As previously reported, David Tennant, Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn have sent two "audio postcards" from America to BBC Radio Wales. An extended version of the first postcard can be heard here, and the second postcard can be heard here. In the second postcard, David Tennant discusses driving in Los Angeles and his first Hollywood audition, Euros Lyn and Russell T Davies chat about Muscle Beach, and Julie Gardner explains the dangers of doggie bag culture.

The UK media website Digital Spy has published a summary of today's Doctor Who discussion panel at the ComicCon event in San Diego, which featured Russell T Davies, David Tennant, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn discussing their time working on the programme, taking questions from the audience and previewing the forthcoming special episodes.

Among the topics raised was the possibility of a Doctor Who feature film, which the panel stated is not a project on which any of them are currently working. The panel also featured a presentation from Guinness World Records, declaring Doctor Who to be "the most successful sci-fi show on TV full stop".

The media have been quick to act on the announcement of the first day's filming for the new series of Doctor Who.

The Daily Mail have published a selection of photographs of new Doctor Matt Smith and companion actress Karen Gillan on location, featuring the two leads along with what appears to be a new, slightly tweaked, police box prop for the TARDIS. The Metro has also published a photo of the two with the TARDIS.

Meanwhile, The Sun have also covered the filming, with a photo revealing a well-known guest star also appearing alongside the two time-travellers. Digital Spy reports a BBC spokesperson as confirming the person in question, whilst SFX, the London Paper and Holy Moly published more photos from the proceedings.




Scott Frankton has kindly provided a report on today's filming:


Finally, the BBC itself has acknowledged the interest fans and the audience have in the series, with entertainment correspondant Lizo Mzimba appearing on BBC News's E24 to discuss how popular the series remains, including the press in attendence for filming as shown in this video!

BBC News has released the first image of Matt Smith and Karen Gillan in costume as the Eleventh Doctor and his companion, whose full name has been revealed as Amy Pond.

The BBC Press Office has also released a press release about the beginning of filming for Doctor Who Series Five. In the press release, Matt Smith is quoted as saying:

Writer and incoming producer Steven Moffat says:

The press release also has quotes from producer Piers Wenger and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning.

The BBC's official Doctor Who site has also been updated with details about Smith's costume and a small image gallery.

Update: Media reports in: The Times, Telegraph, Northampton Chronicle and Echo, Pontefract and Castleford Express, What's on TV, Capital FM, Now, Empire, Mirror, Broadcast, BBC News, CBBC, The Guardian, South Wales Evening Post, InTheNews, Digital Spy, Den of Geek

Doctor Who features in the latest batch of Expense claims released by the BBC. The figures, issued in response to a Freedom of Information request, include the detailed expense claims of Jane Tranter, the former Head of Fiction for the BBC. As well as mundane claims for travel expenses to various Doctor Who and Torchwood events, Tranter also claimed for gifts sent to David Tennant and Billie Piper as well as flowers for most of the Doctor Who and Torchwood casts.

Doctor Who Series Five was discussed at several meetings for which hospitality was provided and the casting of the new Doctor incurred an hospitality expense of £222 on the 4th December. The successful candidate, Matt Smith, was treated to a confidential dinner on 9th December for which Tranter claimed £90.98.

As part of an ongoing debate over the past few days concerning the state of BBC television drama, sparked by comments made by legendary television producer Tony Garnett, the BBC has passed onto The Guardian newspaper's website several comments made by writers currently working for the corporation about their experiences.

One of those quoted is Doctor Who's chief writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, who says that:

Outgoing showrunner Russell T Davies has given an interview to BBC Radio Four's Front Row.

He talked about Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

The programme can be heard on the BBC iPlayer for the next six days.

The BBC has announced that Scottish actress Karen Gillan is to play the new companion, alongside Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, in the next series of Doctor Who, due to be broadcast in the spring of next year.

Twenty-one year-old Gillan previously appeared in last year's episode "The Fires of Pompeii", as the Soothsayer. BBC News reports that she studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh, and has also appeared in The Kevin Bishop Show and the forthcoming film Outcast, starring James Nesbitt.

In the press release, executive producer and chief writer Steven Moffat is quoted as saying: "We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up. Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it. A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too."

Gillan herself says: "I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him – I just can't wait to get started!"

The news is also being reported by, among many others: Children's BBC, InTheNews.co.uk, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, Broadcast Now, The Stage, The Sun and The Guardian.

Doctor Who's outgoing chief writer and executive producer Russell T Davies was interviewed by the BBC's Wales Today news programme yesterday evening. Speaking on the TARDIS set at Upper Boat, he reflected on the end of his time in charge of the series. The video of the interview is available on the BBC news website.

UK news service The Sun is reporting that former James Bond star Timothy Dalton will appear in one of the final specials starringDavid Tennant as the Doctor.

Dalton, star of The Living Daylights and License to Kill, is reportedly playing a villain in the Who episode.

As always, treat all such reports as rumour until confirmed from official sources.