'Doctor Who' is set to return to screens next April.

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi will reprise his role as the iconic Time Lord for the 10th series of the popular sci-fi series later this year and is confident the next installment will be ready to air on the small screen within the next seven months.

The 58-year-old actor - who joined the show three years ago - told a fan: "We'll be on at Christmas [for a special] and then it [the next series] starts again April, I think."

However, for now, the cast are busy working on the festive special and the screenwriter and producer Steven Moffat is confident the one-off will be jam packed with fun.

Speaking on BBC's 'Newsbeat', he said: "We've just started working on the Christmas episode. It's got a lot of heart, but it's got a lot of brain too. Figure that one out."

Meanwhile, details on the forthcoming series are being kept tightly under wraps for the time being but it's already been confirmed that David Suchet - who played Hercule Poirot in the crime drama 'Poirot' - will guest appear.

The 70-year-old actor will portray The Landlord but it's not yet known whether his alter ego will be a friend or enemy of the time-travelling scientist.

Michelle Gomez - who plays Missy, also known as The Doctor's nemesis The Master - also recently admitted she's not sure if she will reprise her role for the next series.

She previously said: "I just don't know. I mean, I don't even know if she's coming back this season to be honest.

"As a freelancer which is what I am, I try to bag the next job, do it as well as I can and then move on to the next one."

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