Series 7 (Doctor Who)

Series 7 of Doctor Who, sometimes known as Season 33 to avoid confusion with the original Season 7, will air on BBC One between 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 on 1 September 2012 with five regular, stand-alone episodes and a Christmas Special. These will be followed by the remaining eight episodes in 2013.

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, which also features Alex Kingston reprising her role as River Song.

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
 * Clara Oswin - 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
 * Jenny - Catrin Stewart
 * Madame Vastra - Neve McIntosh
 * Strax - Dan Starkey
 * Edmund - Brendan Patricks
 * Harvey - David Gyasi
 * TBA - Michael McShane
 * TBA - Ruthie Henshall
 * TBA - Ben Browder
 * TBA - David Bradley
 * TBA - Rupert Graves
 * TBA - Garrick Hagon
 * TBA - David Warner
 * TBA - Liam Cunningham
 * TBA - Dougray Scott
 * TBA - Jessica Raine
 * TBA - Diana Rigg
 * TBA - Rachael Stirling
 * TBA - Richard E. Grant
 * TBA - Tom Ward

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 six episodes. One of these is the The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, the others are episodes 1, 5, the Christmas special, 6 and 13.

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

Luther creator Neil Cross is set to write 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 write his fifth episode for Doctor Who, his third for the Eleventh Doctor. (after Victory of the Daleks and Night Terrors)

Fantasy author Neil Gaiman, who previously wrote The Doctor's Wife, will write another episode for the series, featuring a re-imaging of the Cybermen.

Directors
Nick Hurran will return to direct. As will Douglas Mackinnon.

New director Farren Blackburn directed the 2011 Christmas special. Saul Metzstein, another director new to Doctor Who, will direct episodes two, three and the 2012 Christmas special. 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, began 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

 * The breakdown of the relationship between Amy and Rory will be important in the first episode.
 * 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 the previous season.

Aliens and enemies

 * Daleks
 * Weeping Angels
 * Silurians (Madam Vastra)
 * Sontarans

Rumours

 * In an interview with SFX, Caroline Skinner hinted at the return of the Zygons.
 * The Ice Warriors will return.
 * The Statue of Liberty is a Weeping Angel.
 * Episode ten will be titled The Crimson Horror.