I mostly remember Pauline Quirke from a horribly depressing role on Emmerdale, but she's mostly known as a comedienne. Here she is at :30 selling BBC Choice. I guess by this time the BBC had begun to thaw out with Doctor Who as there's a fairly big use of the show in the ad.

Michelle Gomez confirms she will be back for Series 9, which we knew - but she's also back for the premiere episode, which we didn't know.

Also appearing again, surprisingly, is Clare Higgins, British thespian and a personal genre favorite of mine for being the evil Julia Cotton in the first two Hellraiser films. She previously played the lead sister of Karn in The Night of the Doctor, the 2013 minisode with Paul McGann.

Edited February 19, 201510 yr by Vee

I'm really looking forward to seeing Karn again - I thought Higgins did a tremendous job the last time around.

I hope they won't overuse Missy but I'm looking forward to seeing her again too. Gomez is a terrific addition to the show.

There was a rumor many, many months ago that Missy would be a companion for the latter half of the series. I didn't buy it but I wouldn't dismiss it either.

I'm not sure Higgins will be playing one of the sisters again. Could just be a new role.

Edited February 19, 201510 yr by Vee

Richard Madden is perfect. Literally perfect. He has watched Doctor Who since he was a child!!!

http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/richard-madden-on-game-of-thrones.html

If I had not been a Jenna Louise Coleman fan for nearly a decade, I think I would hate her right now.

(there's a Song of Ice And Fire spoiler in there that hasn't been on the show yet - be warned)

That's cute. He should do a guest spot sometime. They can afford it, they're still on the verge of using Peter Jackson as a director every year.

That reminds me, you never did tell me how Episode 2 of Telltale's GOT game went for you. (Or TWD)

He's said he wants to but won't while Jenna is on the show.

I haven't had a chance to start it yet, due to computer issue stuff. I think I can soon.

Arthur Darvill has joined another one of those CW DC Comics shows I don't watch, playing time traveler Rip Hunter.

GOT's Maisie Williams will be appearing on DW this year. Pic at the link.

Edited March 31, 201510 yr by Vee

I'm so happy for Arthur! I'm still not sure I will watch one of those shows but that's great news for him and I hope he gets a big hit out of it.

Maisie's a huge catch for DW - she has a real following online and she's a great actress. I wonder how they managed that.

Some news on episode format - they're bumping up the amount of two-parters (which is a long time coming if you ask me). I'm pleased to hear Jamie Mathieson is back to write more episodes.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-03/could-doctor-who-series-nine-be-entirely-two-parters

DOCTOR WHO to run for at least another five years:

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/06/doctor-who-stay-air-least-another-five-years

That they intend on going forward is not surprising, but I was surprised they made a public long-term commitment beyond the next year or more. Still, wonderful.

Freema Agyeman has a major supporting role as the girlfriend of a transwoman in the Wachowskis' new Netflix series, Sense8.

That's great. Always happy to hear she gets work.

Did you hear any more about the news that is supposedly going to come out?

I hope it wasn't the thing with Jenna Coleman and Prince Harry.

I have no idea. And I'm sure it wasn't that.