As reported back in May, tonight sees David Tennant flicking the switch for the annual Blackpool Illuminationsparty tonight (31st Aug). The event will take place around 9:30pm and will also be broadcast live on a BBC Radio 2show presented by Dale Winton (8:30-9:30pm).

More details can be found on the illuminations website, and has been reported today by Pendle Todayand24dash.

After Elton, a popular gay-themed blog hosted by the Logo network, has invited SyFyPortal.com founderMichael Hinman and the popular former science-fiction radio personality Meredith Hogan to host a series of Vlogs (video logs) that will highlight each episode of "Torchwood's" first season.

The Vlogs will run between 10 to 15 minutes, and will talk about different aspects of each episodes, as well as some of the gay themes present in each show.

Each Vlog will appear on the After Elton Web site by the Monday following each episode's broadcast. Hinman is already a fan of the series, and will be giving a perspective from someone who is watching the show for the second time as it airs on BBC America. Hogan, however, will be a newcomer to the show (and practically to the 'Doctor Who' universe), so she will provide a fresh, "new fan" perspective to the show.

"We've always been true practitioners of Gene Roddenberry's philosophy of infinite diversity in infinite combinations," Hinman said. "I know that has become almost a cliche in science-fiction, but up until shows like 'Torchwood,' that cliche didn't seem to exist when it came to our friends in the gay and lesbian community."

Whatsonstage.com has posted a 20 question interview with Peter Davison, who is seen below in his role as King Arthur in Spamalot. Davison had the following to say about his time with Doctor Who.

The Friday Night Project, a variety show airing in the UK on Channel 4, has included a question which furthers a casting rumor for Series Four. One of the questions was, "Which rockstar is set to appear in Doctor Who?", to which the answer by them was David Bowie. This follows from a week of rumors, which have all been denied by representatives for Bowie.

The BBC has hit back at claims of racism by citing Freema Agyeman as an example of how it is nurturing ethnic talent.

TV writer Jimmy McGovern made the accusation during an interview on BBC Five Live to promote his new stage play King Cotton, which is among commemorations marking the bicentenary of Britain abolishing the slave trade.

BBC News says interviewer Simon Mayo asked him if the country was less racist than it once was, to which McGovern replied: "I have got to say this, you will not like this. But I've worked a lot in the BBC, you know.

"I love the BBC as an institution and as an organisation and you do see lots of black faces in the BBC. But you see them in the canteen. You do not see them in positions of power.

"It would appear to me that one of the most racist institutions in England is in fact the BBC."

Mayo called it "a very serious allegation", saying the BBC would respond, and later read out a statement in which the corporation said: "What really matters is that we reflect our audiences through our programmes.

"The BBC's ambition is to reflect the ethnic and social mix of people around the country. We're actively seeking and nurturing ethnic talents both on and off the air.

"This has been coming through in our output with a range of presenters and reporters across our peak-time programmes, for example Freema Agyeman in Doctor Who, the forthcoming Omid Djalili show, Dance X, and dramas such asWaterloo Road.

"It is something we are always looking to improve on."

Last year in an interview, showrunner Russell T Davies refuted McGovern's claim that there was little decent drama on ITV at 9pm and disagreed with him over how drama could portray world truths.

(Thanks to Dazzler42.)

Following rumours that a movie was in the works featuring the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann has denied that he is to reprise his role.

Speaking to SyFy Portal's Alan Stanley Blair at the recent Collectormania show, Paul officially denied the rumours with the following statement:

"I've heard as well, yeah I've heard,". "Well they haven't called me, but often you hear it first through rumour. But you know... yeah I'd go back and do it ... as long as I don't have to wear a wig."

The Royal Shakespeare Company have announced their 2008 line-up, which featuresDavid Tennant in two roles.
From July 24th until November 15th 2008, Tennant will be starring in the title role in Hamlet, alongside Patrick Stewart playing Claudius. Fans of the new series will also be excited to note that from October 2nd until November 15th 2008, Tennant will be playing Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost. Love's Labour's Lost was a major plot point in Series 3 episode The Shakespeare Code.

The BBC have issued a statement reminding fans to be alert and watch out for online imposters. "There have been several recent cases of people posing as David Tennant in internet chat rooms and forums - as well as setting up social networking profiles in his name. David would like to point out that neither he, nor Catherine Tate use these kinds of sites, chatrooms or forums, and wouldn't want fans to be disappointed or misled if they thought they were talking to the real actors. We would strongly advise all Doctor Who fans for their own safety to ignore any such postings and not be fooled by impersonators - it will never be David or Catherine online."


Follow-up statement from the Outpost Gallifrey site editor: "We support this statement by the BBC. While David Tennant has indeed visited Outpost Gallifrey in the past -- he has stated so several times in interviews with Doctor Who Magazine and other sources -- he has not posted in our Forum, nor is he likely to, and anyone attempting to post in his name would be immediately removed."

The latest issue of Doctor Who Adventures is released today and includes a chance to win a life-size bronze Dalek!

Matt Roush, the main critic for TV GUIDE reports just how much he enjoys Torchwood.

He writes, "Over the years, I've somehow resisted the lure of the iconic British fantasy Doctor Who, in all of its incarnations. So imagine my surprise to be hooked on Torchwood, a cheeky and often startlingly adult spin-off."

To read the entire review, click on the TV guide link above. The full review contains a few spoilers.