OK, so here are the things that have been reported in the press overnight:

1. Kylie Minogue is definitely guest starring in the Christmas ep this year.

For those that don't know Kylie... she's an Australian singer/actress. She used to be in Neighbours many years ago, then moved into music and is well known and respected for that over here. Obviously she never really made it in the US though? She's a big coup for Who - although I'm not making any judgements until I see her again. I haven't seen her act for years...

2. Martha Jones is only in the last half of Doctor Who S4. She also will be in 3 eps of Torchwood, prior to this.

3. The Doctor will have 2 companions in S4. One will be in all 13 eps, and has yet to be revealed. Martha is obviously the second.

I want the new companion to be Sally Sparrow. That chick ROCKED! But I bet it's someone male so Martha has someone to pay attention to her.

OK, I am not frelling happy!

The new companion is to be Catherine Tate - aka that Most Irritating Character known as Donna from the Christmas Invasion

IMO, they couldn't have chosen a worse companion if they had struck a pin in the phone book and asked whoever it landed on...

I do hope she improves from the Christmas ep, or I am seriously worried that she may put people off. I'm personally having to steel myself against having to deal with the irritation of her in order to watch - and I might just throw a brick through the TV if it encourages Pip to get any worse with her "Whatevah" and "Am I bovvered" phrases!

That's not the character Donna's fault - but Catherine Tate is famous over here for those phrases and Pip is well aware of that! That's where she got them from... Unfortunately, for me, Donna isn't far enough removed from the annoying "Am I bovvered" character. Which is why she's so intensely irritating. I sincerely hope she changes for the series, or I'm going to find it very difficult to watch (I will watch though - I might just have to hide all my bricks )

Well, I didn't mind her in the Christmas ep but I don't really want her for a whole year. Just the one bit I saw of her usual character on youtube. The one where Ten is a classroom teacher and she is a kid giving him a hard time, was irrating. Surely they won't let her be that person.

The liked Christmas ep character. I liked the cheeky-i'm-willing-to-smack the Doctor. I'd like to get away from characters who are in lurve with the doctor.

I know Sally Sparrow was a big hit. I wonder if we ever get her back.

A free paper that is on the public transport networks here printed a letter where someone was complaining about the casting of Catherine Tate as well. I don't think she's as popular as TPTB think, wrt DW.

I haven't surfed any other message boards though, so could be totally wrong.

I sincerely hope Donna is nothing like CT's usual character. My problem is that I associate her with that character so strongly that I see it even when CT is playing someone else. Just her voice irritates me now...

I've surfed some other boards and I'm seeing most people posting not really happy, even the ones that were positive about her felt an entire year was too much.

i am also a big fan of doctor who and torchwood i know that they have started filming season 4 of doctor who as i live in cardiff if you want to find out the newest doctor who news visit the offical site worth a look

have they announced?

More info:

There'll be a year gap between S4 and S5 Doctor Who, and the team are taking a year off due to the work schedule being so tough. There'll be 3 specials made instead - all with DT as the Doctor, but no news yet about whether he'll be in S5.

Martha Jones is first in ep 6 of Torchwood S2 (I think I've remembered that right). She returns to the TARDIS a different MArtha - one that is a qualified doctor and very over her infatuation with the Doctor.

Kylie Minogue's character in the Christmas ep is called Astrid. Which mags are pointing out is an anagram of TARDIS, but apparently we shouldn't read anything into this...

Davros is rumoured to make an appearance in S4 also... I hope he does. I like Davros as a foe!

I think the main reason they're taking a year off is because DT is doing all that theater work at the end of the year next year so they couldn't feasibly film Doctor Who while he's off doing that. So I think them putting off s5 for a year is a pretty good indication that he'll be around for it. But I'm not going to assume anything until we hear something concrete.

I agree. At least, I hope that's the reason - that DT wants to spread his wings a bit, but they don't want to lose him off Who, so they've reached a compromise.

Yeah, that was my thought also. Took me a while to get used to Ten but now I'd be sad to see him go. I'd like to see him with more and different companions. Plus, taking a year off will give the crews/writers a chance to really concentrate on Torchwood and Sara Jane.