Doctor Who and Torchwood have helped push Cardiff into the top 10 of short-break UK destinations.

travelsupermarket.com compiled the list from searches made on its website for UK holiday destinations.

It spoke to travel experts who identified a trend based on popular films and TV shows. It showed that both Doctor Who and Torchwood, which are filmed in Cardiff and across south-east Wales, attract fans keen to visit landmark locations.

One popular attraction is the Doctor Who Up Close exhibition in the Red Dragon Centre, which was set up with the help of council funding.

Cardiff Council said the city was building a "tourism package" on the back of the success of the programmes.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman, pictured, welcomed the news.

He said: "Doctor Who and Torchwood have undoubtedly helped raise the profile of Cardiff, and we know from inquiries received in our Visitor Centre and through our websites that people are interested in seeing the locations and the Doctor Who exhibition.

"I feel especially satisfied that the exhibition is doing well, as I believe I can claim to have had a personal hand in its development. Back in 2004, I asked council officers to approach BBC Wales to see if we could agree to stage a Doctor Who-related event as part of the city's centenary celebrations in 2005. That led to the council funding the exhibition when it was first established, which allowed it to open initially on a free-of-charge basis."

He added: "Cardiff is proud of being the home of Doctor Who and Torchwood, although it is also important to remember that visitors attracted by the programmes are finding that Cardiff has a lot more to offer for a short break.

“Attractions like Cardiff Castle and the National Museum, Cardiff Bay, a varied events programme and excellent hotels all add up to a very attractive package for visitors, and we're very pleased to be able to add programmes like Doctor Who and Torchwood to the mix."

The special Doctor Who themed episode of the quiz show The Weakest Link has been scheduled for transmission on BBC One from 8.30pm on Friday 30th March.

As previously reported, the episode was recorded on the 21st November and the contestants who took part were David Tennant, Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, John Barrowman, Nicholas Briggs, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Claire Rushbrook, Andrew Hayden-Smith and K9. So far the winner has remained a closely guarded secret!

The Northern Echo is reporting that a taxi driver in Darlington has been conned by a passenger who left a fake 20 pound note, branded with Doctor Who imagery, as security while he left the vehicle during a stop-off mid journey. According to the report: "Arriving in Shildon, the passenger told him he needed to go into a nearby house to collect a suitcase. By way of security, he left a wallet on the vehicle's dashboard containing a visible, but folded, realistic looking 20 pound note."

When the passenger failed to return, the driver investigated the note and discovered it to be a fake apparently coming from "the Bank of Doctor Who." The report claims that the note featured the image of a Cyberman, which would preclude it from having been one of those specially mocked-up for the cash machine scene of last year's Christmas special The Runaway Bride, as those 20 pound notes featured the face of producer Phil Collinson. However, this could have been the journalist's attempt to make the story more appealing to readers.

(Thanks to Rich Flair from our forum).

A new 40 second trailer is available online at the official BBC Doctor Who site. It features specially shot material contrasting the Doctor and Martha Jones, ending with brief clips from the first 5 episodes. No transmission date is given, merely that Doctor Who is "coming soon".

More details about the trailer can be found in the spoiler space.

Telos Publishing has announced their new titles and release schedule for 2007.

Due in October, Third Dimension: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who 2007 by Stephen James Walker is a comprehensive episode guide to Series Three of the new Doctor Who, following the ongoing adventures of the Doctor (David Tennant) as he travels through space and time accompanied by his new companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and rejoined by his old friend Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman). The full build-up and background are revealed, from the aftermath of Series Two and the departure of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) right up to date, detailing all the major news stories, press releases, casting announcements and critical response. The spotlight is then turned on each of the 13 episodes in turn, plus the Christmas special The Runaway Bride, with in-depth coverage, including all the facts and figures, behind-the-scenes details, press and fan reaction and detailed and insightful analysis.

Also in October, The Target Book: A History of the Target Doctor Who Books by David J Howe is the story of Target Books. Including an introduction by Terrance Dicks, The Target Book chronicles the origins of the imprint, speaking to all the major players in its development, from editors to art directors, managing directors to artists and authors, and charts the books’ critical reception as well as the fortunes and failings of the many publishing houses involved in their production. Profusely illustrated with all the covers, plus rare and unseen sketches and unused concepts and ideas.

In the third volume of the TALKBACK series, Stephen James Walker has assembled an impressive selection of the very best interviews and features relating to the Doctor Who stories of the 1980s. Those quoted include Doctors Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, companion actors Matthew Waterhouse, Nicola Bryant, Bonnie Langford and Sophie Aldred, producer John Nathan-Turner, script editors Antony Root and Andrew Cartmel, director Alan Wareing, writer Marc Platt, designers Barry Newbery, Malcolm Thornton and Nick Somerville, costume designers Rosalind Ebbutt, Pat Godfrey and Ken Trew, make-up designers Dee Baron and Joan Stribling, title sequence designers Sid Sutton, Gareth Edwards and Oliver Elmes, visual effects designer Malcolm James, and visual effects assistants and contractors Mike Tucker, Susan Moore, Stephen Mansfield and Robert Allsopp. Currently slated for August release.

Also in August, Child of Time by George Mann and David J Howe sees the conclusion to the Time Hunter series of novellas. When Honoré and Emily investigate the bones of a young woman in the ruins of a collapsed house, they are thrown into a thrilling adventure that takes them from London in 1951 to Venice in 1586 and then forward a thousand years, to the terrifying, devastated London of 2586, ruled over by the sinister Sodality. What is the terrible truth about Emily’s forgotten past? What demonic power are the Sodality plotting to reawaken? And who is the mysterious Dr Smith?

Previously announced, Inside the Hub: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Torchwood Series One byStephen James Walker charts the story of Torchwood, complete with character profiles, cast and production team information, behind-the-scenes details and a comprehensive guide to each of the 13 episodes, looking at the key elements and the many links to Doctor Who that permeate the show.

Other titles from Telos include a new guide to The Prisoner, a look at taboo breaking horror films, a new zombie novella, and the first non-Doctor Who-related fiction from Daniel O'Mahony.

As things really begin to gear up for the start of Series Three, the official Doctor Who website has released a new publicity picture of Martha Jones, as played by Freema Agyeman.

It joins the other desktop wallpaper pictures featuring the Doctor and Martha that are available by clicking here.

Earlier this month, the site released a Series Three promo pic showing the couple running away from a fireball.

Also among the images are illustrations from the animated adventure The Infinite Quest, which will form part of the second series of Totally Doctor Who.

Fantom Films has released details and cover images of forthcoming CD releases featuring Doctor Who andTorchwood stars.

Volume one of Cult Conversations will have interviews with Gareth David-Lloyd, who plays Ianto Jones inTorchwood, and Deborah Watling, who played companion Victoria Waterfield in Doctor Who. It will be launched at the Memorabilia event, to be held from March 31 to April 1 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Tales from the Supernatural presents ghost stories penned by M R James and read by Geoffrey Bayldon,Ian Fairbairn and Gareth David-Lloyd. It will be available from April 2.

Saturday's edition of The Sun boasts an exclusive two-page interview with Freema Agyeman.

In it, she tells of failing to land a role as one of Prime Minister Harriet Jones's aides in The Christmas Invasion, and how David Tennant helped soothe her audition nerves when she went for the part of the new companion.

She adds that Billie Piper encouraged her to do things her own way, and says of the difference between her character and Rose: "Billie did a good job, so fair play to her. That character was extremely popular in people's hearts and quite rightly so.

"But the writer, Russell T Davies, has kind of made it easy as the characters are so different. And you can't really compare apples and pears."

The feature finishes by saying that Series Three will start on March 31 at 7pm.

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.