50 years of Doctor Who to be celebrated at TV Bafta Awards

David Tennant and Matt Smith at the read-through for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary (BBC)

Enduring sci-fi hit Doctor Who is to be celebrated at the TV Bafta Awards this weekend to mark the programme's 50th anniversary year.

Stars Matt Smith and Jenna Louise Coleman have filmed a special sketch to be screened during the ceremony on Sunday and a pair of daleks will be trundling up the red carpet beforehand.

The announcement of the celebration for the family show comes as it was reported veteran actor John Hurt will feature as a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor in a special episode later this year.

Hurt himself has said in his guest role he will play a "part of the Doctor" in a "kind of trinity" which also includes David Tennant, who played the role prior to Smith.

The programme reaches its half century milestone later this year and is expected to see a number of the Doctor's regenerations brought together on-screen.

This Sunday's Arqiva British Academy Television Awards will also feature a video montage with highlights from the Who archives, and Coleman will also be presenting one of the awards on the night.

Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry said: "There are only a handful of programmes that have the quality and longevity of Doctor Who and the ability to put the nation on their sofas - or indeed behind them - year after year."

Doctor Who's executive producer, Steven Moffat, said: "I'm thrilled that Bafta are including a special tribute to the show."

The event takes place at London's Royal Festival Hall and will be screened on BBC1 at 8pm on Sunday.

PA