Who's that Girl?

Well, now we know who Smithy will be cavorting through time and space with in series 5!

From the BBC

Little-known actress Karen Gillan has been unveiled as the next assistant in Doctor Who. The 21-year-old will star alongside new Time Lord Matt Smith in the new series, to be broadcast next year.

Gillan has already appeared in the drama, having played a Soothsayer in The Fires Of Pompeii in the last run.

"I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. - I just can't wait to get started," she said. "The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it. Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him."

Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Piers Wenger said she brings "energy and excitement" to the role. "When she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special," he said.

Writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said they saw some "amazing actresses" but Gillan "walked through the door the game was up". He described her as "funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it".

"A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too," he added.

Gillan, from Inverness, developed a love for acting after attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in various school productions. At the age of 16, she decided to pursue her career further and left school to study acting at Edinburgh's Telford College.

She went on to secure a place at the Italia Conti drama school in London and landed her first role in the Scottish drama Rebus. Parts in Channel 4's Stacked, The Kevin Bishop Show and James Nesbitt's forthcoming film Outcast followed, but the role in Doctor Who is her first high profile to date.

Read the full article here

So what does everybody think of that then?!

Who in America

Hooray for all ye overseas!
This was taken from Variety

At BBC America, the Doctor is finally in. The net has acquired the five "Doctor Who" specials that will finish showrunner Russell T. Davies' run on the venerable Brit sci-fi franchise that starred David Tennant as the Doctor.

"The Next Doctor," the series' Christmas special, will air at 9 p.m. June 27, and the next spec ("Planet of the Dead") is set for July. Dates and times for the final three shows are to be determined, but the next incarnation of the show is already in the works, with Steven Moffat (who worked on the Davies version) as showrunner and thesp Matt Smith as the Doctor.

"Doctor Who" has aired on Sci Fi for four seasons, with BBC America preeming Davies' spinoff series "Torchwood" (which will continue) and running the parent show a season late. "Torchwood" will air as a five-episode cycle this year, as well, starting in July.

Ta-da!

Tennant's Hamlet

The high and mighty really DO listen to the people sometimes!

If, like me, you missed David Tennant's highly praised role as Hamlet, then do not fear any longer. Its been confirmed that its coming to our screens!

As reported by the Daily Mail:

David Tennant is bringing his Hamlet to the screen. Tennant famously played the Danish prince as part of a Royal Shakespeare Company ensemble at Stratford and in the West End.

The entire cast from that production will be joining him, including Patrick Stewart as Claudius, Penny Downie as Gertrude, Mariah Gale as Ophelia and Edward Bennett as Laertes. Gregory Doran, who staged the play for the RSC, will shoot the film version on location.

Doran's stage production became a phenomenon and every night in Stratford and London there were people queuing around the block for returns.

The joint RSC/BBC production will be shown first on BBC2 and there are plans being discussed for it to be released on DVD. As BBC2 controller Janice Hadlow noted, 'it's a wonderful opportunity to bring one of the great stage successes of last year to a wider audience'.

You can also read about this from the BBC or from the RSC

Hooray!

RTD talks Tennant's return

Following on from the press release, RTD gave a mini interview about Tennant's appearance in the Sarah Jane adventures.

You can watch this on the BBC news page here - and as far as I'm aware it should work for everyone, but let me know if not.

Enjoy!

DT in SJA - press release

And now its utterly official!

The BBC press office have released info on the David Tennant's appearance as the Doctor in the Sarah Jane Adventures, and it looks exciting!

Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Autumn as David Tennant makes a special appearance as The Doctor in CBBC's hit drama series The Sarah Jane Adventures with a starring role across two episodes.

Elisabeth Sladen, who plays Sarah Jane, says: "When I heard the news that David was going to be joining us I was absolutely over the moon. Not only has it made my day but it will also make the viewers' day.

"It's fantastic news that Sarah Jane is going to spend some time working with The Doctor again and is testament to just how successful this CBBC series is."

RTD, Executive Producer of The Sarah Jane Adventures, adds: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.

"And it's not just a cameo from David – this is a full-on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever."

The series includes 12 weeks of brand new adventures featuring a new alien race, the reptilian Veil and their enemies the Judoon, alongside an extraterrestrial girl that can make people play games against their will.

There will also be a living painting, the inhabitants of a supposedly haunted house, monsters who want to infect Earth with a strangely aggressive weed and a chance for Sarah Jane to find personal happiness with someone who could be the perfect person to complete her family.

So there we go!

In a similar article from DenOfGeek its hinted at that the episode with the Doctor's apperance will be the one where Sarah Jane gets married. Which seems to make sense in my mind - of course the Doctor would want to be around for that happy occasion!

Then again I could just be clutching at straws :)