According to the Guardian, Jane Tranter has commissioned more Doctor Who. "I want to make Doctor Who again," she said. She claimed to be shocked by the first episode's popularity.

"I told myself I'd be completely and utterly thrilled if it got 6.5 million, but there was a little voice inside whispering '4.5 million'," she admitted.

She also revealed that the show had scored a good 81 out of 100 in audience appreciation research.

While other writers are still to be confirmed, Russell T Davies will be penning the 60 minute Christmas special.

"It's fantastic news," said Russell. "It's been a tense and jittery time because the production team has been working on plans for Series Two - scripts are being written already! - without ever knowing if it would ever get made. We could all have ended up unemployed. But now we can put all those plans into action and get going.

"It's particularly good for BBC Wales. This is a major flagship show for the region, and their staff and crews are the best you could find. It's a tribute to them that Doctor Who is returning. Cymru am byth!"

Jane Tranter, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, has confirmed a new 13-part series of Doctor Who has been commissioned for BBC ONE, together with a 60-minute Christmas special written by Russell T Davies.

The BBC has also confirmed that Christopher Eccleston will not be returning as the Doctor.

Billie Piper will return as the Doctor's companion. Filming is likely to start early in the summer.

The BBC is currently in discussion with David Tennant for the role of Doctor Who.

Comedian Stephen Fry is in talks with the BBC about the possibility of writing an episode of Doctor Who.

The acclaimed author, director and actor may contribute to the series, which returns later this year with David Tennant as the next Time Lord.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We are in talks with Stephen about the possibility of him writing an episode of Doctor Who."

There were no plans for Fry to appear in the series, the spokeswoman added.

Fry was among the actors touted as a possible Time Lord when plans to revive the series were announced in 2003.

In a poll carried out by BBC Worldwide, MPs chose him as the person they most wanted to become the Doctor.

Asked by Radio Times magazine about the possibility of him playing the lead character in 2003, Fry said: "All I can say is I've done a couple of dramatised Doctor Whos for radio and internet and it may be that more things emerge in the future."

If he does write an episode, he will be the latest comic to do so.

League of Gentlemen actor and comedian Mark Gatiss wrote an episode of the recent series, set in Victorian times and featuring an appearance by novelist Charles Dickens.

Following the success of the first series of Doctor Who, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation have agreed to screen series two and the Christmas Special.

"We're delighted to have the CBC on board for another season," said Russell T Davies. "They have been the perfect partner on Doctor Who - sharing the editorial vision at the outset, then running a strong campaign from sexy posters to slick witty trailers, and best of all having the confidence to schedule the series in a big showy prime time slot.

"Once again Canadian viewers will be amongst the first to see the adventure. It all kicks off with a Christmas Special - just wait till you see what we do with Santa..."

Slawko Klymkiw, Executive Director Programming, CBC Television said, "It is great being part of such an innovative project with BBC. We've enjoyed great success with the first season of Doctor Who and are looking forward to season two with great relish."

David Tennant today steps into the role of the tenth Time Lord, as filming commences on the highly anticipated Christmas special and second series of Doctor Who for BBC One.

Billie Piper returns as the Doctor's feisty young companion, Rose Tyler, and together they will travel through time and space battling new and returning aliens and monsters.

David Tennant says of his striking new look: "I think we've come up with something distinctive that's both timeless and modern, with a bit of geek chic and, of course, a dash of Time Lord!

"Most importantly, Billie tells me she likes it - after all, she's the one who has to see me in it for the next nine months!"

Billie Piper, who will star alongside Tennant in the Christmas special and all 13 episodes in series two, says: "I'm thrilled to be stepping back into the role of Rose.

"We plan to make series two even bigger and better and challenge the viewers' imaginations like never before. Wait until you get a load of the new doctor!"

Russell T Davies, writer and Executive Producer, adds: "We were delighted and honoured by the first series' success, and we can promise new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak, and some terrifying new aliens.

"The Doctor and Rose are destined to meet Queen Victoria, an evil race of Cat Women, and the dreaded Cybermen. 2006 is going to be scarier than ever!"

Filming of the Christmas episode kicks off in London and continues in various locations across Wales, predominantly in Cardiff.

Christmas becomes a time of terror for Planet Earth, as the whole of mankind falls under the shadow of the alien Sycorax. Rose needs the Doctor's help, but can she trust a man with a new face?

Camille Coduri returns as Rose's mum Jackie and Noel Clarke as Mickey.

Penelope Wilton returns as Harriet Jones in the Christmas Special.

Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Little Britain) and Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly, Saturday Night Fever The Musical) are now confirmed to star in series two.

Elisabeth Sladen resumes her role as the iconic character Sarah Jane Smith, remembered by a whole generation of Doctor Who fans as the assistant to both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

The Christmas Special will be screened later this year and series two is scheduled for spring 2006.

Writers include Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Tom Macrae, Matt Jones and Stephen Fry.

The directors include James Hawes, Euros Lyn and Graeme Harper.

The producer is Phil Collinson; executive producers are Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies.

Doctor Who viewers are in for an extra treat when the new series launches next month.

In addition to watching 13 new, gripping and exciting adventures - with David Tennant as the Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose - viewers will be given the opportunity to download 13 60-second mini-episodes via their mobile phones, or stream them on broadband as part of the BBC's TV Plus trials.

The TARDISODES, which are part of the BBC's trials exploring ways of broadening the output of leading brands, offer the audience an exclusive insight into what's going on in the Doctor Who universe that week.

These individual and unique downloads will be available on Saturdays after the main show has gone out.

They will include footage that won't be seen on TV, and back story about the characters and adventures coming up inthe next episode - from meeting the Cat Women who can cure all illnesses, joining Mickey as he discovers some alien activity in a local school, to witnessing the Cybermen upgrade process!

Jana Bennett, BBC Director of Television, says: "What better way of travelling with the Time Lord than to have a TARDISODE come to you on your phone or PC?

"The TARDISODES are an exciting development, delivering mini-episodes which will let viewers access the vortex and explore new worlds before the Doctor arrives himself.

"We know that there is a huge appetite for Doctor Who and we want to make the whole experience bigger and better for viewers.

"These TV Plus trials will continue to help us understand more about the different ways in which viewers want to enjoy Doctor Who."

Created by the team behind Attack of the Graske, the highly successful Christmas interactive mission, the mini-episodes will have the same high quality elements as the main show.

TARDISODES co-producer Jo Pearce says: "Our aim, when planning the development of all these projects, is to make the interactive content around Doctor Who series two compelling, exciting and intriguing as well as enticing a broader audience to Doctor Who by positioning it on different platforms."

The mini-episodes are written by Gareth Roberts and directed by Ashley Way. Executive Producers are Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner (Head of Drama, BBC Wales). Producers are Sophie Fante and Jo Pearce.

Made in Cardiff, by New Media and BBC Wales, the TARDISODES are part of the BBC's TV Plus pilots, offering audiences a new way of engaging with BBC TV programmes to enhance their viewing experience.

The pilots include preview clips on mobile phones, programme premieres on broadband a week ahead of their TV transmission, and a rich interactive experience on-demand through broadband and digital TV.

Radio Times has pushed the boat out once again to celebrate the return of Doctor Who to our TV screens.

The new edition boasts a specially-shot fold-out cover and a 16-page supplement all about the new series, featuring photos, facts and interviews with David Tennant, Billie Piper and Russell T Davies.

The magazine also boasts a huge photo of all of the cast and crew involved in making the new series.