Smith drops in on Doctor Who show

16 July 2011 Last updated at 08:30 GMT Matt Smith popped up to thank the young adventurers for saving the Doctor and the world Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has made a surprise appearance in a highly acclaimed "immersive" theatre production based on the TV show.

Smith appeared in character in front of 25 fans aged 9-12 at a performance of The Crash of the Elysium at the Manchester International Festival.

The show puts the audience at the heart of a Doctor Who adventure and are told it is up to them to save the world.

Smith is normally seen on screens but appeared in person on Friday.

The Crash of the Elysium, created by theatre company Punchdrunk, has earned a series of five-star reviews in national newspapers.

The audience members are told to wear chemical decontamination suits as they are led through a series of rooms by actors dressed as soldiers, looking for clues and being chased by the Doctor's enemies.

Smith said the show was "a marriage made in creative space heaven".

"I've always watched Punchdrunk shows and marvelled at their inventiveness and individuality," he said.

"Put that together with Doctor Who and there is a wonderful template to tell unique stories in unique ways. The Doctor would definitely approve."

The Crash of the Elysium is one of the highlights of the Manchester International Festival, which ends on Sunday and also involves new works by Victoria Wood, Damon Albarn and Marina Abramovic.

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'Doctor Death' dies in US aged 83

3 June 2011 Last updated at 14:17 GMT Kevorkian conducted many assisted suicides using his so-called mercy machine, Jack Kevorkian, the man known as "Dr Death", for helping the terminally ill end their lives, has died in the US aged of 83, his lawyer has said.

Mayer Morganroth told the Associated Press news agency Kevorkian died on Friday at Michigan's Beaumont Hospital.

Kevorkian died after a blood clot from his leg broke free and lodged in his heart, the Detroit Free Press reported.

He was believed to have assisted in 130 suicides and was released from prison in 2007, after serving eight years.

Kevorkian had been in hospital since last month with pneumonia and kidney problems, said Mr Morganroth, who was also a friend of Kevorkian's.

He added that hospital staff played recordings of classical music for Kevorkian before he died.

Murder conviction

Kevorkian was originally given a 10-25 year sentence for a second-degree murder conviction in the death of terminally ill Thomas Youk.

But the former pathologist later won an appeal based on his own failing health and served only eight years.

Kevorkian's so-called mercy machine delivered lethal amounts of drugs intravenously

His lawyers had said he suffered from hepatitis C and diabetes.

He had promised in affidavits that he would not assist in a suicide if he was released.

Kevorkian told the BBC in 2007 he had no regrets for conducting assisted suicides.

"I knew what I was doing... I accepted the consequences because I had to do the right thing," he said.

The doctor ran for US Congress as an independent in 2008, receiving just 2.7% of the vote in a suburban Detroit district.

A film about Kevorkian's life, called You Don't Know Jack, was shown for the HBO television network in 2010.

The actor Al Pacino won an Emmy and Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the pathologist.

Kevorkian had claimed to have assisted in some 130 suicides, mostly in the Detroit area between 1990-98.

Born in 1928, Kevorkian went to medical school, then worked as a pathologist - before retiring to pursue his controversial mission.

Kevorkian first gained international attention in 1990, helping a 54-year-old Alzheimers patient to die.

Many assisted suicides were conducted using his so-called mercy machine, which delivered lethal amounts of drugs intravenously.

Kevorkian's methods alienated many. In 1998 he offered on a "first come, first served" basis the kidneys of a man he had helped to die.

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