Doctor Who executive producer and chief writer Russell T Davies has dismissed the rumour spread by several media sources this week that Australian pop singer and actress Kylie Minogue was to appear in the 2007 Christmas special of the show.

The rumour originally appeared in last Sunday's edition of the News of the World newspaper, as reported at the time by Outpost Gallifrey, and was subsequently picked up by several websites and other newspapers. However, speaking to the BBC's weekly in-house magazine Ariel, Davies has rubbished the suggestion.

"Don't be stupid," he told the publication. "I haven't even written the script yet, and a woman like that is booked up two years in advance."

The British Sunday tabloid newspaper the News of the World is running a report this morning claiming that Australian actress and pop star Kylie Minogue has been cast in the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special. Minogue, best known internationally for a string of chart hits including "I Should Be So Lucky" and "Can't Get You Out of My Head", began her career as an actress in the popular soap opera Neighbours in the late 1980s. She has also appeared in films such asStreet Fighter (1994) and Moulin Rouge (2001).

Says the News of the World's report:

"A BBC insider said: 'Kylie jumped at the chance to be in the show and is really looking forward to acting again. She is flattered to be asked to be in such a classic TV show.

'The Doctor Who team are delighted they've got someone as sexy and high profile as Kylie to ensure they win the annual ratings battle with ITV.'"

The report also claims that Minogue was persuaded to take the role by her friend and stylist Will Baker, a Doctor Who fan who has included several sets and costumes inspired by the programme in her stage tour in recent years. The paper also claims that she will appear in the programme as a Cyberwoman, but this is not supported in any of their "insider" quotes.

The paper adds:

"The show spokesman added: 'Russell [T Davies] is just putting the finishing touches to the episode and it will be TV dynamite.' Russell, who has met Kylie to discuss the part, said: 'I imagined she'd be booked up for the next two years'."

The full shooting script for Smith and Jones has been put online at theBBC Writers Room.

Series head Russell T Davies gave the go-ahead for the script to be made available, according to the official programme website.

The Writers Room is used by the BBC to find and champion new talent.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to download the script.

Doctor Who has been namechecked by the UK government as helping with the success story of overseas TV sales.

Income from the export of TV shows rose by 20 per cent last year to 593 million pounds.

Creative industries minister Shaun Woodward said: "The inventiveness and quality of British TV makers continues to shine through and is recognised across the world.

"Production teams still deliver on core programmes such as period drama or Doctor Who, but also move television formats forward with shows such asDancing on Ice, which effortlessly cross continents."

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said a quarter of the increase was down to an 87 per cent rise in income from licensing TV formats.

According to the figures, Europe's share was 33 per cent of TV sales, which generated 125 million pounds, compared with 77 million pounds from the USA.

The largest rises in sales were to eastern Europe and Scandinavia, which had increases of 54 per cent and 42 per cent respectively, because of new TV channels and the popularity of UK programmes there.

John McVay, the chief executive of Pact, which commissioned the research, said: "The quality and range of UK programming, from factual entertainment to sports, to drama and animation, means UK companies always have a broad range of compelling content to offer international buyers."

The official website has pointed out the fact that Gridlock will be the 727th episode of Doctor Who, which breaks the record previously held byStar Trek for the total number of episodes.

The website says, "Gridlock is the 727th episode of Doctor Who. This will break the record held by the various series in the Star Trek franchise. They amassed a combined total of 726 episodes between them."

The latest issue of the Radio Times has the final complete list of episode titles for series 3, along with a synopsis for each story. Notably, the issue confirms three previously-unknown titles; episode three is, as rumored for the past week,Gridlock, while the concluding episode of the Dalek two-parter, episode five, is called Evolution of the Daleks. Finally, the issue confirms the title for the season's last episode, which is called Last of the Time Lords. The full list of episode titles is below, from the issue which is now on sale; series three begins with "Smith and Jones" transmitted this coming Saturday evening at 7.00pm on BBC1.

In an interview in Sunday's Observer, Russell T Davies suggests he may be planning a few more series of Doctor Who beyond Series Three.

The article states that "Davies will not be writing Doctor Who forever, of course, and that is a major headache for the BBC". It then goes on to quote the writer and producer as saying, "I'm not going to go on and on ... I wouldn't want to do series seven. There are other things I want to do."

This is the second of recent broadsheet interviews with RTD that focuses on what this much-in-demand writer might do next.

digitalspy.co.uk is reporting that actor and writer Stephen Fry had to back out of plans to write an episode forDoctor Who.

Fry said: "They asked me to do a series and I tried, but I just ran out of time, and so I wrote a pathetic letter of 'I'm sorry I can't do this' to Russell Davies."

Fry is busy working on a film script for director Peter Jackson, working with Kevin Spacey and filming a documentary for BBC Two on HIV and AIDS.

BBC Radio Wales is giving fans the chance to question the cast and crew of Doctor Who.

The show Doctor Who Back In Time is returning on Friday, March 30 with a 30-minute edition previewing Series Three and taking a look at new companion Martha Jones.

Another edition will take a look at the Welsh contribution to the programme and the effect that Doctor Who has had on Wales by helping the local economy and giving Welsh talent opportunities.

The final edition will be where the fans can quiz absolutely anybody involved with the programme.

Those chosen could have their query recorded and get it answered on air.

The official Doctor Who website quotes Julian Carey, the show's presenter and producer, as saying: "A couple of months ago I was giving a talk to my son's primary school about the kind of work I do.

"When they realised I had even the tiniest amount of contact with the world of Doctor Who I got bombarded with loads of questions about the series - most of which I couldn't answer!

"The thing was they asked some fantastic questions - some of which I would never have come up with, so I thought it might be a good idea to let normal, everyday fans of the Doctor have the chance to ask any member of the team the questions that have been bugging them for the last three years."

Click on either the BBC Radio Wales or official website links to submit questions.