EXCLUSIVE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF DOCTOR WHO, A NEW 13-PART SERIES ON CBC TELEVISION, APRIL 5

Acclaimed British actor Christopher Eccleston stars as DOCTOR WHO in the new BBC series, making its North American debut on CBC Television, Tuesday, April 5 at 8 p.m. Billie Piper, who starred in the critically acclaimed Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale, plays the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.

DOCTOR WHO is a smartly written, contemporary, full-blooded drama that embraces the original series' heritage and introduces the characters to a modern audience.

Travelling through time and space, the Doctor and Rose come face to face with a variety of new and menacing monsters, as well as battling with the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Daleks. The series features a number of high-profile guest stars including Penelope Wilton, Simon Callow, Richard Wilson, John Barrowman, Noel Clarke, Annette Badland, Camille Coduri and Simon Pegg.

Russell T. Davies, executive producer of DOCTOR WHO, said, "Eccleston's Doctor is wise, funny and brave; an adventurer who travels through time and space. His detached logic gives him a vital edge when the world is in danger, but when it comes to relationships, he can be found wanting. That's why he needs Rose. As they travel through history and across the universe, the Doctor shows Rose things beyond her imagination. She starts out an innocent girl, fettered by earthly concerns. But she ends up an adventurer who, by the end of the series, can never go home again."

Slawko Klymkiw, executive director programming, CBC Television said, "Bringing back the hugely popular DOCTOR WHO series to fans-new and old alike-was an exciting opportunity for CBC. We are pleased to be working closely with the BBC to bring Canadians this exceptional new series."

DOCTOR WHO is a BBC Wales Production for BBC One and is written by Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Paul Cornell and Robert Shearman. The executive producers are Russell T. Davies, head of drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Mal Young.