David Tennant will be hosting the first hour of Comic Relief Night it’s been revealed today.

Due to air on 13 March, the Doctor Who star will co-present with Davina McCall. In a pre-recorded video screened at this morning’s press launch at The Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, he said: “It’s a great honour for me. I remember the first Red Nose Day when I was at school, buying the t-shirt and everyone joining in, And then, later, at drama school, me and my mate Alan McCue formed a Proclaimers tribute act and went busking in Sauchiehall Street. We were rubbish, but earned £65 in our lunch hour. The people of Glasgow are very generous.”

Also confirmed for this year’s bash, are Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman, who’ll be hosting the celebrity-packed Let’s Dance for Comic Relief; Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole, Kimberly Walsh, Ben Shephard, Chris Moyles, Ronan Keating and Gary Barlow who’ll be attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro; a special episode of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and – best of all – Comic Relief Does the Apprentice.

Contestant Carol Vorderman introduced the latter to the press. “In the past it was very much ring up friends and get things donated and get people to buy auction prizes. It was fabulous and raised a lot of money. This time it was decided – and we didn’t know till we arrived – that it would be a proper Apprentice project as they would give to those in the normal programme.” So no calling in favours from famous friends.

By the looks of the trailer, it appears the teams are tasked with making a television advert – but for what remains unclear.

Lining up, alongside Vorderman, to do Sir Alan’s bidding are: Jack Dee, Gerald Ratner, Patsy Palmer, Michelle Mone, Ruby Wax (”With whom I became more intimate than I have with any other woman in my life”, said the former Countdown star), Fiona Phillips, Jonathan Ross, Alan Carr and Gok Wan.

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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.

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.

The Doctor Who actor, David Tennant, revealed that as a drama student he used to “wait at the stage door” for fellow thespian Sir Derek Jacobi, as they shared a Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for best Shakespearean actor.

Tennant was awarded the honour for his performance as Hamlet, which has been lauded by audiences and critics alike.

Sir Derek, 70, was presented with the award for his portrayal of Malvolio in the Donmar Warehouse’s production of Twelfth Night, which The Daily Telegraph’s Charles Spencer described as being “as close to perfection as makes almost no difference”.

In accepting his award Tennant, 37, said: “When I was at drama school, I waited at the stage door of Glasgow Theatre Royal to get Derek Jacobi’s autograph, after his breathtaking Richard II.

“I was utterly inspired by that night, so to be sharing a prize for Shakespeare with such an amazing actor means more than I can say.”

He also described the experience of playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon as “a dream I never imagined I would get to fulfil”.

Tennant injured his back during previews when the RSC’s production moved to London in early December, forcing him to take almost a month off. But he returned to rave reviews in the final week of the run earlier this month.

The Donmar Warehouse team triumphed in the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards, winning four awards including Sir Derek’s. Michael Grandage won best director for The Chalk Garden and Ivanov. Margaret Tyzack won best actress for her performance in the former, while Kenneth Branagh won best actor for his title-role performance in the latter.

Credit: BBC

Former EastEnders star Michelle Ryan and comedian Lee Evans will guest star in Doctor Who’s Easter special, the BBC has confirmed.

Ryan will play the mysterious Lady Christina de Souza in the special episode, entitled Planet of the Dead.

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

Evans plays a character called Malcolm, whose life becomes connected to the Doctor’s in unusual circumstances.

Planet of the Dead is the first of four Doctor Who specials, marking the end of David Tennant’s tenure as the Time Lord.

‘Can’t wait’

Ryan is best known for playing Zoe Slater in the BBC One soap and starring in the American remake of Bionic Woman.

Recently, there has been speculation that she could be cast as the Doctor’s new assistant, when Tennant’s replacement, Matt Smith, takes on the role next year.

It is not known whether this appearance rules her out of that role – Catherine Tate’s character Donna Noble first appeared in a Doctor Who Christmas special 15 months before she returned as the Doctor’s assistant.

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

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.”

Filming on the episode has already begun in Wales.

Source: BBC