At the press conference launching the first of the three Doctor Who specials being shown over the next two months, outgoing executive producer Russell T Davies categorically denied that he was working on an American version of the popular show.

Asked whether he was writing or pitching an adaptation as part of his work in Los Angeles, Davies told journalists, "Absolutely not. Upon my dead mother's life! But no, absolutely not. I bet you a hundred quid that I'm not."

Davies confirmed that The Waters of Mars would be dedicated to 1970s Doctor Who producer Barry Letts. "He was an extraordinary figure in Doctor Who history and in pop culture – and he passed away, sadly. So, of course, we wanted to have that tribute to him on screen," he noted.

BBC America has announced that The Waters of Mars will air on Saturday December 19th at 9 p.m., while Tennant's regeneration stories "will air over the holiday season as a two-part special."