I'm so excited to be travelling up to Scotland to introduce fans to my new Amy Pond action figure, I can't wait to meet everyone.

Utterly nerve-wracking... I think that Murray Gold is incredible, totally incredibly – a genius – and to hear all that in the Royal Albert Hall will just be one of the most soaring experiences.

The Doctor is back. Two years ago, he appeared at the BBC Proms via video link. This year, he's here in person. Thrills, spills, adventures, monsters and special guests are all guaranteed along the way in this Proms spectacular. Petroc Trelawny has the unenviable task of keeping everything in order for BBC Radio 3 – though, sadly, without the help of a sonic screwdriver.

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) and his assistant, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan), join the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the London Philharmonic Choir for an action-packed evening. Monsters from the current run of the hugely successful BBC series threaten to disrupt proceedings. Only the Doctor – ably assisted by conductors Ben Foster and Grant Llewellyn – can save the day.

There are some classical favourites with a suitably celestial theme, including Mars from Holst's Planets Suite and John Adams's thrilling Short Ride In A Fast Machine.

Matthew Sweet spent the Saturday tea-times of his youth peering at the television, from behind the sofa, to watch Doctor Who. He time-travels through the programme's 47-year history to investigate the weird and wonderful sound world of its incidental music. He talks with some of the composers who have contributed, in very different musical styles, to the enduring success of the programme over the decades.

Imagine entering the fascinating world of Doctor Who these Winter Holidays. NIDA, together
with BBC Worldwide, has developed specially themed courses that will bring the world of
Doctor Who to life for you.

Acting on Screen Adventures : Doctor Who
Identify and experience the essentials of screen acting as you work on scripts from the Doctor Who series. Discover how to work with green screen technology, develop skills in characterisation and rehearse and film scenes to camera.
9-11 Years, 8 to 9 July, Thursday to Friday, 10.00am-4.00pm, $195 (earlybird $180)

Acting on Screen : Doctor Who
Identify and experience the essentials of screen acting as you work on scripts from the Doctor
Who series. Discover how to work with green screen technology, develop skills in characterisation and rehearse and film scene work to camera. This course is designed for
committed young people wanting to explore strategies for approaching acting on screen.
12-16 Years, 12 to 16 July, Monday to Friday, 10.00am-5.00pm, $525 (earlybird $475)

Create a Doctor Who Alien
Develop skills in costume design and making as you conceptualise and create your own Doctor Who
alien costume. Create character voices and devise a performance piece to be featured in a lunchtime performance in the NIDA foyer.
9 Years+, 12 to 14 July, Monday to Wednesday, 10.00am-4.00pm, $295 (earlybird $270)

Flight of the TARDIS
Travel through time and space with the Doctor and his companions. Open doors to new realities and meet the characters that live there. Using costumes and props as a trigger, develop skills in characterisation, devising scenes, and acting with green screen technology.
6-8 Years, 15 to 16 July, Thursday to Friday, 10.00am-4.00pm, $195 (earlybird $180)

Fantasy Landscape : Doctor Who
Put yourself in control of the action by creating your own model landscape inspired by Doctor Who. Develop design and craft skills in model making with industry professionals.
8 Years+, 12 to 14 July, Monday to Wednesday, 10.00am-4.00pm, $330 (earlybird $300)

(Unfortunately at the time of reporting a couple of other courses on Designing and Film-Making had already commenenced, so haven't been detailed here.)