As Doctor Who comes to the end of its latest series, there are concerns within the BBC about a ‘creative nosedive’ and ‘dodgy storylines’ in the last 14 episodes.
Some fans are questioning whether executive producer Steven Moffat has run out of ideas and should hand the reins to someone new.
Hollywood-bound: Matt Smith with Jenna-Louise Coleman
Only 4.6 million people have tuned in to some episodes, and though the BBC insists the resurrected drama has eight million viewers, even this is well down from the ten million when the show was revived in 2005.
Tomorrow’s episode, The Name Of The Doctor, will set up November’s movie-length 50th anniversary episode, which sees the return of popular Doctor David Tennant and his companion Billie Piper.
However, Tennant’s appearance will be a one-off, and existing Doctor Matt Smith, who is highly regarded, is expected to leave to launch a film career.
A Beeb source says: ‘The 50th anniversary episode seems a good opportunity for him [Moffat] to bow out. Either way, something dramatic needs to take place to improve ratings.’
But a BBC spokesman said: ‘The show has the highest audience share of all dramas on any channel this year and is in the top three most requested shows on iPlayer.’
Tom's gothic nightmare Tom EllisAfter walking away from a possible starring role in Downton Abbey for the bright lights of Hollywood, Tom Ellis’s dreams are in tatters.
Tom (pictured) was to play Dracula in the new American drama Gothica, which saw classic gothic figures come alive in a modern-day soap opera.
But the series has been axed by U.S. network ABC after one unscreened pilot.
My Hollywood source says: ‘It’s nothing personal against Tom. Executives at ABC decided the concept was too confusing.’
Downton writer Julian Fellowes denies Tom was formally offered the role as Lady Mary’s new love interest, but he is believed to have been shortlisted.
A source here says: ‘The irony is that if he’d got the Downton role, he’d be a major star in Britain and the U.S.’
Producers of Strictly Come Dancing are plotting how to defeat The X Factor again after last year’s BBC celebrity dance competition regularly beat its ITV rival by more than two million viewers.
A senior Strictly source tells me: ‘The difference this year is that many A-list stars are approaching us about being on the show.’
Britain's Got Talent favourite Alice Fredenham says her boyfriend gave her the confidence to apply for the ITV talent show after she was rejected from The Voice.
Joe Lenzie, her partner of 18 months, is one half of electronic music duo Sigma. ‘He’s always telling me I have nothing to lose,’ Alice tells me. ‘He’s been quite an inspiration.’
The 28-year-old reveals: ‘I’ve had a few horrible boyfriends who have knocked my confidence. I’ve been cheated on. That made me feel I wasn’t good enough. If you’re already self-critical to start with, it’s going to make you feel small.’
The beauty therapist has taken time off work to concentrate on her music career as she waits to hear if she has made BGT’s semi-finals.
