Richard Curtis, the creator of Blackadder and Comic Relief big cheese, is to write an episode of Doctor Who. Now, Curtis of late, is better known for writing quirky English sopfests like Notting Hill, Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He's now going to (presumably) trade all that to write about worm holes and laser beams and all that junk for a new episode of Doctor Who, which will of course, star the new doctor, Matt Smith. Filming has started and it will air next year.

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Of the plot, Curtis told The Sun: "There will be a monster. And a famous historical figure will battle the monster."

"It's tremendously good fun and a treat for my children. These days the things you can watch together as a family are much fewer so when you get something like Doctor Who or The X Factor it is such a pleasure to sit down as a family."

He added: "I am very interested in time travel for some reason or other. I am writing a film about it but on a low budget with no spectacular special effects.

"Maybe it's a desire to get out of being old. Sometimes you do just love the idea that you could go back in time and change things."

I tell you what would be fun... if Curtis wrote Blackadder as his "historical figure" and it was played by Rowan Atkinson! Will he be allowed to do that? I dream of characters from other shows appearing in different programmes... okay, in fairness, that meant I always wanted to see Mike Baldwin nipping in the Queen Vic for a quick scotch whilst on business... but Blackadder in Doctor Who would be something else!