Piper Is Granted Divorce

Thursday, 31 May 2007 - Reported by DWNP Archive

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.

FILTER: - People - Billie Piper

Davies media speculation

Thursday, 31 May 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

MediaGuardian.co.uk, the media news-focused section of The Guardian newspaper's website, has today run a story(subscription link) by reporter Ben Dowell speculating about the possible future of Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies.

The piece, in reponse to a story published in this morning's edition of the tabloid newspaper The Sun, contains a quote from an unnamed "BBC drama spokeswoman", stating that: "Discussions have not begun so we cannot say if Russell will be involved or not" with Doctor Who beyond the end of the fourth series in 2008.

However, the report specifically denies The Sun's story that Davies and other staff on the show have a plan to end the programme at the conclusion of the fourth series. MediaGuardian quotes another source, a similarly unnamed "senior BBC Wales drama source", as telling them that:

"Russell has always said that he wouldn't be with the show forever and he has made no secret that the hours are quite exhausting... But there isn't any way it would be axed even if he left. He loves the show and he does feel that maybe it would benefit from some new blood."

The MediaGuardian states that "if Mr Davies does leave Doctor Who, the BBC will want to keep such a popular show going by bringing in a new executive producer to take over his creative responsibilities."

FILTER: - Russell T Davies - Production - Press

Storybook 2008 Update

Thursday, 31 May 2007 - Reported by Jarrod Cooper

Doctor Who Magazine has announced some of the more details for the Doctor Who Storybook 2008. Authors for this 80-page hardback summer release include Gareth Roberts (The Body Bank), Tom MacRae (Cats and Dogs),Robert Shearman (The Box Under the Tree), Justin Richards (Kiss of Life), Nicholas Briggs (The Iron Circle),Nicholas Pegg (Deep Water), and Paul Magrs (Zombie Motel). The comic strip for the book is Sunscreen, written byJonathan Morris and with art by Martin Geraghty. Other artists for the book include Brian Williamson, Andy Walker, Adrian Salmon,Ben Willsher, and with Alister Pearson doing the cover.

FILTER: - Magazines

Audience data - Season Three

Thursday, 31 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Ratings data seen by Outpost Gallifrey shows just how well Series Three is doing compared to the average drama on British television.

As well as collating the Appreciation Index, the BBC collects data on how audiences perceived programmes and asks a number of questions.

When asked if they made a special effort to watch, around 80% of the audience said they did, way above the average. Around 70% said they watched with a lot of attention and around 60% said the show felt original and different.

The programme also scored highly on the characters and storyline. It only scored lower than the drama average on whether people thought they learned something new.

Data is also available showing which audience groups rated the programme higher. So far this series females gave a higher mark than males and the programme was enjoyed most by those in the 35-54 age group. The highest regional rating comes from Wales.

For full details follow the link to the forum.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Tuesday Ratings

Wednesday, 30 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Tuesday's BBC Four repeat of the Season Two story The Idiot's Lantern was watched by 125,000viewers according to unofficial overnight figures. This was a 0.76% of the audience.

The programme was part of the BBC Four season on Children's Television.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

42 - Final ratings

Wednesday, 30 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Final figures released by BARB show that episode 7, 42 received an official final rating of 7.41 million viewers.

This made the programme the 5th most watched on BBC1 for the week and the 16th most watched on all British television.

On multichannel television, the Sunday repeat was watched by0.89 million viewers and was the 6th most watched multichannel programme for the week.

Final figures are much more accurate than the initial overnights and include those who recorded the programme and watched it within seven days.

Television Top Twenty (w/e 20 May 2007)

1 CORONATION STREET (WED 1931) - 10.54 - ITV1
2 CORONATION STREET (MON 1934) - 10.44 - ITV1
3 CORONATION STREET (SUN 1929) - 10.02 - ITV1
4 CORONATION STREET (MON 2030) - 9.99 - ITV1
5 CORONATION STREET (FRI 1934) - 9.56 - ITV1
6 EASTENDERS (MON 2000) - 9.09 - BBC1
7 EASTENDERS (FRI 2001) - 9.08 - BBC1
8 EMMERDALE (THU 1900) - 8.92 - ITV1
9 NEW TRICKS (MON 2102) - 8.66 - BBC1
10 EASTENDERS (TUE 1930) - 8.61 - BBC1
11 EMMERDALE (WED 1859) - 8.39 - ITV1
12 EMMERDALE (TUE 1903) - 8.17 - ITV1
13 EMMERDALE (MON 1902) - 8.15 - ITV1
14 HEARTBEAT (SUN 1959) - 8.10 - ITV1
15 EMMERDALE (FRI 1903) - 7.52 - ITV1
16 DOCTOR WHO (SAT 1914) - 7.41 - BBC1
17 EMMERDALE (SUN 1859) - 6.99 - ITV1
18 MATCH OF THE DAY LIVE (SAT 1240) - 6.98 - BBC1
19 TEN O'CLOCK NEWS (MON 2200) - 6.63 - BBC1
20 CASUALTY (SAT 2112) - 6.42 - BBC1

Multi Channel Top Twenty

1 EASTENDERS (Thu 2200) 1,447,000 - BBC3
2 KATIE AND PETER: THE NEXT CHAPTER (Thu 2100) 1,231,000 - ITV2
3 LOST (Sun 2200) 1,016,000 - Sky 1
4 UEFA CUP (Wed 1900) 931,000 - ITV4
5 LIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Tue 1930) 908,000 - Sky Sports
6 DOCTOR WHO (Sun 2003) 884,000 - BBC3
7 EASTENDERS FEUDS: THE BEALS V THE MITCHE (Fri 2030 871,000 - BBC3
8 EASTENDERS (Fri 2202) 782,000 - BBC3
9 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (Wed 2300) 762,000 - E4 In
10 HOLLYOAKS (Wed 1900) 759,000 - E4
11 HOME AND AWAY (Mon 1828) 741,000 - Five Life
12 LIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (Wed 1930) 732,000 - Sky Sports
13 MEN IN BLACK (TOON) (Sat 2321) 730,000 - ITV2
14 FILM: DEMOLITION MAN (Tue 2258) 713,000 - ITV2
15 HOME AND AWAY (Tue 1828) 710,000 - Five Life
16 HOME AND AWAY (Wed 1829) 694,000 - Five Life
17 AMERICAN IDOL (Fri 2131) 683,000 - ITV2
18 HOME AND AWAY (Thu 1828) 677,000 - Five Life
19 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE (Tue 2256) 670,000 - ITV2
20 TOP GEAR (Sat 2044) 664,000 BBC3

Source BARB

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

Torchwood - Channel 10 website

Wednesday, 30 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Network 10 in Australia has published a webpage trailing the arrival of Torchwood to the channel.

The site includes a guide to the series, including comments by the creator and executive producer, Russell T Davies, as well as a guide to the characters and a photo gallery.

In separate interviews for the site, both Eve Myles and Naoko Mori are questioned on how they think Australians will respond to Torchwood.

Outpost Gallifrey understands the series is likely to make its debut in Australia on Monday 18th June at 9.30pm.

Thanks to William Binnie and Matthew See

FILTER: - Torchwood - Online - Australia

Human Nature - AI figure

Tuesday, 29 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

Episode 8, Human Nature received an Appreciation index or AI figure of 86

This was the joint highest figure for the weekend, beating every other programme on terrestrial television, with the exception of CSI:NY on Channel Five.

The programme was once more in the excellent category.

On BBC3, where lower audiences usually mean higher AI figures, the Sunday repeat of Episode 7, 42 scored 89.

FILTER: - Ratings - UK - Series 3/29

New Radio Times

Tuesday, 29 May 2007 - Reported by Anthony Weight

The latest issue of the BBC's Radio Times listings magazine is released across the UK today, and in addition to all of its regular Doctor Who coverage it contains special praise for this Saturday's forthcoming episode, "The Family of Blood", selected as the magazine's 'Drama of the Week'.

"Those who dismiss Who as lightweight fluff should give tonight's story a try," writes reviewer Mark Braxton on the magazine's 'Today's Choices' page for Saturday. "The conclusion to a 1913-set two-parter, it's rich, complex, resonant and BAFTA-worthy on its own merits... it also contains the best description of the Doctor we've ever heard on the show. Take a bow, Mr Cornell."

In addition, a moment from the episode is selected as the magazine's 'Moment of the Week', described, again by Braxton, as "an awful shadow of things to come... It's a tiny moment, but one that's eloquence itself."

The magazine's regular preview feature this week focuses on an interview with guest star Jessica Hynes, who explains how she deals with questions from her son and his friends about her relationship with Doctor Who. "I have to explain that I'm already married and it's only a pretend snog," she tells interviewer Danny Scott. Hynes also maintains that the offer to appear in Doctor Who is "the phone call you always dream of getting."

FILTER: - Series 3/29 - Magazines - Radio Times

Season Three in Australia

Tuesday, 29 May 2007 - Reported by Marcus

ABC Australia have begun promotion for the broadcast of Season Three on the channel.

A webpage has been published promising new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak and some terrifying new monsters.

Thanks to Michael Allison

FILTER: - Online - Series 3/29 - Australia

Previous 10 Stories

Piper Is Granted Divorce

Davies media speculation

Storybook 2008 Update

Audience data - Season Three

Tuesday Ratings

42 - Final ratings

Torchwood - Channel 10 website

Human Nature - AI figure

New Radio Times

Season Three in Australia

This Week in Doctor Who

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