Daleks a no-show

Doctor Who is coming to Prime TV but the Daleks won't be showing up.

The new 13-part series starts early next year and stars Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and former pop starlet Billie Piperas his companion, Rose. However, talks between programme-makers the BBC and the estate of late sci-fi writer Terry Nation, who created the Daleks, have broken down meaning the evil metal monsters won't be making an appearance in the show.

The Daleks were voted TV's most evil villains in a British poll last year.

Eccleston will be the ninth Doctor. In the past he has been played by Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and Peter Davison.