and The Last Dalek - a game where you take the role of the dastardly droids and attempt to kill helpless humans. It's like pushing a trolley with a wonky wheel around the supermarket, except with the occasional bloodless death."

Newsquest Media this weekend notes that "Doctor Who has saved the world from Daleks, Cyberman and all manner of unpleasant creatures. But can he help the BBC to achieve its usual Christmas Day ratings high? The Beeb has placed the regenerated Time Lord - now played by David Tennant - at the centre of its schedules in a special Christmas-themed episode. Then surrounded him with a line-up of popular comedies, family films and the usual traumatic festive episode of EastEnders. Many of the other channels appear to be on autopilot - all six episodes of the third Little Britain series being shown back-to-back on BBC3; E4 has five episodes of Friends, being repeated for the umpteenth time and Sky One offers six visits to The Simpsons. ... Let's look to the future now. Even before he became the tenth Doctor Who, David Tennant was having a pretty good year with starring roles in three TV series - He Knew He Was Right, Blackpool and Casanova. But landing the role of the Time Lord in the newly-revived BBC1 series has, as industry newspaper Broadcast put it, 'propelled Tennant into the big time'. His own take on transforming himself into one of the most youthful doctors to date is simple enough: 'It's been a lifelong dream to get my own Tardis.' The people at Broadcast have such faith in the 34-year-old actor's future that they made him number one in their Hot 100 Talent list, in front of the likes of Jamie Oliver, Catherine Tate, Bill Oddie and Geordie duo Ant and Dec. To those of us who remember him making an impact a decade ago in the BBC2 drama Takin' Over The Asylum, his rise to fame is less surprising. But making the leap from legendary lover in Casanova to monster-fighting time traveller in Doctor Who is a big one, even if writer-producer Russell T Davies is the link between them both." The article takes comments from several sources that Tennant has recently made to the press about joining Doctor Who, his costume and his wanting to stay on in the role.

The ic Network of websites are carrying a story about the debut: "It's the long awaited debut of the new Dr Who, David Tennant, on Christmas Day. He's set to take on a killer Christmas tree, spooky Santas and evil aliens. But a bigger challenge for Tennant will be how he measures up to the outgoing doctor, the popular Christopher Eccleston. As he becomes the 10th Time Lord, David says: 'It's very easy to feel the weight of history pressing down. Getting over that and getting on with it is part of the trick of the whole gig, really. ... As an actor, you get to work on a blank canvas."

There's a brief mention of "Christmas Invasion" at GCN ("The Christmas Day highlight everyone should see is Doctor Who at 7pm on BBC 1. The pressure is on for David Tennent to be a standing successor to Christopher Eccleston and The Christmas Invasion should help to prove that while whetting the appetite for Season 2")

Yesterday's Daily Star featured some photographs as Russell T Davies described a sword fight between the Doctor and the leader of evil alien race the Sycorax as "the sci-fi show's most exciting fight scene ever. ... There's a real shocker for fans when the Doctor apparently suffers an horrific injury during the gripping battle - as writers pay tribute to the Star Wars films."

The South Wales Echo said that "Timelord fans are being invited to see behind the scenes of the Doctor Who series, including a glimpse inside his famous Tardis. At an exclusive preview yesterday, a small group of fans viewed the props and scenery at the exhibition. Adam Jenkins, nine, of Canton, Cardiff, who won a place at the event by entering a competition in the Echo, said: 'It's good. You recognise everything from the television and it is really cool.' Jessey Sanders, nine, of Llanrumney, Cardiff, who was with brother Zarren, 10, said: 'I liked the Daleks the best.' Zara May, 10, of Tremorfa, Cardiff, said: 'Rose is my favourite. She is very brave.'"

The Forester pointed out that "Clearwell Caves will feature in the Doctor Who Christmas Day special."

Broadcasting

From our friends at 'This Week in Doctor Who': "Add Israel to the countries where the new Doctor Who will be shown. The satellite channel "Yes Weekend" has reportedly bought the Christopher Eccleston episodes, which will air Fridays starting 20 January 2006. Exact time, number of episodes per week, and number of broadcasts of each episode are not yet known."

Exhibition Coverage

The new exhibition, Doctor Who Up Close, had its press launch on 21 December and opened to the public on 22 December at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff. It runs until 26 February, from 11am to 8pm each day, and admission is free. BBC News ("Doctor Who show opens in Cardiff") reported on the opening, noting that the show will include "elements of the Christmas special - including some of the new props and costumes after the show has aired on Christmas Day". The South Wales Echo ("Doctor Who fans in for a treat") concentrated on the small number of fans invited to the launch, particularly children ("I liked the Daleks best"). The opening is also reported in the Western Mail("Exhibition looks behind the scenes of Dr Who"). Rodney Berman, leader of Cardiff Council, told BBC News, "It is particularly fitting that this experience is being launched as Cardiff marks its golden jubilee as the capital of Wales. This is yet another reason for the city to celebrate by providing a first class destination for everyone to visit. As a big fan of Doctor Who myself, particularly the new version made right here in Cardiff, I'm looking forward to the opportunity to visit the new exhibition. It will be an exciting insight into the behind the scenes goings on of the series over the years."

On Wales

The Western Mail today noted that "The stunning success of Doctor Who means the series has become part of the tourist campaign for Wales. As well as being one of BBC Wales' biggest success stories and helping rejuvenate Saturday night television, Doctor Who has done far more than introduce a whole new generation of fans to the Time Lord. With many of the scenes filmed on location in Wales, the programme is giving the country a wealth of positive publicity. The first series, penned by Welsh writer Russell T Davies, was screened earlier this year. It attracted around 10m viewers an episode, which means a huge audience was introduced to Wales through the show. Tomorrow's Christmas special, in which David Tennant makes his debut as the new Doctor, is expected to be one of the biggest Christmas Day TV ratings-pullers. Among several Welsh locations viewers will see is Cardiff city centre. Billie Piper, who plays the Doctor's assistant Rose Tyler, is filmed running through the streets. And in the new series, to be broadcast next year, among the locations which will be beamed onto TV screens throughout the country are Newport's Tredegar House, Gower, and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. Bosses at Wales Tourist Board are delighted with the exposure the award-winning programme gives the country. They believe it can help attract additional visitors to the area as well as give those living in Wales a boost when they see familiar locations beamed onto their TV screens. And, perhaps even more importantly, filming in Wales gives the economy a boost. 'Having a highly popular TV series like Doctor Who shot on locations in Cardiff and other parts of South Wales helps viewers in Wales feel that they live in a modern and attractive part of the UK,' said a spokesman for the Wales Tourist Board. 'In addition, given that nine out of 10 visitors to Wales come from elsewhere in the UK, scenes of Cardiff and the surrounding area shown on Doctor Who could attract visitors and help Wales maintain its share of the tourism market. As far as the economy is concerned, when films and TV programmes are shot on location, the cast and crews spend money on local hotels and restaurants, giving the local economy a boost.'"

The Western Mail also notes that Wales' Talygarn Manor "is one of the Welsh venues where filming for Doctor Who has taken place. The former rehabilitation centre in the Vale of Glamorgan dates back to the 14th century and is a Grade II listed mansion. Its impressive hallways and library were used in the programme. And although David Tennant and Billie Piper were not a part of the shoot, Roger Lloyd-Pack, the actor famous for playing Trigger in the BBC's Only Fools And Horses, was involved. The building is currently being converted into a range of luxury homes, although some new residents have already moved in. Laura Marles, sales manager at Talygarn Manor, said the cast and crew spent a day at the venue. 'It was absolutely fantastic having them here,' she said. 'It gave us a little bit of an insight into how they make the show. Everyone I have spoken to thinks it's wonderful Doctor Who has been filming on location in Wales - I think it definitely raises our profile.'"

Year In Review

The MediaGuardian website has posted a review of the year in television, the radio and press. In the television review, written by their broadcasting editor Jason Deans, "Doctor Who" is listed as one of 2005's TV Treats. Deans writes: "Doctor Who - BBC1: Already much feted, and rightly so, for singlehandedly reviving the venerable tradition of early Saturday evening family drama. And getting a dalek up a flight of stairs." On the other hand, down in the "TV Turkeys of 2005" section of the same article, "Celebrity Wrestling" comes in for yet more flack: "Celebrity Wrestling - ITV1: ITV was hoping it would become the big daddy of Saturday nights. But viewers grappled with the concept of watching the likes of James Hewitt and Annabel Croft being pinned to the floor. It was moved out of prime time and came to represent the nadir of ITV's cruel, cruel summer."

Merchandise

Friday's Western Mail noted that "Christmas sales of Doctor Who merchandise have been 'in a different league' to rival TV and film spin-offs this year, toy retailers said yesterday. The popularity of the toys and figures from the hit BBC series, which is filmed in Wales, has comfortably outstripped that of merchandise from blockbuster films like Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Batman Begins. Chris Davies, at The Entertainer toy chain's Cardiff shop, said radio control Daleks had easily been its most popular items in the run-up to Christmas. ... Ben Keywood, of mail order firm Galaxy 4, which specialises in merchandise from the cult series, said manufacturers had been taken by surprise by the popularity of the spin-off products. 'It's been very difficult to meet the demand,' he said. 'The problem has been that nobody really anticipated that it would be quite so popular, and so the companies who were licensed to produce it didn't make enough. 'It's only been in the last couple of days that we've had enough radio-controlled Daleks on our hands to fulfil all the pre-orders we've had, and so it wasn't until then that we could post them out for Christmas.' Mr Keywood said the visual appeal of the Dalek made it irresistible to fans of the show. 'Obviously it's to do with the fact that the Dalek is so iconic and if you see one in the shops, you will just buy it because it looks so good and it's quite quirky. 'I think you can't resist buying it when you see one, so when they have appeared, people have just snapped them off the shelves.'"

Milestones

The Scotsman and other sources have printed an article about the history of Doctor Who being continued to this day. "On Christmas Day, 1965, the Doctor took time out from an epic battle with the Daleks to partake in an odd 25-minute run-around which saw him in a silent film-style encounter with the likes of Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Kops. As if that wasn't bizarre enough, at the end of the episode the Timelord - then in his first incarnation, played by William Hartnell - caused many a viewer to choke on their turkey by suddenly turning straight to camera and addressing the TV audience across the land. 'Incidentally,' he chuckled, 'a happy Christmas to all of you at home!'. Four decades on, and for only the second time in the programme's long history, the Tardis is once again materialising onto our TV screens on Christmas Day. But this time around it's all very different. Rather than an Edwardian gentleman with dodgy dentistry at the helm, the new Doctor, David Tennant, is all Carnaby Street swagger and perfect teeth. For fans everywhere, it'll provide them the first chance to properly size up the new man in the Tardis, having only enjoyed a brief sample of David's take on the role in a Children In Need special last month. Despite being a life-long fan of the programme, he is determined to make the character - now in its 10th incarnation - his own. 'I haven't drawn on any of the earlier Doctors' portrayal, not particularly consciously. I am aware there's always the danger of playing it too quirkily.' He's obviously still smitten with the role. 'It is like no other job in the world, you are sword-fighting one day, swinging off ledges on another. It never fails to surprise and delight. We literally have about one 'wow!' moment a week,' he smiles. 'Standing in the arena of the Sycorax spaceship was quite an early one.' Eclipsing even that thrill is one we won't get to see on our screens until next year, when the Doctor comes face-to-face with former companion Sarah Jane Smith, who accompanied both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker on their time travels in the 1970s. Still played by Elisabeth Sladen, David admits it was a great thrill to work with one of his childhood heroes. 'She was calling me Doctor, which seemed really weird,' he laughs. Get used to it, Mr Tennant, because after Christmas, so will the rest of the world. As the Doctor says, at the climax of The Christmas Invasion, still clad in a fetching pair of pin-stripe nightwear following a post-regenerative period of bed rest, 'Not bad for a bloke in jim-jams'."

People

The Sun says today that "Billie Piper is NOT about to leave the Timelord’s side -- says the new Doctor Who. Billie, 23, who is currently filming her second series as sidekick Rose Tyler, was said to be considering quitting. But new Doctor David Tennant said: 'Billie is hanging around. Despite what you may have read.' But Billie has nabbed another job. She will be the first guest host on the new series of Channel 4 show The Friday Night Project. It returns on January 6."

The Sun notes that "gay Doctor Who star John Barrowman is to do an Elton John -and wed his boyfriend. John -bisexual Captain Jack in the BBC1 show -wants to formalise his relationship with architect Scott Gill after ten years. But unlike Sir Elton and David Furnish, they won't be having a lavish showbiz bash. The 37-year-old actor said: 'We're just going to sign the civil register. We're not going to have any ceremony because I'm not a supporter of the word marriage for a gay partnership.' The pair live in London's Chelsea and signing the register gives them the same rights as other married couples. They are even talking about having a baby together. John -currently rehearsing for ITV1 show Dancing On Ice -said: "The daughter of a very, very old friend offered to carry a child for us. I've known her since she was five or six. She has kids of her own but said that if we wanted a child she'd be happy to do it.'" Also reported at Contact Music,Sun Sentinel, Pink News, Good As You.

The Times says that "If David Tennant has a motif, it is his lightness of touch, even when playing dark roles. As he recognises, his appeal lies in words and wit, and certainly not in conventional leading-man looks. Though if he lacks bulk he certainly ripples with energy, and that will never be more apt than when he becomes the tenth Doctor Who on Christmas Day. Two predecessors, Tom Baker and Peter Davison, have sent him good-luck cards, which he will appreciate because it was Doctor Who, which he watched from the age of 3, that made him want to act. The third child of a former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, he grew up in a manse in Bathgate, though his family was by no means morally censorious, as the tabloids like to imply, and he is no small-nation Scot. Academic work didn’t interest him much; he was talent-spotted by Scottish TV at a Saturday youth-theatre group and at 17 he became the youngest student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. By this time, at the request of Equity, he had changed his name from McDonald to Tennant — chosen because he had just seen a reference to the Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant and thought his name would do. His first job was touring in a minibus with the socialist theatre group 7:84 and, encouraged by his friend Arabella Weir, he headed south in 1993, lodged with her for five years, and rapidly registered on the English arts radar. He may have been acclaimed for his detective in last year’s TV series Blackpool, and for his deliciously cheeky Casanova this year, but he still regards his greatest triumph as playing the leads in three rotating RSC productions in 2001. Interviewers have so far done little to penetrate his boyish exterior, partly because underneath it is a serious soul, and partly because however much celebrity culture would like to grasp the new Doctor Who to its lovely bosom, the new Doctor Who recognises its vacuous and destructive game for what it is and has no intention of engaging. At 34 he has the distinction of being a character actor who has no time to rest, and who artfully presents an air of slight bewilderment at the consistency of parts that he bags and his growing reputation. He may keep a photograph of himself and “the glorious” Peter O’Toole (who played the older Casanova) on his fridge, but in truth he is no ingenue. Rather he is a damned good actor, whose fine work comes from the right blend of talent and unswerving determination. Enjoy."

The Salford Advertiser noted that "Christopher Eccleston forged an emotional link with the tsunami victims of Indonesia because they reminded him of the people of his home town of Salford. The former Dr Who star has just returned from a Red Cross fact-finding tour of Banda Aceh, one of the worst-hit areas of the 2004 Boxing Day disaster. He said: 'I didn't know these people before I visited the area, but found they remind me of the people of Salford, people of my parents' generation. They were polite, welcoming, but streetwise people and meeting them has been a life-changing experience. It certainly makes me look at my own life with a bit more optimism.' The 41-year-old has been reliving his trip this week in a bid to keep up the momentum of public support. Like many, he said he made a contribution to the relief fund and then forgot about it. But visiting one of the countries where the money is being put to use had made him understand a lot more, he claimed. 'When you go out there you realise that the disaster was of truly Biblical proportions and you cannot help but be impressed by the courage and optimism of people in the face of unimaginable grief. It certainly puts the trivial little things in my own life into perspective. I was really impressed by the way in which those who have suffered are saying how and where the money is being spent – it is not being imposed upon them. The Red Cross workers out there are local and they can liaise with the villagers about what they need, whether it's help in starting up in business again or the type of house they want. The money is being well spent but a lot more needs to be done. Some of my friends have asked 'Why go back a year on, what's the significance?'. All I can say is twelve months is no time at all, families are still living in shelters or crowded into one room but getting on with their lives without self-pity and with bravery, courage and defiance.' Christopher also travelled to Pulo Aceh, a group of islands just off Banda Aceh, to witness the start of reconstruction of hundreds of homes that were lost."

Friday's Daily Star noted that "Saucy Billie Piper loves the snogging scenes in her telly shows - so she can play tonsil tennis for real with her hunky co-stars. 'I like it when it's genuine - tongues and all,' she admits. The 22-year-old actress refuses to 'fake it' if she has to lock lips on shows such as Doctor Who. So naughty Billie slips her tongue in and urges other actors to do the same with her to make it look like a proper smacker. 'The secret is to make it real, ' says Billie, who also starred in Canterbury Tales and Much Ado About Nothing. 'I hate all that half-kissing business - you know, when the top lip's above the other lip and it all fits very neatly. That kind of bores me.'"

The Evening Times notes that Tennant will be staying in the role, as doesDigital Spy, while TV Squad continues its "countdown">.

Christopher Eccleston's participation in the play "School of Night" is mentioned in Playbill.

Miscellaneous

Friday's Lichfield Mercury noted that "A Chorley schoolboy became the envy of his pals when he got a sneak preview of one of this year's sure-fire Christmas TV hits. Calum Klek, aged 12, won a competition with the BBC's Newsround which not only got him into the press preview screening for the December 25 edition of Doctor Who, but the chance to interview the stars as well. They included the 10th Doctor, David Tennant and Noel Clarke, who plays Mickey. Calum's exclusive report appeared on Newsround last week. 'I asked David loads of questions, like which monsters in Doctor Who he thinks are the scariest and what point in time he would go to in his Tardis, which stumped him a bit,' said Calum, a pupil at Friary School in Lichfield. 'Meeting the new Doctor was the best bit as he was really nice to talk to. Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri - Jackie Tyler - also gave me interviews and they were great, telling me their favourite monsters in the series. Everyone seemed really nice and they were all excited about the new series, and from the clips I saw I can see why!'"

Today's The Times talks about fan fiction websites, including mentioning Doctor Who several times. "Fanfic is a phenomenon of mind-boggling magnitude. On the fanfic.net website alone there are more than 200,000 Harry Potter stories and nearly 40,000 Lord of the Rings stories. Fiction Alley ( www.fictionalley.org ) has more than 70,000 registered users and more than a million posts. The fact that fanfic derives from existing works raises questions of copyright. Some authors, such as Anne Rice, author of the Vampire series, have said that they do not want their creations to be the subject of amateur fiction. Such wishes tend to be respected by most websites. Rice has taken legal action against those who persist. ... Again, Doctor Who has been particularly successful. A string of novels was published by Virgin under the BBC Books imprint between 1991 and 1997. Doctor Who has also inspired spin-off science books, including Michael White's A Teaspoon and an Open Mind: The Science of Dr Who (the same name as the fanfic website) that asks such questions as: How do you build a Tardis? Can a robot dog catch a cold? The only problem is that the Doctor is rather incidental. It is a book about science in which Doctor Who is invoked solely to boost sales."

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Paul Hayes, John Bowman, Faiz Rehman, Peter Weaver, John McAteer, Peter Anghelides, Mike Ramsay, Mark Naisbitt, Harald Gehlen)

David Tennant made his appearance on BBC One's Breakfast at a little after 9am today (Wednesday 21 December), without Russell T Davies but with a couple of clips from 'The Christmas Invasion'. He talked again about the challenges of taking on the role ("daunting, exciting... a bit surreal"), watching Tom Baker as a child, and marvelling at Christopher Eccleston's performance this year. When asked, Tennant confirmed that he'll be back for another series and that Billie Piper "is hanging around. Despite what you may have read in the tabloids, Billie's hanging around." One of the preview clips was another outing for the TARDIS's arrival at the start of the Christmas special; the second involved the Doctor, Rose and Mickey on a balcony on the Powell estate, with the sonic screwdriver scaring off some menacing Santas - the Santas teleport away, and Mickey reckons they're "a bit rubbish" if they're scared of the screwdriver, the Doctor collapses again. BBC Breakfast's web pages carry a report on the interview and a link to watch the interview in full on the BBC Media Player. It's also still possible to see Christopher Eccleston's recent reports from Banda Aceh.

There is also a new interview with David Tennant online at BBC News: in "New Doctor prepares for invasion", the actor mentions that he's had good luck cards from Tom Baker and Peter Davison, but has not discussed the role with Christopher Eccleston. Tennant also talks about the possible pitfalls in playing the Doctor - "You can drop yourself in it by saying 'My Doctor must always hop on a Tuesday' so you end up with this rather ugly mannerism for no good reason."

RTE also reports this morning on the forthcoming Tennant interview on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, while Digital Spy has a piece on the improbable story that the lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs was offered the part of the Tenth Doctor but turned it down.

The Telegraph today has a story noting that "XBoxes and Daleks all in short supply." "Shoppers are struggling to get hold of many of this year's "must have" electronic presents because of supply problems. mazon, the online store, has said it will take four to six weeks to send out a Sony PlayStation Portable games machine, while the new XBox 360 games console will not be available until 'early 2006'. The remote-control 12in-tall gold Daleks from Doctor Who are also in short supply in the shops, as are black iPod Nano music players. The shortages have fuelled some frenzied bidding on the auction website eBay." BBC News on Tuesday evening also had a feature on Christmas shopping with news that the Daleks 'had all run out in Milton Keynes!' as part of the feature.

Other items: the website of the London Theatre Guide discusses Christopher Eccleston's forthcoming appearance in Peter Whelan's "The School of Night" which we reported a few days ago. So does What's On Stage. Today'sScotsman discusses the National Theatre of Scotland and has a brief mention of how the year was kicked back by David Tennant's appearance in John Osborne's Look Back In Anger. Contact Music talks about today's BBC Breakfast appearance. Sky Showbiz yesterday noted that "Glamour model Jordan is keen to land a cameo in series three of Doctor Who. 'I think that would be an ideal starting ground for me, acting-wise,' she said. 'I could play a non-speaking baddie who kills people with my ample charms.' Bearing in mind exactly what Jordan's 'ample charms' are, it wouldn't really be for kiddy TV, would it?"

(Thanks to Steve Tribe, Paul Engelberg, Chuck Foster, John Bowman, Steve Freestone and Peter Weaver)

The new Doctor Who, David Tennant, has topped a list of Britain's best TV talent. The actor, who takes over from Christopher Eccleston, beat the likes of Jamie Oliver and Ant and Dec. Tennant heads Broadcast magazine's Hot 100, chosen by a panel of industry experts, according to a variety of press reports today. Before he was unveiled as the new Doctor Who, the 34-year-old made his breakthrough in BBC drama Casanova. "Landing the role of one of TV's most iconic characters has propelled Tennant into the big time," Broadcast said. "As yet we've had only the briefest glimpse of him as the Doctor, but if you missed his exuberant, charismatic, detailed performance as the eponymous hero in Casanova - where were you?" Also reported at BBC News, Yahoo News, Broadcast Now.