The 'fast-tracked' The Waters of Mars has debuted in Australia to modest ratings. The special averaged 731,000 in the five major capital cities. Though 'Mars' was still the ABC's top rating drama of the day and its second highest rating show after the 7pm news. The trailer for The End of Time also immediately followed the special, although the ABC is yet to confirm when it will broadcast the two-part special in the new year.

Meanwhile, 'Mars' and the casting of Australian actor Peter O'Brien as 'Bowie Base One' second-in-command, Ed Gold, has also attracted some local media attention. Debbie Schipp of The Sunday Telegraph has spoken to O'Brien about his appearance in the iconic show, who jokes that 'all the interiors were done in Wales, and then we had to go to Mars for the exteriors'. The Herald-Sun, The Daily Telegraph and The Sun-Herald also feature interviews with the Aussie actor. Kerrie Murphy of The Weekend Australian writes of 'Mars' that it is 'an absolute ripper, mixing rapid-fire humour with a complex and emotional story.' Scott Ellis of The Sunday Age also comments that 'fans will not be disappointed, especially by his new companion, 59 year-old Captain Adelaide Brooke.'

The animated adventure Dreamland was watched by an estimated 0.45 million viewers on BBC Two for its first television broadcast. The six episodes have been available for UK viewers to watch online, but this is the first time the complete programme has been available.

The audience share was 6.5% and the programme was the second highest-rated in its timeslot, getting double the audience of CITV.

The HD audience was below the threshold for accurate analaysis.

Here is a summary of some of the main Doctor Who-related programming across British television and radio over the forthcoming festive period. For a more comprehensive summary of all Doctor Who repeat broadcasts also taking place over the coming weeks, please see our sister site This Week in Doctor Who.

Updates since 30th December have a red border.

UK Broadcast Schedule

Monday 7th December	10.35-11.20pm		The Graham Norton Show	Appearance by Catherine Tate
Tuesday 8th December	1.30-2.30am		Loose Women	Bernard Cribbins (repeat from 12:30pm Monday)
Thursday 10th December	11.00-11.30pm		Chain Reaction	David Tennant interviews Richard Wilson (Repeat)
Friday 11th December	8.50-9.00am		BBC Breakfast	June Whitfield interview
Friday 11th December	5.30-6.00pm		Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf	Part One (Repeat)
Friday 11th December	7.00-8.00pm		The One Show	Ricky Tomlinson's Christmas TV Picks (End of Time clip)
Saturday 12th December	10.30-11.00am		Shelved	Documentary on abandoned programmes, including Shada
Saturday 12th December	5.00-6.00pm		An Hour With Jon Pertwee	(Repeat) Repeated at 11pm and 4am
Saturday 12th December	5.15-6.00pm		Doctor Who - Dreamland	(Repeat)
Monday 14th December	3.00-4.00pm		Alan Titchmarsh Show	Interview with Bernard Cribbins
Tuesday 15th December	4.35-5.00pm		Blue Peter	Joel Defries tracks down David Tennant
Tuesday 15th December	7.00-7.30pm		The One Show	Catherine Tate guests
Tuesday 15th December	9.15-10.00pm		Night Waves	Interview with Steven Moffat
Wednesday 16th December	10.00-10.30pm		Never Mind The Buzzcocks	David Tennant hosts, Bernard Cribbins and Catherine Tate guest
Thursday 17th December	~8.45am		BBC Breakfast	Christmas TV Shows Review
Thursday 17th December	6.00-7.00pm		Sisters of the Flame	Paul McGann Big Finish Audio Repeated 12.00am
Thursday 17th December	~6.25pm		BBC 6'O Clock News	The End of Time preview
Thursday 17th December	7.15-7.45pm		Front Row	Catherine Tate interview
Friday 18th December	5.30-6.00pm		Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf	Part Two (Repeat)
Friday 18th December	6.00-7.00pm		The Vengeance of Morbius	Paul McGann Big Finish Audio Repeated 12.00am
Saturday 19th December	10.00-10.45am		Doctor Who - The Infinite Quest	(Repeat)
Saturday 19th December	10.00-11.30am		Saturday Kitchen	Catherine Tate guests.
Saturday 19th December	Various/Online		E24	Christmas TV Highlights, including Doctor Who
Sunday 20th December	10.00-11.30am		Something for the Weekend	End of Time clips
Monday 21st December	~12:15pm		This Morning	Catherine Tate interview
Monday 21st December	~3:15pm		Colin Murray	Christmas Television discussion
Monday 21st December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading Miki
Monday 21st December	10.35-11.20pm		The Graham Norton Show	Best Of
Tuesday 22nd December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading How High is the Sky?
Tuesday 22nd December	7.00-8.00pm		Doctor Who – The Next Doctor	(Repeat)
Tuesday 22nd December	7.15-7.45pm		Front Row	Article on David Tennant's Hamlet
Tuesday 22nd December	9.00-10.00pm		Ruth Jones's Christmas Cracker	Russell T Davies guests
Tuesday 22nd December	9.30-10.00pm		Never Mind The Buzzcocks	(Repeat)
Wednesday 23rd December	10:30am-12:30pm		This Morning	June Whitfield interview
Wednesday 23rd December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading Small Mouse Big City
Wednesday 23rd December	7.00-7.30pm		The One Show	Bernard Cribbins guests
Wednesday 23rd December	7.00-8.00pm		Doctor Who – Planet of the Dead	(Repeat)
Thursday 24th December	9.30-10.15am		Doctor Who - Dreamland	(Repeat) Red Button Commentary
Thursday 24th December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading The Christmas Bear
Thursday 24th December	7.00-8.00pm		Doctor Who – The Waters of Mars	(Repeat)
Thursday 24th December	10.00-10.30pm		QI	David Tennant panellist
Friday 25th December	~7.35am, ~8.35am		Breakfast	John Simm, David Tennant/Catherine Tate interviews
Friday 25th December	11.15-12.10pm		The Sarah Jane Adventures	The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (Repeat)
Friday 25th December	6.00-7.00pm		The End of Time - Part One	Also on BBC HD
Friday 25th December	7.00-8.00pm		Doctor Who Confidential	Also on BBC HD at 8:00pm
Saturday 26th December	3.00am-4.00am		The Commentaries	The End of Time: The Doctor Who cast and crew discuss episode 1 of The End of Time.
Saturday 26th December	10.00am-1.00pm		David Tennant and Catherine Tate	sitting in for Jonathan Ross
Saturday 26th December	5.05-8.10pm		Hamlet	David Tennant stars
Saturday 26th December	8.00-9.00pm		Archive on 4 - Doctor Who: The Lost Episodes	Documentary on the missing episodes of Doctor Who
Sunday 27th December	11.15am-12.00pm		Desert Island Discs	David Tennant
Sunday 27th December	1.30-2.00pm		On the Outside it Looked Like an Old-Fashioned Police Box	Target novelisations documentary by Mark Gatiss (repeat)
Sunday 27th December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading
Sunday 27th December	4.45-7.45pm		Hamlet	David Tennant stars
Sunday 27th December	7.00-8.00pm		The End of Time - Part One	(Repeat) Red Button Commentary
Sunday 27th December	9.00pm-10.35pm		The Greatest TV Shows of the Noughties	(not confirmed, but almost certainly will feature Doctor Who!)
Monday 28th December	3.00-3.45pm		Archive on 4 - Doctor Who: The Lost Episodes	(shortened repeat)
Monday 28th December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading
Tuesday 29th December	5.00-6.00pm		Who On Who?	David Tennant interviews Russell T Davies
Tuesday 29th December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading
Tuesday 29th December	10.20-11.20pm		Alan Carr: Chatty Man	David Tennant and Catherine Tate guest
Tuesday 29th December	10.55-11.40pm		QI	David Tennant panellist (Extended Repeat)
Wednesday 30th December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading Emily Brown and the Elephant
Thursday 31st December	~7:40am		GMTV	David Tennant interview (originally scheduled for 24th)
Thursday 31st December	~8:40am		BBC Breakfast	David Tennant guests
Thursday 31st December	~9:00am		Breakfast	David Tennant interview
Thursday 31st December	6.50-7.00pm		Bedtime Stories	David Tennant reading
Thursday 31st December	2.00-3.00pm		Doctor Who at the Proms	(Repeat)
Thursday 31st December	10.45pm-12.45am		Alan Carr: Chatty Man	David Tennant and Catherine Tate guest (Repeat)
Friday 1st January	12.55-1.55pm		The End of Time - Part One	(Repeat)
Friday 1st January	2.35-3.35pm		Planet of the Dead	(Repeat)
Friday 1st January	3.35-4.35pm		Doctor Who Confidential: Desert Storm	(Repeat)
Friday 1st January	4.35-5.40pm		The Waters of Mars	(Repeat)
Friday 1st January	5.40-6.40pm		The End of Time - Part One	(Repeat)
Friday 1st January	6.40-7.55pm		The End of Time - Part Two	Also on BBC HD
Friday 1st January	7.55-8.55pm		Doctor Who Confidential – Allonsy	Also on BBC HD
Friday 1st January	8.55-9.30pm		Doctor Who Greatest Moments - The Doctor	(Repeat)
Saturday 2nd January	4.05-5.05am		Doctor Who Confidential – Allonsy	(Repeat)
Sunday 3rd January	2.30am-4.00am		The Commentaries	The End of Time: The Doctor Who cast and crew discuss episode 2 of The End of Time.
Sunday 3rd January	3.40-4:55pm		The End of Time - Part Two	(Repeat)
Sunday 3rd January	7.00-8.15pm		The End of Time - Part Two	(Repeat) Red Button Commentary

Although BBC Television is only available in the UK, BBC Radio can be heard around the world via the BBC Website.

For a full International Doctor Who Schedule see

The BBC's children's website, CBBC, has today published a gallery of images from the forthcoming two-part Christmas special, The End of Time. The gallery features images of various characters who appear in the two specials, and opens with the warning that: "We've got some clues to how it may all end, but be careful, because there are some big SPOILERS!!!!"

Amazon are advising their customers that the UK January release of Peladon Tales is being delayed by two weeks. No information is available from 2 entertain to confirm this and it is not known what effect any delay may have on the rest of the 2010 schedule.

Meanwhile TV Shows on DVD is reporting that The Next Doctor will be "upconverted" from standard definition to HD for the upcoming Blu-Ray edition of the 2009 Specials box set. This is the first time a Doctor Who episode that hasn't been produced in HD has undergone this treatment.

The website also confirms the extras which will be included on The End of Time's DVD/Blu-Ray release. The information is for the North American release, but is expected to be identical to the UK edition.

• Doctor Who Confidential - The End of Time Part One
• Doctor Who Confidential - The End of Time Part Two
• Deleted Scenes
• David Tennant Video Diary - The Final Days
• BBC Christmas Idents
• Doctor Who at Comic Con
• 5.1 Surround Sound

The Specials Collection will include Doctor Who at the Proms.

Next week's issue of the London listings magazine, Time Out, is a special Doctor Who edition.

The magazine will be available with ten different covers, one for each of the first ten Doctors. The magazine explores the love affair between the Doctor and London, there is an interview with outgoing executive producer Russell T Davies, and a preview of the new Doctor, Matt Smith.

The magazine itself is available in London from Tuesday, however, a collectors set featuring all ten versions is available to buy online..

The BBC has released a new promo previewing Doctor Who and The Gruffalo, both of which will be shown on BBC One on Christmas Day.

The promo contains several new clips from The End of Time Part One.



The BBC also have a promo for Hamlet starring David Tennant.

The BBC have now released the BBC One ident along with three short stings.

The actor Richard Todd has died at the age of ninety.

Arguably one of the most respected actors to appear in the classic series, Richard Todd was a British film star well known for his heroic roles in such films as The Dambusters, D-Day the Sixth of June, and The Longest Day.

Born in Ireland, he was a war hero in his own right, being one of the first soldiers to parachute into occupied France on D-Day in 1944. He had a long and distinguished career in British stage and film. He was Oscar-nominated for the 1949 film The Hasty Heart, appearing alongside future American President Ronald Reagan. He won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for the same film. In 1957 he appeared in Yangtse Incident alongside William Hartnell.

He appeared in many Disney adventure movies such as The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue. In 2002 he was made a Disney Legend.

Todd appeared in the 1982 Doctor Who story Kinda. Appearing with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison, Todd played Sanders, the leader of the Earth colonisation survey expedition to the jungle planet Deva Loka.

Todd, who was made an OBE in 1993, was last seen on screen in a 2007 episode of ITV drama Heartbeat.

He died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday at his home near Grantham in Lincolnshire.

BBC Obituary

The MediaGuardian.co.uk website has unveiled this year's front cover for the Christmas double edition of the BBC's Radio Times listings magazine. The Christmas special of the Radio Times is a festive tradition in the UK, eagerly awaited and usually the magazine's biggest-selling issue of the year. Usually the special features a generic Christmas scene on the front cover, but occasionally particular programmes are featured - as Doctor Who was in 2005, which was considered to be a great honour for the series.

This year, the magazine has produced two alternate covers, both of a similar design. One features Father Christmas and a wind-up toy of some dancers, representing the BBC's successful Strictly Come Dancing series. The second cover features a Dalek toy in place of the dancers, highlighting Doctor Who's key role in the BBC's Christmas schedules across a range of programming.

SPACE have confirmed both parts of The End of Time will be broadcast in Canada on Saturday 2nd January 2010.

The final two episodes of David Tennant's tenure as The Doctor will be transmitted back to back with Part One at 8pm and Part Two starting at 9.20pm. Both episodes will be preceded by a repeat of the first three specials, The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead and The Waters of Mars making a total of seven hours of Doctor Who on the channel.

And if that is not enough Doctor Who, the entire series of Torchwood Children of Earth will be shown earlier in the day.