Why? Well even 5 years ago we knew that the Autons were returning to Doctor Who in Rose. As far as 2010 goes, the name of the new alien threat has only just been made available, and as far as we know, the Atraxi haven’t even been seen yet.

However, facts are leaking out - there is some background information to the story in the recent Telegraph feature, such as Steven Moffat describing the story’s setting (the fictional English village of Leadworth) as ‘…basically Trumpton.’

It is here that the TARDIS crashlands in the 60 minute episode - and with the Doctor yet to complete his regeneration, he’s effectively running on empty.

‘I thought it would be fun if, while he was still regenerating, he had to run around and save the world,’ Moffat says. ‘He’s barely out of the box when he realises: I haven’t changed my shirt yet and I’ve got 20 minutes to save the world.

‘It’s like trying to save the world with flu. And he does it with two minutes to spare.’

You’ll be pleased to know that Doctor Who probably returns on Saturday, 3rd April.

Doctor Who returns early in April 2010 with a new production team, new TARDIS exterior and interior design and a new companion - but most important is the Doctor himself, who we’ve so far only seen in brief trailer clips. Other than Matt Smith’s remarkable voice, we know very little.

A recent article in the Telegraph compares Smith’s Eleventh Doctor two a few of his predecessors, based set visits by the reporter concerned.

“Less prickly than Eccleston and without the slapstick of Tennant, he brings an air of muddled intensity that’s a bit reminiscent of, say, Tom Baker (though without the stripy scarf).”

New Executive Producer (foxy) Beth Willis meanwhile believes that Matt Smith a whole new quality to the Doctor.

‘You will be sitting there watching the rushes and Matt will do something and you’ll think, “Ooh, I haven’t seen the Doctor do that before” – and that is really exciting. It would be dreadful if he was going on and trying to do an impression of David.’

We’ll leave the last word on this matter to the Doctor himself - Matt Smith, who doesn’t dwell on the differences.

‘If you analyse it in that way, it ceases to be spontaneous and momentary,’ he says. ‘Ask me in nine months’ time, when it’s on TV.’

Interviewed during the shooting of first episode The Eleventh Hour in October (season 31 has been filmed out of sequence), Gillan feels that Amy and Matt Smith’s Doctor are a pair of outsiders who come together for adventure…

‘They’re two of a kind. They’re both a bit lost,’ she says. ‘Because Amy has no parents, she’s this Scottish girl in an English village. So they’re both lost souls that have found each other. And they both have a sense of adventure about them, and I think that’s what the Doctor loves about Amy.

She has that spirit in her, and that fire. She keeps him on his toes.’

Whatever the reason for their bond, we’re sure to find out through the course of the series.

The article features other information about The Eleventh Hour, stuff you might known (such as the destruction of the sonic screwdriver) as well as stuff you might not (the name of the alien menace in the first episode (the Atraxi, “an orbiting crowd of thuggish galactic policemen.”)

Matt Smith - interviewed in February - seems very happy with the result of The Eleventh Hour.

‘I think episode one has a lovely fairytale quality to it, which is a credit to Steven. I think it’s quite filmic, actually, and has a great story,’ he says. And then, almost in a whisper, he adds, ‘It’s a good start for us.’

Viewers and the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) won’t get to see the repaired TARDIS interior until late in episode one, The Eleventh Hour - but it is apparently three times the size of the previous interior, and was made necessary by the destruction of the previous interior.

Remarkably, the interior has multiple levels - an upstairs, a middle (main) section with a transparent plastic floor and even a downstairs, fully equipped with a swing, which was glimpsed in the New Year’s Day trailer on the BBC website.

Polished copper apparently adorns the walls, which the central column features a blown glass decoration and seating is in the shape of old car seats.

There’s even a nod to the past - the Eighth Doctor’s TARDIS, to be precise, with an old TV screen on an extendable trellis, with a 1980s computer keyboard and the curious addition of a trumpet speaker!

Of course these are just words - we won’t see the full glory of the TARDIS interior just yet, but in the meantime, we can let our imaginations run wild!

Kicking off with the first appearance of Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, Digital Spy quiz the Executive Producer on how long it took to write.

Matt’s first scene? you mean the one that appeared in The End of Time? oh I think it took me about ten minutes if that…!

Russell [T Davies] sent me the rest of the script…I just added on some fun banter for Matt!

A lesser man might have said “I’ll write it”. Russell said “no, you must write it”

Moffat was also asked if he “obsessed” over writing those few lines - chances are he probably felt at the time that he did, but things have since changed…

There are plenty of things for me to obsess over in Doctor Who, plenty more difficult things to worry about, trust me!

Remember River Song, the Tenth Doctor’s mysterious friend? She’s coming back! Alex Kingston, who plays her, tells Doctor Who Adventures all about it.

This week’s story guide is about the animated episode of Doctor Who, Dreamland. Find you what happens and who’s who, in the adventure that sees the Doctor discover aliens at a secret military base.

All this, and…

· FREE Doctor Who stickers

· Sontaran quiz

· The new series countdown begins!

· Subscription offer – subscribe today and save over 40%

Issue 157 of Doctor Who Adventures magazine is out Thursday 11 March, price £2.10

(Click image for large version)

Joining Smith on the show - set to air 8 days before his full debut as the Doctor on April 3rd - are Oscar winners Sandra Bullock and Emma Thompson, with music from Goldfrapp.

Smith follows former Doctor Who stars David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Billie Piper, John Barrowman and Christopher Eccleston onto the show, and is no doubt likely to be subjected to Ross’ “unique” interview style, which usually involved some flirting and insults.

Matt Smith’s first appearance on the final run of the popular Friday evening entertainment show takes place on Friday 26 March, 10.35pm.

Cribbins is of course the actor behind Wilf Mott - the man who knocked four times and set in motion the events that lead to the death of David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, and the birth of the Eleventh, played by Matt Smith.

“I haven’t seen him and I wish him the very, very best and I’m looking forward to him enormously. I’ve heard on the grapevine that he’s made it his own, which he had to of course after David, but I’m looking forward to it with a lot of anticipation.”

He added: “Stephen Moffat is down there writing and producing, and he wrote two or three of the last series, the very best episodes, really spooky - wonderful writer. There’s nothing wrong with it down there in Wales - they’re doing a fantastic job.”

This is of course the week in which you can help the veteran entertainer get back into the charts for the first time since 1962, by purchasing a copy of his single Right Said Fred - for just 70p or so on Amazon  (also available on iTunes and other sites) it’s got to be worth it, hasn’t it?

As previously reported, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan are quickly becoming the UK’s most photographed duo as promotional work on the first Steven Moffat-run series of Doctor Who continues - and with SFX194 on sale today, it doesn’t look like the new look Doctor and his companion have anywhere to hide!

“It’s the first 3D Doctor Who cover,” [SFX art bod] Jon tells us. “It’s new technology, and the new Doctor seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out.”

“Matt bounced in,” adds Catherine. “He really got into it. So much energy. He wouldn’t stop moving. He kept fencing with the Sonic into the lens and shouting!”

And Karen? “There was a trampoline at the side, and between shots she couldn’t resist having a bit of a bounce!”

This looks a great issue of SFX, featuring a huge nine-page feature on the new Doctor Who, and brand new interviews with Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and The Grand Moff - don’t miss it!

Great  news then - Doctor Who won the award!

14. TV Drama Programme
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Doctor Who

While it was the first time in 47 years that Doctor Who had taken this particular prize, former Rose Tyler actress Billie Piper took the “New TV Talent” award in 2006.

Despite this current success, there is every chance that this could be the last award for some time. With a change in leadership, Doctor Who’s recent award-magnet status could possibly be set to end…

(Via GallifreyNewsBase)