Spoilers, Sweetie! Everything We Know About 'Doctor Who,' Series 9

By Cindy Davis | Lists | May 13, 2015 |

Though Doctor Who’s ninth series won’t begin until this fall (WHAT?), there is plenty of interwebical information to be had, so while we’re waiting let’s dig in and see what we can make of it all. After some silliness toward the end of last year, Moffat confirmed Jenna Coleman’s return to Twelve’s side, but I have the feeling neither Clara nor Peter Capaldi are long for the Whoworld. If our instincts (and some of the episode title clues) are correct, all roads lead to a long-awaited female Doctor. Even Moffat has seen the signs. Let’s have a look at what we know so far, including ***Spoilerish guest stars and photos***.

1. There will be more two-parters.

“We’re doing linked stories where you might not be sure how they’re going to be connected until you see them. We’re pushing the storytelling that way, to give us more scale of adventure.” (Executive producer, Brian Minchin)

Episodes 1 and 2: “The Magician’s Apprentice/The Witch’s Familiar”

Episodes 3 and 4: TBA

Episodes 5 and 6: “The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived”

Episodes 7 and 8: TBA

2. “The Fires of Pompeii” will be revisited.

Via Doctor Who Magazine (April 2015), a fan question to Moffat:

“I really enjoyed the scene in Deep Breath when the Doctor says to the tramp, “Why did I choose this face? It’s like I’m trying to tell myself something…” Will we ever get an explanation of why Caecilius from The Fires of Pompeii has the same face as the Twelfth Doctor?”

The showrunner’s response:

“Thank you, I like that scene too. And yes, we’re coming back to that idea. In fact, we’ll be shooting the scene in question really quite shortly…”

3. Maisie Williams guest stars, possibly as a younger Clara, possibly as an entirely new character.

Um…

4. Ingrid Oliver returns as Osgood!!!

5. Zygons are back.

6. Michelle Gomez’s Missy/The Master is back.

7. Rufus Hound will play “Sam Swift.”

And the actor wants to come back as a full-time companion to the female Doctor. Hound says Missy has paved the way, and “She’d need a companion.”

8. Game of Thrones’ Paul Kaye (Thoros of Myr) also guest stars as “Prentis.”

Other guest stars include: Jemma Redgrave, David Schofield (as Odin), Elizabeth Hopper, Kelly Hunter, Murray McArthur, Barnaby Kay, John Voce, Morven Christie, Arsher Ali, Steven Robertson,
Clare Higgins, Jaye Griffiths, Tom Stourton, Ariyon Bakare and Colin McFarlane.

9. Alex Kingston hinted River Song will be back.

“All I can say is … spoilers! But what I will say is the sonic screwdriver that I had in Silence in the Library, which had been given to me by the Doctor, is not the sonic screwdriver that has been seen … yet.”

10. There’s a new…*something* in town.

With director Ed Bazalgette, filming “The Girl Who Died/The Woman Who Lived.”

11. Series 9 will feature Hettie MacDonald (“Blink”), and writers include Catherine Tregenna, the first female Doctor Who writer since 2008 and Mark Gatiss.

On the episode he’s writing: “I’m in the midst of that right now - I broke off to come here today, in fact, but I’m hoping to finish the script tonight. It has been a tough nut to crack, but I’m delighted with how scary it is. I can’t say any more than that.”

Capaldi and Coleman with actor, Ben Freeman