JOHN BARROWMAN ON WHY HE WON'T BE IN THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL!

Image © BBC 2009

As previously announced, John Barrowman will not be returning to Doctor Who for this year's 50th Anniversary Special. Rumours have since spread that it's due to the flagging interest in the character of Captain Jack Harkness (who has been in Doctor Who on and off since 2005's The Empty Child, as well as being the lead character in four series of Torchwood since 2007).

In a recent interview with TVLine Barrowman has explained why Jack won't be returning. 'Everyone on Twitter tries to make it like it’s my decision,' he said, 'but the bottom line is I was not asked.'  He goes on to explain that he's as upset as the fans, and insists it has nothing to do with his busy schedule filming Arrow and Scandal. 'I was told by the producers of Arrow that if I was asked to do the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who they’d let me go and do it.'

Barrowman stresses that if he were asked, he wouldn't have hesistated to say yes!

The Anniversary Special is currently in production, and so far the only characters known to be returning are the Eleventh and Tenth Doctors, Clara, Rose and the Zygons (who last appeared on television in 1975's Terror of the Zygons up against Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen's ever-popular Sarah Jane Smith). But still the fans won't accept that other Doctors and Companions are off the menu.

More news when we have it!

ON LOCATION AT THE TOWER OF LONDON - DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

The BBC have released a video from the location shoot at the Tower of London, featuring Jenna-Louise Coleman, Jemma Redgrave and Ingrid Oliver (look out for a very interesting-looking scarf....!).

PREVIEW CLIP FROM THE RINGS OF AKHATEN

Check out a preview video of the next Doctor Who episode 'The Rings of Akhaten'
which airs this Saturday.

Matt Smith and Jenna Louise-Coleman talk about the next installment of the time traveller's adventures, set in the future with lots of aliens!

Here's the clip: