The BBC Doctor Who website have revealed an "iconic" image for the new series featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory in the reflection of a US space helmet.


The prequel to the first episode of the new series, The Impossible Astronaut, was released earlier today and can be viewed here.

The BBC have made a special video available to introduce the opening two-part story of the new series of Doctor Who, premiering at Easter. Written by Steven Moffat, this short segment (which they have termed a prequel) stars Stuart Milligan (best known as illusionist Adam Klaus in Jonathan Creek), and sets the scene for what the Doctor can expect to encounter during the adventure ...


You can also watch a teaser for the video on the BBC website.

The Doctor Who website reports that they will be "revealing the latest iconic image for the new series at approximately one minute past midnight on Saturday morning", which will be available to download as a wallpaper. They also report that several exclusive videos featuring the cast and crew discussing the new adventures of the TARDIS crew will be appearing on-site in the lead-up to Easter's broadcast of The Impossible Astronaut.

Since the announcement by BBC America that Doctor Who would premier in the USA on the 23rd April, speculation has been rife within UK fandom as to when The Impossible Astronaut would premier on BBC1. This is widely expected to be broadcast on the same date as the States, based upon the 'traditional' Saturday evening series start to Doctor Who seen to date.

Being this is the first time the series is to commence with a two-part story, the second episode Day of the Moon has also been subject to intense speculation as to whether it too would be shown over the Easter period. An intriguing piece of information has emerged via the CV of actor Jeff Mash; as well as being cited as playing a character called Grant in the episode, the CV also includes an entry that states that episode two will be broadcast on 24th April.


This entry certainly lends credence to the suggestions that both parts would be shown over Easter!

However, at this time the BBC have only confirmed via the end of the Red Nose Day special that The Impossible Astronaut will see its premier on BBC1(HD) over Easter 2011.

Schedules are generally not 'locked' until around a fortnight before broadcast, so any information published via the Internet prior to then may not accurately reflect how the show will eventually be broadcast.

BBC Publicity have confirmed that a 15 second teaser trailer for the new series of Doctor Who will be broadcast tonight at 9:00pm, with minor variations across the four main BBC channels.


Meanwhile, as previously reported, a special prelude to The Impossible Astronaut will also be made available from the official BBC Doctor Who site; this goes live from Friday at 4:00pm - a teaser for it is now available on the website.




A longer "Coming Soon" compilation trail is currently expected to launch from Tuesday (29th March).

BBC Publicity have indicated the possibility of a 10 second teaser trailer being broadcast on BBC1 at some point today, though this has not been finalised at the time of writing and may occur at a later date.

A longer "Coming Soon" compilation trail is currently expected to launch from next Saturday (26th March).

The BBC have now confirmed the title for episode one of the new series as The Impossible Astronaut, which will be broadcast at Easter; the title and date were given at the end of the Comic Relief Doctor Who special sketches broadcast this evening.

BBC America confirmed the date for the US premier last week.

The BBC's Doctor Who site is planning to mark the start of the series with a specially prepared prequel:

Screenings for the opening two-part story of Series Six of Doctor Who are now being arranged, and invitations have revealed the titles of those episodes to be The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon.


The BBC's Entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba first revealed the titles this afternoon: "Just got invite to screening of first two new Dr Who eps. 'The Impossible Astronaut' and 'Day of the Moon'. Gosh, the year's gone quickly." This was confirmed by Doctor Who Magazine, who also mentioned they would reveal further titles soon: "Invites for the DW press launch have been sent out today, confirming titles for Eps 1 & 2 as The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon. DWM has the titles for the next five episodes too – but we're going to sit on them for now. They're for our next issue's news page...!"


The date of the premier on television in the United Kingdom has yet to be announced by the BBC.

BBC America have announced in association with Entertainment Weekly that the sixth series of Doctor Who will be premiering in the United States on Saturday 23rd April, at 9pm EST (8pm Central).


The BBC Press Office have yet to officially announce a date for the new series commencing in the United Kingdom, but Doctor Who Magazine has indicated that it will be over the Easter weekend.

The Wales on Sunday have reported an actress previously appearing in Doctor Who in the 1980s will be returning to the show, during a summary of cast seen filming last week alongside James Corden in the episode currently being shot by Steve Hughes:
Lynda Baron appeared in the Fifth Doctor story Enlightenment (1983) playing Captain Wrack, and also sang "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" that featured throughout the First Doctor story The Gunfighters (1966). Outside of Doctor Who she is probably best remembered as nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the Ronnie Barker sitcom Open All Hours.

Update 9th March: No official confirmation of Baron's casting has been made at present, but the actress has been seen on location.

Steve Hughes has confirmed via his twitter account that he is directing the latest episode of Doctor Who to go before the cameras.

Hughes, who is new to the series, has previously been been lead director on the BBC One drama Land Girls. He has also directed nearly 50 episodes of BBC One's daytime drama, Doctors, as well as episodes of Holby City and and Sky One’s Dream Team.

Filming on the story commenced last night back at the location featured during the first week of production of the revived series, at Howell's Department Store in Cardiff!