David Tennant back on BBC1 in Single Father

Former Doctor Who to play Glasgow-based photographer Dave who is raising a family by himself

David Tennant in his role as Doctor Who. Photograph: Rex Features

David Tennant is to return to BBC1 in the lead part in four-part comedy drama Single Father – his first starring role on TV since leaving Doctor Who.

Tennant will play Dave, a Glasgow-based photographer bringing up four children after the death of his partner, who falls in love with his best friend's wife.

Filming begins in Glasgow in March with further casting to be confirmed shortly.

Single Father has been written by Mick Ford and is being made by independent producer Red through BBC Scotland.

Peter Gallagher is producing, with Red founder Nicola Shindler and Anne Mensah, head of drama for BBC Scotland and independent suppliers, executive producing.

DWM#419

Released: 4th March 2010
Price £4.20

(by Conor tardis-base.blogspot.com)

TITAN MAGAZINES - NEW exclusive Torchwood comic-strip available to read online on the Watch channels website, to celebrate Alien Invasion Week on Watch. Find Watch on Sky 109 and Virgin TV 124.

The channel will be repeating Doctor Who and Torchwood episodes, beginning this Saturday and showing Children of Earth over five nights at 9pm with an exclusive intro to each episode from Captain Jack actor John Barrowman himself. You can READ THE COMIC online here.

A previous Watch exclusive comic from last year can also seen here. Also don’t forget that the new Torchwood Magazine is out next Thursday, stay tuned for the cover and details!

DWM Special 24 - In Their Own Words

On Sale: Thursday, 18th February 2010 price: £6.99.

Doctor Who Magazine 418

I think you agree, one of the BEST DWM cover ever!

On sale Thursday 4th February 2010

Bill Nighy to guest in 'Doctor Who'

Bill Nighy is to guest star in an episode of the new series of Doctor Who, Digital Spy can reveal.

The veteran actor will play the curator of a Vincent van Gogh exhibition in the episode, which is penned by Richard Curtis.

A set insider told DS: "It was a real coup to get Bill Nighy in Doctor Who, especially in Richard Curtis's amazing episode. Bill plays a van Gogh expert with some similar fashion choices to The Doctor himself."

The story is set both in the present day and 19th Century France. This Life actor Tony Curran was previously confirmed in the role of van Gogh.

The episode - the tenth in the new series - was filmed on location in Croatia and Cardiff over Christmas.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We do not comment on storyline or character speculation."

digitalspy

Happy Birthday Elisabeth Sladen!

Turns 62 today

Born in Liverpool in 1948. She is best known for her role as Investigative Journalist Sarah Jane Smith - companion to the third and fourth incarnations of the Doctor (1973-1976). Sarah Jane Smith is 3 years younger than Elisabeth Sladen herself (born May 1951 in the village of Foxgrove).

Reprising the role on screen for the 20th anniversary story - 'The Five Doctors', Peter Davison as the Doctor. A spin off pilot was commissioned in 1981 - 'K9 & Company'. This did not go on to become a series. 1993 Children In Need special -' Dimensions In Time', 1995's independently produced 'Downtime', alongside Nicholas Briggs (Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewert) and Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield), before returning to Doctor Who in 2006's - 'School Reunion'. Where she meets a rather young looking incarnation of the Doctor (David Tennant). Elisabeth Sladen returned again in the 2008 Series two part finale - 'The Stolen Earth' & 'Journey's End'. New Years Day 2010 saw her return for a possible final time to Doctor Who as a

New Years Day 2007 saw a new spin off - 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' which went on to 3 series and a fourth in production and to be aired later in 2010.

Sladen played Sarah Jane in several audio plays. Two of them were produced for BBC Radio, The Paradise Of Death (Radio 5, 1993), and The ghosts Of N-Space (Radio 2, 1996), together with Jon Pertwee and Nicholas Courtney. Big Finish Productions has also produced two series of Sarah Jane Smith audio adventures set in the present day, released in 2002 and 2006. Her daughter Sadie has also appeared in the audios.

Below - Third Doctor & Sarah Jane battling a Sontaran, Sarah Jane & Forth Doctor in secondary Console Room, The Sarah Jane Adventures, The Tenth Doctor with his Children Of Time.

Elizabth Sladen biography

Sarah Jane Smith character biography