Budding stars are being warned to avoid agencies that say they can secure them parts on programmes such as Doctor Who.

The UK's Department of Trade and Industry has published advice to help would-be entertainers and models avoid unscrupulous outfits, and names Doctor Who as a prime example of the type of show that rogue casting agencies make false promises about.

The information campaign follows cases where agencies have advertised casting sessions in local newspapers then used hard-sell tactics to take payments on false promises about success and stardom.

Employment minister Jim Fitzpatrick, pictured, said: "Most agencies are reputable and will tell you that the entertainment industry is tough to break into.

"Beware of anyone who promises to make you a star overnight. If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Our advice is designed to help stop rogues turning people's dreams into nightmares."

Listed among the DTI's top tips for aspiring models and entertainers is the following:

"Beware of adverts claiming to provide artists for popular TV programmes like EastEnders or Doctor Who. Directors for these shows usually use agencies and individuals they have used before."

The Sun today has a short picture piece about David Tennant and John Barrowman filming Series Three in Cardiff.

It also makes reference to a comment made in Doctor Who Magazine by Barrowman about Tennant, and says the pair were filming with Freema Agyeman.

There are no spoilers.

The Daily Mail says Billie Piper's West End debut in Treats has been delayed.

It reports there are fears the play - currently in preview at the Garrick Theatre - is not yet ready, although it is apparently supposed to be officially opening there next Wednesday.

London Theatreland says the play is scheduled to run from March 1 to May 26.

Earlier this week, Piper - who is appearing in Treats with boyfriend Laurence Fox - was pictured breaking down in tears and being consoled by ex-husband Chris Evans.

According to producers, however, the play has been delayed to avoid a clash with the RSC production of The Tempest, which stars Patrick Stewart and is also set to open - at the Novello Theatre - on Wednesday.

In an earlier interview, Piper was quoted as saying she was "stressed out" by the impending debut.

"It's really hard in the theatre and the level of concentration is terrible. I am still working it out and trying to find my feet . . . I am quite stressed and am having a tough time," she said.

No new official opening date has been given yet.

Also reported at Digital Spy

Peter Davison is the focus of a short but career-spanning article in today's edition of The Mirror. The article, entitled "All Roles Great and Small," covers (not in any depth) Davison's early days as an actor, some of his most prominent roles (The Tomorrow People, All Creatures Great and Small, Doctor Who) and his current comedy series Fear, Stress and Anger.

To read the article, visit The Mirror's website.

TV Shows on DVD is reporting that the New Beginnings DVD box set will be released in North America (Region 1) on June 5th, 2007. The set, which was released in the UK in January, contains the stories The Keeper of Traken, Logopolis and Castrovalva. These stories cover the final two adventures with Tom Baker as well as the first with Peter Davison.

In addition to the featured episodes, the three-disc set contains commentaries, interviews, specially produced featurettes, photo galleries, production notes, trailers and isolated music tracks.

Runaway Bride co-stars David Tennant and Sarah Parish were interviewed in a filmed insert shown on BBC1'sBreakfast throughout this morning's edition about their new drama Recovery, which will be broadcast on BBC1 this coming Sunday at 9:00pm.

Blue Peter ran an item on how to make a TARDIS bird feeder on the 14th February edition of the programme; full details on how to make it are available on the CBBC website.

12th February saw actress Angela Griffin (Waterloo Road) "beg" to be in Doctor Who on the Richard and Judyshow, after presenter Richard Madeley thought she'd be great in the show!

Billie Piper can currently be seen as a schoolgirl in the Walkers walkears.com advert for this year's Comic Relief.

Meanwhile, next week, Penelope Wilton, Sophie Okonedo (Scream of the Shalka) and James Fox (BBCi/Big Finish's version of Shada) are some of the stars in Harold Pinter's Celebration, which can be seen on More4 on 26 February.

Various online sources are reporting that actor Hugh Grant has expressed his regret at not taking on the role of the Doctor when the BBC Wales production team offered it to him on the off-chance back in 2004, as detailed in Russell T Davies's Doctor Who Magazine "Production Notes" column at the time.

"I was offered the role of The Doctor a few years back and was highly flattered," Grant is quoted as saying onSyFyPortal, amongst many other websites. "The danger with those things is that it's only when you see it on the screen that you think, 'Damn, that was good, why did I say no?'"

However, Grant added that he may yet appear in the series, and is apparently in discussions to guest star in an episode. "I'm in talks about a one-off role. I'd prefer to be a baddie. They're always much more fun to play."

Also reported at: ContactMusic, TeenTelevision, Bits of News and Digital Spy.

It would not be the first link with the show for Grant - in 1999 he was one of the star names to play the Doctor in the Comic Relief TV spoof The Curse of Fatal Death, which was written by Steven Moffat.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films has announced the nominations for the 33rd Annual Saturn Awards, and Doctor Who has received two nominations: BEST SYNDICATED/CABLE TELEVISION SERIES and BEST TELEVISION SERIES RELEASE ON DVD.

Leading the nominations was Bryan Singer's Superman Returns with ten. Other notables were X-Men: The Final Stand (6), Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (6), Lost (6), Heroes (5), and Battlestar Galactica (4).

This year marks the Academy's 35th Anniversary. The non-profit organization was founded in 1972 by film historian Dr. Donald A. Reed. The Academy is currently headed by Robert Holguin, who serves as President of the Academy.

The winners will be announced at this year’s 33rd Annual Saturn Awards, which takes place on Thursday, May 10, 2007 in Universal City. Hosting the event will be actor Greg Grunberg (Heroes) and comedian Jeffrey Ross.

To learn more about the Saturns, visit the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films' website.

Actor Derek Waring who played Shardovan in Castrovalva died of cancer yesterday at 79.

He was also well-known for his roles in Z Cars and Moody and Pegg.

Other TV shows Waring appeared in were The Professionals, Dixon of Dock Green and The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, which starred William Russell - later to become Doctor Whocompanion Ian Chesterton - in the title role.

More details of Waring's life and career are online at Yahoo News.

UPDATE (22 Feb): His death has subsequently been reported at BBC News, where there is also a detailed biography plus tribute. The Guardian carries an obituary.

Pictured below is Waring in character in Castrovalva, which was recently released on DVD in the UK as part of the New Beginnings box set. Click on the image for a larger version.