Doctor Who to get second series

Fans of Doctor Who are celebrating today as the BBC has commissioned a second series of its Dr Who revival.

The corporation is also planning a Dr Who Christmas special, following the sci-fi show’s triumphant return on Saturday.

Jane Tranter, BBC head of drama commissioning, said she made the decision yesterday.

But she was unable to confirm whether Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, the ninth Dr Who and his sidekick, would return.

Dr Who launched its new 13-part run this weekend on BBC1, following a 16-year hiatus. With 9.9 million viewers, it successfully beat the might of Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

MediaGuardian reported that Ms Tranter told a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch today: “Now we’ve got to start talking to Billie and Chris about what they want to do.

“I want to make Doctor Who again, but there is a mischievous element to it, in that you can keep regenerating (the Doctor).

“I think Chris is fantastic as Doctor Who. But we’ve still got another 12 episodes to go. People will have to wait and see what happens.”

The lead writer on the new Doctor Who series, Russell T Davies, will also write the Christmas special.