The unveiling of the new Doctor goes primetime

Sometimes you just wish that secrets could be kept. The surprise of a reveal of the new Doctor's face at the end of the Christmas special would have been immense. But, sadly, all it would take would be a tweeted picture of a new actor in the vicinity of the Roath Lock studios in Cardiff to tell the world. I wish they'd tried, though. They managed to keep Catherine Tate's appearance in the 2006 Christmas special secret, as she told us the other week. 

I am a bit gutted that Matt Smith is leaving. While I've been unimpressed with some of the things Stephen Moffat has made him do, I love the zaniness, eccentricity, hint of darkness, narcissism, emotion and gangly originality Matt has brought to the role. It took me precisely two episodes to have me writing a letter of apology to David Tennant for forsaking him. 

I've loved the dynamics he's had with his companions, from Amy and Rory to Vastra and Jenny - although I'm less than impressed with the way he treated Strax in the Christmas special. I don't care how miserable he was feeling, that level of abuse is just not on.And I've developed a lot more sympathy with River since we've found out her story.

From the ironside daleks to the Pandorica, to that lovely episode written by Richard Curtis featuring Vincent Van Gogh, to dinosaurs on a spaceship, the pathos of The Girl who Waited to losing Amy and Rory to the weeping angels to facing his demons at Trenzalore, it's been a fantastic 3 and a half years. 

The announcement of his departure did actually hurt. At least with Tennant we had more than a year to get used to the idea. With Eccleston, we had the whole series. With Smith, we have just two episodes.It's kind of heartbreaking.

And because of the necessity of filming the regeneration scene, the new Doctor has to be around when the Christmas special is filmed.If they had more than a shoestring to work with, they could film the scene with several just to keep us guessing. So, it was announced at midnight that a special live programme would be held to unveil the Doctor on Sunday night. 

This displeases me for two reasons. First, I'm on holiday and there isn't much in the way of signal, so I'm not going to be able to say much about it. Secondly, why Zoe Ball? I've nothing against the woman, but she's going from not being Claudia on It Takes Two to presenting a Doctor Who special when she's had nothing to do with the programme. Could they not have got Catherine Tate to do it, or Karen Gillan? Or Neve McIntosh? I wish Lis Sladen was still around to ask.

And as for the identity of the new Doctor, the smart money seems to have gone on Peter Capaldi. Malcolm Tucker vs the Daleks. I know who my money would be on. Capaldi is a very talented actor and, at some point, we'd would stop waiting for the tsunami of profanity. But the smart money was on Paterson Joseph the last time and they completely surprised us with Matt Smith. Who knows?

Neil Gaiman said that he was more inclined against a famous actor being cast in the role because of the baggage they come with. I loved the last paragraph of his article though, because this is what we all hope for, and secretly fear won't be the case:

I want to see The Doctor. I want to be taken by surprise. I want to squint at a photo of the person online and go “but how can that be The Doctor?”. Then I want to be amazingly, delightedly, completely proven wrong, and, six episodes in, I want to wonder how I could have been so blind. Because this is the Doctor. Of course it is.

Neil Gaiman's Calendar of Tales

I have the lovely Kate to thank for alerting me to this. Author Neil Gaiman is writing what he describes as a Calendar of Tales. He's going to write a story for every month based on ideas sent by the likes of you and I. He's got some backing from BlackBerry from this and they have set up a dedicated website where you can take part. Be sure to read the small print - you need to follow BlackBerry on Twitter for your tweet to be eligible.

Anyway, I had a go at answering the questions and I'm copying Kate and sharing my answers with you here.

Why is January so dangerous?

If you can't afford to keep warm, or have nowhere to sleep, January is life threatening

What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you in February?

Being part of the team in a spectacular by-election win (Dunfermline, at a time when we had no leader, there was a salacious tabloid tale every half hour and we were in strong Labour territory). February is a good month for the Lib Dems and by-elections. I'm looking at the fab team in Eastleigh.....

What historical figure does March remind you of?

Given my love of phones, it has to be Alexander Graham Bell, who was born in March.

What's your happiest memory of April?

My sister's happy, highland wedding last year

What's the weirdest gift you've been given in May?

A pottery elephant with Jumbo Effort on it as a thank you gift.

Where would you spend the perfect June?

In a farmhouse in the north of Mallorca

What is the most unusual thing you have ever seen in July?

A blog post for National Orgasm Day, which was also my birthday

If August could speak, what would it say?

Enjoy the warmth and freedom of Summer. Cold, dark misery will be here soon.

Tell me something you lost in September that meant a great deal to you.

My loving, kind, tea-drinking, story-telling, dog-loving, highland, smiling, comforting Granny

What mythical creature would you like to meet in October?

A proud, dignified unicorn would brighten any month.

What would you burn in November if you could?

I wish I could turn all my self doubt and lack of confidence into some non polluting fuel

Who would you like to see again in December?

My friend Andrew, who once got into Parliament dressed as Santa Claus.

You have to have it done by 5pm GMT tomorrow, 6th February. Take part here.  Wednesday isn't the end of our involvement, though. If you can draw, once the stories are written, he's looking for illustrators with the idea that they will be made into a calendar for next year.

I really can't wait to see what ideas are chosen and how the project develops.