Doctor Who is set to face a new monster.

The Time Lord will come face-to-face with a half-man half-fly creature called the Tritovore, according to the Daily Mirror.

It seems the baddie will appear in the Easter special episode, which will also see new sidekick Lady Christina de Souza – played by Michelle Ryan – make her debut.

A set source told the newspaper: “Scriptwriters are confident they’ll make a huge impact.

“Everyone remembers the Daleks and the Cybermen, but not a lot else if they’re honest.

“The Tritovore will change that. They are disgusting and will last long in the memory.”

The source added that show boss Russell T Davies wanted David Tennant to have a memorable final episode.

“Russell is telling everyone to expect some real surprises. He wants him to go out with a bang,” the source said.

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The only problem with that is the fact that Planet of the Dead isn’t David’s final episode.

DOCTOR Who star David Tennant is aiming to make this year’s Red Nose Day out of this world.

The Scots Time Lord actor, 37, will co-present the start of the BBC charity fundraising event on March 13 with Davina McCall.

Tennant, of Paisley, said: “It’s going to be fantastic. There has always been a sense that Comic Relief is about everyone being able to join in.

“We can all help to make sure as much cash goes to all the people who need it most.”

This year, Comic Relief are aiming for two chart hits, with Gavin and Stacey stars Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones and Joanna Page releasing comedy single Barry Islands In The Stream, and girlband The Saturdays covering the Depeche Mode classic Just Can’t Get Enough.

Fearne Cotton will introduce both songs when she hosts the biggest ever Top of the Pops show in front of 15,000 people at London’s O2 Arena.

And Clydebank-born Dragons’ Den tough guy Duncan Bannatyne, 59, will show his fun side in a Comic Relief Strictly Come Dancing special – with fellow Dragon Peter Jones as his partner.

Since the first Red Nose Day in 1985, more than s420million has been raised by Comic Relief for disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa.

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Doctor Who writers were forced to change the script for the show’s Easter special after a double-decker bus was damaged ahead of filming in Dubai.

Planet of the Dead’s plot sends David Tennant’s Doctor and guest star Michelle Ryan on a dangerous bus trip.

One bus is being used for filming scenes in Cardiff, but the top deck of the second vehicle was damaged as it arrived in Dubai.

A spokeswoman said that shooting was “continuing as normal”.

‘Huge impact’

Parts of the script by executive producer Russell T Davies and co-writer Gareth Roberts had to be changed as a result of the damage.

Planet of the Dead is the first of four Doctor Who specials, which will bring to an end David Tennant’s spell as the Time Lord.

Ex-EastEnder and Bionic Woman Ryan plays Lady Christina de Souza, a woman with a mysterious past who Davies says will have a “huge impact” on the Doctor.

Comedian Lee Evans is also on board for the episode but further details of the plot are being kept secret.

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David Tennant’s turn as Hamlet has earned him a best Shakespearean performance trophy at the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards.

Tennant took up the role in Stratford-upon-Avon but missed most of the London shows after injuring his back.

His award is shared with Derek Jacobi as Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Judges said it had been a particularly strong year for Shakespearean performances.

Kenneth Branagh took the award for best male performance for Ivanov.

Stellar year

Branagh earned rave reviews when the Chekhov play opened in a new adaptation by Sir Tom Stoppard, with one critic saying the actor was “beyond praise” in the role.

Figures released recently showed London theatre attendance was at an all-time high last year, partly driven by star names like Tennant and Branagh in classic roles.

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John Barrowman is to host a new BBC1 Saturday night show in which members of the public with aspirations to perform will get to live out their fantasies.

The BBC said the six-part show, called Tonight’s the Night, would provide a platform for the “most unlikely stars that Saturday evenings have ever seen”.

Each show will see members of the public take to the stage to fulfil a performing wish, whether this is singing with a pop group or with the cast of a hit West End musical.

The series will also include celebrity guest appearances and performances.

BBC1 controller Jay Hunt said: “Tonight’s the Night has all the hallmarks of great family entertainment. John Barrowman is the ultimate all-round performer and the perfect host for this exciting new show.”

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BBC AMERICA’s highest rated series, Torchwood, is coming to New York ComicCon 2009 with a sneak peek of the highly anticipated third season, Torchwood: Children of Earth, and a panel session with actor Eve Myles and director Euros Lyn. The Javits Center, location of New York ComicCon, will feature a massive billboard with all-new imagery from the upcoming U.S. premiere season, as well as a teaser running on a jumbotron and monitors inside the building.

On Saturday, February 7, 4:15pm Myles and Lyn make their first U.S. panel appearance. Myles plays police officer turned alien fighter Gwen Cooper and Lyn is the director of the entire third season of Torchwood. He’s previously directed Doctor Who and will direct David Tennant’s final two episodes as the current Doctor.

From creator Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Queer as Folk), Torchwood: Children of Earth is the new five-part television event to air later this year on BBC AMERICA. It finds the Torchwood team embarking on a single action-packed adventure as they fight for the future of the human race against the fiercest force they have yet encountered.

“Torchwood face their toughest battle to date in this new series,” says Russell T Davies. “This latest threat causes global shockwaves and the team has to fight with everything they’ve got to survive. Viewers are in for a real treat.”

Torchwood has garnered media acclaim including USA Today dubbing it “one of TV’s most entertaining sci-fi romps,” Los Angeles Times calling it “grown-up, dark, energetic” and TV Guide proclaiming, “If John Barrowman’s Capt. Jack Harkness is the head of Torchwood, then Eve Myles’ Gwen Cooper is the heart.”

Fans can catch up on the previous two seasons with BBC Video’s Torchwood: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray/DVD) and Torchwood: The Complete Second Season (DVD) plus both seasons are available for download from iTunes.

Torchwood is part of BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural Saturdays also the home to the hit series Doctor Who, Primeval, Robin Hood and Ashes to Ashes which premieres Saturday, March 7, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Official BBC AMERICA New York ComicCon Panel and Signing Schedule

Saturday, February 7

4:15 – 5:15pm Torchwood: Actress Eve Myles (Merlin, Doctor Who) and director Euros Lyn (Doctor Who) to present a sneak peak of Torchwood: Children of Earth and discuss their creative process and experience working on BBC AMERICA’s highest rated series. Followed by a Q&A session.

6:00 – 7:00pm, Table 1, Autograph Area: Eve Myles and Euros Lyn will participate in an official New York ComicCon signing.

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Stage star John Barrowman proved he has a heart of gold when he welcomed young patients from Birmingham hospitals to a special performance of his Robin Hood panto at the Hippodrome theatre.

And the celebrity gave up his time to chat to the visitors after the show.

More than 500 youngsters from the Children’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth’s cancer unit watched the show thanks to a charity appeal which funded the visit.

The Mail’s Hancock column yesterday told how Barrowman appeared to snub charity workers he met at the Hippodrome by refusing to pose for a picture with a Macmillan Cancer Support T-shirt.

But Mandy Rose, from the Hippodrome, said the star delighted the hospital patients with his surprise appearance.

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Michelle Ryan and Lee Evans will guest star in the Doctor Who Easter Special named Planet of the Dead.

Bionic Woman and EastEnders star Ryan plays the mysterious Lady Christina de Souza, who joins the Doctor on a bus trip which takes a “detour into danger”, the BBC said.

Funnyman Evans plays a character called Malcolm, whose life becomes connected to the Doctor’s under extraordinary circumstances.

Ryan said: “I’m a huge fan of Doctor Who and very excited to be joining David Tennant and the Doctor Who team.

“It is such a fantastic show and I can’t wait to get started.”

There has already been speculation that Ryan could be cast as the Doctor’s new assistant, starring opposite new Doctor Matt Smith.

Planet of the Dead is the first of four Doctor Who Specials which will air in 2009.

David Tennant will bow out as the Doctor at the end of the year.

Noma Dumezweni returns as Captain Erisa Magambo – last seen helping to save the world in the episode Turn Left.

Executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said: “Michelle is one of the most sought after young actors in the country and we are delighted to announce that she will be joining the team.

“As always the script is being kept strictly under wraps however we can reveal that Lady Christina is a woman with a mysterious past who’s going to have a huge impact on the Doctor.”

Planet of the Dead, written by Davies and Gareth Roberts, will be screened on BBC1 in spring 2008. Filming began this week in Wales.

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Britney Spears and Robert Pattinson have topped an online poll to find the most attractive woman and man of 2008.

The ‘Circus’ singer nabbed 43% of the vote, beating competition from Angelina Jolie and Beyoncé to be named the most attractive woman of the year by Hellomagazine.com.

In the most attractive man category, a late surge of voting saw Twilight star Pattinson triumph over David Tennant and Hugh Laurie, with the top five consisting entirely of British actors.

Over half a million votes were cast in the annual online poll, which also saw Madonna beat former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar to be crowned most elegant woman.

The top five most attractive women are:

1. Britney Spears
2. Angelina Jolie
3. Delta Goodrem
4. Shakira
5. Liv Tyler

The top five most attractive men are:

1. Robert Pattinson
2. David Tennant
3. Hugh Laurie
4. Orlando Bloom
5. Daniel Craig

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Freema Agyeman has spoken of her delight at Matt Smith being chosen as the new Doctor Who.

The 29-year-old actress, who starred as Martha Jones in the long-running series, said she was delighted Matt will replace David Tennant as the Doctor.

She said: “I think Matt looks absolutely fantastic, he really does. He seems to have all the right things that are needed.

“He has the gravitas and the weight to represent someone who is 900-plus years old but also he’s got those quirks about him that would lend itself to the flight of fancy that the Doctor has. And he just looks fantastic, the hair everything! I’m really excited!”

Freema, who is now starring in Law and Order UK, also said she “thanked my lucky stars” for her part in Doctor Who.

She said: “I had an absolutely amazing time on the show. I truly, truly enjoyed myself.

“It’s so nice to get a long-running job in this career but if you can get up in the morning and look forward to getting to work it’s an absolute bonus and I completely had that throughout all of my time there.”

Matt will take over the role of Doctor Who when current timelord, David, leaves the show in 2010.

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