The BBC confirmed today that the Daleks will feature in the Series Three two-parter set in 1930s New York (episodes four and five, which are currently untitled). A Dalek was featured in the recent trailer for Series Three that concluded the broadcast of "The Runaway Bride".

The story, published on its Entertainment website this morning, follows the mention in the Sun today (see below) and quotes Russell T Davies as saying: "This time, their plan is the most audacious Dalek scheme yet! Even the Doctor finds himself out of his depth."

As previously reported, appearing alongside David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the adventure will be Miranda Raison, Hugh Quarshie and Ryan Carnes.

The Thursday issue of the Sun is reporting that David Tennant is to quit the title role of Doctor Who midway through the fourth series. The story is headlined on the front page (see right) with the article on page five (see quote box below).

It is worth stressing that, so far, this story is unconfirmed, and Tennant and the production team are still working on the forthcoming third series. A fourth series is yet to be officially commissioned by the BBC, but assuming it goes ahead, it wouldn't be due to hit our screens until Spring 2008 and would mark Tennant's third season in the role. Tennant's first complete story was in the Christmas special 2005.

Update: In an unhelpful move, BBC Radio One have managed to mis-report the story in the Sun this morning, with news summaries during their breakfast programme quoting a newspaper as saying that Tennant will leave "during the next series". Naturally, many listeners may assume this is referring to the forthcoming third series yet to begin broadcasting. However, this is still quoting the tabloid, even if it is a mis-quote, and does not validate the story. The Metro is also quoting The Sun's report, offering no additional information.

(Humorous footnote: There may not be any official confirmation or denial about the story as yet, but there is a "News In Briefs" comment by Thursday's page three model - Katie, 22, from Liverpool - who is reported to be "gutted" that Tennant was supposed to be leaving. She is quoted as saying: "He was brilliant in the show and it won't be the same without him. Not only was he a great actor - but I could swoon over him as well!" Additional reporting by John Bowman)

"One thing that people have been saying is that it's like a Comic Relief sketch, but it's not," says producer Russell T Davies of the casting in The Runaway Bride. "It's a proper hour-long drama and Catherine Tate has a proper part. She's amazing in it, her and David Tennant together are a joy."

Interviewed by Jonathan Wright for the Media Guardian, the interview does include spoilers, but also features the following questions on novelty casting and other series that Davies might like to revive...

Julie Gardner, executive producer of Doctor Who, will be on the Richard Evans show on BBC Radio Wales on Friday 22 December from 1-2pm. Gardner will take phone calls on a variety of topics concerning the programme, including commissioning Russell T Davies to bring back the Doctor, the success of the show's spin-off Torchwood and the series Life on Mars. Fans can call in on +44 8100 100 110, text message +44 7786 20 10 40, or send email with questions.

Radio Wales can be listened to online by following the link on the BBC Wales Website

The final three episodes of Torchwood, the spinoff series starring John Barrowman as Captain Jack, will be shown over the next two weeks. Episode 11, Combat, written by Doctor Who series one and two star Noel Clarke, will be broadcast on Sunday 24 December at 9:30pm on BBC Three. However, the final two episodes will be featured not on their usual Sunday, but instead on New Years Day, Monday 1 January, with episode 12, Captain Jack Harkness, shown at 9:30pm and episode 13, End of Days airing immediately thereafter at 10:20pm. (The BBC says the finale is called "End of Days" but previous reports suggest "Apocalypse"; we're waiting for verification.) The "Declassified" documentaries will be shown early Tuesday morning on BBC Three, repeated later in the week. Below are the BBC press releases for all three episodes; also, check out our handy Broadcast Calendar on the left side of the Outpost's news page (click on the country flag to bring up the broadcast list.) As we previously reported, the second series of Torchwood will start shooting in the spring.

The Controller of BBC One, Peter Fincham, was interviewed on Simon Mayo's programme on the BBC's national news and sport talk station, Radio 5 Live, this afternoon.

Outpost Gallifrey forum member Ian Robinson e-mailed a question into the programme, asking whether there was any truth to the rumour that Doctor Who's current run would come to an end after the fourth or fifth series. "No truth to that rumour," was Fincham's reply after Mayo had read him the question. "We don't necessarily plan years in advance, but Doctor Who is so popular I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon."

Fincham also singled out The Runaway Bride as one of the highlights of BBC One's Christmas Day schedule, saying that there was "a particular excitement and anticipation" about the special, and specifically mentioning Catherine Tate's involvement, calling her casting "a real coup". There is apparently "no way on Earth" his children will be watching anything else at 7pm on Christmas Day.

The interview can be heard in full via the 'Listen Again' feature on the Simon Mayo page of the BBC Radio 5 Live website. The Fincham interview starts approximately one hour and ten minutes into Friday's edition.

(Thanks to Ian Robinson)

Today's edition of The Sun follows up yesterday's revelation elsewhere that the Doctor and Martha end up in bed together in the next series.

The article has minor plot and characterisation details, so click below - or on the link above - if you want to find out more.

Yahoo News reports that former EastEnders actor Joseph Millson "will have a major role [in The Sarah Jane Adventures] as the single father of one of the lead characters. Soap fans will remember him as EastEnders' Jason, who once broke Lyn Slater's heart, then returned to her life and attempted to win her back, despite his ex's marriage to Garry Hobbs. Millson also recently appeared in new Bond movie Casino Royale."

In the newest issue of Doctor Who Magazine (#377) some new details about the upcoming series of Doctor Whohave been revealed:

Episode Two Title
The episode, which features Dean Lennox Kelly in the lead guest role of William Shakespeare, will be titled "The Shakespeare Code".

Casting
Four new castings have been revealed: Jessica Stevenson will feature in Episodes Eight and Nine of Series Three.Carey Mulligan (Bleak House, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard), Lucy Gaskell (Cutting It, Vincent), Michael Obiora (The Bill, Hotel Babylon) and Finlay Robertson (NY-LON, Life Begins) will appear in Episode Ten of Series Three.

Director
Episode Ten will be directed by Hettie MacDonald, the first time a Doctor Who story will have been directed by a woman since 1985's "The Mark of the Rani".