It'll be interesting to see how all the companions get on with each other. Will the writers be able to treat them as a proper ensemble cast? If the companion-Doctor relationships are all different, what of the c-c ones - for example Donna and Rose become good mates, but Martha really doesn't get on with Rose.

God I'm glad they didn't make Martha gay! I pretty much assumed Susan was dead. I think she left the original series didn't she to settle down or something. I do have very very vague William Hartnell memories, but I have seen the original where Barbara and Ian follow Susan several times.

I hope they do bring Jack back. He's much better in Dr Who then in Torchwood (not difficult). Funnily enough I thought Martha's turn in Torchwood really brought the series to life. I thought she made quite a good sparring partner for Owen.

RTD was originally going to make Martha gay but changed his mind. We also had Adam (briefly) in the Ecclescake season.

Susan is almost certainly dead since she was a Time Lord/Lady and all the Time Lords are dead – bar escapes into other universes, Chameleon arches, etc.

If rumours are correct, it's a fivesome, with Jack as a sixth.

I think it would be much more interesting if RTD got away from the fancying the Doc stuff and introduced companions who could have other sorts of relationships with him: best mates, perhaps, or a mother/son dynamic, or a father/child one. We know the Doctor had at least one child - he had a granddaughter originally (is Susan dead? Do we know?), and in the last series he mentioned losing a child. Isn't that an interesting area to explore?

My kids get really bored with what they term the kissy kissy stuff, and would rather see funny companions. They all still love Mickey the most.

My mind is boggling about the proposed foursome in the Tardis, and am hoping it doesn't turn into a lovein...

I think Rose will come back via a time rift in parallel universe Cardiff where she is working for Torchwood. Though I must say I do like the idea of another parallel universe Rose who doesn't know the Doctor at all...

Feeling a bit bored, are we? Oh dear.

Anyway, I thought I'd pretty much covered boredom under the general "There are a few, some of them good" banner, but maybe that wasn't explicit enough.

All the same, we're talking about a character who was too busy with her own life to notice several alien invasions – and so lacking in curiosity that she never even found out about them after the fact – so I'm still reckoning the exploring/boredom bug would be an odd one for her to catch. Still, maybe Runaway Bride was her Road to Damascus moment.

I'm still suspecting that RTD would go with "fancying the Doc" as the preferred dramatic choice, though.

"What is a credible motivation for Donna, not exactly the most dynamic of people and past the normal age when people get the exploring bug, to suddenly want to up sticks and go travelling?"

Boredom.

The 40s are the new 30s so that could be why she wants to leave.. also she was due to get married. perhaps a change of scene!

I agree Rob your appraisal of the relationships is spot on

I have to say I can't wait for Rose to re-appear.. although I have a hunch it won't be 'our' Rose but an alternate or duplicate...?

Well… I'd argue that the Doctor reciprocating in the Rose relationship was the special thing. It might be that RTD and co are going for a spectrum of relationships between the Doctor and his companions.

Rose: companion loves Doctor, Doctor loves companion

Martha: companion loves Doctor, Doctor doesn't love companion and the whole thing's done for pathos

Donna: companion loves Doctor, Doctor doesn't love companion and the whole thing's done for laughs

Rose is still special and therefore that relationship isn't undermined - in fact it's shown as more special by the fact the Doc's not bed hopping.

Given that next year we're going to get a load of specials, Catherine Tate ain't going to be around for them and neither are Freema or Billy, I'd suspect that there's going to be a lone Doctor (with temporary companion) for the specials and we're going to be shown that as the norm, which will make the Rose relationship even more special.

Plus what is a credible motivation for Donna, not exactly the most dynamic of people and past the normal age when people get the exploring bug, to suddenly want to up sticks and go travelling? There are a few, some of them good, but fancying the bloke she's going travelling with is one of the more likely.

"NO MORE LOVE INS in the TARDIS. WE DON'T WANT THEM"

Absolutely - the storyline with Rose was meant to be special and specific but now it's just being constantly undermined.

Every bloody time I go to the cinema I see this trailer. I hate it even more than that Orange ad with Snoop Dogg, and that's saying something.