Series 8 - Keeley Hawes Cast as Ms Delphox

The BBC have announced that Kelly Hawes is to guest-star in the next series of Doctor Who as a new villain for Peter Capaldi's Doctor, read on for further details:

Line of Duty’s Keeley Hawes will join the cast of Doctor Who, following rave reviews for her outstanding performance as DI Lindsay Denton in the hit BBC drama. Starring opposite the Doctor, Hawes will guest star for one episode in Peter Capaldi’s first ever series as the Time Lord.

Set to transmit in the autumn this year, Hawes will play Ms Delphox, a powerful out-of-this-world character with a dark secret. Travelling across space and time the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and his companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), will come face to face with the mysterious Ms Delphox when they arrive on a strange and puzzling planet.

Written by Steve Thompson (Sherlock) the episode will be directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Line of Duty, Doctor Who).

Commenting on her role, Keeley Hawes, said: "I am delighted to join Doctor Who and to be working with this incredible team. Ms Delphox is a great character and someone I’ve had a lot of fun playing."

While lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, added: "Anyone watching Jed Mercurio’s amazing Line of Duty will know that Keeley Hawes is having one hell of year. And now it’s about to get even better as she achieves the greatest villainy yet attempted on Doctor Who: she plays a banker."

Series eight of Doctor Who is currently being filmed in Cardiff and will premiere this Autumn on BBC One and BBC One HD.