Murray Gold will be one of the speakers at a series of events being organised by BAFTA and the Royal Albert Hall, entitled Conversations with Screen Composers. The Doctor Who composer will be appearing at the Hall's Elgar Room on Wednesday 11th July to discuss the development of creative ideas for his music. Other speakers in the series are Rachel Portman and James Hannigan. [Royal Albert Hall, 21 Mar 2012]

John Barrowman will be appearing as a Spotlight Guest at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which takes place at McCormick Place, Chicago, from 13th-15th April. Organiser Lance Fensterman said: "We're very excited to welcome John Barrowman this year to C2E2. Doctor Who has grown into a global phenomenon, and John Barrowman is an actor with a following on both sides of the Atlantic. There's tremendous excitement from the fanboys and fangirls within C2E2's own office, and we know our audience in Chicago will be overjoyed to meet him." [Comic Book Resources, 21 Mar 2012]

Barrowman has also donated some of his clothes to the Dogs Trust: "It's no secret to anyone who knows me that two of my favourite things are shopping and supporting Dogs Trust. After a recent spring-cleaning, I donated lots of stuff to the new Cowbridge shop, including posters, watches and boxes of clothing. I hope you'll pay a visit and share in my favourite things." [Ecorazzi, 26 Mar 2012]

Billie Piper visited a family in Norfolk as part of the BBC's Sport Relief in order to speak to a mother and three daughters who had just lost their father. Her Doctor Who co-star David Tennant also contributed to the cause, being one of the celebrity faces to run the Sport Relief Mile on Sunday. You can still donate to the causes through the Sport Relief website.

Tennant has also revealed that he has adopted wife Georgia Moffett's first child, Tyler: "My baby is almost a year old now and I adopted my wife's boy last year as well so I became a father twice within six months - that's got to be something of a record hasn't it?" [Absolute Radio, 21 Mar 2012]

Tennant and John Simm are among the famous names and faces contributing to the Sky Arts 2 documentary Discovering Hamlet, which is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday 15th April at 9.40pm. Tennant will also be seen on Sky Arts 1 three days earlier - Thursday 12th April - playing an artist called Will in the drama The Minor Character, which airs at 9pm. Meanwhile, Tennant is back doing the voiceover for the spoof documentary Twenty Twelve, the second series of which starts on BBC Two tomorrow at 10pm and co-stars Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Hynes, and Olivia Colman.

Mark Gatiss can be seen in conversation with Mark Lawson on BBC Four on Tuesday 3rd April at 10.50pm. The hour-long interview will be available via the BBC iPlayer for seven days afterwards.

Louise Jameson appears in an episode of daytime drama Doctors on BBC One on Wednesday 4th April at 1.45pm. She plays "other woman" Shirley Carter who schemes with her lover's wife to take revenge on the man in their lives when they discover that he has been cheating on both of them. It will be available via the BBC iPlayer for seven days afterwards.

Richard Curtis is returning to the theme of time travel for one of his latest film scripts, which he will also direct. About Time is billed as a low-budget dramedy. Zooey Deschanel, who played Trillian in the 2005 film version of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, is reportedly in talks to star in the Working Title production. [Variety, 27 Mar 2012]

Radio Times has published an online interview with Anneke Wills in which the actress who played companion Polly tells of a spooky coincidence involving companion actress-in-waiting Jenna-Louise Coleman. As well as reminiscing about life aboard the TARDIS and meeting Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy and David Tennant, Wills also talks candidly about her marriage to Michael Gough. [Radio Times, 22 Mar 2012]

Back in November we reported on the advertisement for a new BBC Worldwide Marketing Director for Consumer Products; the person hired for the position has now been revealed to be Rob Lowe, currently marketer for games company Nintendo. His responsibilities will include developing the commercial potential of Doctor Who among other series. [Marketing Week, 26 Mar 2012]

David Tennant can be seen voicing Charles Darwin for the forthcoming Aardman Animations film The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! The film also features the vocal talents of Hugh Grant (who played the Doctor in the 1999 Comic Relief spoof The Curse of Fatal Death, written by Steven Moffat), Russell Tovey, Imelda Staunton, and Brian Blessed.


Lalla Ward will be a guest on Graham Norton's Radio 2 show on Saturday 17th March. She is scheduled to appear on the programme between 12.30pm and 1pm. Executive producer Malcolm Prince told Doctor Who News that questions and comments can be submitted in advance to graham.norton@bbc.co.uk. Imelda Staunton will also be a guest on the show that day, appearing with Michael Ball at 11.30am.

Frazer Hines has been drafted in to spearhead a government campaign to raise awareness about cancer. The actor, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1999 and finally given the all-clear two years ago following surgery and chemotherapy, met and talked to shoppers in Lincoln, giving them advice as part of the Department of Health's Be Clear On Cancer campaign. He said: "The thing about bowel cancer is that no-one wants to talk about it. The bowel is only a part of your engine . . . and if your engine goes wrong, you have got to have something to do with it. I made up this saying last year, when I was interviewed on The Michael Ball Show: 'Would you rather a doctor took your trousers off once or an undertaker take them off forever?'" [This Is Lincolnshire, 10 Mar 2012]

The character of Donna Noble, as portrayed by Catherine Tate, came in eighth in a Radio Times top ten of strong TV women, compiled for International Women's Day. [Radio Times, 8 Mar 2012]

Lucian Msamati is to play British MP Kayode in the new satire Belong, by Bola Agbaje, at the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The play runs from 26th April to 26th May and is a co-production with African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi, of which Msamati is artistic director. [The Stage, 12 Mar 2012]

David Tennant is starring in a new play for BBC Radio 4; set in 1610, Waiting for the Boatman sees Tennant's character Mario Minniti go to Naples in search of his former master, the infamous painter Caravaggio. The play will be broadcast on 15th March at 2:15pm. [BBC Media Centre]

Talking about his new role as the voice of Twigs in Tree Fu Tom, he said: "I could never have imagined that a programme like this could be used in this way to help combat dyspraxia. It will be fascinating to see if it does have a positive effect. The children will certainly have a good time trying! I don't think I’ve ever done anything for this age of child before. Television more than any other medium influenced me as a child and formed my response to literature, storytelling and, therefore, the world around me. Generally speaking we don't have vivid memories of that age and what influenced us, yet clearly these are hugely formative years and it's really important that we can create television of a high quality for that audience." [Radio Times, 5 Mar 2012]

John Barrowman reveals the best meal of his life: "That perfect meal, and the finest thing I have ever tasted is lobster, with a caviar truffle filling – incredible textures, endless flavours, and usually served in a setting befitting such elegant tastes." [Yahoo/LoveFood, 1 Mar 2012]

Freema Agyeman is to join the cast of the Sex in the City prequel show, The Carrie Diaries, based on the book by Candace Bushnell; she will be playing the role of Carrie's friend Larissa, described as a hip, cutting-edge editor and party girl working Interview Magazine, where young Carrie works. [Press Association, 6 Mar 2012]

Bonnie Langford says her character of Mel would be more rounded if she returned to Doctor Who now. When asked, in a Press Association interview, if she would consider reprising the role, she said: "I'd love it because I might get a few lines other than, 'Oh Doctor!' That was what I was always like. Now the companions are rounded characters, which is always so much more fun to play. But I had a good time doing it. I have good memories of the people I worked with. The show used to attract an amazing cast. When you look at all the notable people who've been guests on that programme over the years, it's quite extraordinary. It's a legend, a national treasure." [Press Association, 4 Mar 2012]

Gareth David Lloyd talks about whether he'd want his Torchwood character Ianto to appear in Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary: "It would depend on the script, but yes I think so. Ianto is very close to my heart and will always deserve a little resurrection if done properly." [Cultbox, 29 Feb 2012]

John de Lancie will appear in the CW Network series The Secret Circle. He will be playing the part of an elder, Royce Armstrong, who will reveal conspiracy theories relating to the past, and will be seen from episode nineteen. [TV Guide, 1 Mar 2012]

Yasmin Paige is currently appearing as Beth in the new BBC3 teenage sitcom Pramface.

Charles Cowper returned to the college where he learned his trade in order to give advice on entering the industry. Speaking at Cirencester College, the cameraman - who as well as having worked on Doctor Who has also been involved with other BBC shows likeSherlock, Casualty and Being Human - said: "I owe a huge amount to the media course at Cirencester. It allowed me to turn what I enjoyed into something I could use." [Gloucestershire Echo, 29 Feb 2012]

Gareth Roberts talks about fitting his new novel Shada into the old novelisation tradition: "Well yeah, I could have taken the script and done 148 pages – which was his standard for a six-parter – and just rattled through it. But no, it is considerably heftier than that. It’s 400 pages, you know! It’s not so much a Terrance novelisation. It’s much more a novel, in the sense that it’s very much from people’s viewpoints. There is talk that when the paperback comes out we might try and do a limited edition which will fit seamlessly between The Horns Of Nimon and The Leisure Hive on your shelf of Target books. This is what I’ve been pushing for because I know what fans are like – I know what I'm like – so hopefully that will materialise in the not-too-distant future." [Full Interview and review via Ian Berriman/SFX, 6 Mar 2012]

Director Richard Senior is the latest series name to join the Twitter community - you can follow him here: @cleverdicktv.

Details and images have now been released for the new CBeebies series Tree Fu Tom, starring the voices of Sophie Aldred as Tom and David Tennant as Twigs. [News in Time and Space, 23 Feb 2012]

Tennant has also been announced as one of the performers in a new series of comedies and dramas from Sky Arts called Playhouse Presents, with the actor appearing in The Minor Character by Will Self. [Sky Arts, Guardian, 23 Feb 2012]

After 'conquering' the BBC, John Barrowman may be making his presence felt on ITV next - having guest-hosted This Morning a couple of times, it has been suggested that this may become more regular, with an insider saying: "ITV think John is a real talent who shouldn't only be seen on the BBC. They want to work with him on a series of upcoming projects." [Daily Mail, 23 Feb 2012]

Channel 5 won't be immune to him, either, with C5 Productions planning to make a show with the actor exploring the origins of the popular 1980s show Dallas! [C21 Media, 23 Feb 2012]

Monster actor extraordinaire Paul Kasey is to be involved in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, with his online CV stating: "Movement Assistant + Performer (Locog, Danny Boyle + Toby Sedgwick). [Spotlight via Ruther, 22 Feb 2012]

Bernard Cribbins is one of several stars performing in Winchester: Chronicles of Light, a show recalling the history of Winchester Cathedral. The actor said: "We've had a long day recording and it went well, and to be in this lovely building with such a great atmosphere has been an absolute joy.". Other celebrities involved include Wendy Craig, Hugh Dennis, John Rhys-Davies and Tamsin Greig. [Romsey Advertiser, 22 Feb 2012]

David Walliams is to see his best-selling children's book Mr Stink turned into a television series for BBC1, with controller Danny Cohen describing it as a "heart-warming, nose-clenching and funny tale which will appeal to viewers of all ages.". [BBC News, 21 Feb 2012]

Gareth David Lloyd is to appear in a new eerie anthology series, Twisted Showcase, which will be launched on the web on 1st March. [News in Time and Space, 23 Feb 2012]

Doctor Who was singled out when culture minister Ed Vaizey praised the Welsh broadcasting industry's cultural and economic importance. During a visit to Cardiff, which included a tour round the programme's new home at the BBC Wales Roath Lock drama village, he said: "Global hits like Doctor Who act as a continual reminder of the role the creative industries can play in driving growth through the creation of jobs and attracting inward investment."[BBC News, 23 Feb 2012]

Lastly, don't miss Matt Smith's attempt to beat the lap record as the "star in the reasonably priced car" on this Sunday's Top Gear, broadcast at 8:00pm on BBC2/BBCHD.

It's said that truth is stranger than fiction, and in a case of life imitating art (in more ways than one), two iconic paintings with very close connections to Doctor Who have been hitting the headlines.

Firstly, one of Edvard Munch's four versions of The Scream - which was a major influence on the design of Series 6 monster The Silence - is to be exhibited in the UK before being auctioned in the USA by Sotheby's.

It will be on display in London from 13th April and in New York from 27th April, with the auction taking place on 2nd May, when it is estimated it could fetch more than £50m ($80m).

This version - dated 1895 and the only one to still be in private hands - is a pastel and is in the original frame that was hand-painted by the Norwegian artist. It also includes a poem by Munch explaining what inspired his masterpiece.

The Scream is reckoned to be the second-most recognisable image in art and popular culture after the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci - and by a funny coincidence another version of that particular masterpiece has also been causing a huge stir in the art world.

The globally famous portrait - also titled La Gioconda - was a major plot point of the Season 17 story City of Death. Now a copy of the picture - reckoned to have been painted by one of Leonardo's apprentices at the time of the original - has been restored and displayed at the Prado Museum in Madrid, where it will stay until 13th March, after which it will be moved and hung next to Leonardo's original at the Louvre in Paris for an exhibition.

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As reported previously, photographic portraits of David Tennant and Karen Gillan can still be seen in the Hot Scots exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. This display runs until 1st April.

Tennant is also among the actors featured in backstage theatre photographer Simon Annand's exhibition The Half at the Idea Generation Gallery in Chance Street, London. The display takes its name from the half-hour before curtain-up, when actors are left by themselves to focus on the performance ahead of them. Also pictured at the gallery are Michael Gambon, Carey Mulligan, and Mark Gatiss. The exhibition opens tomorrow and runs until 8th April, with the opening times 10am to 6pm Mondays to Fridays and midday to 5pm Sundays.

In recognition of his contribution to drama business for BBC Wales, Doctor Who's former lead writer Russell T Davies has had the main walkway connecting all of the new Media Village facilities in Cardiff Bay named after him, with a plaque put up denoting Russell T Davies Alley. [Standard, 16 Feb 2012]

Talking about 'walkways', film cameraman Peter Eveson has filmed and directed the debut video for the north Suffolk band Walkway. As well as Doctor Who, the cameraman also filmed and directed Zoo Days, and worked on James May's Toy Stories. [Diss Express, 19 Feb 2012]

David Tennant will be the narrator for the audio version of Silver: Return to Treasure Island, a sequel book to Robert Louis Stevenson's original novel written by Sir Andrew Motion; the author said: "I'm completely delighted David Tennant's reading Silver. I honestly can't think of anyone I'd rather hear do it.". Dominic White of audiobook publisher W F Howes Ltd added: "David Tennant really conveys the thrills of an ocean odyssey. This is the making of a modern classic in spoken word form." [Booktrade, 22 Feb 2012]

The pairing of Tennant and Catherine Tate in last year's West End production of Much Ado About Nothing was named theatre event of the year in the Whatsonstage.com awards, voted for by the public. It also scooped the best Shakespearean production award at the event, co-hosted by Sheridan Smith (Eighth Doctor companion Lucie Miller in the Big Finish audio plays). Tate also won the award for best supporting actress in a play for Season's Greetings, and James Corden was named best actor in a play for One Man, Two Guvnors. [BBC News, 20 Feb 2012]

And speaking of Sheridan Smith, she has won the title role in Mrs Biggs, an ITV Studios drama that will chronicle the life of the former wife of Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs from when she first met him. The five-parter will also feature Daniel Mays (Alex in Night Terrors) as the notorious criminal. [ITV Press Centre, 20 Feb 2012]

Actress Katy Wix (who played Ianto's sister Rhiannon in Torchwood: Children of Earth) can be seen in the new series of Not Going Out. Talking about her blossoming career as a comedienne, she said: "At times I've felt people in the industry didn't trust me with the joke, me being a woman and all – but they're just people I don't want to work with." [Observer, 19 Feb 2012]

Tom Price will be appearing in a new comedy show for BBC3, World Series of Dating, playing the character of James Chetwynd-Talbot, described as a nervous sports journalist, unlucky with the ladies and in his first commentary role. The 8-part series, which stars American actor/comedian Rob Riggle, commences on the channel in March. [BBC Media Centre, 22 Feb 2012]

Actor Zach Braff learnt about how famous his All New People co-star Eve Myles was by meeting her fans at the stage door! "I didn't (know) until I got here. Eve does not play a very - how do I put this? - her character is not like a sex pot, hottie, and I'm seeing these pictures from Torchwood of her firing guns and these tight outfits, and I'm like 'Eve?!!' But it's become quite popular in the States, too, I have a friend who I didn't know even watched it, he was like 'you're acting with Eve Myles!' - he was freaking out. She's a wonderful, wonderful actress, and doing comedy for the first time, which people haven't seen - wait until they see how good she is at comedy. [STV, 21 Feb 2012]

Mark Ayres was recently asked about how the incidental music was handled in the classic series. When asked if music was always mixed in on the board while filming, he said: Almost always prior to 1970, yes (the show was made, as far as possible, 'as live'). After 1970, music added in post-dub.«" On whether composers saw the visuals on post-dub: "Yes, composers saw playback at BBC and made notes. From 1980-onwards (perhaps slightly earlier) they were given a time-coded VHS.« From mid-70s, Doctor Who office and Radiophonic Workshop were using Shibaden black-and-white reel-to-reel video dubs for reference.«"

The composer also added: "It's taken 15 years, but I have finally digitised all of the classic Doctor Who sound effects.«" However, "There remains a massive amount of cataloguing and documentation to complete, but the 246 tapes are done.«" A collection of Doctor Who sound effects from the 1970s has recently been re-released on CD.

The Series 6 episode The Doctor's Wife has been nominated for a 2011 Nebula Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Written by Neil Gaiman and directed by Richard Clark, it has been put forward for the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation. The winner will be announced during the SFWA's 47th Annual Nebula Awards Weekend, which takes place from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th May in Arlington, Virgina. The Series 5 episode Vincent and the Doctor was similarly nominated last year in the 2010 awards but failed to win. [Richard Clark, via Twitter, 20 Feb 2012]

Matt Smith is to feature on Top Gear as the "star in the reasonably priced car" - recorded last Wednesday, his attempt will appear in the episode due to be broadcast at 8:00pm, 26th February on BBC2/BBCHD. Both of his predecessors have attempted this in the past, with Christopher Eccleston in 2005 (completed in 1:53:4) and David Tennant in 2007 (1:48:8, watch here).

Alex Kingston talks about the period setting on Upstairs, Downstairs (returning to BBC1 tomorrow evening at 9:30pm): "Oh yes, setting this series just before the Second World War is clever. In 2012, our world is changing radically and that is reflected in Upstairs Downstairs, too. These characters are on the verge of something, they don’t know what is going to happen and people will identify with their fears. This is the beginning of the modern world and here is a society just clinging onto what they know, but it is going to change irrevocably." [What's on TV, 16 Feb 2012]

Sylvester McCoy will be playing the lead role as Mr Peters in Plume by the Tron Theatre Company in Glasgow; it runs from 1st-17th March. The actor will also be a guest on Janice Forsyth's show on BBC Radio Scotland on Saturday. [JaniceForsyth, 16 Feb 2012]

The CBeebies animated series Tree Fu Tom, featuring the vocal talents of Sophie Aldred and David Tennant, starts on Monday 5th March. [BBC Media Centre]

Cosima Shaw (Steffi Ehrlich, The Waters of Mars) plays Emma, Colin McFarlane (Alien Voices, Voyage of the Damned) Terrence, and Miranda Raison (Tallulah, Daleks In Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks) Kate in the new three-episode series of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, based on the books by Douglas Adams. The transmission date and time are yet to be confirmed, but it is currently due to start on BBC Four during the week beginning Saturday 3rd March. [BBC Media Centre]

The theatrical version of The King's Speech, featuring Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill and which premiered in Guildford earlier this month, is to transfer to Wyndham's Theatre on Thursday 22nd March for a four-month West End run, following its provincial tour. [BBC News, 17 Feb 2012]

John Simm is appearing on stage as Jerry in Betrayal by Harold Pinter at The Crucible in Sheffield from Thursday 17th May to Saturday 9th June. [@john_simm]

Just opened in the West End - appropriately enough at the Noel Coward Theatre - is Hay Fever, Coward's classic comedy of bad manners, with Lindsay Duncan (Adelaide Brooke in The Waters of Mars) leading a cast that also includes Kevin McNally (Hugo Lang in The Twin Dilemma), Olivia Colman (Mother, The Eleventh Hour),and Sam Callis (Security Guard, Bad Wolf). It is on until Saturday 2nd June. [Broadwayworld.com, 17 Feb 2012]

Brian Cox (Voice of Elder Ood, The End of Time: Part One) and Ron Donachie (Steward, Tooth and Claw) are to star in a new three-part TV comedy called Bob Servant Independent. Set in Dundee and airing on BBC Four later this year, the show's origins lie in the hit BBC Radio Scotland comedy The Bob Servant Emails and the best-selling Bob Servant books, and will see the title character, played by Cox, bid to become the MP for Broughty Ferry. [BBC Media Centre, 16 Feb 2012]

Ronnie Corbett has received his CBE from the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace. As reported previously, the comedian, who played Ambassador "Rani" Ranius in the 2009 Sarah Jane Adventures special for Comic Relief, was recognised in this year's New Year Honours list for services to entertainment and charity. [BBC News, 16 Feb 2012]

The latest Doctor Who crewmember that can be followed on Twitter is James Strong (@jimmystrong); the David Tennant-era director's work has most recently been seen on screen in Law and Order UK and Downton Abbey, and the film United (which also featured Tennant).

In Memoriam

Fight choreographer and fencing Olympian Bob Anderson has died aged 89. He had just one role in Doctor Who - that of Fighting Guard in episode 4 of The Enemy of the World - but achieved great acclaim in the film industry, working with - among others - Errol Flynn and coaching Charlie Sheen and Johnny Depp. Most notably, perhaps, he played Darth Vader in fight scenes in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, standing in for Dave Prowse. [The Stage, 14 Feb 2012]

David Tennant was amongst the stars gathered together for the annual Ultimate Pub Quiz, a charity event organised by Centrepoint for homeless young people in London. John Raynham, head of fundraising, said: "We can't thank the teams, celebrities and everyone who makes this event possible, enough for all they do. With youth unemployment at over 1 million, things have probably never been tougher for the young people we support. But thanks to our supporters' generosity, we can carry on working with them to achieve the two most important things they need to leave homelessness behind: a job, and a home of their own." [Press Association, 2 Feb 2012]

Eve Myles talks about the highs and lows of being in a cult show: "The high is the response from the fans – there’s no bigger high. I used to be scared of doing signings and going to conventions. Then, when I started to do them, I enjoyed it. Meeting people who are so loyal to the show gives you a massive boost. The lows all stemmed from the fact I was worried people might just see me as the Welsh action girl who plays Gwen Cooper but things like this play [All New People] can change that perception. Torchwood has taken me from Cardiff to London and LA, and I’m eternally grateful to it." [Metro, 2 Feb 2012]

Eve's Torchwood co-star Kai Owen is to appear in As You Like It by Terry Hands at the Mold Clwyd Theatr Cymru. The actor will play court wrestler Charles, and has had to train for scenes with fellow actor Alex Felton (Orlando): "We've been wrestling hard for the last few weeks. Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, the fight director, has been training both myself and Alex, so the moves are getting nice and sleek. I've never wrestled before, other than doing stage combat at drama school. I'm not a fan, though I do follow boxing. Rugby is the closest I get to contact sports. Alex is taller than me and leaner – he's a very good-looking boy! I think there may be some topless scenes. You will have to wait and see what we decide to do!" [Daily Post, 3 Feb 2012]

Arthur Darvill has been announced as the voice of Sam the Penguin in a new animated short film. The project is being funded through donation, with regular updates via Facebook and Twitter. About the film: "Penguin" is the comedic tale of Sam, a young male penguin in the human world. He's just like us, he has a job, friends, and what makes him so similar to the humans is his love troubles. After being rejected by a potential girlfriend for reminding her too much of a "pet", this drives Sam on a journey of self-discovery where he tries to determine whether the dating world really is for him. [Facebook, Bleeding Cool, 2 Feb 2012]

You can also catch Arthur on BBC Radio 4 this afternoon (Sunday 5th) starring as Lemuel Gulliver in a new three-part adaptation of Gulliver's Travels. [BBC Media Centre]

Tom MacRae described the environment created for his interactive event, The Crash of the Elysium, which features as part of the London 2012 Festival in Ipswich: "Once you enter a Punchdrunk show, the laws of physics are switched off until you leave again. There is no stage, no comfy seating, no division between the world of the audience and the world of the show. You are at the heart of the action, you drive the story forward. “No two shows will ever be the same, no individual adventure will ever be repeated. The madness and brilliance of Doctor Who could not find a better theatrical partnership than Punchdrunk." [East Anglian Daily Press, 2 Feb 2012]

Janet Fielding (Tegan) is campaigning on behalf of a project to save Ramsgate's Motorhouse Museum from being auctioned off and potentially demolished. Project Motorhouse aims to redevelop the rundown building as an arthouse cinema and flexible modern theatre space. [Isle of Thanet Gazette, 3 Feb 2012]

Ian McNeice, who has played Winston Churchill in four episodes of Doctor Who, is reprising the role on stage in The King's Speech, which received its theatrical world premiere in Guildford, Surrey. It is there until 11th February and then goes on tour to Nottingham, Bath, Brighton, Richmond and Newcastle. [BBC News, 3 Feb 2012]


As previously reported, a longer interview with Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred conducted by Shadowlocked has now been made available on the Minister of Chance website.

Though voted the most stylish man in September, Matt Smith didn't quite make the grade for being the best-dressed in the latest poll results from GQ readers; the actor came in at third place, behind footballer Mario Balotelli and rapper Tinie Tempah. [GQ, 30 Jan 2012]

David Tennant was named best actor at the inaugural BBC Audio Drama Awards, which he also hosted. He won the honour for his portrayal of Franz Kafka in the Radio 3 play Kafka: The Musical, which was written and scored by Murray Gold. Also at the event, Stephen Wyatt won the Tinniswood Award for the Radio 4 Afternoon Play Gerontius. Despite being nominated for the best actress award for the role of Margaret Rutherford in the Radio 4 play A Monstrous Vitality, June Whitfield lost out to Rosie Cavaliero. [BBC News, 29 Jan 2012]

Sophie Aldred has joined the ranks of the Twitterati! In her first tweet she joked: "With my arm twisted behind my back, I have been forced to sign up to Twitter by @notdangle, @scott_handcock, and @robbfrank at @bigfinish." People can follow her here.

Meanwhile, Tree Fu Tom - a new CBeebies animated fantasy action adventure series featuring the voices of Tennant and Aldred - will receive its premiere at the BBC Children's Television 10th Anniversary event at the Salford MediaCityUK Studios on 18th February. [TennantNews, 27 Jan 2012]

Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are scheduled to appear at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in August, presenting a Sherlock Masterclass alongside the show's producer Sue Vertue. (Vertue is married to Moffat - they first met at the 1996 Television Festival!)

Arthur Darvill stars in a new three-part radio dramatisation of Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift. The Radio 4 series, which will feature all four of Gulliver's voyages, starts on Sunday 5th February at 3pm. Also appearing in the adaptation are Matthew Gravelle, Richard Nichols, Claire Cage, and Ewan Bailey.

Eve Myles is returning to the stage in the play All New People, by and co-starring Zach Braff. It will be at the Manchester Opera House from 8th to 11th February, the King's Theatre, Glasgow, from 14th to 18th February, and the Duke of York's Theatre, London, from 22nd February to 28th April. Meanwhile, in an interview with Cultbox, she told of her hopes that Torchwood will be back in some form or another. "Nothing's going to happen in 2012, I know that much for sure. But who knows what will happen in 2013? Maybe a movie, to kinda draw a line under it. We've got such an outstanding loyal fan base. They deserve Torchwood to go ahead with something else to draw a line under it, for the fans to have a bit of closure," she said. Myles's previous stage appearance was some six and a half years ago at the National in Henry IV with Michael Gambon.

John Barrowman is a guest on the final edition of the current series of Channel 4's topical entertainment show Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Friday 3rd February. It airs at 10.30pm - half an hour after the end of the episode of the BBC One series Hustle in which he also appears, as previously reported by this site.

Sylvester McCoy lends his vocal talents to a new release from The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing; the actor has provided a spoken introduction to the album This May Be The Reason Why The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing Cannot Be Killed by Conventional Weapons, setting the tone for "the parallel Victorian past imagined on the eleven tracks". [Alison Bateman/Work Hard PR]

Nicolas Winding Refn, director of the movie Drive, commented: I would have loved to direct Doctor Who but they didn’t want me — they turned me down last year. Maybe if they revive Blake’s 7 I could do that. I love it. It’s great. That could be fun to update. [Shortlist, 27 Jan 2012]

Russell T Davies (writing the new children's series Aliens vs Wizards) comments on television output for children: "I am passionate about children's television, but it is, as ever, an endangered species, under threat. The most shocking thing I have seen is that, apparently unnoticed, five years ago ITV dropped children's programmes. There is now the complete absence of children's programmes made by ITV on CITV. It is amazing to me, when I contrast it with all those people who were furious about cuts to BBC local radio, and they were immediately reversed. I am also amazed that people don't recognise the talent, genius, of children's writers, for example, Andrew Davenport. The creator behind Teletubbies and In the Night Garden is up there, in my opinion, with Tom Stoppard, Samuel Beckett, but no one puts him there. It's the same with Jacqueline Wilson, whose books have led to the wonderful Tracy Beaker dramas." [Guardian, 28 Jan 2012]

Writer Rob Shearman will be interviewed at the Writers and Readers Week in Wellington, New Zealand on 12th March, which forms part of the International Arts Festival. Organiser Anne Chamberlain said: "He wrote the Dr Who episode that re-introduced the Daleks. So, we're screening that episode and then we're going to have Robert talk. That will draw a completely different audience, I suspect, to the usual Writers and Readers audience." [Stuff, 26 Jan 2012]

Mark Sheppard (Canton, The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon) is due to present the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular in Melbourne, Australia next weekend; speaking on the music, the actor said: "I've been connected with several shows that have had fabulous incidental music as well as score, and it's such an important part of the package as a whole. You watch a show like Doctor Who without music and there's a big difference. And what's amazing is when you isolate the music and hear it performed, it's even grander. It adds another dimension." [Herald Sun, 30 Jan 2012]

A trailer for the new David Tennant film The Decoy Bride has now been released; the film goes on release from 9th March. [IFC Films]