Right on the heels of announcing that David Tennant and Billie Piper would return to Doctor Who in a 50th anniversary guest appearance, the BBC has announced that the landmark episode in November will also be bringing back a familiar foe — yet one that has not been seen on screen since Tom Baker’s tenure in 1975.
We’re delighted to confirm that the Zygons are returning to Doctor Who for the show’s 50th anniversary special.
Aside from flashbacks these malevolent shape-shifters have only appeared once before, threatening Earth in the Fourth Doctor adventure, Terror of the Zygons. Despite the fact that their solitary outing was over thirty years ago they remain a popular old enemy and in the 2010 episode, The Pandorica Opens, they were amongst the massed aliens said to be gathering above Stonehenge. Later, in The Power of Three, we learnt that Zygons had one of their ships under the Savoy Hotel in 1890 and apparently replaced half the staff with imposters! But this time they really are back…
We’ve already confirmed that in the anniversary special Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman will be joined by the returning David Tennant and Billie Piper. Screen legend John Hurt is also in the cast and earlier today we revealed that Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey, The Syndicate) would also be appearing in this eagerly anticipated adventure.
We’ll be bringing you more news soon!
