Episode Twelve of Series Four, The Stolen Earth has received a record breaking Audience Appreciation figure of 91. This is not only the highest score the programme has ever received, but is one of the highest figures ever achieved for a mainstream television programme.

Sunday's football was the most watched programme of the week making Saturday's Doctor Who the 8th in the list. This position may rise when corrected figures, including numbers for those recording the programme, are released by BARB in 9 days' time.

Sunday's BBC3 repeat got an overnight audience of0.78 million viewers. It was a 3.4% share of the multi-channel audience and the most watched programme on all multi-channel TV for Sunday.

Saturday's edition of Doctor Who Confidential was watched by 1.13 million viewers. The programme, which had a share of 6.8 %, was the most watched on multi-channel television on Saturday with double the audience of the second placed Poirot. The Sunday repeat had 0.53 million watching.

The British press has been full of comment and speculation following the broadcast of "The Stolen Earth" on Saturday. As might be expected, many of the articles published in the past couple of days contain spoilers for the series to date, so the rest of this report should not be read - and the links contained herein certainly not followed - if you have not yet seen series four in general or "The Stolen Earth" in particular.

Various newspapers carry reviews of Saturday's episode. Sam Wollaston of The Guardian felt that "It's going to be hard to top this episode. It had everything - Martha, Rose, the Torchwood lot, impending darkness, daleks - even cameos from Paul O'Grady and Richard Dawkins." Andrew Billen of The Times had mixed feelings - although he wrote that the series is "almost as pleased with itself as David Tennant's performance", he did concede that "For the first time for a while, I am actually looking forward to the next episode." Thomas Sutcliffe of The Independent was more critical: "My brain began to lock under the repeated assault of the kind of lines that could be scattered at random over any Doctor Who episode at all without seeming out of place: "But... that's impossible!"; "It can't be!"; "Exterminate! Exterminate!" Change the record, guys."

The viewing figures of the series are the subject of several other media reports. Both Digital Spy and theMediaGuardian mention Doctor Who's strong performance at the weekend in connection with the rival ITV1 channel achieving what is believed to be the lowest Saturday all-hours share in its history, with just 10.2% of the watching audience across the day, compared with 26.9% for BBC One. The Sunday Telegraph, meanwhile, turns its attention towards predicted ratings for next Saturday's climactic episode, claiming that the BBC expects 10 million people to watch "Journey's End".

The Sunday Telegraph's sister paper, the Daily Telegraph, has run a feature tipping Scottish film star Robert Carlyleas Tennant's successor in the role as and when he leaves the series. The Daily Mail has a similar story. The subject of the departure of David Tennant has become a hot topic of conversation after the cliffhanger ending to Saturday's episode: the Guardian's website features a blog posting from Stephen Brook speculating about whether a new Doctor is about to be cast, as well as another piece from Gareth McLean, praising the unexpected plot twist.

Finally, the Wimbledon Guardian carries a report of Catherine Tate opening a summer fair at the weekend, in aid of a local primary school. She was greeted by several children in Doctor Who-related costumes.

The latest issue of the BBC's Radio Times listings magazine, on sale across the UK from Tuesday, once again featuresDoctor Who as its cover story. The image - a larger version of which can be seen by clicking on the thumbnail picture at the bottom of this report - is a significant spoiler for the final two-part story of series four, so overseas readers should be aware, if they are avoiding spoilers, not to read on.

The cover is the 44th the Radio Times has granted Doctor Who in its long history, and the 7th this year alone, including the four alternative covers produced to tie in with the broadcast of "Partners in Crime". It comes only two weeks after the previous Radio Times cover feature, which tied in with Rose's return in the episode "Turn Left".

Featured within is an extensive article looking behind-the-scenes at the final episode of the series, "Journey's End". Interviewed are various members of the cast and crew, including actor Julian Bleach (Davros), who comments: "I knew this character, this Dalek world and everything from my childhood — that's so deep in my memory. But so strange as well, to be suddenly plunged into the middle of it." Russell T Davies says of the finale: "For all the spectacle, it's about character, in the end. It's an honour to write dialogue for David and Catherine – whether I'll ever get that chance again depends on what happens in this final episode."

Voyage of the Damned has scored the highest Australian ratings ever for Doctor Who in the modern era. According to David Dale 'Voyage' rated 1,248,000 viewers in the five major capital cities. The record breaking Christmas special, starring Australian Kylie Minogue, was only beaten in its timeslot by Channel Nine's 60 minutes which was the top-rating programme of the day with 1.8 million viewers ('Voyage' was the top ABC programme for the day and 7th overall). The previous highest rating Doctor Who episode for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was 'Rose' which scored 1.1 million Australian viewers back in 2005. As way of comparison, the ABC's top programme for the preceding week was 'Spicks and Specks' which received 1.35 million viewers.

The return of Doctor Who has also received some significant media coverage down under.
The Sydney Morning Herald gave 'Voyage' its show of the week and their online TV guide also gives the show a positive review while Kylie Minogue's return to acting has also received some local attention. The Sun-Herald gives 'Voyage' four stars saying there 'is a lot to love about this story, which is part Titanic, part-The Poseidon Adventure.'Melinda Houston of 'The Sunday Age' also previews 'Voyage', analysing 'the enduring sex appeal of the ever-changing Time Lord' noting that the Doctor 'loves smart women', is 'mature', 'saves planets', 'maintains a childlike sense of fun, is 'practical and hands-on', 'a man of mystery, and increasingly swahsbuckling' but perhaps 'most importantly, is kind. A little dotty and thoughtless occasionally, but immensely kind. And that, gentlemen, is a quality consistently underestimated by the Mars-dwelling gender, and valued immeasurably by we Venus types.'Ian Warden of 'The Canberra Times', who claims to have seen every series since 1963, says David Tennant 'is the best doctor there's been' even if he says we should 'respect' the show 'for being . . . easily the longest-running TV science-fiction pantomime in the world.' Meanwhile,Crikey TV commentator,Glenn Dyer, also describes 'Voyage' as 'the highlight of the night.'

As previously reported, the ABC has also confirmed on its online TV Guide that it is indeed showing Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown on ABC1 after each episode of Series 4 starting with "A Noble Return" on Sunday 6 July 2008.

Unofficial figures show that episode Twelve of Series Four, The Stolen Earth, was watched by 7.4 millionviewers, giving it a 38.3% share of the total television audience.

The programme was the highest rated on Saturday, beating Casualty by nearly 2 million viewers. BBC1 had a drop of over 3 million viewers when Doctor Who finished.

ITV1's highest rated programme of the day was Who Dares Sings with 3.7 million.

Doctor Who is currently the 7th most watched programme of the week. Final figures will be released by BARB in ten days time.

The official BBC Doctor Who website has put online a copy of a new trailer for the final episode of the current series. The trailer was first shown on BBC One television this afternoon, and features a speech from Davros intercut with brief excerpts from the next episode, as well as clips from last Saturday's cliffhanger ending.

The trailer is also available to view on the BBC's YouTube channel, here. As with all videos on the BBC's official website and YouTube page, these clips are only viewable by UK internet users.

UPDATE, 30 June: The trailer is now available on the BBC's Bebo page, and can be seen by viewers worldwide. Also available on the Bebo page is a clip of the last 30 seconds of "The Stolen Earth", including its cliffhanger; readers who have not seen "The Stolen Earth" should be warned that this contains majorspoilers.

Various members of the Doctor Who cast have been out and about promoting the forthcoming series-ending two-parter on British television this week. Things began on Tuesday, when Freema Agyeman appeared as an in-studio guest on children's show Blue Peter (see picture), talking about the programme and helping show viewers how to make their own Doctor Who board game. The episode also featured a report on Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones's turn as a Dalek in the forthcoming series finale, including a never-before-seen clip from episode thirteen. British broadband viewers can watch this edition of Blue Peter online on the BBC iPlayer.

On Thursday Bernard Cribbins, who plays Donna's grandfather Wilf, appeared on BBC One's early evening magazine programme The One Show, and an exclusive clip from the series was shown. Cribbins commented that he was interviewed for the role of the Fourth Doctor, but lost out to Tom Baker. The One Show is also available to view on the BBC iPlayer for British internet users.

On Friday morning, Freema Agyeman and Elisabeth Sladen appeared together on Richard Arnold's entertainment news show, part of the morning GMTV programming on ITV1. They discussed the forthcoming finale and verbally sparred with a Dalek who also featured in the studio!

On Friday afternoon, British-based American actor Michael Brandon appeared on husband-and-wife team Richard and Judy's chat show on Channel 4. Brandon enthused about his role in the forthcoming episodes, and another exclusive clip was shown.

A blog on the website of the American Wall Street Journal newspaper looks into why British fans are so excited about the forthcoming finale - spoilers are included, so be warned. The Toronto Star in Canada includes K9 in a run-down of famous "cute" science-fiction robots. The Scotsman, meanwhile, reports that BBC bosses are allegedly ready to offerDavid Tennant 100,000 pounds per episode to sign up for the fifth full series of Doctor Who.

The Stage entertainment industry newspaper previews tonight's episode in its Square Eyes column, saying that: "The Stolen Earth is an audacious yarn from the pen of Russell T Davies - it's like one of those cracking Marvel Comic team-ups that have Spider-Man, the X-Men and The Avengers all turning up in the same comic." The Scotsman also runs a preview, enthusing: "This crowd-pleasing episode is so relentlessly enjoyable I wouldn't be ashamed to run naked around Westminster Abbey roaring its praises to the rafters. Look for me on the news."

The current edition of the BBC's Radio Times listings magazine also praises the episode, making it their "Pick of the Day" for Saturday, with television editor Alison Graham commenting: "Even sensible adults in the audience might feel a tiny quiver of fear as the Daleks deliver their message to Earth in those unforgettable quivering voices: 'Exterminate! Exterminate!'." The magazine also has a brief interview with scientist Richard Dawkins about his cameo appearance in the programme, and a three-page feature on the return of the Daleks.

Website Den of Geek has interviewed Dalek voice artist Nick Briggs about various aspects of his Doctor Who career.

Gallifrey Conventions has announced the confirmation of Phil Collinson for his first-ever convention appearance in North America at the forthcoming 2009 Gallifrey One convention,Gallifrey One: 20 To Life, which takes place February 13-15, 2009 at the Marriott Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport.

Phil Collinson has been the producer of Doctor Who for the past four years, responsible for the day-to-day production of the series since its return to television in 2005. Having produced nearly every episode of the series in its first four years (executive producing a handful while on leave, handing that over to Susie Liggat), Collinson has been there for every moment... from Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper and John Barrowman to David Tennant and Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate. Collinson also executive produced the first series of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Collinson announced his intention to leave the series at the conclusion of its fourth year, and is currently the head of drama for BBC Manchester. Previously, Collinson also worked on the series "Born and Bred" as producer, and has produced or directed episodes of "Linda Green," "Sea of Souls" and "Peak Practice".

Gallifrey 2009 is the twentieth anniversary of the world's longest-running annual Doctor Who convention. More information about this year's convention -- which also so far includes director Graeme Harper, comedian Toby Hadoke ("Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf") and others, with headlining Doctor Who actor guests to be announced soon -- can be found at the website at www.gallifreyone.com/gallifrey.php.

Posted By John Bowman

The second series of Torchwood will begin airing in Canada on Friday, August 8 on the English-language speciality cable channel Space.

The news is revealed in a Toronto Star interview with John Barrowman by pop culture writer Malene Arpe and on Barrowman's official website, which says it is an exclusive deal.

Torchwood is co-produced by the CBC, which showed the first series, as did Ztele and HD Net Canada
(With thanks to Gajo.)