<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Production will be completed on Doctor Who, Season 30 in early 2008. As with the previous two seasons, season 30 (also known as series 4) began with a 71-minute Christmas special, which aired in the UK on December 25, 2007. A regular season of thirteen 43-minute episodes followed starting on April 5th in the UK. The SciFi Channel began airing the season in the US a few weeks later, starting with "Voyage of the Damned" on April 18th.

David Tennant will be continuing in the title role for the entire season. Companion Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), however, will be absent for the majority the season. Instead, Agyeman's character guested for three episodes on popular spinoff series Torchwood before returning to the program for five episodes, starting with "The Sontaran Stratagem."

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue filled in for Agyeman in the Christmas special, playing a waitress named Astrid Peth. The regular season, however, began with the return of Catherine Tate's bossy runaway bride Donna from the 2006 Christmas special. Tate is slated to remain in the cast for all 13 regular episodes.

Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) will apparently be making several return appearances sometime during the season. Also returning for a portion of this season are Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).

Other incidents this season include the fact that Episode 2 was filmed on the set of the now defunct BBC/HBO Series Rome. However, this episode is actually set in the final days of the city of Pompeii. Episode 3 features the return of the Ood from 2006's The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit for a story that delves into their origins ("Planet of the Ood"). Additionally, the Doctor will encounter famed mystery writer Agatha Christie in episode 7.

Also, series writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies has commented that he is not finished bringing back monsters from the classic series. Recurring nemesis, the Sontarans will be making their new series debut in a two-part story spanning episodes 4 and 5. The return of yet another favorite baddie is strongly rumored for the season finale.

Known episode titles include the following:

• Time Crash (7-minute mini-episode for Children in Need benefit)
• Voyage of the Damned (71-minute Christmas special)

• Partners in Crime (episode 1 of the regular season)
• The Fires of Pompeii (episode 2)
• Planet of the Ood (episode 3)
• The Sontaran Strategem (episode 4)
• The Poison Sky (episode 5)
• The Doctor's Daughter (episode 6)
• The Unicorn and the Wasp (episode 7)
• Silence in the Library (episode 8)
• Forest of the Dead (episode 9)
• Midnight (episode 10)
• Turn Left (episode 11)
• Journey's End (episode 13)