Brace yourselves, readers, for times are changing. Welcome to the new, improved Tube Talk - with more talk, more colour, more everything.

Coming up this week we have gossip on the cracking Doctor Who finale, the new season of CSI: Miami and a final twist that puts the Supernatural finale to shame.

Scott M: "Why has Supernatural suddenly been pulled from the ITV1 schedule on Monday nights?"
Neil: Blame the World Cup. But it's on Wednesdays instead, with the finale this week!

Janet Edwards: "Can you find out when series 2 of The Biggest Loser will be aired on Living Tv?"
Neil: The new series is currently being filmed in Wiltshire - you can expect to see it later this year.

Mick: "Hi, Is there anyway you can find out what the series finale of Charmed got in ratings on LivingTV? I have looked on BARB and of all weeks to not publish LivingTV's ratings it was that one : ("
Neil: Very well actually. The final episode pulled in an average of 645,000 on June 1, with an extra 98,000 on timeshift.

David Gibson: "Hey, I really enjoy reading this column each week! I was wondering if you could tell me when Five will start showing season 4 of CSI:Miami?"
Neil: It's looking like July 18 for season 4, a week after the finales of Vegas and NY.

Oooh, it's the first of our new features - the Star Spot. Here I'll be having a chinwag with some of the stars behind Tube Talk's favourite shows. (Lucky them.)

First up is Rachel Luttrell, perhaps better known as alien warrior Teyla Emmagan in Stargate Atlantis. If you have any questions for Rachel - I'll be chatting to her next week - drop me an email using the link at the top of the page.

Lorna: "I asked this question a few weeks ago but didn't get an answer so hopefully you'll be nice enough to answer this time! Did conviction get renewed in the US and has it been picked up by anyone over here??"
Neil: I've had a nice turn. So no. And no.

Bex: "Thanks for keeping me up-to-date with what's going on on telly in the UK. I moved abroad last year but don't want to miss out on any news. Anyways, I was wondering when the second series of Green Wing will be out on DVD?"
Neil: It's out on October 2, as is a boxset with both the first and second series. Peep Show series 3 and Shameless series 3 are also out on the same date.

Andrew: "is Sky One going to repeat all over again everything or are they going to show us new stuff during July/August ?"
Neil: The summer months are quieter, but there are some treats planned. Next month we see the new seasons of Las Vegas and Deadwood, then in August there's a new sci-fi series called Eureka. And don't miss the Malcolm finale this weekend.

Anon: "Hi Neil being that traveler is a midseason drama on ABC will it be limited to 12 eps? Because it looks cracking on a trailer I saw on the ABC website. Also i just read Smith has been pick up for ITV will that start in Jan 07 here? Do you no who will pick up Kidnapped that also looks good thanks."
Neil: Yes, Traveler will have a shorter first season of thirteen episodes (assuming it survives that long). January is probably right for Smith, while Kidnapped has gone to C4. The similarly-premised Vanished is with Five.

Kevin Naughton: "i might have mis-understood-but did you say last week bsg has been cancelled-because according to numerous american sites-its back in oct 2006-thanks"
Neil: Apologies for any confusion: both Weeds and Battlestar have been picked up for new seasons.

Kat: "Sky One have recently shown the suberb 'Over there' about the lifes of soilders in Iraq. Do you know if there is going to be another series?"
Neil: Axed.

RichardAM: "Any idea of when Uk comedies Peep Show and The IT Crowd will be returning to Channel 4?"
Neil: We're looking at early next year for both.

Richard: "Hi Neil, if these questions have already been asked I apologise in advance. I am a huge huge fan of CSI: Vegas, and although I have seen many episodes on Five I prefer to watch them on DVD from series to series and episode by episode - much better to see the character development and interpersonal relationships between everyone and the quirky jokes have more meaning. I have watched every episode up to and including series 4 (four) but then my confusion begins..

1: Are the episodes written and directed by Quentin Tarrantino (Grave Danger) the finale episodes to Season 5 (five)? I ask as it's been available to buy since last October (2005), yet Series 5 (five) was only available to buy in April (2006) for the 1st half and the end of June (2006) for the 2nd half? Why release the finale episodes before the series that precedes it?

2: As Series 5 is now being released to DVD does that mean Series 6 is currently on Five? And is/will there be a Series 7?"
Neil: 1. This is correct. It's a way of getting extra money, is your reason. The Will & Grace series finale is available separately for the same reason, and ditto for Friends.

2. Yes, and yes.

Speaking of CSI, now is an opportune time to introduce one of our new features - the Swag Spot. Every week in the Swag Spot I'll have a new competition exclusively for you, my faithful tubers. Of course, it's free to enter, and of course, it's a ridiculously easy question that stands between you and the chance of winning a fab prize.

This week there are three copies of CSI season 5, volume 2 up for grabs, including the aforementioned finale. Click here to enter - good luck!

Liz: "Is Everwood.2 definitely coming back because my housemate taped over it and you could possibly save a murder here if you say yes. I'm already rather mutinous at the rather egregious decision by the CW to cancel it. I will say no more lest I swear.... Please say yes, please say yes...."
Neil: No. I'm not sure what you mean by Everwood.2 but if it's a rebirth of the show then I would not bother hoping. If you mean season two, then wait another week until it shows up on ITV1.

Lauren: "Do you have any idea when season 3 of Nip/Tuck will start on Sky One?"
Neil: Last autumn.

Lee: "Hiya, Any news on when Desp.Housewives will on Channel 4? Plus when will we be learning about what will happern to Mike and Paul (Zarch's step-dad)? My cousin says he hasnt heard much about it over there in the USA?"
Neil: January next year probably, although contrary to what I said a week or two ago, C4 has not yet renewed the contract for Lost or Housewives (it will happen though). The fate of both characters in uncertain, although personally I hope they do kill off Mike.

Jennifer: "Please tell them surface is a great show and they must carry on with it. thanks - cant wait for the next season to start in the UK"
Neil: I'll do that but I'm not even sure my sway can make this show resurface. By the way, there is another chance to catch this show on ITV2 (in double-bills) from Friday, July 7. Ditto for Supernatural - but in triple-bills - on Saturday nights.

Sam: "Hi. Great column as per usual. I was just wondering if you think Doctor Who will return for a fourth series, I know a third series has been recommisioned but after the lower ratings of this series and both Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper left, do you think it will return?"
Neil: Even though ratings have fallen, it's still doing a very good job. So I'd certainly expect so.

Rick: "Is Captain Jack coming back to Doctor Who? This series or next? Please please, do tell."
Neil: Next, apparently. And of course, before then in Torchwood.

Patrick: "Hey Neil LOVE the column was just wondering when if ever will NBCs Treasure Hunters, Americas Got Talent and Deal Or No Deal hit our shores?"
Neil: All three are unlikely.

Finally, the spoiler spot, where only those with weak willpower will venture. As always, select the area to the right of each programme to read the text - but be warned that you may well be spoiled.

This week on Doctor Who: The first half of the finale, Army of Ghosts, is truly quality television and makes up for what at times has been a lacklustre second series. We begin with a brief flashback of Rose's time with the Doctor - narrated by her - that includes a brief glimpse of Christopher Eccleston. "I thought it would never end," she says. "But then came the army of ghosts. This is the story of war on Earth."

Travelling back to the present day, Rose and the Doc discover that all is not well on Earth. Several times a day (the so-called "ghost shifts") the planet is overtaken by blurry ghostly apparitions, who are conning humans into thinking that they are dead relatives. Behind the ghost shifts is the Torchwood Institute, which is unwittingly allowing the real race behind the "ghosts" to mount an invasion of Earth. But by the end of the episode, we learn that they are not the only force to contend with.

Tracy Ann Oberman puts in a fine guest appearance as Yvonne Hartman, the head of the Torchwood Institute, while Barbara Windsor makes a hilarious cameo in a (TV-based) scene with Peggy Mitchell ordering a ghost version of Dirty Den out of her pub. Meanwhile, Jackie takes a ride aboard the TARDIS for Rose's final adventure and someone presumed missing for good makes a surprise comeback.

This week on Alias: Just two weeks until the corking series finale now, and things start to heat up. This week Sydney goes through with her plan to pass off as Ana Espinosa passing off as her, but is forced to team up with Sark in the process. Tom finds out the reason his wife was killed, Vaughn meets Isabelle for the first time and, right at the end, Sloane comes to a realisation.

That's it for the first in this new-look Tube Talk. Do send in your feedback, questions and any other random comments to the usual place.... and, before I sign off, the promised twist: beginning next week, Tube Talk will now regularly appear on a new day - Thursdays. Pick your jaws up off the floor and join me again on Thursday, July 6, for more!