Clive Swift has been cast in the forthcoming episode Voyage of the Damned, the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special, according to a report in theJewish Telegraph.

The actor is no stranger to Doctor Who, having played Jobel in the 1985 serial Revelation of the Daleks starring Colin Baker.

He is most famous, however, for the role of Richard Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet" - a long-running gag), the hen-pecked husband of Patricia Routledge's Hyacinth in the BBC TV comedyKeeping Up Appearances.

In the Telegraph piece, Swift says of his Christmas special character: "It's a lovely part and I'll be working with Kylie Minogue, who I was introduced to at the read-through, and David Tennant, who is a terrific actor."

Swift also appeared in the BBC TV drama Born and Bred, which ran from 2002 to 2004 and was created by Chris Chibnall, the co-producer ofTorchwood.

Chibnall was consulting/executive producer of Born and Bred, which also ranked Phil Collinson among its producers.

(Thanks to Neil Marsh and GracieLizzie.)

The Friday BBC3 repeat of episode thirteen, Last of the Time Lords, achieved an overnight audience of 0.46 million viewers, making it the 4th most watched programme on multichannel television for the day. It had a share of 2.8%.

The entire Series Three gets another repeat showing on BBC3, starting with a chance to see Catherine Tate's debut in The Runaway Bride, which is being shown at 9pm on Monday 9th July.

Episode one, Smith and Jones, then follows at 7.50pm onFriday 13th July.

Doctor Who Confidential is also being repeated, sometimes the full forty-minute version rather than the cut-down one. The first showing is immediatlly after Smith and Jones.

Those who missed the 45-minute compilation of all the episodes of the Totally Doctor Who animated series, The Infinite Quest, can catch it again when it is repeated on the CBBC channel at 5pm on Sunday 8th July.

Finally fans of the original Doctor may want to catch Togas on TV on BBC Four next Wednesday 11th July at10.30pm. It looks at a variety of TV programmes that have featured togas, from I, Claudius, starring Derek Jacobi, to Doctor Who.

The entertainment section of today's edition of the Toronto Star features a full page interview with Freema Agyeman. In the interview, Agyeman discusses how she got the part and what effect being in Doctor Who has had. We also learn about jobs she has held as well as some of her favourite television series.

The full interview can be read on the Star's website.

A second item in today's Toronto Star gives a list of The essential Doctor Who companions.

Star Week, a television listings magazine distributed with the Toronto Star features the episode Gridlock as one of their "Best Bets" for Monday night viewing.

The Daily Mail reports that David Tennant is in negotiation with the Royal Shakespeare Company to take on the role ofHamlet - a role he has said he wishes to play in the past - next summer.

Says journalist Baz Bamigboye: "The plan being developed by RSC artistic chief Michael Boyd is for Mr Tennant to play Hamlet in a production he wants to direct next summer. The exact timing will depend on whether the actor will do a fourth batch of episodes as the Converse All Stars-sporting Doctor. Tennant has been offered several high-profile TV, film and stage parts since his interpretation of Dr Who found so much favour with audiences and critics. Indeed, he recently completed filming a TV movie for HBO called Einstein And Eddington opposite Andy Serkis and Rebecca Hall."

The full article can be read on the Mail's website.

Various news services are reporting a rumour that American film icon Dennis Hopper is in talks to make an appearance in Doctor Who next year, probably as a villain. According to an insider, talks have been going on for a while, but Hopper's schedule is proving very difficult to work out. The unnamed source reports that "Dennis is a big fan of the show and bosses are really keen to get him on board."

As always, treat this news as only what it is at the moment -- a rumour -- until official word is announced by the BBC.

BBC Audiobooks will release The War Machines on CD on August 6. "First Broadcast on BBC1 in 1966, The War Machines sees the TARDIS returning to Earth in the present day. The Doctor detects strange vibrations coming from the newly - erected Post Office Tower, and sure enough it is discovered to be the centre of operations for WOTAN, a super-computer with designs on taking over the world. The Doctor enlists the help of Sixties swingers Ben and Polly, who then become his travelling companions." The CD includes the complete audio soundtrack, with narration by cast member Anneke Wills (Polly). Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover.

TV GUIDE's website has a few brief clips from up coming episodes of series 3 highlighted under The Future of Sci-Fi Shows and includes a nice photo of Tennant on their home page.

The Australian media continues its coverage of Doctor Who and Torchwood. The Age has reviewed Smith and Jones and describes Torchwood as 'good old-fashion science fiction'. Meanwhile the Sydney Morning Heralddescribes The Shakespeare Code as 'a great story, told with much fun and tongue firmly in cheek.'

The Age also has a feature on the search for the 108 missing episodes of the classic series.

Meanwhile in the Aussie ratings, 'Smith and Jones' scored 928,000 viewers in the 5 major capitals. Meanwhile, Torchwood's 'Day One' scored 895,000 viewers and 'Ghost Machine', up against the Princess Diana tribute concert on a rival network, scored 774,000 viewers. For more details see the Sydney Morning Herald's Tribal Mind.