The final two episodes of series 3 of Doctor Who have received glowing reviews in the Australian media. RespectedSydney Morning Herald TV critic, Ruth Ritchie writes 'David Tennant has no trouble carrying the magnificent Dr Who . . . In these last two episodes, brilliantly written by Russell T. Davies, the Best Dr Ever has the good grace, sense and brows to let equally charismatic John Simm hog the limelight.

It never occurred to me that Tony Blair could have been a disgruntled time lord determined to involve America in the destruction of the planet. But once you see Simm portray just such a slimy, sexy PM, it really makes sense . . . Dr Who is built on rock-solid science fiction, reassuringly familiar elements such as the Tardis, great characterisation and really superior coats that move when the characters run.

There are many layers to Dr Who, as well as sexy men in flowing coats, and some of the wittiest writing on television. Tennant's ability to carry an audience on often impossibly silly journeys seals his CV as serious TV star . . . Tennant has a wide-eyed, inclusive appeal. More importantly, his famous character, the doctor, is charming, brilliant but ultimately flawed. He can sense and solve cataclysmic problems in the universe yet he is oblivious to the most obvious human emotions of all those around him. He's Superman with Asperger's. Now you don't see that every day.'

Bronwyn Thompson of the Sydney tabloid The Daily Telegraph also writes, in a review of 'The Sound of Drums', that 'it's no easy feat drawing swords against the comical melodrama of David Tennant, but the casting of John Simm . . . is genius. He's easily one of the best young actors on British TV and plays the conniving and crazy Master almost too convincingly.' Melinda Houston of the Melbourne Sunday Age also writes of the 'Last of the Time Lords', that 'another blindingly good series draws to a close . . . (Boo!) in a riotous episode that leaves us both satisfied and longing for more. (Yay!)'. Jen Rosenberg, of the Sydney Morning Herald, also gives the series final a thumbs up, writing that it 'has all the markings of a great epic, like a weird hybrid of 'Lord of the Rings', Big Brother (the George Orwell variety) and 'Star Trek', with shades of the Bible thrown in', while Jim Schembri, of The Age, says this episode is 'loads of fun, as usual'. Meanwhile, Ian Cuthbertsonof The Weekend Australian says that 'this season finale is not called 'Last of the Time Lords' for nothing. Miss it and you may regret it forever.'

Torchwood has also received some good Aussie press. Michael Idato, of the Sydney Morning Herald, writes of 'Captain Jack Harkness' that 'Catherine Tregenna's script was the best of this series, ranking alongside Steven Moffatt's 'The Girl in the Fireplace' and 'Blink' . . . for its clever and inventive handling of time travel, with both the past and present storylines playing out simultaneously, the former shaping the latter as the plots unfolded.' In other Torchwood news, Imparja Television, an Aboriginal owned television company which broadcasts over huge parts of remote Australia, has begun broadcasting the spin-off on Wednesday nights at 10.30pm.

Finally, in the ratings, Doctor Who has remained competitive during the Australian footy finals season: while 'Utopia' dipped to 740,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals, 'The Sound of Drums' rallied to 878,000 viewers. The season final, the full 51 minute version of the 'Last of the Time Lords', received 889,000 viewers and was theABC's top programme outside the news. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'End of Days' received 160,000 viewers, its best performance in the midnight timeslot for Channel Ten. For more ratings details see the Sydney Morning Herald’s Tribal Mind.

Perth Now has reported on the 'outrage' of local Torchwood fans at Channel Ten's decision to move the show to a midnight timeslot. A 'publicist' for Channel Ten is quoted as saying: 'Although 'Torchwood' launched to an impressive number it was not able to sustain ratings up against particularly tough competition. We thank loyal fans for their support and we will play out the series, albeit on Tuesday's late night.'

Meanwhile, Judy Adamson of the Sydney Morning Herald writes, in a review of 'Blink', that 'the monsters are not only fabulously inventive, they're uncomfortably scary.' The Melbourne Herald-Sun also writes of the 'downright scary' statues in 'Blink', describing it 'the best episode of the series so far' and gives it four stars.Greg Hassall, also of the Sydney Morning Herald, gives 'Utopia' a thumbs up, writing that 'it's a great episode, with plenty of wickedly barbed dialogue between Harkness, Martha and the Doctor. The pay-off comes at the end, setting up a stellar conclusion to the season.'

Finally, in the ratings, Doctor Who has risen again: 'The Family of Blood' scored 865,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals, while 'Blink' was also the ABC's top rating Saturday programme, scoring 873,000 viewers. Meanwhile, Torchwood'sratings have remained steady in the Tuesday midnight timeslot on 'Channel Ten'. 'Combat' received 147,000 viewers while 'Captain Jack Harkness' received 151,000 viewers. For more ratings details see the Sydney Morning Herald’s Tribal Mind.

Thanks to Kamelian for the 'Perth Now' story.

Russell T. Davies and his role in the successful revival of Doctor Whohas been featured in an interview with Tim Hunter of the Melbourne Age. In response to rumours that he will be leaving Doctor Who after the fourth series, Davies is quoted: 'The show is commissioned one year at a time, so life is booked up until next June, but from there, we'll see how it goes.'

Meanwhile, Lucy Beaumont, also of the Age, writes that the 'Doctor needs to get his mojo' in '42.' She also notes the 'special shade of Doctor Who-green that is used well and often' in Human Nature. Kelsey Munroof the Sydney Morning Herald also notes, in a review of this episode, that 'David Tennant makes an excellent Doctor, even considering his lamentable lack of Tom Baker curls.'

The Canberra Times has also reported that the recent Canberra launch of the 15th Australian Science Festivalsaw the surprise appearance of five Daleks. The Daleks 'threatened' the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Ms Julie Bishop MP, with 'extermination' as she launched the festival.

Finally, in the ratings, 'Doctor Who' has dipped a little: '42' scored 830,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals while 'Human Nature', despite still being theABC's top rating Saturday programme, scored only 790,000 viewers. Meanwhile,Torchwood's ratings have risen in the Tuesday midnight timeslot on Channel Ten. After 'They Keep Killing Suzie' only rated 98,000 viewers in the new timeslot, 'Random Shoes' recovered to 149,000 viewers and 'Out of Time' also received 151,000 viewers. For more ratings details see the Sydney Morning Herald’s Tribal Mind.

Channel Ten's decision to move Torchwood to a midnight timeslot has attracted some local media comment. Michael Idato of the Sydney Morning Herald says 'Ten has no one to blame but itself' for the 'critically acclaimed' programme's failure to develop an Australian audience. He writes that 'rather than let Torchwood go where it belongs - to the ABC as a companion piece to Doctor Who ... Ten bought it with the most disingenuous intention: to deny its science fiction roots and pitch it as a cop show.' Meanwhile, Andrew Mercado in the Sydney Sunday Telegraphcomments that the show has 'been dumped to midnights on Tuesdays ... confirming every sci-fi fan's worst fears that the 'Doctor Who' spin-off would eventually end up in late-night hell, along with The 4400 andBattlestar Galactica. Couldn't Ten have given it one last try in prime time on a Saturday night instead of those unimaginative Law & Orderand NCISrepeats?' Ian Cuthbertson of the Weekend Australian also writes that 'viewers enjoying Torchwood ... will find they have been stiffed. Not doing as well as Ten would have liked, the program has been uprooted and transferred to midnight [Tuesday]. How very sci fi.' Glenn Dyer of Crikeysays Ten is a 'loser . . . for sticking the underwhelming Torchwood at Midnight. Just 98,000 viewers. It's better than that, but it's not Dr Who-like. Why not a Friday night at 9.30pm and try and make it a cult show?'

Meanwhile Keith Austin, also of the Sydney Morning Herald, writes of 'The Lazarus Experiment', that the title character is 'played by great relish by the League of Gentlemen’s Mark Gatiss, a long term 'Doctor Who' fan who has written some of the best episodes of the series' latest incarnation.'

Finally, in the ratings, 'Doctor Who' is on the rise: 'Evolution of the Daleks' scored 874,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals while 'The Lazarus Experiment' scored an even better 895,000 viewers, coming a close second to the Dame Edna Treatment on Channel Nine and the show’s best Aussie ratings since 'Smith and Jones'. For more ratings details see theSydney Morning Herald’s Tribal Mind.

Thanks to Theta Sega MP for the Sunday Telegraph piece.

Australian commercial broadcaster Channel Ten has dropped Torchwood from the Monday 9.30pm timeslot, moving the programme to Tuesday nights at midnight (Wednesday 12am). Next week it will be replaced by a special, Tomb of Jesus, a documentary about the 2,000-year-old "Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries", found in Jerusalem. This change follows Monday night's episode, 'Greeks Bearing Gifts', starting 55 minutes late due to the season final of Big Brother over-running. 'Greeks' rated 563,000 in the five major capitals. A number of Torchwood episodes have commenced late in recent weeks due to Big Brother running overtime.

Channel Ten has a history of dropping programmes mid-season from prime time as a result of 'disappointing' ratings. Programmes such as Jericho, Battlestar Galactica, Veronica Mars and Smallville have shared a similar fate.

Meanwhile, AnnMaree Bellman of the Sydney Morning Herald has reviewed 'Greeks Bearing Gifts'.

Australian media coverage of Doctor Who and Torchwood continues. Kelsey Munro of the Sydney Morning Herald previews 'Daleks in Manhattan', which Ian Cuthbertson of the Weekend Australian describes as 'finely made, with the production values of a feature film and starring those seemingly eternal 'Doctor Who' villains in top form.' Meanwhile Robin Oliver, also of the Sydney Morning Herald, writes that 'Evolution of the Daleks', 'features the most spectacular Dalek action in Doctor Who's history' and that 'writer Helen Raynor provides unusually strong dialogue, which David Tennant employs with great effect.' Fergus Shiel also notes Tennant's amusing appearance onParkinson on the same Saturday night (28 July, ABC, 10.15pm) where he is introduced as 'Doctor Wow!'.

The Melbourne Age's AnnMaree Bellman in previewing Countrycide says 'it's Famous Five Go Camping meets The Blair Witch Chainsaw Massacre'. Ian Cuthbertson also notes that this episode has 'a terrifically creepy beginning to an equally creepy episode . . . Lonely crofters cottages will never look innocent again.'Naoko Mori has also started appearing in Channel Ten 'I believe . . . seriously' promotional trailers, in addition to the similar Ten trailers featuringJohn Barrowman and Eve Myles.

Meanwhile in the Aussie ratings, 'Daleks in Manhattan' scored 839,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals, coming second to the Dame Edna Treatment on Channel Nine. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'Countrycide' scored 673,000 viewers, these ratings probably affected by a twenty minute delay in its start due to an overlong episode of the local version of Big Brother. For more ratings details see the Sydney Morning Herald's Tribal Mind.

The Australian media continues its coverage of Doctor Who and Torchwood. Tim Hunter of the Melbourne Ageinterviews Freema Agyeman and Fergus Shiel in previewing Gridlock says 'David Tennant's second series as the Time Lord is shaping up as one of the best.'

Meanwhile Adam Richard, writes in the Age's Green Guide, that Torchwood is 'a bit of spooky sexy sci-fi fun. Like all British drama, it still has a bit of tongue lodged in its cheek, so it's not as overwrought as 'Supernatural' or 'Lost'. Plus it features scads of girl-on-girl action for the boys, boy-on-boy action for the girls and boy-on-girl-on-purple-smoke-creature action for the exhaust fans that might be watching.'

The Sydney Morning Herald's Keith Austin also writes of Torchwood's 'Small Worlds' that it has 'a wonderful but doomed love story, terrific titles, good use of music and the CGI for the scary fairies is marvellous. Nice to see, too, that they didn't shy away from a difficult ending.'

Meanwhile in the Aussie ratings, 'The Shakespeare Code' scored 806,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals while 'Gridlock' rated 792,000 viewers. Both episodes were up against very popular repeats of Harry Potter movies. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'Cyberwoman' scored 756,000 viewers and 'Small Worlds', up against the season final of 'Brothers and Sisters' on a rival network, scored 768,000 viewers. For more details see the Sydney Morning Herald's Tribal Mind.

The Australian media continues its coverage of Doctor Who and Torchwood. The Age has reviewed Smith and Jones and describes Torchwood as 'good old-fashion science fiction'. Meanwhile the Sydney Morning Heralddescribes The Shakespeare Code as 'a great story, told with much fun and tongue firmly in cheek.'

The Age also has a feature on the search for the 108 missing episodes of the classic series.

Meanwhile in the Aussie ratings, 'Smith and Jones' scored 928,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'Day One' scored 895,000 viewers and 'Ghost Machine', up against the Princess Diana tribute concert on a rival network, scored 774,000 viewers. For more details see the Sydney Morning Herald's Tribal Mind.

In the run-up to The Runaway Bride's Australian debut tonight on theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation(Thursday June 28, 8.35pm), the Australian media have had a number of features on Doctor Who. The Sydney Morning Herald has a Michael Idato interview with David Tennant as does the Brisbane Courier-Mail. In the Courier-Mail interview, which includes audio, there is mention of Tennant having a breakfast meeting with the BBC Head of Drama.

The Sydney Daily Telegraph also has an interview with Tennant, where he says that his 'childhood love for Who stems from a childhood adulation of superheroes.' Their TV guide describes the Runaway Bride as 'a monumental Who adventure that barely takes its foot off the pedal.'

The SMH's online TV guide also previews the Runaway Bride while Robin Oliver describes the Christmas Special as 'a clarion call for series three'.

Torchwood has also been receiving plenty of attention from the Australian press.Ruth Ritchie of the Sydney Morning Herald reviews the show and the Daily Telegraph interviews John Barrowman. The Telegraph's latest TV guide also says: 'Torchwood - if given the right promotion by its network - should prove a stable hit. Fun viewing for time travellers and mere mortals alike.'

Channel Ten also mentions the ratings success of the show's debut in its weekly press release. Channel Ten's Torchwood website is also featuring online episodes of Torchwood Declassified.

Ratings update 29 June 2007: According to the SMH's Tribal Mind the Runaway Bride rated 846,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. It was beaten by Channel Nine's RPA: Where Are They Now? and Channel Ten's Law & Order: SVU in the 8.30pm timeslot.

Meanwhile, Crikey TV commentator, Glenn Dyer, has described the Runaway Bride as 'entertaining and good TV. 846,000 viewers agreed with me . . . [I]t was one of the best bits of TV this year for me.'

Channel Ten has been been heavily promoting Torchwood in preparation of its Australian debut on Monday 18 June 2007 at 9.40pm. These promotions have included newspaper and radio advertisements, a weekly $A2000 prize for viewers and both John Barrowman and Eve Myles have been appearing in Channel Ten 'I believe . . .' promotional trailers.

There has also been significant local media interest. The Sydney Morning Herald has a front page banner of John Barrowman entitled 'Dr Who for Adults' and an article by Michael Idato. SMH TV Reviewer Robin Oliver describes the show as 'a stunner.' The SMH's online TV guide also reviews the show whileThe Age and the Brisbane Sunday Mailalso have online reviews. The Sun-Herald TV magazine features a Torchwood front cover and interview with John Barrowman. Rachel Browne gives the programme four stars, describing it as 'highly original and very watchable, it benefits considerably from creator/writer Russell T. Davies' ever-present droll sense of humour.'

On the other side of the Continent The West Australian Newspaper, the main daily paper for Perth, features Torchwood and a photo of Eve Myles on the front cover of its Today entertainment section. Inside is an interview with Eve Myles about Torchwood and its debut on Australian television.

Additional information from Tristan Alfaro 

Ratings Update, 19 June 2007: Torchwood has made a strong Australian debut in the ratings. It averaged 1,003,000 viewers in the five major capitals, winning its (time-adjusted) 9.40pm timeslot over Channel 7 (average 964,000 viewers) and Channel 9 (average 963,000 viewers). It enjoyed a 40% audience share in the 18-49 age group.

It was also Channel Ten's top rating drama for the day, coming second only to its local version of Big Brother.