LONDON, Sept. 2 (UPI) — Actress Alex Kingston is to reprise her role of Professor River Song in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special, the BBC announced Wednesday.
River Song first appeared on the science-fiction series in 2008 and has been featured in 15 episodes to date. While Kingston’s character has shared the screen with David Tennant and Matt Smith, the previous portrayers of the form-changing, titular time traveler, this will be her first outing opposite the current Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi.
Filming of the 11th Doctor Who Christmas special is to start this week. It was penned by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, and will air Dec. 25.
“To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special,” Kingston said in a statement. “Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humor and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read-through. We had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September? Why not!”
“Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who — and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her, she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So, how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time,” added Moffat.
The 12-episode, ninth season of Doctor Who is to premiere on the BBC Sept. 19.
