Doctor Who Series Six Will Kick Off In Utah

The season will open with a Stateside two-parter

Scenes will be filmed in the Utah desert for a story set in the late ’60s in which the Doctor, Amy and Rory find themselves on a secret summons to the Oval Office. Although the episode has yet to be named, it will be written by Steven Moffat and co-produced with BBC America. Production starts in Cardiff this month and Alex Kingston will reprising her role as River Song.

Steve Moffat says: “The Doctor has visited every weird and wonderful planet you can imagine, so he was bound get round to America eventually. And of course every Doctor Who fan will be jumping up and down and saying he”s been in America before. But not for real, not on location - and not with a story like this one.”

Executive producer Piers Wenger adds: “Steven’s scripts generally inspire us to go that extra mile – this time we’re going that extra four thousand. Thanks to our friends at BBC America and to the continuing ambition of our lead writer and production team, the first two episodes of Matt Smith’s second season as the Doctor are going global and look set to become Doctor Who ’s most action-packed and ambitious season opener yet.”

Hmm, how late in the ’60s we wonder? Because if we see the President, clearly tricky Dicky Nixon would be a much better iconic historical figure than Lyndon B Johnson, but Nixon was only president for the final year of the ’60s. So, who do you think would make a great Johnson or Nixon, and do you think they will cast an American? And presumably there would be other guest roles for US TV stars. Who would you like to see in the story? (Cue a million people saying, “Jensen Ackles!”)

Also, Moffat has Tweeted previously that his son thought the title of the first episode was “cheesy”. So, any guesses? Can’t be any cheesier than “Daleks In Manhanttan” surely?

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.