A roundup of competitions that readers may enter over the next couple of weeks:

It was inevitable that within moments of Peter Capaldi's announcement of his departure from Doctor Who fans and media would speculate on who would take over as lead actor on the show across social media - and commercial betting would begin!

This morning, William Hill currently place Ben Whishaw as favourite, at 6/1: the actor is probably best known worldwide as the character of Q in the Daniel Craig era of James Bond films, or for the younger audience as the voice of Paddington Bear in the 2014 film (and this year's sequel), and on recent television in London Spy . Next up is Richard Ayaode at 8/1, the quirky comic actor/director is best known in the UK for The IT Crowd, his travels around the world in Travel Man, and will be the host of the revived series of The Crystal Maze this year. Also at 8/1 is another name long-associated with Who-odds, Rory Kinnear (another modern James Bond stalwart as Bill Tanner), and Rupert Grint (or as most people know him, Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films!). The first actress on their list is Broadchurch's Olivia Colman at 20/1 - though ITV's Good Morning Britain reported that Miranda Hart was in fourth place at 8/1. The current list can be found via William Hill's special bet "To Replace Peter Capaldi as the next Doctor Who?".

Both Betfair and Paddy Power offer up Sherlock's Moriarty, Andrew Scott, as their joint favourite, alongside Ben Daniels (Law and Order UK, House of Cards, Star Wars: Rogue One), and Lara Pulver (Spooks, Sherlock).

During an item on the departure of Capaldi on BBC's Breakfast this morning, viewers' suggestions were read out, including names such as Hayley Attwell or Eddie Redmayne, Colin Salmon, David Harewood, Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson, and Danny Dyer.


Anticipation will of course continue until the eventual new Doctor is announced by the BBC - how and when this might be is unknown at present (Capaldi's announcement in 2013 took place on a special live television programme!), but may be held off until the last series starring Capaldi has been broadcast - it will be on air between 15th April and 1st July (barring pre-emptions such as for the Eurovision Song Contest), with filming for the next series under the helm of new lead writer Chris Chibnall expected to commence not long afterwards.

Update 1st Feb: the Radio Times has reported that filming for Series 11 would not commence until Spring 2018, so an announcement of a new Doctor might not occur until next year!

Class Episode Seven, The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did had an audience of 0.76 million viewers for its debut on BBC One, according the unofficial overnight figures, a share of 8% of the total TV audience.

The rating was fractionally up on the overnight figures for last week's episode. The programme was outrated by by Newsnight on BBC Two, which had 0.79 million, but it beat Through the Keyhole on ITV which had 0.65 million.

The series concluded with Episode Eight, The Lost, which followed at 11.35pm and had an audience of 0.26 million, a share of 4.7%. This episode was beaten in its timeslot Hospital on BBC 2 with 0.33 million, and marginally by The Chase on ITV which also had 0.26 million.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for episodes 3 and 4 of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include details of those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 3, Nightvisiting, which was broadcast at 10.47pm, had a confirmed audience of 0.79 million viewers, a 7.5% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is actually lower than the initial overnight figure. This can happen as the overnight figures are just an estimate based on the scheduled timeslot. The final figures are the accepted official figure for the episode. The programme won the timeslot with BBC Two's Newsnight getting 0.69 million watching. An additional 0.29 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October.

Episode 4, Co-Owner Of A Lonely Heart, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.31pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.34 million watching, a share 5.2% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.82 million. Episode 4 increased its audience by 21% over the initial figure. Around 250,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer.

BBC America have announced that Doctor Who returns to the channel on Saturday, April 15 at 9/8c.

The announcemnt follows the news from the BBC that the series will return to BBC One on the same day, for Peter Capaldi's last run as The Doctor.

The Doctor Who broadcast will be followed by US premiere of the Spin-Off Series Class at 10/9c.

Peter Capaldi has announced that he is to leave Doctor Who at the end of the current production run, with his final appearance coming in this year's Christmas special episode. A new actor will then take on the role for Chris Chibnall's first season as showrunner in 2018.

The news came during this evening's special edition of the Jo Whiley show on BBC Radio 2, "An Evening With Peter Capaldi." Capaldi said
Under Capaldi's reign as The Doctor, the show has expanded globally; he took the series on a world tour and has drawn record ratings in BBC America, Canada, and Latin America.

Peter Capaldi's final series also marks writer and executive producer Steven Moffat's last. He said Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, said Brian Minchin, Executive Producer said: There is no news yet on when or how the next actor to play the role will be announced, nor of course any indication of who the 13th Doctor might be.

Capaldi's final series as the Doctor, the tenth since the return of Doctor Who in 2005, will begin transmission on BBC One on Saturday 15th April.

Capaldi will be joined in Series 10 by new companion Pearl Mackie (Bill), and Matt Lucas (Nardole) with guest appearances to come from David Suchet and Michelle Gomez. He has starred alongside Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald, Alex Kingston as River Song, Ingrid Oliver as Osgood, as well as Keeley Hawes, Tom Riley, Frank Skinner, Maisie Williams, Joivan Wade and many more. Capaldi's Doctor has fought Daleks and Davros, Cybermen, Zygons, new monsters like the Veil and old foes the Time Lords.

Big Finish Productions have won the award for the Best Online/non Broadcast drama in the 2017 BBC Radio Drama Awards.

The team won for Absent Friends, the first part of the Eighth Doctor series Doom Coalition 3, releaed in October 2016.

The awards, which have been running since 2012, celebrate the range, originality and quality of audio drama on air and online and recognise the creativity of actors, writers, producers, sound designers and others who work in the genre. Big Finish previously won the award in 2014 for another Eighth Doctor story Dark Eyes.

The winners were announced this evening, at a special ceremony hosted by Sir Lenny Henry and Director of BBC Radio and Music Bob Shennan in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House, London.

Vincent and the Doctor actor Bill Nighy was presented with the Special Award for Services to Radio Drama by Amelia Bullmore, recognising his tremendous contribution to audio drama over his career. Memorable highlights span from playing Sam Gamgee in The Lord Of The Rings in the 1980s to his regular appearances now as the actor-turned-detective Charles Paris, with appearances also in Cigarettes And Chocolate by Anthony Minghella, Private Lives with Helena Bonham Carter along with untiring support for the genre in general.

Bob Shennan, BBC Director of Radio, said:

Peter Capaldi will be a guest on BBC Radio 2's Jo Whiley show tomorrow evening (30 Jan) at 8:00pm (GMT), "picking his favourite tracks and filling us in on all the latest news from the Doctor Who set.".

In addition, Tuesday's show will be dedicated to music that has appeared in Doctor Who, including groups such as The Beatles, The Streets and The Chordettes.

Both shows will be available to listen to worldwide via the BBC iPlayer.


David Tennant appeared on the show to chat about his experiences of being the Doctor back in November 2013, during the show's 50th Anniversary celebrations.

The actor John Hurt has died at the age of 77.

John Hurt, the man who played the missing regeneration of the Doctor, the War Doctor, was one of the most respected actors of his generation. Over a 50 year career, he played some of the most memorable characters in British Film and television, dominating the profession with his rich voice entrancing audiences. His career earnt him two Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe Award, as well as four BAFTA Awards.

John Hurt was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire on 22nd January 1940. He trained at the Grimsby Art School, before winning a scholarship allowing him to study at Saint Martin's School of Art in London. In 1960, he won a scholarship to RADA, where he trained for two years.

His first film was The Wild and the Willing but he made his mark in Fred Zinnemann's A Man for All Seasons playing Richard Rich. His portrayal of Timothy Evans, in 10 Rillington Place, the true story of an innocent man hanged for murder, earnt him his first BAFTA nomination.

He won a BAFTA playing Quentin Crisp in the TV play The Naked Civil Servant, produced by ex-Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert, a role he would reprise in the 2009 film An Englishman in New York. He won further plaudits in the 1976 series I Claudius playing the psychotic Roman emperor Caligula.

In 1978 he won his first Acadamy nomination for Midnight Express, losing out to Christopher Walken, but for which he won a Golden Globe and a second BAFTA. His unique voice graced the animated films Watership Down and Lord of the Rings. In 1980 he played John Merrick in The Elephant Man earning him his second Acadamy nomination. The same year he came to a gruesome end as Kane in Alien, and four years later he played Winston Smith in the film adaptation of the Orwell classic set in that year Nineteen Eighty-Four.

He had roles in the Harry Potter films and the Merlin TV series and played the MP Alan Clark in The Alan Clark Diaries. Hurt recently starred in Oscar-nominated biopic of President John F. Kennedy's widow, Jackie, which is currently showing in cinemas.

In 2013, at the age of 73 he made his debut in Doctor Who, playing The War Doctor, a character invented by show-runner Steven Moffat to fill the gap in the series 50th Anniversary story, The Day of the Doctor, when it became apparent that Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston did not wish to take part.

Moffat later told Radio Times Hurt accepted the offer almost immediately, giving him a place in the series history as one of the rare breed of actor to have played The Doctor. Hurt would return to the role for Big Finish in 2015

In 2015 Hurt received a knighthood from Her Majesty The Queen for services to drama, to add to the CBE he received in 2004.

John Hurt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 but was later given the all clear. In an interview last year he said he had no fear of death. John Hurt was married four times. He is survived by his wife of 12 years Anwen Rees-Myers, and his two sons Alexander and Nicholas.

Titan Comics have released details of the comics coming in the first half of February.

The first week sees the latest in the Twelfth Doctor series. The following week sees the latest in the Eleventh Doctor Series as well as the explosive second arc of Torchwood. The series, written by John Barrowman with co-writer Carole Barrowman, unites the team with comics legend Neil Edwards.

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ON SALE FEBRUARY 1

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TWELFTH DOCTOR #2.14

Writer: Robbie Morrison
Artist: Rachael Stott
COVER A: Claudia Caranfa COVER B: PHOTO COVER C: Matt Baxter

ON SALE FEBRUARY 8

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TORCHWOOD #2.1

Writer: Carole Barrowman, John Barrowman
Artist: Neil Edwards
Cover A: Blair Shedd Cover B: Will Brooks - Photo Cover C: Nick Percival Cover D: Staz Johnson Cover E: Simon Myers

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ELEVENTH DOCTOR #3.2

Writer: Rob Williams
Artist: Leandro Casci, Wellington Diaz
Colourist: Triona Farrell
COVER A: Claudia Caranfa COVER B: Will Brooks Photo COVER C: Matt Baxter COVER D: Simone di Meo

Class Episode Five, Brave-ish Heart had an audience of 0.66 million viewers for its debut on BBC One, according the unofficial overnight figures, a share of 7% of the total TV audience.

The rating is down on the overnight figures for last week's episode and the programme was outrated by both Newsnight on BBC Two, which had 0.73 million watching, and by Through the Keyhole on ITV, which had 0.70 million.

Episode Six, Detained, which followed at 11.35pm had an audience of 0.21 million, a share of 3.5%. This episode was beaten by Hospital on BBC Two, 0.33 million, by The Chase on ITV with 0.26 million.

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Consolidated ratings are now available for the first two episodes of Class, shown on BBC One two weeks ago, which include those who recorded the programme and watched it within a week.

Episode 1, For Tonight We May Die, which was broadcast at 10.46pm, had a confirmed audience of 1.06 million viewers, a 10.7% share of the total TV audience. The channel average for the timeslot is of 1.85 million. The figure is about 12% higher than the initial overnight figures. An additional 0.66 million have accessed the episode on iPlayer since its release on BBC Three last October.

Episode 2, The Coach with the Dragon Tattoo, followed immediately afterward, starting at 11.40pm, and had a consolidated audience of 0.55 million watching, a share 9.5% of the audience. The channel average for the timeslot is 0.64 million. Episode 2 increased its audience by 40% over the initial figure, implying many decided to goto to bed and watch the episode later. Around 300,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer.