'Doctor Who' to film in high definition

Doctor Who is to be filmed in high definition (HD) for the first time, it has been confirmed.

The upcoming Easter special, 'Planet of the Dead', will be the first episode to be broadcast in the high quality format. Time and budgetary constraints have thusfar prevented Doctor Who from going HD, although spinoff series Torchwood has been shot in the format from the start.

"I'm delighted that the Doctor Who specials are going to be shot in HD," Danielle Nagler, head of BBC HD, told Doctor Who Magazine. "The programme team has consistently tried to push at television boundaries, and to raise the quality bar for our audiences, and I'm glad we've been able to work with them to do so again."

'Planet of the Dead' features guest appearances from Michelle Ryan and Lee Evans.