I’ve just witnessed the death of something I’ve loved fondly since I was a small boy. I’ve just watched episode 3 of the new series of the BBC’s Doctor Who.

I have loved Doctor Who since I can remember. I’ve even forgiven the BBC for the dreadful Paul McGann Americanised tripe – but tonight, Auntie Beeb, you have stepped over the line. I think you have spoiled something special.

I’d been looking forward to the new series coming and although it was a new Doctor, Matt Smith, I felt the need to give him a fair chance – just as I have all his predecessors. He’s not doing a bad job of it to be honest. The problem I’m having is with the storylines and the changes. So far in this new series of Doctor Who we have had to get used to:

• New Doctor
• New assistant
• New titles
• New theme tune
• New Tardis
• New logo
• New sonic screwdriver!
• New writer

Tonight’s episode, “Victory of the Daleks” was particularly weak. We had a pickpocketing Winston Churchill, Spitfires that could suddenly fly in space, the Doctor defending himself with a Jammie Dodger and we were introduced to – wait for it, the multi-coloured uPVC Dalek. I’m sorry BBC, but you have tried to reinvent the wheel and instead come up with a hunchbacked cube. They are hideous, cheap looking and tacky. I’m really not over exaggerating, they really are truly awful.

There is only one reason the BBC would make all these changes – to make sure there’s a who new range of  merchandise available.

Shame on you, Auntie – in trying to turn a quick profit, you are alienating your loyal viewers.

If the rest of the series is like this, I fear there may be no viewers left for the next series.

What do you think? Let me have your comments below and retweet to your friends to gather opinion please!

They say a picture can say a thousand words. Well here it is. This image, taken at 14:15 BST today, courtesy of flightradar24.com shows the true scale of the effect of the closure of the airspace over most of northern Europe.

Just a single aircraft was in the skies over the UK which was a helicopter flying low level from the offshore rigs to Aberdeen.

Take a look at where the planes are flying right now at flightradar24.com - be aware, it’s very busy at the moment and slow to load, so please be patient.

Update: Another similar site you should also try is radarvirtuel.com which offers a similar service.

• Camera 1 – Link
• Camera 2 – Link
• Camera 3 – Link 

NOTE: Understandably, these external sites are very busy, so may not load first time or may be down. If they don’t load straight away, try again after about 10 minutes.