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In the interview, she quashes speculation that Dennis Hopper will be appearing on Doctor Who. "That's an unfounded rumor I'm afraid. He's not going to be on the show. It was all over the place, but he's not coming,' she says.

However, Gardner gives a strong indication that the Master will be returning.

"It would be rude not to, and he’s a great character. John Simm is amazing and I would go to work every day with him. His scenes were so much fun to do," she says.

WORD has reached TV Biz that the Beeb have found the man to take over as Doctor Who from David Tennant — Cold Feet star James Nesbitt.

David, 36, is expected to quit at the end of the next series and insiders say Irishman James, 42, is a cert to get the Tardis key.

The Jekyll star is pals with Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat, tipped to replace show chief Russell T Davies when he also stands down at the end of the next series.

Our mole said: “Moffat has worked with James on Jekyll and the talk in BBC Drama is that he’s a shoo-in as the next Doctor.

“First a Scottish Doctor — now we could have a Northern Irish one.”

James is in the US filming a new BBC show.

DOCTOR Who bosses are set to sign up Gandhi star Sir Ben Kingsley - to play the Daleks' creator Davros.

Sir Ben, 63 - who won an Oscar for his movie role as India's peace-loving spiritual leader - is in final negotiations to play one of the most dangerous baddies in the galaxy.

A source said: "Ben's agent has been in talks for a while now and he's very keen to play the part of Davros. A deal will be signed any day now."

Fans will be delighted that insane half-man, half-machine Davros is returning for the fourth series of the hit BBC1 show, which stars David Tennant as the Timelord.

The alien scientist - who first battled the Doctor in 1975 - is hell-bent on destruction with his army of exterminating Daleks.

The Doctor and Donna book a date with Agatha Christie.

Filming is underway for Series Four of Doctor Who, with Catherine Tate reprising her role as Donna, the runaway bride featured in last year's Christmas Special.

The start of the new series will see Donna tracking down the Time Lord during an alien emergency in modern-day London. The couple are destined to experience a series of wonderful adventures throughout the new series including meeting one of Doctor Who's most popular aliens, The Ood in a brand new episode, Planet of The Ood.

Catherine Tate said: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."

Donna and The Doctor will also be travelling through time for an encounter with the legendary murder mystery novelist, Agatha Christie, played by Jekyll star Fenella Woolgar. Fenella will be joined by The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal, who will star as Lady Clemency Eddison.

"What a brilliant idea that Agatha Christie and Doctor Who should meet!," noted Matthew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandson. "Two characters whose contribution to British entertainment is absolutely unrivalled. As far as I know my grandmother, Agatha Christie, never saw Doctor Who, but I am sure she would have been intrigued, excited and above all flattered by all this attention in 2007."

Doctor Who's executive producer and head writer, Russell T Davies comments: "Visiting Agatha Christie has been on my wish-list for ages now, and for the Doctor, it's a real meeting of minds! Viewers can expect many more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."

Blackadder and Notting Hill Actor Tim McInnerny will also guest star later in the series.

Freema Agyeman who has played Martha Jones, The Doctor's companion throughout the critically acclaimed third series will return to the show to join The Doctor and Donna mid series.

The British press has lots of stories rehashing the BBC's press release about Series Four: BBC News, ITN, The Sun, The Stage, the Manchester Evening News, the Evening Standard and the South Wales Echo all have stories.

Billie Piper recently suffered a bout of temporary blindness, possibly exacerbated by the flash bulbs of paparazzi cameras. The story is covered at The Daily Mirror, ITN and Digital Spy. With a stunning lack of self-awareness, The Sun accompanies the story with photographs taken the night Piper was taken ill.

And, in a story about the recent fire at Rome's Cinecitta Studios, Variety mentions in passing that "the BBC is on site preparing to shoot its revived sci-fier "Doctor Who" at Cinecitta in September." If this report is accurate, it will be the first time the revived series has filmed outside of the UK, and (excepting the 1996 TV movie, filmed in Vancouver, Canada) the first time Doctor Who has filmed overseas since "The Two Doctors" in 1984.

Thanks to Nigel Ellis and David McIntee.

Russell also reveals secrets concerning the return of 'Runaway Bride' Donna... "She gives us the chance to be blunt about things, and be gobsmacked by things.

"Of course, she'll still be brave and heroic sometimes, and she'll save the Doctor's life, but equally... for example, there's one episode where they land on an alien planet, and the first thing she does is go back in the TARDIS to find the right coat!"

Iconic British actress Joan Collins has reportedly signed up to play a time-travelling villain in the forthcoming season of Doctor Who.

The News of the World claims that 74-year-old Collins, best known for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby in the soap Dynasty, has already signed up for the role of The Doctor's arch nemesis The Rani, a scheming Gallifreyan scientist who appeared twice in the classic series.

The tabloid quotes an insider in the show as saying: "The Doctor Who team are delighted they've managed to sign Joan. It's a real coup. [She's] perfect for the role... like Alexis Colby with a sonic screwdriver."

The Rani was originally portrayed by Kate O'Mara in 1985's 'The Mark of the Rani' opposite Colin McCoy and in Sylvester McCoy's debut story 'Time and the Rani' in 1987. O'Mara, who reprised the role in a 1993 Children In Need special, also played Collins' younger sister Cassandra in Dynasty.