The official Doctor Who site has confirmed that "The Hopes and Fears of All the Years", a new Doctor Who short story by Paul Cornell, will be published in the Daily Telegraph on December 22. Cornell, author of several Doctor Who novels and audios, and most recently the television episodes "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood", had previously announced the story on his blog. The short story will be illustrated by Doctor Who Magazineartist Mike Collins. Cornell is running a competition to win one of Collins' illustrations on Facebook.

Last Christmas, The Times ran a Doctor Who story by Cornell; it can be found in their archives.

US comics publisher IDW has released a series of preview pages of both their forthcoming Doctor Who and Classic Doctor Who titles.

The new Doctor Who comic, written especially for the publisher by television series script editor Gary Russell, is previewed with the first five pages of the opening issue. The classic Doctor Who series, beginning with reprints of stories featuring the Fourth Doctor, is previewed with the first five pages from the third issue.

Thanks to "GracieLizzy" from The Doctor Who Forum.

And the Doctor Who-related news keeps coming. CBBC Newsround has an interview with Russell T. Davies, in which the writer and producer talks about "Voyage of the Damned", "The Sarah Jane Adventures", the pre-watershed version of "Torchwood" and Series 4 of "Doctor Who". The Newsround site also has a gallery of photos from "Voyage of the Damned". Davies is also quoted in the Swansea Evening Post as calling the Christmas special "a great big disaster movie", speaking favorably of Kylie Minogue's guest-starring turn and saying that he'd love to have Judi Dench in Doctor Who.

Catherine Tate's comments about David Tennant's Doctor Who plans continue to be discussed; the story has been picked up by the Western Mail(Wales), RTÉ (Ireland) and the international news service UPI.

Apparently contradicting an earlier story in the Western Mail, the Daily Telegraph reports that the Character Group, parent company of Character Options, who make Doctor Who toys, has had slow sales this holiday season. Billie Piper's risqué ITV series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" will air in the US on the Showtime cable network, reports Varietyand Entertainment Weekly.

And finally, an item about which readers can use their own judgment: The Sun claims that Jennifer Saunders of "Absolutely Fabulous" is in talks to play the Doctor for one episode after David Tennant leaves the part. Saunders' AbFab co-star Joanna Lumley played the Doctor briefly in the 1999 Comic Relief sketch "The Curse of Fatal Death".

Georgia Moffett, daughter of Fifth Doctor Peter Davison, will be appearing in Series Four, according to Executive Producer Phil Collinson.

"Fans might recognise that name...but that's not why we cast her. She's a very fine actor."

Georgia originally auditioned for a role in the Agatha Christie episode. "But as soon as we saw her," Collinson told Doctor Who Magazine, "we realised there was a much bigger and better part later on in the series...so Georgia kindly waited until the time was right. It's a role no one will ever forget!"

US readers are reminded that David Tennant will appear in the Extras Christmas special, which airs tonight (December 16) on HBO at 9 pm. Trailers for the special show Tennant in costume as the Doctor, indicating that the comedy will satirize Doctor Who.

The Extras Christmas special will air in the UK on BBC One on Thursday, December 27 at 9 pm.

The avalanche of Doctor Who coverage in the British media continues. A number of sources have published stories aboutCatherine Tate's comments about David Tennant's future with Doctor Who. These include CBBC Newsround, The Independent, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The People andDigital Spy.

Freema Agyeman is profiled as one of The Observer's "Faces of 2007".

The Western Mail reports high sales of Doctor Who merchandise and toys in the run-up to Christmas, and attributes it to "the Kylie factor". The Western Mail also reports on the upcoming premiere showing of "Voyage of the Damned" at the Science Museum in London on Tuesday. Wales on Sunday says that Minogue was nervous when she began work on the Christmas special, and the Daily Star reports on the "Voyage of the Damned" wrap party, in an item blatantly culled from Caitlin Moran's comprehensive piece in The Times.

In an article on BBC News published this morning, Catherine Tate says that the upcoming fourth Doctor Who series will be her last, and that it "could be the last for actor David Tennant" according to comments she made this morning on the Radio 2 Jonathan Ross programme. "I think it's maybe David's last series." The article notes that the BBC refuses to comment on Mr Tennant's future as the show's star. When pressed on whether Tennant would return to play the timelord in special Dr Who shows in future, Tate replied: "Possibly."

To listen to Tate's interview on the Jonathan Ross show, follow this link and click on "Listen again". The Catherine Tate segment begins approximately 2 hours 37 minutes into the program.

The BBC News article also quotes Kylie Minogue in Doctor Who Magazine as saying her appearance in the forthcoming Christmas special is "like stepping back in time. I really felt at home being back in the world of TV. I've definitely got the acting bug again!"

Doctor Who producer Phil Collinson has given an interview to SFX, in which he discusses plot elements and behind-the-scenes details for this year's Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". Spoiler-phobic readers may wish to avoid the interview, as it gives details about the Doctor's encounter with the Titanic and its crew. Some excerpts from the interview can be found in the spoiler box below; the full interview, including Collinson's comments onKylie Minogue and other guest stars in the special, can be read on SFX's website.

Thanks to Ian Berriman of SFX.

The BBC's Doctor Who website has released a new trailer for the upcoming Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". It can be viewed by clicking on "14" in the site's Advent(ure) Calendar. UK viewers can also see the trailer on the BBC's YouTube page.

The same trailer has been playing in Odeon cinemas in the UK, before the film trailers. (DEC 15 UPDATE: A 40-second version of the cinema trailer has been added to the official website.)

Meanwhile, the current issue of the Radio Times (15-21 December 2007,not the Christmas double issue) lists Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned Christmas Preview to be broadcast tomorrow, Saturday 15 December, at the end of the 5.40-to-6pm BBC News.

In addition Saturday's edition of The Times features a behind the scenes article on the making of the Christmas Episode. Thanks to Dan Martin.