Ditto; just watched it tonight. And I too had not heard Rose would be appearing. Gobsmacked indeed.

(Really, I try to avoid all such news in advance; it's usually more fun not to know. Although I did know about Catherine Tate and, since I'm not fond of her character Donna, I'm glad I could "brace myself" in advance. She was less annoying than in "The Runaway Bride", but still annoying. On the up side, maybe we'll finally get a companion as simple traveling partner, with no romantic overtones or undertones. The "in love with the Doctor" thing is one of several ruts that Russell T. Davies is in. IMNSHO.)