Series 7 (Doctor Who)

Series 7 of Doctor Who will air on BBC One throughout 2012 and 2013. Like Series 6, it will be split into two parts. The BBC first announced the new series, which will contain fourteen episodes, on the official Doctor Who site on 8 June 2011

Series 7 will begin its run in the Autumn of 2012 with five regular, stand-alone episodes and a Christmas Special. These will be followed by the remaining eight episodes in 2013. thumb|250px|right|The first series 7 trailer. Released 26 March 2012.

Cast
It has been announced that the Eleventh Doctor, played by Matt Smith will return for the full series. Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond, will return for the series, as will Arthur Darvill as Amy's husband Rory Williams. This series will see their departure in episode five. Alex Kingston will reprise her role as River Song in episode 5.

A new companion portrayed by Jenna-Louise Coleman will be introduced in the 2012 Christmas Special.

Primary cast

 * The Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith

Secondary cast

 * Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
 * Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
 * TBA - Jenna-Louise Coleman

Guest cast

 * Madge Arwell - Claire Skinner
 * Droxil - Bill Bailey
 * Reg Arwell - Alexander Armstrong
 * Billis - Arabella Weir
 * Walter - Rob Cavazos
 * Kahlet Jex - Adrian Scarborough
 * River Song - Alex Kingston
 * Kahler-Mas - Dominic Kemp
 * Brian Williams - Mark Williams
 * The Reckoner - Andrew Brooke
 * Sadie - Joanne McQuinn
 * Queen Nefertiti - Riann Steele
 * Mr Shanks - Steven Berkoff
 * Henry - Stephen Blything
 * Kate Steward - Jemma Redgrave
 * Sam Garner - Rob David
 * TBA - Michael McShane
 * TBA - Ruthie Henshall
 * TBA - David Gyasi
 * TBA - Ben Browder
 * TBA - David Bradley
 * TBA - Rupert Graves
 * TBA - Garrick Hagon

Casting notes

 * Steven Moffat has stated that we will not learn anything about the new companion until "Christmas".
 * John Simm has denied rumours that he is returning for the series.
 * On being asked if she is returning for this series, Caitlin Blackwood, who plays a young Amy Pond, just said "spoilers".

Producers
It has been announced that Beth Willis will step down as executive producer, as well as Piers Wenger. However, Piers Wenger produced The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe.

A new executive producer named Caroline Skinner will join Steven Moffat to produce The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe onwards.

Writers
Head writer Steven Moffat will write five episodes. One of these is the The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe.

Chris Chibnall and Toby Whithouse, who have both already written Doctor Who episodes, are also returning. They will each write one episode. Chibnall is to write episode episode two. Whithouse will be writing episode three.

Luther creator Neil Cross is set to write an episode for the second half of the series.

Torchwood writer John Fay will be writing an episode, for the second half of the series.

Tom MacRae will return to write an episode. He will be writing for the second half of the series.

Mark Gatiss will also return to write an episode. He has already written four Doctor Who stories, including two for the Eleventh Doctor: Victory of the Daleks and Night Terrors.

Directors
New director Farren Blackburn directed the 2011 Christmas special. Saul Metzstein, another director new to Doctor Who, will direct episodes two and three. Nick Hurran will return to direct.

Another new director, Jamie Payne, will direct an episode in the second half of the series.

Filming
Filming for series 7 began on 20 February 2012. Filming for the 2012 Christmas Special, which will see the appearance of the new companion, will begin in May.

Episode three will be filmed in Spain.

Filming for episode five will see the crew return to America. This time, they will be filming in New York.

Television stories
The BBC have announced that Series 7 will consist of the 2011 Christmas special,, six episodes in 2012, and eight episodes in 2013.

Spring half
The remaining eight episodes of Series 7 will air during spring 2013.

Episode notes

 * There will be no two-parters in this series.
 * Episode three will have a Wild West theme.
 * The Guardian have reported that episode one will be shown at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in August, just as Let's Kill Hitler was last year.

Aliens and enemies

 * Daleks and the Weeping Angels will return in the first half of the series.

Rumours

 * In an interview with SFX, Caroline Skinner hinted at the return of the Zygons.
 * UNIT will return
 * The Guardian have reported that episode one will air in August.
 * The Daily Star claim that one episode will be titled Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
 * The new companion will be named 'Clara'.