Tom Baker has been named as favourite Doctor in a worldwide poll conducted by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) to mark the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor between 1974 and 1981, stormed home in the best Doctor vote attracting nearly double the number of votes of his nearest rival, David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor. Patrick Troughton, who played the Second Doctor in the 1960’s, came third just behind Tennant, but ahead of current incumbent Matt Smith, who was placed fourth in the vote. Jon Pertwee came in fifth place.

Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith, initially alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker between 1973 and 1976, and then reprised the role twice in the 1980’s, before returning to appear alongside David Tennant in 2006 and then starred in The Sarah Jane Adventures for five series, was voted favourite companion. With nearly 25% she scored more than double her nearest rival, actress and Comedian Catherine Tate, who played Donna Noble alongside David Tennant . Sophie Aldred, Sylvester McCoy's companion, Ace was voted third, whilst Patrick Troughton Companion Jamie McCrimmon, played by Fraser Hines, was fourth.

Other winners in the poll were:

• Favourite Story: The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977)
• Favourite Monster: The Daleks
• Favourite Writer: Robert Holmes
• Favourite Director: Graeme Harper.

The poll, which was open to both members and non-members, was run by DWAS between 9th July and 7th August 2013. Votes were received from around the world. Countries include; United Kingdom, Germany, The United States of America, Canada, Australia & New Zealand.

Founded in 1976, The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is the longest running Doctor Who fan club in the world, with members across the globe.

To celebrate 50 Years of Doctor Who, Thursday 21st November will see the publication of the Anniversary Special issue of Celestial Toyroom (CT). CT is the World's longest running publication based on a television programme.

The BBC have released a introduction to The Day of The Doctor. The story will be simulcast around the world on Saturday Nov 23 at 1950 GMT.

The BBC has confirmed those UK viewers who were charged for downloading the minisode The Last Day, on iTunes, will receive a full refund.

The minisode was initially available for free in the US but at a cost of £2.49 in the UK. Yesterday the BBC confirmed this was an error on the part of iTunes in the UK and that the minisode should be free. The BBC told BBC Radio Four's You and Yours that anyone who had been charged would receive a refund.

The Last Day is now available to watch free of charge.

Obverse Books have announced a new book for 2014 which will explore the alternative worlds of the Doctor as depicted in what would become the staple Christmas present for Doctor Who fans for some two decades - the original Doctor Who Annual, as released by World Distribution between 1965 and 1986.

The Annual Years has been written by Paul Magrs, and features illustrations from Adam Bullock; it is due to be published in 2014.

Back in 1980, four books were published from K9 co-creator David Martin which continued the adventures of the Doctor's second best-friend, who was now undertaking missions on behalf of the Time Lords. All four books have now been released as an audio recording by Explore Multimedia, read by the original voice of K9 himself, John Leeson.

1. K9 AND THE MISSING PLANET
   An entire planet vanishes — a planet that was owned by Tellac Inc., a galactic company that turns whole worlds into mines and factories for their own profit. K9 is sent to find the missing planet. He finds instead a new universe and a very strange new breed of men...
2. K9 AND THE BEASTS OF VEGA
   Outside, the space ship was surrounded by hordes of evil beasts -- a mass of fangs, jaws and lashing tails. The shadowy monsters loom over the ship, attacking from all sides. Sounds of panic and screaming ring out everywhere. Only K9 keeps his usual calm.
3. K9 AND THE TIME TRAP
   The entire Seventh Fleet has disappeared. The Commander says it is impossible. K-9 says that is only because the human mind cannot understand it. At just under the speed of light, he takes off across the deep starless gulf between the galaxies on another dangerous mission. He uses a battlecruiser as his bait — but first he must find the trap...
4. K9 AND THE ZETA RESCUE
   There have been great explosions in the galaxy. There is danger that the whole galaxy will be blown apart. The situation is too dangerous for even the Time Lords to handle. And so they call K9 to their aid. It is he who must save their world.

The collection is available to buy both on CD and for download.

A summary of the media coverage relating to the 50th Anniversary for Wednesday.

(note: the BBC radio broadcasts are available worldwide, but video broadcasts may be unavailable outside the United Kingdom.)

Television

With An Unearthly Child to be broadcast tomorrow evening on BBC4, BBC Breakfast report on a special re-enactment of the first episode at Manchester's Fab Cafe which was attended by the episode's original director Waris Hussein, and the views of a group of schoolchildren invited to a screening of the episode itself.

ITV's magazine programme This Morning examined Doctor Who memorabilia, both from the past and collectibles for the 50th Anniversary, plus a look at items that will feature in the latest Bonhams auction of series props to take place in December. The article is available to watch via the ITV website.

BBC regional news programme Wales Today covered the unveiling of a plaque for Terry Nation at the house in Cardiff where he was born. (BBC iPlayer - from 23:48 available until around 7:00pm tomorrow evening)

Tonight's The One Show on BBC1 was a Doctor Who special with guests Jenna Coleman and John Hurt, plus Steven Moffat from the TARDIS set in Roath Lock. Also, the Radiophonic Workshop play the Doctor Who theme live in studio. (BBC iPlayer)

Radio

BBC Radio Norfolk continues its week-long series of articles on the county's association with the show, this morning talking to Dr Keith Johnston from the UEA in Norwich, who explains how he uses the show in his lectures. (BBC iPlayer)

Today's edition of the Alex Dyke show from BBC Radio Solent continued its Doctor Who exploration, with Richard Latto today talking to John Levene about his memories of being in the show (BBC iPlayer, from 1:35:15, and back to John at 1:45:40). You can also watch a longer interview with John via the BBC Solent website.

Mark Gatiss was a guest on Simon Mayo's Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 in the afternoon to chat about 50 years of Doctor Who and his drama, An Adventure in Space and Time. (BBC iPlayer - from 1:05:10)

BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley presented a Doctor Who Mixtape during the evening, compiled by suggestions from listeners. (BBC iPlayer)

More on the mini-mini episode from BBC Radio Wiltshire's Graham Seaman, this time on who would be playing the Doctor. (BBC iPlayer - throughout the show, but the "Doctor" was revealed from 49:06, and fan encounters from 1:09:28)

BBC Kent's Pat Marsh spoke to writer Neil Perryman and his wife Sue about their book, Adventures with the Wife in Space, their appearance at the Folkstone Book Festival, and what it is like to be a Doctor Who fan. (BBC iPlayer - from 1:21:10)

BBC Scotland's Get It On With Bryan Burnett continued its Doctor Who theme, this time "with the Tardis taking him to the present day, playing songs such as Right Here Right Now and Talk Talk's Today." (BBC iPlayer)

Misc Media Items

• SPACE have released a trailer for their upcoming show InnerSpace LIVE: After the Day of the Doctor
• What's on TV interviewed Matt Smith on acting alongside his predecessor.
• Wales Online present their top 5 regenerations.
• The Huffington Post interviewed fourth Doctor Tom Baker, including comments that can be considered spoilers for the weekend!
• IGN chat to David Bradley about An Adventure in Space and Time.
• The Independent presented a gallery of Doctor Who villains, and also their 50 Doctor Who facts.
• Matt Smith chats to The National Student about the 50th Anniversary
• Steven Moffat tells the Guardian about how he was the original angry Doctor Who fan.
• Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and others pick their favourite Time Lord moments for the Big Issue.
• The Guardian is taken on tour of the set of An Adventure in Space and Time by Mark Gatiss.
• The East Anglian Daily Times reflects on local Dalek maestro John Scott Martin.
• The Radio Times reveals Doctor Who's biggest fan.
• The Telegraph reported on how NHS chief Sir Bruce Keogh happened to be on hand to help deal with an accident befalling a Cyberman on this evening's The One Show!

Coming Up

• Tomorrow evening sees the premiere of the origins drama An Adventure in Space and Time on BBC2, 9:00pm
• The drama is followed on BBC4 by a broadcast of the very first story, An Unearthly Child from 10:30pm
• BBC Radio 2 continues the celebration with The Blagger's Guide to Doctor Who and Who is the Doctor? from 10:00pm
• Jenna Coleman pops in to see Nick Grimshaw on his breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 from 6:30am.
• BBC Radio Wales visits the Doctor Who Experience for some six hours during the day (from 10:00am).
• CBBC's Blue Peter celebrate the 50th Anniversary by launching a new competition and chatting to Jenna Coleman
• Plus more from Radios Norfolk and Solent on Doctor Who in their regions.

For these and other programming during the course of tomorrow and the next few days, visit This Week in Doctor Who.

BBC Worldwide is collecting images of fans around the world celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who this weekend.

Whether it be a dress up party at your local cinema, enjoying watching the broadcast of The Day of the Doctor at home, or any other Doctor Who events you plan on participating in this weekend, they would love to get a picture of your engagement with the 50th Anniversary.

A special email address has beenset up to which images can be sent doctorwho50@bbc.com

NB: By emailing pictures to this address you are consenting to them being used by the media, the BBC, BBC Worldwide and its partners.

The magazine can be bought and delivered worldwide via Amazon or the Mirror. It can also be bought in the UK at selected supermarkets, WH Smith, and independent newsagents.

The BBC have now released The Last Day via iTunes. This is the second minisode to be released in anticipation of this weekend's The Day of the Doctor, and is described thus:
Unlike The Night of The Doctor, this minisode does not feature any of the characters/situations currently unveiled for The Day of the Doctor, but instead relates to another, related day ...

The clip is currently listed for £2.49 in the United Kingdom store, or for free in the United States.

It will also be available as a special feature on the forthcoming DVD/Blu-Ray release of the Anniversary adventure.

UPDATE

The BBC have now confirmed that the minisode should be free of charge in the UK as well as the rest of the world. A BBC spokesman told RadioTimes.com

Screenwriter Terry Nation was being honoured today with the unveiling of a blue plaque at the house in Wales where he was born.

The event was due to take place at midday at 113 Fairwater Grove West, Llandaff, Cardiff, just a few miles from where Doctor Who is now made.

Organised by the Llandaff Society, its chairman, Geoffrey Barton-Greenwood, told the BBC that he met the Dalek creator while the latter had been visiting friends in the area after his move to Hollywood.

He said: Nation was born in 1930 near fellow writer Roald Dahl, and Barton-Greenwood suggested that he might have been playing with the name of "Dahl" when he came up with "Dalek".
Before he wrote for Doctor Who, Nation was a comedy writer and penned material for, among others, Tony Hancock. The comedian's nephew Tim Hancock, who now looks after the Nation estate, was due to unveil the plaque.

In May 2002, blue Heritage Foundation plaques to the memory of William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee were unveiled at BBC TV Centre in London.