Runaway Bride Returns

The BBC announced that British comic actress Catherine Tate will play the Doctor's newest companion in the BBC's upcoming fourth season of DOCTOR WHO. Tate will reprise the role of Donna, the runaway bride from the 2006 Christmas special. Tate will join star David Tennant for the complete 13-week run of the new season, which is due to begin filming in Cardiff, Wales, later this month. Freema Agyeman, who played the Doctor's companion, Martha Jones, in the third season, will return the middle of the coming season. The third season of DOCTOR WHO recently ended in the United Kingdom; it begins running on SCI FI Channel in the United States on July 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Agyeman, meanwhile, will play Martha Jones in three episodes of spinoff show TORCHWOOD, which producers have said will expand her character. The fourth season of DOCTOR WHO is due to debut on BBC One in spring 2008. A Christmas special starring Tennant and Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue will air in December in the United Kingdom.