ACTOR David Tennant is enjoying a fruitful year, unlike many of his fellow thespians. Zoom technology allowed the Bathgate-born star to act in BBC series Staged during lockdown. He also performed a sketch with Catherine Tate and hosted a television quiz show. Next came rave reviews for his portrayal of serial killer Dennis Nilsen.

And today the Radio Times reveals that a poll of their readers voted him their favourite Doctor Who.

Tennant’s real life father-in-law Peter Davison, who also once played the Doctor, received the fewest votes.

We’re now speculating that Tennant may be the only person praying for a Christmas lockdown. It certainly wouldn’t halt his magnificent career trajectory.

Even more importantly, it would prevent any irate in-law exchanges over the brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce.

Alphabetical animosity

NOT every actor receives the pleasing and persistent plaudits and back-pats of a David Tennant.

Jordan Young, who appears in River City and Scot Squad, says: “Someone just tried to insult me by calling me a ‘C-list actor’.”

With a resigned sigh, he adds: “All things considered, it’s closer to a compliment.”

True enough.

After all, there are 23 letters of the alphabet, from D to Z, that are constantly refining and updating their Curriculum Vitaes, in the vain hope that one day they will get promoted to the illustrious position of C.

Brought to book

WHEN Barrhead-based crime writer Christopher Brookmyre revealed his editors often ask him to tone down his material, we wondered how such a request would have "benefited" novelists of the past.

Reader Janice Taylor suggests William Faulkner might have published a book called: The Sound And The Minor Irritation.

(Mis)taking orders

LOQUACIOUS to a fault, reader Patricia MacAskill says that if she had to describe herself in one word it would be: “Not very good at following instructions.”

Careering out of control

PRIMARY teacher Jennifer Wallis was listening to the conversation of a group of her seven-year-old charges who were discussing future career options. One girl was either linguistically confused or cynical beyond her years. She said to a chum: “What do you want to do when you give up?”

Shy away

THE Diary is collecting words for our updated version of the dictionary. Reader Kevin Murphy suggests: Lochdown, the behaviour of a certain shy monster called Nessie, who started practising social distancing long before it became fashionable.

Purple haze

READER Tom Rowell is rather dismayed. “I recently discovered I’m colour blind,” he tells us. “The diagnosis came completely out of the purple.”