Rebecca Front is to star in 'Doctor Who'.
Rebecca Front
The 51-year-old actress will be reunited with her 'The Thick of It'
co-star Peter Capaldi - who plays the titular Time Lord - for her guest role in the next series of the BBC sci-fi series in a two-part adventure that sees the return of shape-shifting aliens the Zygons.
However, her role is a closely guarded secret.
As well as having previously acted alongside Capaldi, Front has also appeared as Mrs. Bennett, the mother of Jenna-Louise Coleman - who plays companion Clara Oswald in 'Doctor Who' - in 'Death Comes To Pemberley'.
Front will also be joining Ingrid Oliver who is returning as UNIT scientist Osgood and Jemma Redgrave who reprises her role as UNIT's Head of Scientific Research Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in the two-parter written by Peter Harness.
Other confirmed guest stars for series nine of 'Doctor Who' include 'Game of Thrones' actress Maisie Williams, comedian Rufus Hound, Paul Kaye and Jaye Griffiths.
'Doctor Who' will return to BBC One this autumn with further castings to be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, Peter and Steven Moffat will be giving away backstage "secrets" at the 'Doctor Who' Festival in November.
The BBC sci-fi series' festival - which will be held at London's ExCel between 13 and 15 November - will offer fans the chance to see how the show is created and see the series eight and nine props and sets up close, as well as interact with the current Doctor and the show's producer.
Peter said: "If having the world's favourite Time Lord back on screen every week isn't enough for you (and it's not for me) then The Doctor Who Festival in London is the place to be. I'll be heading there in November to join the fun and if it's anything like the 50th anniversary event, then prepare yourself for total Time Lord mania."
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