Ben Miller is set to guest star opposite Peter Capaldi when the new series of Doctor Who returns this autumn.

Commenting on his role, Ben Miller said:

"As a committed Whovian I cannot believe my luck in joining the Twelfth Doctor for one of his inaugural adventures. My only worry is that they'll make me leave the set when I'm not filming."

Miller achieved fame as half of comedy duo Armstrong and Miller before success in dramas, including Primeval and more recently, as DI Richard Poole, the central character in the first two series of the BBC’s Death in Paradise.

Miller’s partner in comedy, Alexander Armstrong, appeared in Doctor Who’s 2011 Christmas Special (The Doctor, The Widow And The Wardrobe), playing Reg Arwell, but it’s Miller’s first time on the show and he’ll be starring in an episode written by Mark Gatiss.

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added:

"Mark Gatiss has written us a storming villain for his new episode, and with Capaldi in the TARDIS, we knew we needed somebody special to send everybody behind the sofa. And quite frankly, it's about time Ben Miller was in Doctor Who!"

Other familiar faces confirmed to join Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in the new series, which will TX on BBC One later this year, include Tom Riley and Keeley Hawes.

Mark Gatiss' story will be Episode Three, which DWO believe to be currently titled, Robots Of Sherwood. 

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

Doctor Who and Mark Gatiss' An Adventure In Space And Time have both received nominations in the 2014 BAFTA's.

Doctor Who was recognised in the Audience category with the nomination for The Day Of The Doctor. It features competition from Breaking Bad, Gogglebox, The Great British Bakeoff, Broadchurch and Educating Yorkshire.

An Adventure In Space and Time was recognised in the Best Single Drama category, featuring competition from Complicit, The Wipers Times & Black Mirror: Be Right Back.

Fans can cast their vote for the Audience award on the Radio Times website.

+  The awards take place on Sunday 18th May.

[Source: Tim Vine]

As many of our regular readers will know, DWO is a spoiler-free site, and we very rarely post news items based around rumours, but we're hearing from several sources about some possible episode titles for the upcoming Eighth Series of Doctor Who.

We would of course like to remind fans that these titles are unconfirmed at this stage and are not official until the BBC states so, but we encourage discussion on them either way, in the DWO Forums thread link at the bottom of this article.

8.1: [Untitled] - written by Steven Moffat
8.2: [Untitled] - written by Phil Ford
8.3: Robots Of Sherwood* - written by Mark Gatiss
8.4: Listen* - written by Steven Moffat
8.5: Time Heist* - written by Stephen Thompson
8.6: [Untitled] - written by Gareth Roberts
8.7: Kill The Moon*
8.8: Mummy On The Orient Express*
8.9: Flatline*
8.10: [Untitled]
8.11: [Untitled]
8.12: [Untitled]
8.13: [Untitled]

* Unconfirmed

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: DWO]

Keeley Hawes will join the cast of Doctor Who, following rave reviews for her outstanding performance as DI Lindsay Denton in the hit BBC drama Line Of Duty.

Starring opposite The Doctor, Hawes will guest star for one episode in Peter Capaldi's first ever series as the Time Lord.

Set to transmit in the autumn this year, Hawes will play Ms Delphox, a powerful out-of-this-world character with a dark secret. Travelling across space and time The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and his companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), will come face to face with the mysterious Ms Delphox when they arrive on a strange and puzzling planet.

Written by Steve Thompson (Sherlock) the episode will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Line Of Duty, Doctor Who).

Commenting on her role, Keeley Hawes, said:

“I am delighted to join Doctor Who and to be working with this incredible team. Ms Delphox is a great character and someone I've had a lot of fun playing.”

While lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, added:

"Anyone watching Jed Mercurio's amazing Line Of Duty will know that Keeley Hawes is having one hell of year. And now it's about to get even better as she achieves the greatest villainy yet attempted on Doctor Who: she plays a banker."

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

The man who put The Doctor aboard a cursed pirate ship and took us to parts of the TARDIS we’d never seen before has been confirmed as a writer on the forthcoming 8th series of Doctor Who.

Steve Thompson will write the as-yet-unnamed fifth episode of the series to be shown later this year (which DWO believe *could* be titled Time Heist).

It’s the third time the writer has penned a Doctor Who story, following last year’s Journey To The Centre of the TARDIS and 2011’s pirate adventure The Curse of the Black Spot.

Steve Thompson has also provided scripts for BBC1’s Sherlock such as The Blind Banker, series two finale The Reichenbach Fall and The Sign of Three which was broadcast in January.

Filming is underway on Peter Capaldi’s first series as The Doctor. He’ll be joined by Jenna Coleman as Clara and a new recurring character, Danny Pink played by Samuel Anderson. 

The new series, to be screened on BBC1, will also feature episodes by lead writer and series producer Steven Moffat.

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: BBC Doctor Who Website]

Samuel Anderson (The History Boys, Gavin & Stacey, Emmerdale) is set to join the cast of Doctor Who as a recurring character in series 8, which will also introduce Peter Capaldi as The Doctor to millions of viewers for the first time.  Anderson will play Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) also teaches. 

On joining the show Samuel Anderson said:

"I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started! It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honour to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can’t wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!"

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added:

"For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the First Doctor. These days it’s the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi’s first series of Doctor Who!"

Filming recently began on episode 4 of the new series which will co-star Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode 5, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise).

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: BBC]

New Series Director, Ben Wheatley was recently interviewed for Science and Entertainment News site, io9, about the upcoming Eighth Series of Doctor Who, in which he describes it as "More like Classic Who".

Wheatley talks about the dark nature of the show and how Series 8 feels like it's going back to Doctor Who's darker roots:

"Oh yeah, Doctor Who is pretty dark, I think. Generally it's dark, it's always been dark. Even in the more modern ones. If you look at the Tom Baker stuff, it's especially dark. When he leaves Leela - who's a very beloved assistant - he just laughs after it. There's none of the [breaking down and crying]. He just laughs, and "on to the next one," you know. It's a bonkers show. It's a monster. To have a unity that runs eight years [of the new series]… it's pretty crazy.

They've done everything, they've tried all sorts of stuff. It seems to me the episodes that we're doing now seem more like classic Who. We're going back to that style. But you'll have to wait and see."

Wheatley also talks about Peter Capaldi's casting as The Doctor:

"With someone like Capaldi, he's a massive Who fan. He knows Who inside out. And everything he does is very, carefully planned and thought about. I remember when they first started talking to me about doing it, and I was very nervous for just those reasons. How do you shape this performance?

But then when I heard who was going to do it — when they told me it was Capaldi, [I thought] that's not really a problem. He's so good. I was relieved, pretty much. It would have been a very different situation if it had been another kind of Matt Smith character. A guy who you don't know. Molded from the start. But with Capaldi, you look at his career and you look at his performances they are all so brilliant, and all so different as well. It was a lucky break for me, I think that.

It was something I sought out. I got my agent to kind of badger them about doing, because I was a fan as a kid. But also because my kid was a fan of the show and I wanted to make something that he could see, for a change. That was it. And it's been very geeky indeed. Going into the TARDIS, I held the Sonic Screwdriver the other day, and that was a particular thrill. All sorts of stuff. Also stuff I can't talk about, that's been very, very exciting for me."

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Source: io9]

With the reveal of The 12th Doctor's outfit earlier this week, we have been inundated with requests from fans wanting to know where they can buy it. DWO have done some digging, and we are thrilled to unveil our first 'Get The Look' guide!

View our image to accompany the guide, in the right-hand column!

Get The Look: The 12th Doctor 

Coat
by 'Crombie'
'Retro' Coat - Dark Blue with Red lining
Available at: www.crombie.co.uk

Cardigan
by 'Crombie'
Navy Merino Wool
Available at: www.crombie.co.uk

Boots
by 'Loake'
'Brogue' - Black, smooth leather
Available at: www.loake.co.uk or www.britboot.co.uk

Shirt
by 'Crombie'
White, 'Tommy Nutter' long-staple, cotton poplin
Available at: www.crombie.co.uk

Trousers
by Unknown Designer
Dark Blue

There have been online disputes questioning the designer of the boots, with the BBC initially reporting they were Dr Martens. DWO can confirm that the boots are in fact Loake's, and Peter Capaldi got them himself. Nicholas Roumana, the store owner of the Camden Town branch, told The Telegraph:

“Peter Capaldi came in a week or two before Christmas and said he was looking for a pair of smart dress boots. I suggested this one, because not only is it very smart, it’s exclusive to us and made in England. It’s a great boot. He bought it in size 10.”

What do you think of the costume? Leave your comments below, or in the DWO Forums!

[Source: DWO]

The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special, The Day Of The Doctor was the third most-watched programme on BBC iPlayer for 2013, the BBC has confirmed.

The special episode, which saw The 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) team up with The 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and John Hurt's War Doctor, received a total of over 3,144,000 individual requests.

Also making it into the top 20 were The Bells Of Saint John at position 9 with 2,610,000 requests and The Rings Of Akhaten at position 17 with 2,289,000 requests.

Victoria Jaye, Head of TV Content for BBC iPlayer, says:

“2013 has been a fantastic year for iPlayer. We’ve begun the journey to transform iPlayer from a TV catch-up service into an online TV destination in its own right with the introduction of iPlayer exclusive content and programme premiering. We’re delighted by the audience response to both. As we move into 2014, we will originate more exclusive programmes for iPlayer, as well as offer an ambitious range of content to complement our biggest brands and events.”

Dan Taylor, Head of BBC iPlayer for BBC Future Media, says:

“With 3 billion programme requests across over 1,000 devices, 2013 was another record-breaking year for BBC iPlayer. We're delighted that iPlayer is enabling more and more people to enjoy the fantastic shows we create when and where they want.” 

[Source: BBC Media Centre]

The BBC have unveiled the costume that Peter Capaldi will wear as The 12th Doctor!

The Doctor has a new look as Peter Capaldi’s era officially begins. In an image (pictured-right) released today by the BBC, Capaldi can be seen in the costume that will define his time as the Twelfth Time Lord in one of TV’s biggest roles.

Sporting a dark blue Crombie coat with red lining, dark blue trousers, a white shirt as well as black Dr. Marten shoes, the look was created by Doctor Who costume designer Howard Burden. 

Commenting on his costume, Peter Capaldi said:

“He's woven the future from the cloth of the past. Simple, stark, and back to basics. No frills, no scarf, no messing, just 100 per cent Rebel Time Lord.”

While lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat added:

“New Doctor, new era, and of course new clothes. Monsters of the universe, the vacation is over - Capaldi is suited and booted and coming to get you!” 

Filming for episode one of series 8 began earlier this month, after 10.2 million tuned-in on Christmas Day to get their first much-anticipated glimpse of Capaldi’s Doctor.

Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, commented:

"Peter Capaldi's Doctor is officially recorded in history today with the unveiling of his new costume.  It's sharp, smart and stylish - The Twelfth Time Lord means business."

What do you think of the costume? Leave your comments below, or in the DWO Forums!

+  Find Out how to Get The Look, in our News item, here.

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air Autumn 2014 on BBC One. 

[Source: BBC]

Doctor Who and Matt Smith both won awards for the categories they were nominated in at this years National Television Awards.

Doctor Who won the award for Drama, beating off competition from Downton Abbey, Broadchurch and Call The Midwife.

Matt Smith won the award for Drama Performance, beating off competition from Martin Clunes (Doc Martin), Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) and Miranda Hart (Call The Midwife).

Smith couldn't attend in person to accept the award, with Steven Moffat and Jenna Coleman accepting it on his behalf. Matt recorded a thank you video, which you can view below:

[Source: National Television Awards]

News is coming in thick and fast to DWO HQ from the 2014 Toy Fair in London, this week, and one of the nuggets we're hearing is that there will be another subtle revision to the Doctor Who logo.

If the design we have seen is finalised, there will be a change to the 'H' as well as the removal of the nibs from the D, R, W & H letters.

We have put together a mock-up of the revised logo, which you can view in the right-hand column.

More news as we get it...

[Source: Doctor Who Online]

It is with deepest regret that DWO announces the passing of New Series Doctor Who Actor, Roger Lloyd Pack.

Roger was perhaps best known to Doctor Who fans for appearing in the New Series, 10th Doctor adventures; Rise Of The Cybemen & The Age Of Steel as John Lumic.

Roger's other career highlights include; The Vicar Of Dibley, Only Fools And Horses and Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

DWO would like to extend our sympathies to Roger's family and friends.

[Source: BBC News]

The new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, stepped on set today for his first full day of filming as production begins on series eight of the hit BBC show.

Arriving on set in Cardiff to begin filming, Peter Capaldi, said:

“New job, first day, slightly nervous. Just like the Doctor, I'm emerging from the TARDIS into a whole other world.”

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, added:

“First the eyebrows! Then, at Christmas, the face! Coming soon, the whole Doctor. In the Cardiff studios, the Capaldi era begins.”

Accompanying The Doctor on his adventures will be companion Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman.

The first episode of series eight has been written by Steven Moffat, with the second episode penned by Phil Ford. These are the first episodes that Peter will shoot and they are directed by Ben Wheatley.

Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning, said:

"Excitement and anticipation fills the air as Peter Capaldi’s Doctor takes control of the TARDIS for the very first time today. It’s going to be one hell of a ride and I can't wait for the journey to start."

Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One, commented:

"A new year, a new face, a new Doctor! 2014 has arrived and it's Peter Capaldi's time so let the adventures begin!"

Filming is taking place in Cardiff until August 2014. Doctor Who is executive produced by Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin, and produced by Nikki Wilson and Peter Bennett. It is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC One.

Just before Christmas DWO and Blogtor Who met Peter Capaldi who had the following to say on his new role and the upcoming series:

"I met with Matt last night, who gave me some advice about dealing with the attention. He's a lovely guy!

I've just been working this week on the new series and we did the read through yesterday. I've never seen so many people at a read through!

I hope you like the Christmas episode and to see what were going to do with the show."

Watch Peter Capaldi's DWO video greeting:

More news as we get it...

+  Series 8 of Doctor Who will air in August / Early September 2014.

[Sources: BBC; Tim Vine]

The BBC have released the full trailer for The Time Of The Doctor.

Watch the Trailer in the player, below:

+  The Time Of The Doctor will air on Christmas Day, at 7:30pm on BBC One. 

[Source: BBC]