Dr Who, Phone Home

Doctor Who finished its latest season watched by a huge audience of nearly 10million.

Fans were already whipped into a frenzy of anticipation after a cliffhanger ending in which it appeared that star David Tennant might be leaving as the Doctor began regenerating only to recover to defeat the Daleks and their creator Davros the kebab man.

It was another disappointment that got to more than 2,500 fans.

In previous episodes the Doctor's sidekicks Sarah Jane Smith, Martha Jones and the Torchwood team contact the Doctor on the Time Lord's mobile phone.

The digits had been flashed up on screen several times 07700 900461 and the fans who confuse fantasy with real life called the number, hopefully with their parents consent.

If someone did call it they would hear either a dead dial tone or number unavailable. There are a series of inactive and reserved phone numbers assigned to producers for TV series.

On the BBC's website, one disgruntled viewer said: 'Grrr - I phoned the Doctor's phone number but there was just an annoying network message.

'What's the point in showing a phone number if you're not gonna use it?!'

Producers assure fans that the Time Lord is real and that you just need a special 'Time, Space continuum' chip in your phone to be able to reach him.

Tennant will return in a Christmas episode this year and four specials next year, but he is not yet confirmed for the next full series in 2010.

Later this year he will play Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company to remind people that he is a serious actor.

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