David Tennant took over the role of the Doctor in 2005
Doctor Who has been named TV's longest-running sci-fi show, after 43 years and 723 episodes, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
"This achievement is all thanks to the remarkable production team who first created Doctor Who," said Russell T Davies, who penned the TV revival.
He also thanked the audience "who have kept it alive for all these years".
The series began on 23 November, 1963, and was revived in 2005 after 16 years off the screen.
William Hartnell played the original Doctor Who, with Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Peter Davison among those following in his footsteps.
Christopher Eccleston took up the mantle of the ninth Timelord last year - following the show's relaunch. He was replaced after just one series by David Tennant after Eccleston dropped out.
Guinness World Records editor, Craig Glenday, added: "This is a proud day for Doctor fans everywhere."
US series Stargate SG-1, now in its 10th series, holds the world record for "longest-running science fiction show (consecutive)".
It launched in 1997 and has run for 203 episodes without a break. Hit US series The X Files previously held the record, notching up 202 episodes.
For the first time in 28 years, Tom Baker is returning to the world of Doctor Who in a series of five thrilling audio adventures from BBC Audiobooks. Paul Magrs' Hornet's Nest series kicks off in September with The Stuff of Nightmares...
Featuring covers illustrated by Ben Willsher, with design concepts and the Hornets’ Nest logo by Kasterborous' own Anthony Dry, the series sees the Fourth Doctor teaming up with Mike Yates...
Responding to an advert apparently worded for him alone, Captain Mike Yates (retired) is reunited with a ghost from the past. But why has the Doctor, that mysterious traveller in Time and Space, sent for his former UNIT acquaintance? Trapped by a horde of vicious creatures in an apparently innocuous English country cottage, the two old friends are on the brink of an enormous adventure.
As the Doctor relates his recent escapades, it becomes clear to Mike that they – and the Earth at large – are facing an enemy of unimaginable power and horrific intent. The nightmare is only just beginning…
Produced and directed by Kate Thomas, the full cast is: Tom Baker, Richard Franklin, Susan Jameson, Daniel Hill, Michael Maloney, Rula Lenska, Clare Corbett, Christian Rodska, Susie Riddell, Jilly Bond and Stephen Thorne.
The Stuff of Nightmares will be available to buy from 3rd September 2009 priced at £9.78, with the remaining four stories due for release on:
2. The Dead Shoes – 8th October 3. The Circus of Doom – 5th November 4. A Sting in the Tale – 3rd December 5. Hive of Horror – 3rd December
The series will also be available as a download from www.audible.co.uk. Paul Magrs - whose work includes numerous Doctor Who books (Sick Building, Verdigris) the Iris Wildthyme character says of Tom return to the role:
“This is the first adventure with the Tom Baker Doctor since Logopolis. And it feels fantastic to write for him. I would say he's a brilliant mixture of everything the Fourth Doctor ever was. He's dark and sombre at times; other times he's gleefully macabre and mischievous.”
Fans eager to engage with the series before the release date should check out www.bbcshop.com/hornetsnest, where a dedicated page for the series will launch on 10th August. The page will contain exclusive content and material such as a Q&A with Tom Baker, photographs from the recordings, audio clips and a poll on Tom’s best moments as the Doctor.
John Simm will return as the Master in the two special episodes which bring David Tennant's era as the Doctor to a stunning conclusion. There's been speculation about Simm's involvement with the show but we can confirm he'll be back later this year, once again playing the Doctor's deadly nemesis.
Simm first appeared as the Master in Utopia, The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. All three episodes were written by Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies who also wrote his upcoming adventure.
The character debuted in 1971 and on-screen has faced all but the Second and Ninth Doctors. Davies' version of the Master saw him retain his wit and cunning but since Utopia he's been callous and charismatic, sick, psychotic and enormously likeable. In short, everyone's favourite megalomaniac.
At the close of Series Three we saw the Master gunned down by his wife and whilst lying in his enemy's arms, he refused to regenerate. The world believed he had died and the Doctor accepted he was the last of the Time Lords. But this is Doctor Who and you can't keep a good bad guy down!
We've yet to find out how he survived but we can promise we'll be bringing you an exclusive interview with John Simm and some brand new Master material later this year. Stay tuned!
If anyone wants to remain in the dark about the two specials which form the Tenth Doctor's finale, please look away now! Footage from the first of these episodes was screened during the Doctor Who panel at Comic-Con International, 2009, meaning details about the adventure are officially out there!
As we revealed earlier today, the episodes feature the return of John Simm as the Master. The Doctor's fellow Time Lord is sporting a different hair colour in the finale, working a striking, lighter look.
And the Master isn't the only familiar figure returning from Doctor Who's recent past. Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who wrote David Tennant's final episodes, confirmed that Alexandra Moen is back as Lucy Saxon, the character we previously saw in The Sound of Drums and The Last of the Time Lords. Although married to the Master she put a serious dent in their relationship by shooting him but what happened to her after the events of Series Three has remained a mystery, so far...
Russell further explained that footage from the finale screened at Comic-Con included the voice of Timothy Dalton as the Narrator. His exact role in the specials is currently undisclosed but Dalton is, of course, best known for portraying James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
One of the biggest cheers of the Doctor Who panel occurred when the trailer showed the face of Catherine Tate, last seen playing Donna Noble in Journey's End. Bernard Cribbins, who played her grandfather, Wilf, also features in the trailer which depicts a grim-faced Doctor walking
The wreckage it states BYZANTIUM (close up below). Could this be a reference to River Song's comment to The Tenth Doctor, "Crash of the Byzantium, have we done that yet?" (SILENCE IN THE LIBRARY, 2008)
Six months after Matt Smith was unveiled as the new Time Lord, the actor finally began filming scenes for his Doctor Who debut this week.
The 26-year-old actor and the doctor's assistant Karen Gillan, 21, were spotted on location in Cardiff filming their first scenes together.
A sneak peek of the new show, which won't be broadcast on BBC until 2010, gives fans a chance to see the Doctor's new costume.
New cast: Matt Smith (right) and Karen Gillan go through their lines on the location of Doctor Who in Cardiff, Wales
While departing Doctor David Tennant normally wore a plain brown suit with a long trenchcoat, Matt's uniform is more retro and slightly Science teacher-esque.
The new Doctor's costume is a brown tweed jacket, bow tie, rolled up trousers and black boots.
Karen, who plays Amy Pond, looked more modern in a baggy green jumper, grey tights and Converse baseball boots.
Getting to know you: Karen and Matt chat outside the tardis
Matt and Karen began filming the new series today, which will be broadcast on BBC1 in the Spring.
Arriving on set today, Matt enthused: 'I feel very privileged and proud to be part of this iconic show.
'The scripts are brilliant - I'm excited about the future and all the brilliant adventures I get to go on as the Doctor.'
The show's new writer Stephen Moffatt, who is taking over from Russell T. Davies, is equally enthusiastic.
He said: 'Matt and Karen are going to be incredible, and Doctor Who is going to come alive on Saturday nights in a whole new way.'
Departing David filmed his last scenes of Doctor Who in May, where he was reunited with former assistant Billie Piper, as well as his current helper Catherine Tate.
His final two episodes will be broadcast at Christmas, with viewers seeing David regenerate into Matt.
Matt was announced as the 11th Doctor in January after David announced his decision to depart.
The Northampton-born actor has signed a £600,000 three-year deal, nearly half the amount of David's £1million deal.
Scottish actress Karen was only unveiled as his new companion in May, amid reports ex-EastEnder Michelle Ryan and model Kelly Brook may take the coveted role.
Karen has featured in ITV’s Rebus and hospital drama Harley Street, as well as Channel 4 comedy The Kevin Bishop Show.
The young actress, who is 5ft 11in, has also modelled for designer Allegra Hicks at London Fashion Week.
She briefly appeared in Doctor Who in 2008 appearing as a soothsayer in the episode entitled The Fires of Pompeii.
Science teacher chic: The new doctor wears a tweed jacket, rose-coloured shift and rolled-up trousers
Surreal location: Fans will have to wait until Spring 2010 to see where the doctor travels to first.
This time it involves a real-life terrifying high-speed crash - but luckily he walks away from it with cuts and bruises.
The TV favourite, Captain Jack in BBC's Doctor Who offshoot Torchwood, lost control of his turbo-charged rally car in an 80mph smash.
Barrowman was helpless as the £120,000 Subaru PLUMMETED down a verged, FLIPPED over four times and narrowly missed a LAKE at the bottom of the hill.
Paramedics rushed to the scene to pull the shaken 42-year-old from the wreckage. They removed shattered glass from his EYE before he was taken to hospital.
The drama unfolded as Barrowman filmed a race for Channel Five's Fifth Gear in Powys, Wales. The show's presenter, Tiff Needell, 57, sat in the passenger seat.
The crash, screened on the show tomorrow, comes three years after Top Gear's Richard Hammond cheated death when his dragster crashed at 288mph.
Barrowman said: "I'm lucky to walk away unscathed. I got a ticking off from my mum afterwards."
The incident will feature on the next episode of Fifth Gear, which airs tomorrow at 8pm on Five.
Enjoyable: Tiff and John seemed to be having fun before the crash occurred
The pair were lucky to survive the high-speed crash, which saw the car flip over numerous times
Barrowman said: 'I'm lucky to walk away unscathed. I got a ticking off from my mum afterwards.'
Thankfully for his matinee idol looks, the Torchwood star was only left with cuts and bruises and nothing permanent.
The crash will be screened on tomorrow's Fifth Gear, which is shown on Channel 5.
Both men were wearing safety equipment to minimise any possible injuries sustained
These images were taken just before Barrowman lost control and show him veering round a steep corner
The cover for the 411th issue of Doctor Who Magazine features a picture of Tom Baker as the 4th Doctor on the front cover. The issue will feature exclusive interviews with Tom Baker and Nicola Bryant, take a look at what has made Doctor Who the popular show it is today, include more production notes from Russell T Davies, a summary of all the latest news and much more. It will be released in all good newsagents next Thursday, 23rd July, priced £3.99.
Filming on The Waters of Mars began on 23rd February, 2009 but its title was only confirmed at the close of Planet of the Dead, back in April. The trailer for this next adventure suggested a dark, exciting drama with the Doctor appearing to be on a futuristic base, threatened by some sort of water-based menace. The brief sequence of clips delivered a sense of danger and tension, heightened by the Doctor ominously noting, 'Water always wins'.
The feel of the special was confirmed by Executive Producer Russell T Davies. 'The next one up [The Waters of Mars] is very dark. It's already scarring me and we haven't even seen the proper edit yet!' Julie Gardner confirmed on Doctor Who Confidential that it would be set on Mars, which may sound obvious, but the Fourth Doctor adventure, The Pyramids of Mars, barely even featured the Red Planet!
Recent specials have boasted fantastic casts and on 19th February we learnt that The Waters of Mars would continue the tradition. Acclaimed actress Lindsay Duncan, whose credits include GBH, Rome and Spooks, will be playing Adelaide who we now know is 'head of Mars base'.
Lindsay Duncan said she was 'thrilled' to be involved, adding, 'I've never done anything like this before and I'm really looking forward to working with David Tennant and the Doctor Who team'. She's joined onscreen by Peter O'Brien who plays Adelaide's second in command, Ed.
The team for this special comprises Executive Producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner with Nikki Wilson onboard as Producer. Nikki previously worked as script editor on the series four story, The Poison Sky, as well as producing series two of The Sarah Jane Adventures. The Waters of Mars is co-written by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford, with the latter best known for his work on Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures. More recently he's written the forthcoming Doctor Who animation, Dreamland.
Doctor Who veteran Graeme Harper once again returns to direct. Graeme was behind the lens on The Caves of Androzani and The Revelation of the Daleks back in the 1980s and his recent episodes include the cracking season finales Doomsday and Journey's End.
So what can we expect from The Waters of Mars? There's the question of the prophesy the Doctor heard at the close of Planet of the Dead. His song ending? He will knock four times? Will the Doctor learn more on the Red Planet? And when we last left him, he was travelling alone. The Time Lord who once delighted in sharing the wonders of the universe was once again the 'lonely angel'. But judging from what we already know of the story, he won't have long to worry about loneliness. There will be action, danger... and an awful lot of running!