Doctor Who Series 7 News Accumulator

Our regularly-updated round-up of everything we know about the next set of stories.

Welcome to the unique SFX Doctor Who News Accumulator, where we gather together all the reliable information we know about the latest series of the nation’s favourite television show. New information is written in red. New season finale pic and a few info snippets.

Here’s what we definitely know as to how the series is shaping up...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0132324

Episodes Six to Thirteen

Episode Six "The Bells Of Saint John"

Writer: Steven Moffat

BBC synopsis: The Doctor’s search for Clara Oswald brings him to modern day London, where Wi-Fi is everywhere. Humanity lives in a Wi-Fi soup. But something dangerous is lurking in the signals, picking off minds and imprisoning them. As Clara becomes the target of this insidious menace, the Doctor races to save her and the world from an ancient enemy.

Set in London against the backdrop of new and old iconic landmarks, The Shard and Westminster Bridge, "The Bells of St John" will also establish a new nemesis, the Spoonheads, who will battle the Doctor as he discovers something sinister is lurking in the Wi-Fi.

Filming has been completed on this episode, some of which took place at London's South Bank and in various Westminster streets, with Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman on a motorbike! Some pick-ups were also shot in Cardiff.

Episode Seven "The Rings Of Akhaten"

Writer: Neil Cross
Director: Farren Blackburn

BBC synopsis: Clara wants to see something awesome, so the Doctor whisks her off to the inhabited rings of the planet Akhaten, where the Festival of Offerings is in full swing. Clara meets the young Queen of Years as the pilgrims and natives ready for the ceremony. But something is stirring in the pyramid, and a sacrifice will be demanded.

Episode Eight "Cold War"

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Douglas Mackinnon ("The Sontaran Stratagem"/"The Poison Sky")

Guest cast: David Warner, Liam Cunningham

BBC synopsis: The Doctor and Clara land on a damaged Russian Submarine in 1983 as it spirals out of control into the ocean depths. An alien creature is loose on board, having escaped from a block of Arctic ice. With tempers flaring and a cargo of nuclear weapons on board, it’s not just the crew but the whole of humanity at stake!

Episode Nine: "Hide"

Writer: Neil Cross

BBC synopsis: Clara and the Doctor arrive at Caliburn House, a haunted mansion sat alone on a desolate moor. Within its walls, a ghost hunting Professor and a gifted psychic are searching for the Witch of the Well. Her apparition appears throughout the history of the building, but is she really a ghost? And what is chasing her?

The first episode that Jenna-Louise Coleman recorded.

Episode Ten: "Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS"

Writer: Stephen Thompson

Filmed in September.

Episode Eleven: “The Crimson Horror”

Writer: Mark Gatiss
Director: Saul Metzstein
Guest cast: Diana Rigg, Rachael Stirling

Filmed in the summer.

Real-life mother and daughter Rigg and Stirling play "a mother and daughter with a dark secret". Judging by the on-set photos from a rainy Butetown, this is set in Victorian times and sees the return of some familiar faces. Last Thursday saw some pick-ups filmed by Barry Pump House.

Episode Twelve: "Nightmare In Silver"

Writer: Neil Gaiman
Director: Stephen Wolfenden

The BBC synopsis: Hedgewick’s World of Wonders was once the greatest theme park in the galaxy, but it’s now the dilapidated home to a shabby showman, a chess-playing dwarf and a dysfunctional army platoon.

When the Doctor, Clara, Artie and Angie arrive, the last thing they expect is the re-emergence of one of the Doctor’s oldest foes. The Cybermen are back!

Neil Gaiman has told themusic.com, “I’ve written [one] that broadcasts in May. It guest stars Warwick Davis, Tamzin Outhwaite and Jason Watkins. The episode is called 'The Last Cyberman'. It’s about identity, it’s about responsibility and it’s about porridge.” (Apparently Warwick Davis's character is called Porridge...) Gaiman has since tweeted that this title may change because he has a "better one".

“Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and executive producer, told us, ‘Cybermen were always the monsters that scared me the most! Not just because they were an awesome military force, but because sometimes they could be sleek and silver and right behind you without you even knowing… And with one of the all-time classic monsters returning, and a script from one of our finest novelists, it’s no surprise we have attracted such stellar names as Tamzin, Jason and Warwick.’”

The Cybermen are also sporting another new look - they're worse than David Beckham, that lot!

Episode Thirteen: "The Name Of The Doctor"

Writer: Steven Moffat
Director: Saul Metzstein

A few other tasty bits and pieces we've picked up on: Richard E Grant returns as the Great Intelligence; not everyone gets out alive; we WILL learn Clara's true identity, and we MIGHT learn the Doctor's greatest secret!

"His secret revealed" proclaims the poster. We shall see...

The BBC synopsis reads: "Someone is kidnapping the Doctor's friends, leading him towards the one place in all of time and space that he should never go."

Steven Moffat is promising amazing things for this one... Shooting has now been completed.

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