Lead writer and executive producer of Dr Who, Steven Moffat, has announced Ben Miller as his first guest villain to star alongside Peter Capaldi in the upcoming 8th series of the show. Anticipation is already high as it will also be the start of a new reign in the Tardis for the twelfth Doctor Who, so the news that Miller will be one of the first foes for the regenerated time lord to go up against will only add to the build up.
Commenting in the BBC press release for the announcement, Moffat said, Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, adds: “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!”
As well as confirming that Mark Gatiss would be writing the episode, the announcement also included details about a few other new faces guest starring in the show. First on the list is British actor, Tom Riley, who will also be making an appearance in one of the opening episodes, and he’ll be added to by Keeley Hawes of Spooks and Ashes To Ashes fame when the 12th Doctor crashes onto our screen once again later this year.
Doctor Who Series 8 is currently being filmed in Cardiff, so Miller could very well already be donning his make-up and costume to become one of the series’ first villains. However, what the announcement confirms more than anything is that we’re getting ever closer to the start of a new chapter in the ongoing saga of the Tardis flying, universe saving time lord.
Commenting on his his upcoming Dr Who villain status, 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.”
To commemorate the occasion we’ve given Ben a Photoshop makeover to give him a bit more of a sinister look in anticipation of his debut in the show in the baddie side of the time travelling camp. There’s no detail about the character that he’ll be playing as of yet, but if anything that just means it’ll be a pretty cool surprise when his first scene arrives.
