Actor Baker favourite in Who poll

Actor Tom Baker has been named Britain's favourite Doctor Who, in a poll conducted to mark the new series of the show on BBC One.

Baker was the fourth actor to play Doctor Who in the TV series, taking up the role from 1974-1981.

Peter Davison, who took over from Baker in 1981, was second in the poll, carried out by fantasy and sci-fi magazine SFX.

Jon Pertwee, who played the Doctor from 1970-1974, was third.

'Quintessential Doctor'

Sylvester McCoy, the seventh actor to play the role on the TV show, and William Hartnell, who was the original Doctor Who, completed the top five.

SFX editor Dave Golder said that Christopher Eccleston, who is playing the Doctor in the new series, had a tough act to follow.

"The ninth Doctor will have to be pretty amazing to topple Tom Baker from his perch as the quintessential Doctor Who," he said.

"There aren't many children from the 70s who can't clearly remember peering out from behind the sofa to see Doctor Who with his hat, scarf, jelly babies and that wild curly hair."

Baker, 71, has gone on to star in the BBC One show Monarch of the Glen, as well as narrating the hit comedy Little Britain. More recently he was one of the voice talents in the film version of The Magic Roundabout.

Do you think Tom Baker is the best Doctor Who of all time? Or do you prefer one of the other Doctors?

All of the Doctors embodied a certain quality that gave them their own style and distinction, but generally your favourite doctor is the one you grew up with. I personally thought that McCoy showed another side to the Doctor and some of his stories are regarded by many as classics despite the pantomime nature of season 24. Peter Davison comes out top in my book, portraying an innocence and quality that some of the Doctors failed to grasp. His last season and regeneration are some of the best moments in the show's history.
Don green, Alloa, Scotland

An unsurprising choice, as Tom is by default the Doctor people usually remeber because of his tenure. I really think that the accolade should be split equally between Pat Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom, as in my honest opinion all three made Who what it was.
Gareth Stafford, Chesterfield, UK

Oh, come on! I am lucky enough to have seen all of the Doctor's incarnations as they occurred (okay, my recall of Hartnell is a bit vague). But the first one I really got to know was Patrick Troughton, and suprise! he's my all time favourite! Isn't it obvious that most people will go for the first one they properly encountered, and therefore Tom Baker, being the longest running, will get the most votes every time? To be fair, Tom Baker was very good, but personally, Messrs Troughton and Pertwee were both better by far!
Karl Williams, Malvern, UK

I remember, as a child, watching William Hartnell in black & white. He was mysterious and very scary – for me what Sci Fi was all about. No Doctor has matched up to him since.
Pamela Bulley, Bahrain (currently)

Peter Davison is my favorite Doctor of choice; problably because his character was the one being broadcast on my local PBS station when I first began watching the show in 1986. Years before, I had watched many episodes of All Creatures Great and Small in which Peter played Tristan Farnon. It was a nice contrast to see Peter go from the roles of Tristan to the Doctor. Tom Baker comes in second. It wasnt until several years later until I experienced the Tom Baker era. It must have made an impression, I have 20 foot long scarf in the closet. I'm just glad the show is back!
Matt McCormick, Beckley, West Virginia, USA

I always bristle at these kinds of polls. I think all the actors who played Doctor Who were just brilliant. My favorite would have to be whichever I happened to be watching at the time as each brough something unique and different to the role. If one has to choose, though, I'm going to use this opportunity to speak up for Sylvestor McCoy. I was growing out of Doctor Who as a teenager and his brooding, mysterious and grown-up performance coupled with the dynamic chemistry with Ace kept me hooked on the programme. I feel Sylvestor (and Colin Baker for that matter) have been getting a lot of negative press lately. I read articles regarding their years as sub-par and the reason for the cancellation. I respectfully disagree with this confusing assessment and thought some of their stories were fantastic. Rememberance of the Daleks and Curse of Fenric in particular showed exactly the kind of innovation and maturity that the critics of this era were clamoring for. I also had a chance to meet Sylvestor last year and he was a real gentleman to myself and all the fans present. Not every Doctor is for everyone, fair enough. And with all due respect to Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker (the quintessentail Doctors) in order for Doctor Who to go on and on, the mold has to be broken & the show must progress. I will always love my Genesis of the Daleks but can't wait to see how Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper will handle it. Now if only someone would sign a deal for a broadcaster for the U.S.
Tim Davis, Los Angeles, USA

Watching William Hartnell turn into Patrick Troughton is my first Dr Who memory, though I'm told I watched from the very first episode (I was born the same year the series was). For me Troughton, Pertwee and Tom Baker were the best, in no particular order. I liked Peter Davies and Sylvester McCoy, but I hated Colin Baker – though to be fair, that may have been the scripts. For me the Daleks were fun, and I loved seeing them. It was the Cybermen that scared me …
Peter Paddon, Sunland, Ca, USA (Formerly UK)

Though I love Tom Baker, and think the scripts from his era were the best, my favorite Dr. Who was Jon Pertwee. His classy style lent the role a special dignity without compromising its humor.
Mordecai Shapiro, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Each of the Doctors was wonderful in his own unique way. Let me put in a special word for Colin Baker though, who, thrillingly, took more risks with his characterization and pushed the envelope further than anyone else. His great love for the series and the character shone through then and shines through still.
J Vail, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA

Patrick Troughton and then John Pertwee were the Doctors I "grew up with", though quite frankly I couldn't care less about who the best one was as I always watched "Garrison's Guerillas" on the other side instead.
Martin Lewis, Auckland, NZ

The best TV Doctor for me was Patrick Troughton although I have to say that all the others have really good qualities. And for those people who think that Colin Bakers Doctor was poor, I suggest that they take a listen to the Big Finish Doctor Audio range where his Doctor (along with Paul McGanns 8th Doctor) have really been given a chance to shine and show people exactly how they could have been given the time and the right scripts.
Colin Lambert, Birmingham

Tom Baker IS at timelord – if there is such a thing. Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow!
Matt Ashman, Wickford, Essex

Sylvestor McCoy was the best in my opinion. He seemed to radiate mystery. Some of the story lines he was involved in rank as my all time favourites for any of the Doctor Who characters. Admittedly the earlier storylines in his first few forays with the character were weak, but he and the writing went from strength to strength. A pity the show was cancelled. He could well have been regarded by many more as the greatest of all, given more time….
F. Elliot, Auckland, NZ

Tom Baker has and always will be the quintessential doctor for the true Who fan, but I also hold Peter Davidson and Sylvester McCoy in high regard. Still plumping for Tom though as without him my girlfriend wouldn't be knitting me a full-length scarf. Marvellous.
Carl, Durham

Great to see Peter Davison finally get the recognition he deserves. He worked hard to uphold the core values of the Doctor's character, and was the last actor to get a proper stab at developing a new take on an old television favourite. Pity most of his detractors can't spell his name correctly. He's not related to Jim Davidson!
David, Hove

I was visiting the UK in 1975-76 and became hooked on Tom Baker's Doctor. His years were also the first to be shown in the US. I did not even know there had been prior doctors until he regenerated into Peter Davison's Doctor. So, like most who love their first doctor, I love Tom's regeneration the best. However, as I became a great fan of the entire series, I came to the conclusion that the best episodes often involve the best pairings of doctor and companion. I think Tom had three great pairings — with Sarah Jane (the all-time best, in my opinion), with Leela (Louise Jameson), and with Romana II (ex-wife Lalla Ward). My second favorite pairing was McCoy as gentle tutor and friend to "Ace" (Sophie Aldred), followed by Troughton with Jamie (Fazier Hines) and Zoe (Wendy Padbury). I also loved Pertwee with Jo Grant (Katy Manning), the ultimate "screamer." Of course, we must also mention the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and the men of UNIT. I think Pertwee best captured the proper relationship between a Time Lord's sensibilities and the terran militarism of the UNIT squad. Finally, the one companion to have a spin-off named for him (albeit 1 episode) — the faithful but slightly snooty (pun intended) K-9. Can't wait for the new episodes! DGU
David G. Uffelman, Morristown, New Jersey, US

Tom Baker was Dr. Who. For me, none of the other actors quite captured the character. He played the Doctor as an alien. Always unpredictable and exciting, I wanted so much to be a companion. I have great hopes for Christopher Eccleston. He's a very good actor, and if the scripts are good, we are all in for a real treat. Thank you, Thank you BBC.
George, Boston, US

Tom Baker was the best. He signed my Dr Who annual and gave me a jelly baby. I thought he was made of magic.
Cat, Guildford

Tom Baker embodied the role like no other actor. He IS the Doctor! Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee and Davison were spot on, but Colin Baker and McCoy were never really believable. Rock on Eccleston!
John, Philadelphia USA

William Hartnell is my favourite version of Dr Who. I suppose, because he was the original, and the one I remember first: cantankerous, eccentric, quirky, eloquent and with a gravitas all of which defined the character for me.
Aelfwine Arden, London, England

My favourite has to be Patrick Troughton one doctor who always scared me more than the daleks. Oh, and he was my grandfather's cousin.
David Troughton-Smith, Streatley,Bedfordshire

Patrick Troughton was definitely the best actor to have played the part, but Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee the most charasmatic. I love 'em all and looking forward to enjoying Chris Ecclestone's portrayal as well. Long live the Doctor!
Neil Clarke, London SW11 UK

I grew up with all of the Doctors. For me, my favourite always has been John Pertwee. He had class and style none of the other Doctors had. But each other Doctor had their saving graces. Sylvester McCoy was the most modern and quizzical; a true Doctor of the 90's. William Hartnell had a gentlemanly grace none of the others had. The rest, I leave to others to point them out.
Joe Carpenter, London, UK

I remember watching the very first Dr Who, and every one since. The best Dr Who for me was Patrick Troughton followed by William Hartnell. Tom Baker was a fun doctor who followed the dandy Pertwee. The ones that followed seemed to mock and play it up. Hopefully the new one is more down to earth, in a off world way!
Glenn Renshaw, Newbury, Berkshire.

Tom Baker was easily the best Doctor, however I am getting slightly annoyed at the number of people at the BBC whom when reporting on the New Series mention that either the Daleks can not attack you if you go upstairs or that the solution to this problem will be explained in the new series. This was sorted out in Season 25 Remembrance of the Daleks where you can clearly see a Dalek ascending a flight of stairs in pursuit of the Doctor.
Tim Thomas, Burton upon Trent

It's wonderful to see Peter Davison feature so highly in the poll ¿ I only became a fan of the show a few years after the series had ended, but I remember seeing some Davison stories when I was younger and they've really stuck in my mind ever since. He was a brilliant choice for the role, a perfect contrast to Tom Baker's often over the top performance.
Wayne, London

When I hid behind the sofa the Doctor was William Hartnell so he would probably get my vote. But in truth I think all the actors who have played the Doctor over the years have simply conveyed a different aspect of his enigmatic character. This is one series that has been enhanced rather than undermined by a continuous change of the lead role.
Trudy, Germany

I grew up watching Peter Davidson playing the doctor and he naturally until a few years ago he was my favourite. I now live in the USA and my local PBS station a few years ago on Sunday nights played the whole series from start to finish. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the early days with William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton. Patrick's last episode "The War Games" is amazing for its time. I am really looking forward to the new show as I feel Ecleston had a lot to offer to the character by taking it in a new direction. Both Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy tried to play the doctor like previous actors and it did not work. So far there has been no news on a US air date. Rumours are either the Sci-Fi channel or BBC America will show it. I still keep hoping the BBC will finally launch a subscription based download service of its programs. I am sure there are many ex-pats like myself who would pay for the content as US TV sucks.
David Jones, San Francisco, CA, USA

How could anyone doubt that Dr Who is really William Hartnel1, followed by Patrick Troughton??? It would be like suggesting that James Bond isn't really Sean Connery…!!!
Michael P, Manchester, UK

The poll has got it spot on. Tom Baker was not only the best Doctor but had also had great companions although K-9 is the exception.
Louise Jameson, London, UK

I agree entirely with Dylan Beck, in that Sylvester was "my" Doctor with whom i grew up watching (Im 26)… but he sits in 2nd place as Patrick Troughton is the best Doctor, with Jon Pertwee in 3rd.
Reese Porter, Cambridge, England

The poll results mirror my own favourites. Tom Baker went out on a high; well before his time. I reckon Christopher Eccleston could well end up being a very close number 2- it's good to see that the BBC have given some serious thought and attention to giving us a new Who that we can all be proud of (with the bonus of a Northern accent!)
craig waterworth, London, UK.

I think it is not fair to have a poll of this kind and it is not completely accurate. These are the reasons why. Firstly, Tom Baker was the longest running Doctor, averaging an extra three years on the rest. Secondly, most people who use a computer or know how to use a computer are in the generations that grew up with Pertwee and above. Thirdly, Pertwee onwards was in colour and with exception of the specials Hartnell and Troughton never appeared in colour, so younger audiences are put off by watching Black & White. Lastly, how can you compare Hartnell and Troughton to the rest of the doctors when most people who have voted have not seen all the stories and never will as a lot of the stories are missing.
Barry Fowler, Herts

William Hartnell and Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee were all great. How about Peter Cushing, who everyone seems to forget played the Doctor in two films. He was quite quirky too!
Robert, Singapore

I will always remember rushing home to watch Doctor Who on KTCA, our local PBS, when it started in August 1981, 5pm every night. Got introduced to Leela, I wasn't old enough top know why I liked her, but I did. While I was introduced to Doctor Who with Tom Baker it was Peter Davison who I truly contacted to when he arrived in 1983, Okay a year after his BBC premier, but that¿s what I got.
Jeff Johnson, Minnesota, USA

I would like to say that my favorite Doctor is Tom Baker because he was the one I started off with back in the early 80's here in the states, but I then have since grown a fondness towards the second Doctor with the very few episodes that do exist. I really hope this new Doctor does a good job, too bad we won't get it here in the states…yet.
Doctor Vell, San Antonio, TX USA

I always disliked Peter Davison's Doctor. Nothing beat William Hartnell for me.
Sarah Sutton, Dagenham, Essex, UK

Everyone seems to love the Doctor they grew up with – mine was Sylvester McCoy (I'm 23). But he's beaten into second place by Patrick Troughton. He'll always be the best Doctor!
Dylan Beck, London, UK

Why not repeat all of the Dr. Who episodes that there are copies of and let us all decide? It's unfair to comment when it is over ten years since most of us watch an episode.
Matt Prescott, Oxford

I only started watching Dr Who recently as my boyfriend is a huge fan. It has to be said that the only ones I've truly enjoyed have been the ones with Tom Baker's Cheesy grin. On the other hand I wouldn't have had to learn to knit if a different Dr had been the most popular. 2 months in and I still have 3 feet of scarf to go!!
Helen, Durham

Tom Baker is the Dr I'd rush home for and for whom I jeopardized my grad school results: the all-night, week-long Dr Who marathon always came up during finals. I would have risked all to see Baker battle wits with the villainous Master. Night after night.
Natalie, Evanston, Illinois, USA

Tom Baker is my favorite – but I guess it comes down to who was Who when you were at the right age! I also really enjoy the Pertwee and Davison years and always enjoy the regular repeats of all the Doctor Who shows. I got the impression that the latter Doctors were dealt a poor hand in terms of scripts and resources – the BBC seememd to have lost interest by that stage.
Neil, Abingdon, UK

Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy all the way- I love all the Doctors but these two had the most enjoyable stories.
Roy Trromlley, Cardiff.

John Pertwee was the best doctor and no matter what the situation, himself and his lisp would be on hand to deal with Daleks, The Green Death and Cybermen with a sense of urgency yet knowledge. Third? He should be first!
Luke Barnard, Crystal Palace, London

Tom Baker was, is, and always shall be the Doctor. For me he was born to play the part, he had the other world quality that stood him apart from the other actors in the role.
Dave Hoare, Stevenage

Colin Baker is my favourite Dr Who actually – which places me at odds with most of my generation as I am old enough to recall watching the first ever episode in 1963. I just loved his irrascible unpredictability and the one-liner quotes which undoubtedly made him the "sound-byte" doctor.
Jenny Day, Cornwall (Nr Galifrey) UK

Like so many others, I follow the common path of having the first Doctor I watched as my favourite, so Tom is the one I associate most with the role. And I think this is going to be Chris Eccleston's biggest challenge. Invariably in the press and in conversation Baker T's version is the one that is most cited as being iconic – both in the visual imagery of floppy hat and scarf and his manic, sometimes over-the-top portrayal. From the little I've seen and heard about Chris in the role I'm confident that he will be more than up to the task of challenging everyone's views and I wouldn't be surprised if it was his interpretation that topped viewers polls in years to come. I know it's very early days but I'm certain he's in with a fighting chance.
Andrew, Cardiff

Tom Baker topped the poll because you genuinely believed he was an alien, he had that unique, other-worldly quality (from 74-78, after that he degenerated into a caricature of himself). Peter Davison was a poor successor, not because of his acting, but his youth. At 30 he lacked the authority to be The Doctor. He'd be an ideal choice for the role now (after Christopher Eccleston of course!)
Stephen Laing, Stockton-on-Tees

Tom Baker was definitely a great doctor (just read the other comments to prove that!), but I have to say that Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee were my favourites. William Hartnell was also a good doctor as he WAS the original. It will be interesting to see how Christopher Eccleson will follow on as the doctor as I was not particularly happy when I heard he would be the new doctor, but I could grow to like him, as my mind isn't completely closed….
Matt Fenn, Sevenoaks, UK

While Tom Baker was the most iconic Doctor I think the storylines towards the end of his tenure left a lot to be desired. Peter Davidson, meanwhile, had consistently excellent plots throughout his time in the Tardis.
Jeremy, London, UK

It's a hard decision. But for me it has to be William Hartnell. Quirky and at times a bit nippy, he set the standard for all the other Doctors to follow.
Andy Stevens, Glasgow

I was 10 years old when my favourite, Patrick Troughton changed into Jon Pertwee. Both had the ability to terrify me more than the Daleks or Cybermen! They seemed to live the part of the Doctor. I still treasure my autographed photo of Jon.
Richard Jackson, Rotherham, UK

As Tom stayed in the role the longest I'm not surprised that he has come top of the poll. But gosh – Peter Davison the second favourite! And Patrick Troughton (my own personal favourite) is not even in the top five! That's a turn up for the books!!!

It would be interesting to do the poll at the end of Chris Eccleston's first series, to see how much of an impact he has.
Andy Scott, St Helens, Merseyside

Tom Baker is the Doctor. I am sure I am not the only person to have spent formative years learning to crochet just so I could make a Dr Who scarf! A bit sad really!!!
Liz Doulton, Pinner, UK

It's an unfair poll. Most of the voters are too young to remember the earlier episodes, many of which were destroyed and not as widely seen. I have seen most of the series – except the last few, which were so awful I had to switch off. I would rank Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker as the best, followed closely by Peter Davison. I never warmed to William Hartnell but he and foppish Jon Pertwee would be the best of the rest. Sylvester McCoy was plain awful. Best of the companions: Zoe, Leela, Romana I, Jamie, Sara Jane, Adric. Worst Perri, K9. And I always had a soft spot for good old Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
David May, Perth, Western Australia

I watched the original series from the very first on a black and white TV my father built. William Hartnell has to be the very best as he played the part so well, given the time and the "props" and the need to make the series a success. Well acted, spoken and played. Jon Pertwee was my personal second favourite for his more sophisticated interpretation of Who. While I liked Tom Baker, I still feel that his interpretation was too bumbling schoolmaster-like and more for laughs rather than a semi-serious sci-fi series. However these are just opinions.
David Slater, Milan, Italy

My favourite Doctor was Jon Pertwee, but I have a huge soft spot for Paul McGann's 8th Doctor. Would have been interesting to see him continue the role with a TV series. . . .
Estelle, Dagenham, Essex

I totally agree with Tom Baker – I won a Dr Who build a monster competition many moons ago, and my first prize was to visit the Dr Who set, meet Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen and have a tour of the BBC. It was a wonderful day and I remember how nice both Tom and Lis were to a young girl who loved Dr Who. Tom will always be the top Dr for me, followed by Jon Pertwee.
Jules, London, England

I was sorry to see Patrick Troughton come so low in the poll. He was in my view a far more memorable Doctor then the sometimes similar Sylvester McCoy who achieved a higher position. He also had the tricky job of following on from William Hartnell at a time when it was unheard for an actor to take over the lead in a television series.
Tony , Southport, Britain

The part was made for Tom Baker – he brought an otherworldly quality and mysticism which no other actor could begin to match. I'm just glad we got as much as 7 years out of him!
A Sellar, Edinburgh, UK

Tom Baker IS The Doctor: it's almost unfair on the others to include him in this sort of vote. Of the others I'd say Patrick Troughton and Paul McGann were the finest actors to have played the role.
Mark Edwards, Canterbury, UK

I would agree with that, only when Douglas Adams did the scripts show pure genius. Lets hope the new TV series will be well written, I know they have a better budget so fingers crossed.
Alister, St Albans

The choice all depends on which Doctor Who you grow-up with. My vote goes to Jon Pertwee first, then Tom Baker. I'm 40 years old, I'll leave you to do the maths. The Doctors that followed these two always rang a bit false to me.
Paul, London

Tom was certainly one of the best Doctors, simply because he did it for so long, got some of the best storylines and had some of the best writers (Robert Holmes, Douglas Adams, Terrance Dicks). His performance was always excellent. However, if you are looking for the best Doctor, ignoring production values and special effects, it would have to be (for me) Pat Troughton. Fabulous actor, he had that magic spark and impish quality that made him responsible for keeping the series going after Bill Hartnell. A talent for ad-lib and humour that made his association with Frazer Hines superb. No wonder Pat came back 3 times after he left (three, five and two Doctors). Pat first, Tom second and then Peter. Chris has a lot of work to do to live up to some of these actors, but it's more important that the writers have a lot to live up to, and Chris can only shine if his material allows him to. We will watch with much interest and excitement (from behind the sofa obviously). The old classics never die or grow old. They simply get a TARDIS….
Jeff Sutton, London, UK

All the Doctors are unique and, as a fan, I appreciate all of them. For me though, if pushed, my favourite is Sylvester McCoy – the Scottish-Chaplinesque-with-a-considerable-dark-side Doctor is the most underrated of them all. And lets not forget Paul McGann's Dr Who audio work since the telefilm of 1996 – he's done many great stories and has earned his place as a truly wonderful Doctor.
Richard, Redditch, Worcs

Tom Baker is far and away the best doctor. Saturday nights just weren't the same when Peter Davidson took over. The less said about Colin Baker the better.
Steve Reynolds, Southampton, UK

Patrick Troughton was the best. Were it not for his ability to engage and enthral a viewing public the show would never have made it out of the sixties. His off-beat style often mimicked by all who followed set the standard for (re)generations to come.
Matthew, London England

Tom Baker played the role for the longest and consequently more people remember him in the role when they started watching the show. His early stories were among the shows best but he lost some of his sparkle in his later years.

I am surprised that Patrick Troughton did not feature more highly as he was one of the best actors to play the role. I also feel Colin Baker has been consistently underrated by fans. He is a great actor but was lumbered with poor stories.
Matt, UK

Tom was "my" Doctor, but having now been able to view every extant Doctor Who episode I have to say I prefer Patrick Troughton. Tom is my second favourite and will always have a special place in my childhood memories, indeed the episode where he unmasks an android Sarah Jane is my earliest TV memory.
Angus Gulliver, Luton, UK

A very predictable poll! Tom Baker had the right personality for the job. In fact, he's pretty much on a different planet to the rest of us sometimes! However, my most vivid memories are from the early eighties and I think Colin Baker deserves a better placement – he's definitely better then McCoy and was treated to some very inconsistent scripts.
David, Tower Hamlets, London

It was a very pleasant surprise to see Peter Davison in second place, reflecting the growing popularity of his Doctor in the years since he left the role. Davison has been excellent in the audio Doctor Who adventures which he has been involved with, and he has proved very popular with his DVD commentaries on his stories. It was also interesting to see Sylvester McCoy and William Hartnell achieving higher positions than Patrick Troughton. Despite being the first of The Doctors, William Hartnell often does not achieve a high positions in similar polls, perhaps there has been a revival in popularity for the original Doctor.
Dan Evans, Southport

I do think Tom Baker was the best Doctor Who, with Jon Pertwee a close second. However, whichever actor played the role during your childhood would probably win your vote and as Baker played the role for 7 years (longer than any other actor) I would expect him to get more votes than the others.
Sara Clark, Cobham, UK

I grew up with Patrick Troughton as my first Doctor (I just remember William Hartnell collapsing and regenerating), so he's remained the definitive Doctor for me. Having watched Hartnell since, I'd put him second with Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee about level for third. Sylvester McCoy demonstrated in the film that the problem hadn't been with him but with the poor scripts and indifferent production values of the last couple of series.
Jeremy Broadribb, Horsham, UK

Tom Baker is without doubt the number one Doctor Who. He was the only one that you took seriously. He filled the role superbly and worked his magic with the character of Doctor Who like he does with so many of the roles he has played.
Andrew Clarke, Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Watching Dr Who as a child my favourite Dr was Jon Pertwee. Each week, no matter what the peril facing the Dr, I knew every thing would be all right. Jon gave the Dr a sense that you would always be safe with him there.
G Smith, Orpington Kent

Despite being born in 1979, Patrick Troughton has always been my favourite Doctor. He brought an infectious sense of wonder and magic to the role, tempered with a suggestion of dark undertones.
Ben Stevens, London, UK

College students taste European life

Students at a further education college in Birmingham are being made aware of their European neighbours, with a view to enhancing their employability.

Matthew Boulton College is a European Vocational College, the second of its kind in the country.

Set up with the co-operation of the French and German chambers of commerce in the UK, a European Vocational College allows students to gain course accreditation that is accepted in other countries.

"This means that students can become highly mobile and employable within Europe," says Matthew Boulton vice-principal Hilary Rimmer.

Broadening horizons

The college aims to send about 140 full-time students into Europe each year to take part in work experience and cultural exchanges.

The college has designed its own European Awareness course which all students are encouraged to take before they venture abroad.

The course is run at three levels and covers travel, currency, language, culture and a basic understanding of economics.

More than 90% of Matthew Boulton students come from ethnic minority backgrounds.

"The knowledge that our students possess about cultures beyond Birmingham is limited," says Rimmer.

"They have amazing language capabilities, but their understanding of European life remains a mystery."

Shared practices

The college is actively seeking to raise awareness of the customs of other European countries by organising national dish offerings in the canteen and staging an annual European Day, involving music and quizzes.

There is a strong link with the city of Leipzig, allowing German visitors to share life in Birmingham with the culturally-mixed Matthew Boulton students.

"From a teaching point of view we've shared lots of good practice with Leipzig," said the college's director of quality assurance, Steve Porter.

"We've helped them to catch up with ideas in the delivery of vocational education."

Porter said that despite Germany's reputation for advanced technology, the UK's methods of further education were more flexible.

He has recently returned form taking information technology students to Leipzig on an exchange visit.

Quick hits

"In both countries colleges respond to the skills needs of the local economy, but the courses in Germany seem to be very detailed and take a lot of time," Mr Porter said.

He feels that vocational courses in France and Italy, as well as Germany, are focused on skills and are very time-consuming.

Putting the emphasis on skills is undoubtedly good but for him, British further education is stronger on delivering shorter, modular courses without a loss of quality.

"German colleges are certainly taking on board ideas from us, like the use of drop-in centres for students to use at their own pace," he said.

Staff develop too

Experiencing how post-compulsory education is delivered in other European countries is also an important part of the exchange visit schemes that staff at Matthew Boulton take part in.

Having a strong European dimension means that opportunities for staff development are good, and allow for reflection on practices abroad.

Mr Porter has seen, for example, further education in Reggio Emilia, Italy, tied in with regional government planning.

Although this is what the relatively new Learning and Skills Councils in England are aiming to establish, embedding vocational education firmly in the local economy is something the Italians have valued for some time.

But vice-principal Hilary Rimmer values most highly the students' experience.

If she can get more young people tasting life and work outside Britain then she feels her college is really living up to its European Vocational College title.

CCTV demanded for gothic mansion

A spate of vandal attacks at a Victorian gothic mansion in Cardiff has led to calls for CCTV to be installed.

But because Insole Court in Llandaff is a Grade II listed mansion house it needs special permission for cameras to be set up.

Windows have been smashed during the latest of several attacks.

Building owner Cardiff council said it was "dismayed" at the latest damage and would be looking at further action to protect it.

The mansion and estate, off Fairwater Road, was built in the 1850s by the coal and shipping owning Insole family and has been under local authority ownership for more than 70 years.

It is used as a community centre and many adult education classes are held there.

Sue Caldwell, who is on the committee of the Friends of Insole Court was upset to discover the latest act of vandalism.

"I went up there to take the dogs for a walk and I could see the council vans were there and they were boarding up the windows," she said.

"It is so frustrating and everyone is concerned about it.

"There is a general feeling that the council should be doing something more to try and stop this – like putting CCTV up.

"It is heartbreaking to see the building being destroyed like this because there aren't many beautiful old buildings left in Cardiff anymore".

Police in Cardiff confirmed that they had had two reports of misbehaviour involving a gangs of youths in the area in the early hours of Saturday morning but had not had any reports of vandalism at the site.

A spokesman for heritage body Cadw said that in order for CCTV to be installed, the council needed to apply for building consent before going ahead.

A Cardiff Council spokesman, said: "Over the years we have sought to protect and look after this valuable Cardiff asset and are dismayed at the recent bout of vandalism.

"We deplore the mindless minority who are responsible for this and remind them that it is community asset for everyone to use.

"Their actions damage the community as much as they damage the building.

"We are constantly reviewing how the building is looked after and will again consider further actions in the light of this most recent incident".

CBBC Newsround | TV/Film | Lohan up for High School Musical?

Lindsay Lohan's younger sister is hoping to star alongside Zac Efron in the final chapter of the High School Musical film series.

Ali Lohan is auditioning for the role of a spoilt little princess who is said to be a younger version of Ashley Tisdale's character Sharpay.

The 14-year-old is hoping the part will help her to follow in her older sister's famous footsteps to stardom.

And big sis Lindsay is said to be supporting her all the way.

Click here to chat about what's in the news

Language learning kicks off

The World Cup, holiday homes and budget airlines are feeding an unexpected passion for learning languages.

Rubbish at learning modern languages? Are you still shouting in English at bemused people in other countries? That used to be the stereotype of the English-speaker abroad.

But is that all changing? Because this heatwave summer seems to be bringing a boom in language learning.

Language courses are reporting a surge in demand, newspapers have been giving away language-teaching CDs and language learning is the theme of BBC2's latest reality TV show, Excuse My French.

Stereotypes

So what's encouraged us out of our monoglot shells? And are languages really reaching the parts that they couldn't previously reach?

There could be something of a World Cup factor here – with the football fest in Germany making a very positive impression on the hundreds of thousands of England fans who went over.

Football fans might not be considered natural territory for language lessons. But before the competition, England football fans were offered a crash-course in learning a few German phrases – and this really does seem to have been an ice-breaker.

"It made a huge difference – particularly when fans saw the impact on ordinary people in Germany of being able to say hello or good evening in their language," says Mark Perryman, organiser of the Englandfans supporters' club in London, who took part in these lessons.

"It helped to break down barriers and it broke down the stereotypes about England fans. There's an assumption that the English, let alone football fans, would never learn a language."

Travelling fans were also impressed by how well so many Germans could speak English, he says. And it even created some multi-lingual bantering.

The Germans were singing "football's coming home" in English and the England fans learned how to sing it back in German, said Mr Perryman.

The language lessons for fans were set up by the Goethe Institute, (the German equivalent of the British Council) – and institute spokesman, Oliver Benjamin, says that this summer's German courses are fully booked.

Global village

"There's definitely been an increase in interest in learning more about the language and culture – and it's much more of a younger audience," he says.

"The World Cup has made our work a hell of a lot easier," says Mr Benjamin.

And he says the longstanding resistance to learning languages is being diminished. There had been an "island mentality and a certain arrogance that English is the world language".

But this is changing, he says, not least because the UK is part of a globalised, multilingual world. In London, only 57% of the population speaks English as a first language, he says. It's no longer unusual for people to move between languages.

It makes a change to hear optimistic news about modern language learning. University language departments have been closing because of a lack of students – and this in turn reflects how few pupils are taking languages at A-level.

And there have been repeated warnings from industry about the economic cost of our national deficit in language skills.

But rather than an academic or business interest, another driver for the current interest in learning languages is the unprecedented appetite for travel.

This weekend, at the start of the summer holidays, more than two million people flew out from UK airports. And it's no longer just package holidays and tourist resorts – people are exploring more independently and further a field.

Second home, second language

It might not make headlines, but this is a significant social change, with more people than ever getting a taste of other places, cultures and languages.

"With budget airlines and cheaper travel, people are mixing more, seeing the ways other people do things. There are loads of lads I know from places like Sunderland who fetch up in all kinds of places in a way they never would have done before," says Peter Daykin, a spokesman for the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF).

"People are now going abroad for a weekend to places like the Czech Republic, which once would have been unheard of," he says.

Mr Daykin was another visitor to the World Cup who left with a sense that the journey through Germany had been a very "positive experience" for fans – a long way from the negative stereotypes of the English as suspicious, tongue-tied travellers.

People aren't only travelling abroad, they're now taking their property mania with them. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are now almost 257,000 overseas holiday homes owned by people in the UK.

And the Institut Francais, which promotes French language and culture, says that second-homers are part of the growing demand for language lessons.

Francis Hetroy, director of languages at the institute, says that demand for French courses has risen by about 15% to 20% on last year, when there were about 7,000 students. And this includes very popular language courses offered in how to buy a property in France, he says.

Learning a language? Royaume Uni, douze points.

Add your comments on this story, using the form below.

Name
Your e-mail address
Town/city and country
Your comment

The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.
Terms & Conditions

Learning disabled ‘denied vote’

A leading disability charity has told BBC Wales people with learning disabilities are sometimes being denied their chance to vote.

Mencap Cymru cite the case of Stephen Thomas, 25, of Prestatyn, who has Down's Syndrome, has studied politics and had chosen his candidate.

But he was told there was nobody to help him read the ballot papers.

Denbighshire council says it is investigating but disputes the family's version of events.

At the polling booth, Mr Thomas' parents say they were asked if he was capable of voting at all.

Officials said there was no-one available to help him read the ballot papers so he could cast his vote.

Mr Thomas said: "I'm feeling upset about it.

"I couldn't go for the vote. I can't understand the questions.

"People can help me by reading the questions to me."

Mr Thomas' mother Susan told BBC Wales she was very embarrassed by the situation.

"Everybody was looking and listening to what was going on.

"We had no privacy whatsoever. We just wanted to get out of there.

"When we got there, I handed my card in and asked would it be alright for Stephen to vote.

"The returning officer asked if he'd be able to understand the questions.

"I said I didn't know, it was his first time.

"I asked would I be able to help him, not to influence him, but to help him read the questions."

She was told no, and that the returning officer could not read the questions either.

"By this time, the queue of voters was getting longer – they were looking and listening to everything that was going on.

"I was embarrassed, upset and angry."

The charity has said Mr Thomas' case was not unique.

They say they have several other incidences of people with learning disabilities being unable to vote because the necessary help was not offered at polling stations.

Mencap Cymru has lodged an official complaint with Denbighshire council over Mr Thomas' claims.

'Not refused'

Denbighshire's chief executive and returning officer Ian Miller has investigated the complaint and is due to respond to the charity shortly.

He said: "Many elements of the complaint are not borne out by the evidence from the electoral staff.

"In particular, the electoral staff state categorically that the young man was not refused a vote, and I would not accept the suggestion that he was treated unfairly.

"There are clear rules in electoral law about formal questions that are put to a person in cases where there is doubt about the identity of the individual.

"The questions can also be used if there is doubt about a person's ability to understand the process, for example if someone appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"In this case, the young man's mother appears to have decided herself that her son was not going to vote before electoral staff had the chance to put the formal questions to him."

BBC SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | Third Test, day one as it happened

THIRD TEST, DAY ONE, PERTH (close):
Australia 244 v England 51-2

Monty Panesar became the first English spinner to take a five-wicket haul in Perth as England bowled Australia out for 244 and ended the day on 51-2.

Ponting outSymonds outMonty's fifth

THE DAY'S ACTION (all times local to Perth – GMT+9)

By Jonathan Stevenson

ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS

CLOSE OF PLAY – ENGLAND 51-2

"Whatever happens tomorrow, this day has picked us all up a bit. It's been so much better from England and it's lifted all of our spirits from the doom and gloom of last week."
Geoff Boycott, on TMS

1900: England 51-2 Strauss survives Warne's second over of the day and England, with two wickets down, leave the field still in the box seat in this Test match. Bat all day tomorrow boys, and we might just have a chance of winning this one. As for Warney, those two overs were pretty non-descript. There, I said it. I know I'll come to regret it, but I might never get the chance again. Warne: non-descript. Boy does that feel good.

1855: England 49-2 Tell you what, he's pretty good this Stuart Clark character. I mean, I know he's averaging about 17 this series so far, but Collingwood, who's in pretty good nick after his double ton, is struggling to get bat on him. Please don't get out boys. Literally seconds left and it's still our day.

1851: England 49-2 Shane Warne comes on for his first over of proceedings and Collingwood pulls a long-hop into the mid-wicket fence for four. I'm not going to say that wasn't great from Warney. I'm not. No way. Not for all the money in the world.

"The Aussies are shouting "boring, boring". They're not watching the same game as me – this is gripping, high-quality Test match cricket."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

"Has Warne just dropped the Ashes?"
Geoff Boycott on TMS

1847: England 43-2 Stuart Clark, the metronomic clone of Glenn McGrath, is into the action. He should have Paul Collingwood caught at first slip, but Shane Warne misses what can only be described as a sitter. Two hands, to his left, Warney, you've got to pouch those. Collingwood plays and misses at two more Clark beauties. Fabulous stuff.

How to listen to TMS "My house was burgled last night and all of my school coursework was stolen. Now Monty's made up for it."
Bigbopperp in TMS inbox

"It's been England's day, no doubt. But one more wicket and woah, they'll be feeling pretty good about that I can tell you. I still think this is better than a 250 pitch, even 400 is gettable."
Geoff Boycott on TMS

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only) "The Aussie fans have woken up having been subdued for most of the day. All the taunts – albeit limited in humour and intelligence – are coming from them now. This has become a nasty and tricky little spell to end the day with for England."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

1834: England 37-2 Great over from McGrath. Five balls in and around the same place outside off stump and then a torrid bumper to finish with that Strauss does superbly to avoid.

1829: WICKET England 37-2 (Bell 0)
Brett Lee gets in on the act and Ian Bell is gone without scoring, getting a faint nick behind to Adam Gilchrist from a fairly standard ball outside his off stump. Didn't need that. Paul Collingwood in next. Neither did he. Lee wiggles his index fingers in celebration. Don't like that, either.

1823: WICKET England 36-1 (Cook 15)
Glenn McGrath hits back for the Aussies and it's another failure for Alastair Cook, caught by Justin Langer at fourth slip playing a ball that just nipped away from his off stump. Last time I attribute praise from Geoff Lawson for an England batter.

"That is high-class batting from Cook. At this pace, hitting two shots like that. Very impressive."
Geoff Lawson on TMS

1818: England 34-0 Cook doesn't want to get left behind so he pulls Lee masterfully for four, not once, but twice. Strauss gives Lee some hope by playing and missing at a wide one. It's 94mph stuff this, he's not exactly trundling in.

1813: England 24-0 Strauss is looking in good nick, as he tends to before getting out to a ball he really shouldn't have much to do with. He clips McGrath off his pads for a couple before a genuine outside edge runs away for four. Classic Strauss.

1808: England 16-0 Alastair Cook chances his arm early doors and plays a risky hook shot from a Lee short ball, the Essex man fortunate to see the ball loop over and just out of reach of Mike Hussey.

1805: England 15-0 Glenn McGrath is straight on the money but Strauss doesn't care, he stands tall and sumptuously drills the veteran back down the pitch for four.

1759: England 11-0 You'd take that, as far as starts go. Brett Lee serves up a full toss that Strauss creams for four, then the next ball he plays a glorious cover drive to the boundary. Cook gets in on the act with a couple too. 33 more to avoid the follow-on.

1755: Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook make their way out to the middle for England's reply. There are 17 overs left in the day, and the Aussies are going to come at them hard.

AUSTRALIA FIRST INNINGS – 244 ALL OUT

"Monty will claim the headlines but Harmison has been nothing short of magnificent. It's the best day's work from him in a long, long time, although that last wicket was dubious!"
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

"I'm going for a celebratory pie, Victor. I haven't been allowed so far on this tour, but I feel I should be now."
Jonathan Agnew, on TMS

"Harmison has bowled really well at everyone today. He put the wind up the tailenders just like you want your fastest bowler to, but he was accurate to everyone. A very, very good effort."
Vic Marks, on TMS

1746: WICKET 244 ALL OUT (McGrath 1)
Dreamland, cloud nine, call it what the hell you like – life doesn't get any better than this. Steve Harmison, take a bow, son, a magnificent effort. A straight, short ball is too good for Glenn McGrath and the ball catches the top of the bat and loops into the ecstatic arms of Alastair Cook. McGrath doesn't seem happy. Harmison might reasonably log on to www.bothered.com.

1741: WICKET Australia 242-9 (Clark 3)
This is too easy. It's just like last summer all over again. Steve Harmison, bowling like the Harms the nation fell in love with, arrows in a full ball on Stuart Clark's leg stump, and suddenly he's made a horrible mess of the stumps. Do Australia have anyone apart from Michael Hussey who knows how to bat?

1737: Australia 239-8 Monty wheels away at Hussey, who is approaching a dogged hundred. Ok, he's ungetoutable, so what? As long as the others get out, it doesn't matter. And they do. Frequently. Haven't you been paying attention?

"In celebration of Monty's success I have started growing his beard. 10 minutes in – and I can already feel the first whiskers protruding gracefully from my facial pores. What a glorious feeling!"
Nick Hall, via TMS inbox

How to listen to TMS For the people saying 'stop going on about Panesar', let's have a quick time timeout. He's now taken 5-90 from 23 overs, on his Ashes debut. The greatest bowler ever to play Test cricket, Shane Warne, has a Waca best of 4-83 against New Zealand in 1997. Make no mistake, this is a truly monumental performance from Mudhsuden Singh Panesar. I love him so much I need to keep saying his name in full. What a name. What a name.

1726: WICKET Australia 234-8 (Lee 10)
Monty Panesar incredulously takes his fifth wicket of the innings, trapping Brett Lee plumb in front lbw. Aleem Dar had no doubts, Freddie Flintoff walks over to Monty and shakes his hand by way of congratulation. I'm welling up. I don't know if I can carry on. The King of Spain is dead. Long live the King of Spin.

1725: Australia 234-7 A fine maiden from Harmison to Hussey. No freebies, just a well thought-out and accurate effort. The camera pans round to the Australian balcony, and messrs Ponting, Langer and Hayden. Not a smile between them. Not so cocky now, eh lads?

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only) Really should have booked the day off today, but just had to stay awake and listen. The comeback starts here. Arise Sir Monty of Luton.
Lee, via text

1720: Australia 234-7 Missed a couple of overs out there. Don't worry, you've not missing anything. I just didn't want to repeat myself. Harms bowling well, Monty on the spot, Lee annoying, blah blah blah. You know the score. To break the monotony, Lee chances his arm and slashes Panesar to the extra-cover fence. Gutted.

"He looks like a proper bowler today, Steve Harmison. He's not falling all over the place and he's being pretty accurate too. That's all you can ask, it really is.
Geoff Boycott on TMS

"Hussey is an absolute rock and a master at playing with the tail-enders. England need to wrap this up soon to complete what has been a fantastic response after Adelaide."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

"The medicinal breeze, the old Fremantle Doctor as they call it around here, has pretty much been in evidence all day today."
Jim Maxwell on TMS

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)1710: Australia 227-7 Great stuff Harms. Cuts Brett Lee in two with one that nips back only to see the ball run away for four. I wish Lee didn't feel like he has to hang around at the end of every innings.

Phillips bags award "When Zara Phillips can take four Aussie wickets for under a ton of runs, then she'll be good value for her award, but as it is, Monty was robbed. Just woke up at tea: euphoria."
Pete J, via TMS inbox

1703: Australia 221-7 Steve Harmison is back on and, refreshed, he's back in line as he was in his brilliant first spell this morning. I never felt comfortable hurling abuse at the TV when Harms was bowling rubbish. He seems too regular a bloke to really get stuck into.

How to listen to TMS "By the way, I was a left arm spinner at the same school as Monty about ten years before he went there. I like to think it's my legacy that inspired him to reach these great heights."
James Nunn, via TMS inbox

1653: WICKET Australia 214-7 (Warne 25)
Monty Panesar continues to run through the Aussie order and, unsurprisingly, it's Shane Warne who succumbs, top edging a cut to Geraint Jones who holds on comfortably. Four and counting for Monty, on the cusp of a michelle (a Michelle Pfeiffer, as in five-for) on his Ashes debut. Seriously, you just couldn't make it up. I like Gilo as much as the next man, but really?

1652: Australia 214-6 Warne cuts Mahmood away for four. Having praised the short ball, that was a bit off line from the lanky paceman. Next up we're down leg side, for four more. Come on England, not now, don't let it slip. I've been awake for too long. 24 hours, if you really want to count.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

1648: Australia 205-6 Hussey plays another fine shot through the covers off Panesar. He really is quite good at that shot, makes it look easy. Which presumably it isn't, otherwise we'd all be able to play it. I know I can't. I tried a few times, mind.

1643: Australia 201-6 Mahmood is bowling way back of a length at Warne, who has never looked truly comfortable against the short ball. It's so good to see such a blatant weakness in a man who so readily exposes them in others.

1637: Australia 197-6 Shane Warne plays an ugly lofted hoik off Monty and gets three to the mid-wicket boundary. Australia need Warne to just stay in with Hussey, but he'll play his kamikaze shots anyway. Gotta love him. Love you more if you get out, Warney.

1634: Australia 192-6 Mike Hussey brings up another beautiful 50 with a lovely cover drive for four from the first ball after tea from Sajid Mahmood. He tickles the second one down the third man for four too, just so England don't think they're through quite yet.

"What's this about Monty's poor fielding, too? Ever since I saw him play in the first game of the tour he's been fine. He tries hard and he gets the ball in quickly, dunno what all the fuss is about."
Geoff Lawson on TMS

DOWNLOAD A CRICKET MASK AND LOOK LIKE MONTY PANESAR

How to listen to TMS "It was 115-3, that session – anything but dull. There were times when you thought the Aussies would get away, but full credit to Flintoff for not taking off Monty. Finally you can see England taking 20 Australian wickets in a Test, it's so exciting."
Vic Marks on TMS

TEA

1611: Australia 184-6 Shane Warne gets his sweep out and to be fair it's from the top drawer, the master leg-spinner thwacking Monty to the square leg boundary with consummate ease. The umpires call tea and end another fabulous session for England.

"Country to Duncan Fletcher – 'We told you so'."
Stuart Boa, via TMS inbox

1607: Australia 178-6 Hussey plays another terrific drive to send Mahmood to the boundary and Saj is given a warning by umpire Aleem Dar for running down the middle of the pitch.

"I moved to British Columbia two years ago. Nice big house, beautiful view of lakes and mountains and a fantastic wife. But I'd swap the lot for a TV or even a bloody radio right now."
Richard Taylor, via TMS inbox

1600: WICKET Australia 172-6 (Gilchrist 0)
Oh my. I wonder who the last England player to take wickets in each of his next two overs having been thrashed for 17 was? The great Monty Panesar seduces Adam Gilchrist into a tentative push forward and the ball comes off bat and pad and is caught at short-leg by Ian Bell. Can we have a new vote for Sports Personality of the Year?

"Monty was coming in for severe stick from Symonds and the crowd until that breakthrough. The banter between the Barmy Army and the two Aussie fan groups – the Fanatics and the Boony Army – has been tremendous all day. The Barmies are winning on points.
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

1557: Australia 172-5 Second maiden in-a-row from Sajid Mahmood as England crank up the pressure on the hosts. Lovely line and length and a hugely promising start. Next up, it's Monty vs Adam Gilchrist.

1552: WICKET Australia 172-5 (Symonds 27)
Brave, brave captaincy from Andrew Flintoff is handsomely rewarded with the huge wicket of Andrew Symonds. How many skippers would have taken Monty Panesar off after that carnage in the last over? Not Freddie. Monty sticks to his guns and entices Symonds into a top edge that Geraint Jones clings to at the second attempt. Brilliant cricket by England, just brilliant.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

"Those sixes from Symonds in Monty's last over were like power fades on the golf course."
Vic Marks on TMS

1544: Australia 167-4 What a time for Sajid to come back on. 'Yeah, cheers skip. How about I ease my way back in against a guy who's just scored 17 off the last over.' The Lancastrian responds with a maiden. Top effort, son.

How to listen to TMS1541: Australia 167-4 "He's not convinced me as a Test player yet," says Geoff Boycott of Andrew Symonds, seconds before the clown lookalike launches Monty Panesar not once, but twice, deep into the Waca crowd. Massive, brutal shots. Monty looks hurt, bless him. Symonds then hammers him through the cover for four.

1539: Australia 150-4 "He looks to me like a man at the very top of his form," says TMS's Geoff Boycott, seconds before the aforementioned Mike Hussey carves Flintoff through the covers for a majestic boundary. He's not averaging 119 in this series for nothing.

1534: Australia 145-4 With his mop of hair and thick, white suncream, it's hard to take Symonds seriously. Maybe that's why Monty bowls a pretty uninspiring over, or maybe it's just because he's feeling the heat, too.

1531: Australia 140-4 Good comeback over from the captain, not counting his woeful short-and-wide loosener that Hussey carved for four. The left-hander doesn't much look like getting out now, so let's concentrate on Symonds.

1526: Australia 136-4 Monty's turn to look tired. He drops badly short and is brutally hammered to the fence by Hussey. Manages a stifled appeal off the last ball though, with Symonds looking a touch unsure early on in his innings. Monty realises he won't get the nod and quietly skips away.

1524: Australia 131-4 At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Harmison looks knackered. Could do with a bit of Flintoff magic now to tighten the screw, but what of Sajid Mahmood? One over for three, so far, on Ashes debut.

"Normally Symonds bats in the one day game and this is a completely different occasion. There won't be the easy singles he usually gets, he's got to really work for his runs. It'll be interesting to watch him.
Geoff Boycott on TMS

1517: Australia 129-4 Mike Hussey drills a full Monty ball for four into the extra cover region, but Symonds gets a nick off one that falls just short of Paul Collingwood at slip.

1510: WICKET Australia 121-4 (Clarke 37)
I thought Steve Harmison should have been taken off by now. I know nothing, absolutely nothing. The previously imperious Michael Clarke completely mistimes a pull shot straight back to Harms and his massive hands snaffle the chance. First ball to Andrew Symonds is clipped away for four (125-4).

"We are supposed to be building the Dubai Metro but can't keep away from the refresh button. Sheikh Mohammed will have to wait a while longer yet!"
James Funge, via TMS inbox

1504: Australia 118-3 Michael Clarke plays another unbelievable shot off Steve Harmison, slapping him straight down the ground for four. Harms has a big long chat with his skipper and next ball a bouncer drifts down leg side. A tired-looking effort from the Durham speedster.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

"Even in Kazakhstan, rest assured that there are some die hard Ashes fans being distracted from work by the online updates. Nearly lunchtime here, I'll see if I can find Borat to convert him to the manly business of cricket!"
Nick Brealey, via TMS inbox

1500: Australia 113-3 Hussey drives Monty through the covers for three and then viciously pulls him through mid-wicket for four. It's his first boundary, from his 66th ball. Take your time son, we've got all day.

1456: Australia 104-3 Harmison isn't exactly spraying it around, but he has lost a little of the accuracy he started with in Perth before lunch. "Controlled waywardness", says Geoff Lawson in the TMS commentary box. I bow to your superior knowledge, Henry.

"Following it down here in southern France. Go on Monty! Rip into them. I haven't been this excited in front of my computer screen since I inadvertently stumbled across that Paris Hilton website."
Nick, Toulouse, via TMS inbox

1452: Australia 103-3 Much better from Monty. There's the flight, there's that action on the ball. Throw it up there, let them get after you. They are afraid Monty, afraid I tells ya!

1448: Australia 101-3 Clarke smotes Harmison through the covers, another sumptuous shot from the classy right-hander. He looks up for this fight, Clarke, and Harms is a bit short and wide for my liking. That's not a moan, just an observation. Still love you, big man.

1444: Australia 95-3 Clarke can't. He brilliantly cuts Monty to the cover-point fence for four, a gorgeous shot. Fortunately he mis-hits the next one, but a bit too short from the left-arm spinning sensation.

Monty's back. From the other end, this time. Can you feel a wicket coming?

1440: Australia 89-3 These two batsmen could start to annoy me. They are dropping the ball at their feet and running singles, to Harmison's chagrin too. I thought it was England who were boring in the last Test? Come on, is this all you boys have got?

1435: Australia 85-3 Hoggard off target this time, punished through the covers for four by Clarke and then clipped off his pads for three more. Couple of bowling changes possibly on the way to freshen up the attack a bit.

How to listen to TMS I wish the world could just stay still for sometime so I can grasp this.
Girish Chandran, Canada, via TMS inbox

1430: Australia 78-3 The Aussies are trying not to let Monty settle into a rhythm. Both Clarke and Hussey are trying to paddle him around for singles to keep the strike rotated between the left and right handers.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

"It's quite tense here now – everyone knows another wicket and England will be through to Andrew Symonds, who has looked far from convincing in his previous Test appearances."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

1425: Australia 76-3 Monty's giving it a bit more flight now, which is what we want to see. I used to bowl left-arm spin, once upon a time. I didn't turn it as much as Monty so I bowled flatter and quicker. What I'd have given to have Monty's talent. Tremendous.

1422: Australia 73-3 Another good over from Hoggy, just the single off it. Great stop off his last ball at mid-wicket from Alastair Cook, to be fair to England they all look bang up for it in the field today. As well they might, there's an Ashes to save here.

1418: Australia 72-3 Clarke gets off the mark with a quick single but Harmison is sloppily deep at mid-off and it's a gimme. Let's get back at it Harms, don't want them having any easy runs at this stage.

Me too mate, me too.

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only) It's times like this when I'm glad I work nights. Come on England.
Another no-namer, via text

1414: Australia 71-3 Hoggy's back and he's stepping up to the plate, too. Flashes one past Hussey's outside edge and then goes up with a huge appeal for LBW. Looks out too, unless there's the faintest inside edge, which in fairness there probably is.

1410: Australia 69-3 Monty finishes the over with five balls pretty much on the spot to new batter Michael Clarke. He's looking in irresistible nick, is old Monty P.

"Wasn't that just an amazing celebration from Monty? They were absolutely superb, it looked like Monty was taking off. You have to watch the highlights tonight, if only for that. Fantastic stuff."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

69-3, Brian, it's 69-3. Keep saying it over and over again and you might actually start to believe it!

"There was a storm raging and my power was shut off for 12 hours. Nothing to do but read, drink a decent claret and sleep. Then I awoke thinking the Aussies were 69 for 3 at lunch and Monty had bowled Langer. What a dream!! But seriously, what's the real score?"
Brian Atkins, Canada, via TMS inbox

How to listen to TMS I'm a nurse working a night shift and tonights bowling is seriously comprimising some of my patients safety. I'm not telling you where from in case I unknowingly upset someone's relatives!
Henry, via TMS inbox

DOWNLOAD A CRICKET MASK AND LOOK LIKE MONTY PANESAR

"Where have they been keeping this guy Monty? Seriously, where the hell have they been keeping him?"
Geoff Lawson on TMS

LUNCH

1328: WICKET Australia 69-3 (Langer 37)
He's done it! He's done it! Long live King Monty Panesar. The script, it seems, had already been written. First ball of Monty's second over, Justin Langer misses a pretty straight one and it takes out his middle stump. The bearded genius wheels away in jubilation – they've never seen anything like it before. He doesn't get close to a high five. Who cares, man?

1325: Australia 69-2 Sajid Mahmood is on too, but an inauspicious start as he is flicked off the pads by Justin Langer. Hussey's only scored two from 36 balls so far – c'mon son, either pipe up or get out. It's half four in the morning and I don't need you trying to put me to sleep.

1322: Australia 66-2 Monty's first Ashes over is a good one. A bit flatter and quicker than you would expect from him usually, but put that down to nerves. It's a maiden, so well bowled young man.

It's Monty time. To a standing ovation, English cricket's very latest saviour takes the ball and prepares to enter the Ashes fray.

How to listen to TMS I'm currently sat at work doing a night shift, loading myself with caffeine in the hope I will refresh the page and see the words "Panesar takes his hat-trick" written there in front of me.
Andy Rollerson in the TMS inbox

1315: Australia 66-2 Flintoff drops a touch short and Langer pulls him away for four. It's been a funny old morning for Langer. I can't work out whether he looks in or out of touch. It matters not. Monty'll be on soon.

Monty update: Panesar seen warming up in the field

"It's my 21st birthday today. 61-2, Harmison bowling a peach to remove the best batsman in the world and it's not even lunch. Cracking birthday present!"
Your forgot to tell us your name, via text

1310: Australia 61-2 Agony for Harmison as Flintoff puts down a hugely difficult one-handed chance at second slip off luck's Justin Langer. It would have been a stunning catch, diving to his right and forwards, but boy would that have made England's morning complete.

"I've just spent an hour standing among the members and it was grim for a while. The Aussies aren't slow to offer advice to the opposition when things are going well for their team. But the wickets changed the mood completely and they were sitting silently with lunch approaching."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

1307: Australia 60-2 Flintoff's going around the wicket to Hussey and the man they call Mr Cricket does well not to be tempted into a little fiddle outside off stump.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only)1302: Australia 60-2 Harms is back, no question. Bowls a superb line just outside off stump to Mike Hussey and then seduces Langer into a woeful pull that he doesn't get anywhere near. Bit of a brain melt from the formely watchful opener.

1255: Australia 59-2 Freddie smells blood. He's brought himself back on for Hoggard, who bowled a lovely opening spell. The skipper beats Langer's bat first up, something for him to think about. And we've still got Monty and Saj to come! 3-2, anyone?

"You can just feel that frisson of excitement when the ball goes anywhere near Monty in the field. This really is an intriguing morning in every sense.
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

1247: Australia 56-2 First real test in the field for Marvellous Monty, he can only partially stop a Langer drive at mid-off and the Aussies take two.

1240: WICKET Australia 54-2 (Ponting 2)
This is the greatest moment of my life. Steve Harmison gets one on the money and Ricky Ponting, the world's best batsman, is out LBW. Oh my, I think I'm going to faint. Harmison is mobbed by his team-mates, who are in dreamland. Thank you for raising your left hand, umpire Aleem Dar, thank you.

How to listen to TMS I'm a senior undergrad at the University of Waterloo in Toronto. I should be working on my grad school essay. But we don't get the Ashes here so I have to make do by refreshing the BBC website every thirty seconds. The one positive I suppose is that I'm not distracted by my one other guilty pleasure on the internet… Youtube!
Rajat Suri in the TMS inbox

DRINKS

1233: Australia 54-1 Langer has calmed down a bit now his partner-in-crime's got himself out. He neatly clips Hoggard off his pads for four but there's no slashing outside off stump. Unfortunately.

1228: Australia 48-1 Steve Harmison bowls a maiden over to Ricky Ponting. I just thought that was worth mentioning to be fair.

1223: WICKET: Australia 48-1 (Hayden 24)
Matthew Hayden runs out of luck and finally gets an edge on a standard Matthew Hoggard delivery. Brilliant stuff from the Yorkshireman. I'd be even more pleased if the incoming Ricky Ponting wasn't averaging 104.08 in 2006.

1217: Australia 47-0 Flintoff's spell ends and his best mate Harmison is on. I can hardly bare to watch his first ball, but it's not too bad. A bit wayward, but it's not Brisbane or anything.

"If I didn't know different, I'd think both these left-handers were trying to get out. All they're trying to do is bully the bowlers out of the attack, it's unnecessary. All they need to do is bat."
Geoff Boycott on TMS

1211: Australia 42-0 Half-hearted appeals from Geraint Jones as Langer plays and misses at Hoggard from the last two balls.

1207: Australia 39-0 Flintoff takes umbrage at Langer pulling him for four and starts going around the wicket already. If you're gonna flash, flash hard, so JL snicks one over third slip for four.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

"Are Australia only allowed to bat for 50 overs? Why else would Hayden be playing that shot?"
Geoff Lawson on TMS

1201: They did, as well. Hayden swings wildly at a wide one from Hoggard and gets nowhere near it. Too confident by far.

1157: Hurray! First maiden, courtesy of the big man Flintoff. Next up, one of them beats the bat… 27-0

"There have been a stack load of runs here in domestic cricket so unless we get some breakthroughs soon prepare for a long day.

Huge numbers of English people here, I was struggling to see any Aussies when I walked in. The Barmy Army will be going on free shuttle buses to the bars tonight – the only fun they look like having here. Great atmosphere though."
Paresh Soni, BBC Sport at the Waca

1154: Bully-boy isn't hanging around, pulling a short one for four. That's the problem with these Aussies – they take advantage of poor bowling straight away instead of having a good look. Not very Test cricket, if you ask me. 27-0

How to listen to TMS "Just got in from a 14 hour bar shift, all set for bed, find out Monty's playing, and have subsequently made a brew. Dug in for a long one."
Theo from Manchester in the TMS inbox

1150: Hayden hits a stunning straight drive for four off Flintoff. Harsh on the England captain, from a pretty accurate over. 22-0

1145: Hayden nicks one to the ropes, the lucky so-and-so. He likes this pitch you know – in October 2003, he scored 380 to – briefly – hold the highest score in Test history. Langer creams the last ball through the covers for four. 18-0

"Flintoff is visibly charging in – there's been too much ambling in so far this series. A bit of pace, but not too much bounce from the Waca pitch."
Geoff Lawson on TMS

1141: Bit early in the day for Langer to be throwing the kitchen sink at Flintoff, but one ball crashes over gully to the fence. 9-0

1135: Good early signs for Hoggard. That cherry is swinging, the fourth ball darting in towards Justin Langer's pads so much he nearly fell over in his crease. Next up Hayden clips a ball that swings too far into the leg side for three. 4-0

1130: Play starts in the third Test match at the Waca. The new ball is in the safe hands of Matthew Hoggard, with Andrew Flintoff marking out his run-up at the other end. Gonna have to wait for some Grievous Bodily Harmison.

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

How to listen to TMS I'm in Perth, it's a glorious day, not a cloud in the sky. Only problem is, I can't get my hands on a ticket for the cricket. Anyone got a spare? Please?
Ian in the TMS inbox

1118: The players are out for the anthems. Not sure they're too keen on this part of proceedings, but hey, if it works for football.

"You guys must be desperate for a scapegoat if the BBC interactive commentator is the reason. If you lose in Perth will they start replacing members of the Barmy Army?"
Scott Kidson, Sydney, in the TMS inbox

1104: "There's a bit of green there so there's something to play with," says Flintoff. I desperately want to believe him, I really do. Is the 2004 Steve Harmison out there?

1100: I'll see if I can get Dirsy back. Andrew Flintoff just called incorrectly and it looks as thought it's going to be a long, long night. Ricky Ponting wants to bat. Of course he does, he's averaging 149 for heaven's sakes.

How to listen to TMS "Happy with Saj's inclusion, and overjoyed with Monty's.Would have liked to see Read in for Jones but as once Meatloaf said, 2 out of 3 ain't bad."
Mark Willingham in the TMS inbox

Send us your texts on 84040 (from the UK only) So there's a change in the BBC Sport Interactive office for this Test match too, with the incomparable Ben Dirs replaced by, er, me. Dirsy takes a well-earned breather after his exertions from the first two traumatic matches. I know, his commentary was imaginative, amusing and informative, but his Ashes record of Played 2, Lost 2 left room for improvement. Fingers crossed, that's where I come in.

1025: England name their side and they make two changes, with Sajid Mahmood replacing James Anderson and, finally and let's hope to rescue the nation, Mudhsuden Singh Panesar takes Ashley Giles' spot. Monty my boy, we're behind you like you could not believe.

England XI: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Pietersen, Flintoff (capt), Jones, Mahmood, Hoggard, Harmison, Panesar.

They looked nervous in the first two Tests. Why, when they are the holders of the Ashes? I still think they can win two and come back heroes, but they have got to be right on the money from the first ball this morning.
My South African taxi driver

Email the BBC Sport website and the TMS team on TMS@bbc.co.uk

LATEST FROM:
Test Match Special BlogKiwis put England in a spinHair enjoys uneventful returnBroken teeth and shattered nosesUpdated: 24 May, 20:06 GMT

Students warn on women’s college

Students at Oxford's last all-women's college are warning that its single-sex status is under threat.

St Hilda's College students claim that discussions on admitting male students could take place next month.

The college's governing body says that the single-sex status is an issue which may be discussed and voted on "at any time".

And it reserves the right to hold such discussions away from "intrusive publicity".

Campaigns have been launched by student unions in Oxford and Cambridge to preserve the last few remaining all-women's colleges – and students at St Hilda's have called on the college to "come clean" about its plans.

'Closed doors'

"The ethos of this college is being discussed behind closed doors," said Helen McCabe, president of the college's junior common room.

Students who want to keep the all-women status say they have not been allowed to enter the debate about the college's future status – and they say they want it to be discussed "openly and honestly".

The college's governing body has issued a statement in response – and says that it will not elaborate any further on its plans.

"The single-sex status of the college is an issue which the fellows may discuss at any time and a vote may be requested in accordance with the statutes," says the college's statement.

And the governing body says that, while it takes note of the students' arguments, "on matters which crucially affect the college" it "reserves the right, when deemed appropriate, to hold discussions in confidence and without intrusive publicity".

A proposal to allow male undergraduates to study at St Hilda's was narrowly defeated earlier this year – after it failed to gain a two-thirds majority among fellows voting at St Hilda's.

A poll of undergraduate students at the college also suggested that a majority were against a change to a mixed-sex college.

There are three remaining women's colleges at Cambridge University, Newnham, New Hall and Lucy Cavendish.

BBC – Newsbeat – Entertainment – High School Musical gets new star

Former EastEnders actress Letitia Dean is to play a role in the stage version of High School Musical this summer.

The star of Strictly Come Dancing will play eccentric drama teacher Mrs Darbus in the production at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

She said: "It's a lovely opportunity for me, I haven't done a musical since I was 13 – many moons ago!

"It's something completely different to anything I've ever done – doing an American accent and playing this kind of character."

She admits she hasn't seen the films yet but has watched a few clips on YouTube.

She said: "I didn't realise what a phenomenon it was. So when my friend's children found out I was doing it, my kudos went through the roof.

"They're like 'I can't believe you're doing it'. They're well excited. Finally I've got a bit of street cred!"

The first High School Musical film debuted on the Disney Channel in 2006 and went on to became a surprise worldwide hit.

When the second movie came out in 2007 the premiere broke cable TV records with an audience of 18.6m in the US.

The film follows basketball captain Troy as he falls in love with maths genius Gabriella during rehearsals for the school musical.

Dean shouldn't find the subject matter hard as she is a big fan of musicals and went to the famous Sylvia Young Theatre School.

She said: "I came out of the womb with Calamity Jane on the iPod. I've always loved musicals, since I was a little girl.

"And I started dance classes when I was like 7 years-old, so it was always in the blood."

Of course, she's had plenty of practice recently after reaching the quarter final stage on Strictly Come Dancing with partner Darren Bennett.

She said: "I loved it. It was terrifying, it was exhausting and it was overwhelmingly fantastic. I loved every minute of it."

Dean played Sharon Watts in EastEnders for over 20 years and admits to watching it recently since Ricky and Bianca have come back.

She said: "They're fabulous aren't they?"

She doesn't rule out returning: "I always say 'never say never' – I don't think I've been killed off yet, have I?"

Dean starts rehearsing in May and High School Musical runs at the Hammersmith Apollo, London, from 1 July to 31 August.

‘Glass ceiling’ traps academics

Women academics are being discriminated against in terms of money and promotion, lecturers claim.

They are held back by a glass ceiling which keeps most in lower-paid and lower-status jobs, according to the Association of University Teachers (AUT).

The group says that the number of women in academic life has soared by 43% since the mid-1990s.

But women are more likely to be on short contracts and in lower-paid jobs.

A study by the AUT found that the number of female academics in higher education in the UK rose by 43% to 56,500 between 1995-96 and 2002-03.

'Scandal'

At the same time the number of male academics grew by 4% to 89,000. In all, 39% of academics are now women.

But the report, called the Unequal Academy, says that women are much more likely to have a fixed term contract rather than a staff job.

In 2002-3, 48% of women academics were employed on a fixed term contract, compared with 38% of men.

In the modern universities, in 2002-03 53% of academics on the lecturer grade were women, but only 30% of department heads.

In the older universities, 39% of the most junior lecturers were women, compared with 13% of professors.

Sally Hunt, AUT's general secretary said: "This report provides yet more evidence of the discrimination faced by women working in our universities.

"They are paid less, are more likely to be employed on a casual basis and continue to occupy the more junior grades.

"It is time for our universities to take some real action to solve this scandal."

The AUT says female academics working on a full-time basis earned 85% of the salary of their male colleagues in 2002-3.

They were also less likely to be described as being active in research.