Blue Peter Summary, Screencaps - Updated

Below is a collection of screen grabs from today's Blue Peter which featured a live appearance by Christopher Eccleston and an interview with Billie Piper. (Of note, the photo of Eccleston scratching his ear is actually him noting the Ninth Doctor doll "has his ears!") (Thanks to Gavin Worby, Richard Bignell)

Updated 21 March 2335 GMT: Here also is a summary of the events of the day on "Blue Peter" courtesy our reporter John Bowman:

Children's magazine programme Blue Peter featured Doctor Who extensively today (Mon 21 Mar, BBC1, 4.55pm GMT) - and not surprisingly, as the editor, Richard Marson, is a major fan and the show has always had a close relationship with it. Possibly the most interesting thing about it was the announcement by co-presenter Matt Baker that there would be a full behind-the-scenes report on Doctor Who "later this summer".

Billie Piper was supposed to be on the show with Christopher Eccleston but was unable to make it as she was unwell, the programme's presenters said. The show was preceded by the Rose "I've got a choice" trailer and then it launched into the Blue Peter titles but with the Doctor Who theme playing over it instead of the usual hornpipe signature tune, plus clips from the new series. Eccleston then appeared in the TARDIS, which was followed by the "trip of a lifetime" trailer, then it was back to the studio and Eccleston giving a description about the Doctor and the TARDIS - no doubt for the benefit of the majority of viewers for whom Doctor Who is a new phenomenon.

Instead of having Piper interviewed in the Blue Peter studio, a pre-filmed insert was shown, with Matt Baker talking to her during filming on set. It was difficult to make out which episode they were working on - possibly episode 4, as Matt later said he had a part in that episode. The clapperboard said it was a Joe Ahearne-directed episode and indicated that filming was taking place on 3 November last year. The clapperboard also had a crudely drawn Blue Peter ship logo on it. In the insert, Piper described the character of Rose and how she and the Doctor educated each other. Clips were shown from Rose, including her entering the TARDIS for the first time.

Back in the studio, which had the Face of Boe, a clip from Spearhead from Space was then shown, and Eccleston defended the production values of the old shows. Talking about taking over the role, he said he was very excited about it and that he "felt ready to do something which had that kind of responsibility", having been an actor for about 18 years. He also praised the scripts, which he said were "so strong". Eccleston then talked about the reasons for the Doctor having a battered leather jacket, saying that it was scripted by Russell T Davies, who thought it would be good because it was quite practical as the Doctor was a traveller, and the jacket is tough and it is a very physical role.

Mention was also made of Davies writing in to Blue Peter some 25 years ago suggesting they organise a competition to create an alien for the series. Asked what the hardest thing about filming Doctor Who was, Eccleston said it was "the fact you don't have any life". He said that not only were there the 12-to-14-hour days of filming but he then had to learn his lines at night because of his lead role. He said it was an honour and privilege but it took over your life.

Also featured on the show were Doctor Who models made by a viewer, including one of Eccleston and one of Piper, plus a compost bin in the shape of a Dalek, which was made by two other viewers. Details of how to make one of these compost bins would be shown in a future programme, the presenters said.