BBC News have reported that Billie Piper will be returning to Doctor Who, portraying her original role of Rose Tyler.

The news was originally reported in today's Daily Mirror, which went on to say: The Time Lord, played by David Tennant, starts with Donna (Catherine Tate) as his helper, is then joined by Martha (Freema Agyeman) and then reunites with Billie's character Rose for the finale. A source said: "With Donna, Martha and Rose competing to assist him, Dr Who is going to be spoilt for choice." The paper also reported that the actress will be in at least three episodes of the new series. (also reported by The Hollywood News, Daily Record, Ananova, and Marie Claire)

The breaking news was actually reported on our very own Doctor Who Forum last night by fans present at filming in Cardiff, including photos of Billie Piper at the location. These can be found in the forum here if you really want to see them! Thanks to Brian_Damage and PMount for the reports.

Update: The official Doctor Who website has now confirmed that Piper is returning as Rose in Series 4, but adds, "Anything you may read elsewhere about when, how or for how long Rose returns to Doctor Who should be treated as pure speculation at this point."

Meanwhile, the BBC have also issued a general press release on the Christmas line-up, with the principal item being Doctor Who: "BBC One reaffirms its position as the one to watch with a formidable line-up of television's biggest and brightest award-winning stars. David Tennant stars as The Doctor in a very special edition of Doctor Who, alongside the one and only Kylie Minogue, who plays a waitress on the Titanic."

BBC NEWS reports Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper in the title role, is turning in to a ratings success for ITV2. The first episode of the raunchy series recorded one of the biggest audiences for the channel since it began in 1998.

It also scored higher ratings than the programmes showing at the same time on BBC Two, Channel 4 and Five.

The drama is based on an online diary, written under the pseudonym Belle de Jour, which became a best-selling book.

Billie Piper is currently working on a new drama series for ITV2 called The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.

The woman known as Belle de Jour published her diaries in 2005 and, despite many attempts to discover her true identity, remains anonymous. Her no-holds-barred account of her experiences as a prostitute is frank, funny and highly compelling.

The Secret Diary Of A Call Girl is the story of a 21st-century Moll Flanders (played by Billie Piper), an illuminating glimpse behind the scenes of the high-class sex trade. It is an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary young woman whose conventional family have no idea that she is leading a double life.

Actress Billie Piper has been socialising with real-life prostitutes to help develop her character. An ITV spokeswoman said: “They do have a dominatrix on set to advise. It's about prostitution and they want to get it right."

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl will air on ITV2 at 10pm on Thursday, September 27.

Early voting has been opened for the 2007 National Television Awards, sponsored by ITV. Both David Tennant and Freema Agyeman are among the long list of nominees for Most Popular Actor and Actress, respectively, while Doctor Who is once again up for Most Popular Drama.Torchwood also receives the Most Popular Drama nomination, while its star John Barrowman is nominated for Most Popular Actor. John Simm from the last three episodes of this past series is also nominated as Most Popular Actor for his work on "Life on Mars".

The NTA preliminary vote carries over to the final vote later in the year as the nominees' list is whittled down, with the presentation of the awards to take place in November. Doctor Who has been a big winner at the past two years' NTAs, the series taking both drama series awards and Tennant, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper all winning in their categories.

Voting takes place at the National Television Awards website.

Billie Piper and Chris Evans were today granted a "quickie" divorce in the High Court in London.

The decree nisi went through at a brief hearing at the Principal Registry of the Family Division.

This decree does not end the marriage. That will happen when the decree is made absolute, and a decree absolute can only be applied for when six weeks have elapsed following the decree nisi being made.

Neither Piper nor Evans was in court.

The couple married in Las Vegas in May 2001 and separated in October 2004.

Also reported at BBC News.

BBC News reports that Billie Piper is back on stage after illness forced her to miss two performances of her West End stage show Treats.

Signing autographs after the show, Piper reported she had been quite ill with gastric flu but was well and ready to work.

The BBC's Doctor Who website reports that Billie Piper will be on Top Gear this coming Sunday.

As mentioned earlier this month on Outpost Gallifrey, she will be taking to the test track in the "Star In A Reasonably Priced Car" feature.

The show is on BBC Two at 8pm and is repeated on Wednesday, March 7 on BBC Two at 7pm and on Saturday, March 10 at 7pm on BBC Three.

The Doctor Who site and the Top Gear website both carry a picture of Piper on the show, although it may not stay on the Top Gear site for long.

Digital Spy reports that Billie Piper made her West End debut in Treats on Saturday after a 24-hour delay caused by an illness.

It says her agent told the Sunday Express: "Billie felt pretty unwell yesterday and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. She was not kept in and was quickly out of bed and up and around."

Responding to speculation that Piper was pregnant, she added: "I am not prepared to discuss any other rumours about her health as she is now purely concentrating on her role in the show."

The Sunday Mirror said Piper - pictured above with Treats co-stars Kris Marshall and Laurence Fox, who is also her boyfriend - was rushed to hospital on Friday night after she collapsed in agony.

Digital Spy said the first show was due to take place on Friday but had been called off amid speculation that Piper was ill or stressed out. However, according to postings on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum, the show went ahead with an understudy taking her place.

Treats, which had been in previews, is on at the Garrick Theatre until May 26.

Outpost Gallifrey reported on Friday that Piper's official debut had been delayed, although conflicting dates were circulating. 

The Daily Mail says Billie Piper's West End debut in Treats has been delayed.

It reports there are fears the play - currently in preview at the Garrick Theatre - is not yet ready, although it is apparently supposed to be officially opening there next Wednesday.

London Theatreland says the play is scheduled to run from March 1 to May 26.

Earlier this week, Piper - who is appearing in Treats with boyfriend Laurence Fox - was pictured breaking down in tears and being consoled by ex-husband Chris Evans.

According to producers, however, the play has been delayed to avoid a clash with the RSC production of The Tempest, which stars Patrick Stewart and is also set to open - at the Novello Theatre - on Wednesday.

In an earlier interview, Piper was quoted as saying she was "stressed out" by the impending debut.

"It's really hard in the theatre and the level of concentration is terrible. I am still working it out and trying to find my feet . . . I am quite stressed and am having a tough time," she said.

No new official opening date has been given yet.

Also reported at Digital Spy