For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
With just hours to go before Doctor Who returns to our TV screens this weekend, there was a surprise in store for fans this morning – as the Tardis landed in London’s Parliament Square.
The Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi , and his assistant Clara (Jenna Coleman ) were seen in front of a crash-landed Tardis surrounded by dinosaur bones at a specially-constructed site in the capital.
The scene anticipated opening episode “Deep Breath”, which is set in Victorian London, and finds the Doctor and Clara in the midst of chaos as a dinosaur runs riot in the Thames.
56-year-old Capaldi, who played foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in British political satire The Thick of It and more recently the Cardinal in The Musketeers , has replaced Matt Smith as the Time Lord. Smith left Doctor Who last year.
Coleman, 28, joined the show alongside Smith in 2012.
Show all 122 1 /122In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Missy, The Doctor and Clara in the Doctor Who series eight finale
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Missy screams at The Doctor
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Cybermen return
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Missy seen in a graveyard with the Cybermen
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Sanjeev Bhaskar in the Doctor Who series 8 finale
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Time Lord seen in a graveyard
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Cybermen in the Doctor Who series 8 finale
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Doctor Who and Missy in the Doctor Who series 8 finale
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Cybermen return
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Peter Capaldi in the Doctor Who series 8 finale
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Kate Stewart, Osgood and The Doctor
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Look familiar? The Cybermen march through London
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Michelle Gomez and Peter Capaldi star in 'Doctor Who'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara is seeking answers in 'Dark Water'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Can the Doctor defeat Missy?
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Chris Addison as Seb and Michelle Gomez as Missy
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The invasion begins as the Cybermen emerge
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Chris Addison in the Nethersphere
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Missy and the Doctor in 'Dark Water'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Cybermen appear again in 'Dark Water'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor is not where he thinks he is in 'Dark Water'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 What has this little girl noticed? The Doctor investigates in 'In the Forest of the Night'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor finds himself in a forest version of London in Doctor Who episode 'In the Forest of the Night'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 A girl starts to run from an unseen threat in Doctor Who episode 'In the Forest of the Night'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 What have Danny and the kids found?
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor leads the group as they run for their lives
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 It's London but not as we know it in Doctor Who episode 'In the Forest of the Night'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny takes the pupils from Coal Hill School to the museum
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara and a student from Coal Hill School look at the rings on an ancient tree
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor finds another inquisitive pupil from Coal Hill School in the Tardis
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor investigates London
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny is trying to figure out where his group have ended up
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and Clara investigate strange goings-on in London, after the city is transformed into a forest
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara and Rigsy try to escape something on the floor
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 What's happened to the Tardis?
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara takes the lead in 'Flatline' while the Doctor remains in the Tardis
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor tries to make something in the Tardis for Clara
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 There are strange goings-on near the railway
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Rigsy looks at a "murals of missing people
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara tries to unlock a door with an odd-looking contraption
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Something is coming in 'Flatline'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Jovian Wade as Rigsy in 'Flatline'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Christopher Fairbank as Fenton in 'Flatline'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara takes charge of the Sonic Screwdriver this week
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor faces a Mummy on board the galactic Orient Express
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Singer Foxes makes a cameo in 'Mummy on the Orient Express'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Frank Skinner stars as the chief engineer of the Orient Express
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 David Bamber stars as Captain Quell in 'Mummy on the Orient Express'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Daisy Beaumont as Maisie, one of the passengers on the Orient Express
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Professor Moorhouse played by Christopher Villiers in 'Mummuy on the Orient Express'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor has a difficult decision to make as the Mummy attacks people on the Orient Express
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Maisie looks like she has seen a ghost - or a Mummy
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Perkins the chief engineer of the Orient Express
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Ellis George as Courtney Woods in 'Kill the Moon'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor is not happy about the terrible dilemma that faces him and the fate of the Earth
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor goes to investigate what is going on under the surface of the Moon
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The dark side of the Moon: The Doctor and Captain Lundvik investigate
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Captain Lundvik is surprised to see a teenage schoolgirl in space
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Captain Lundvik played by Hermione Norris
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara embarks on a journey into space with Courtney Woods and the Doctor
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Tony Osoba as astronaut Duke in 'Kill the Moon'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Captain Lundvik is perplexed as she is forced to make a decision about the fate of the Earth
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor takes on the deadly Skovox Blitzer in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor goes undercover at Coal Hill School in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Nightmare student: Courtney Woods played by Ellis George
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 A familiar face joins the staff at Coal Hill School in 'The Caretaker', where Clara works as an English teacher
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny Pink finally meets the Doctor in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 English teacher Adrian, who works at Coal Hill School with Clara and Danny
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The deadly Skovox Blitzer and the Doctor meet
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny Pink encounters the Doctor for the first time in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 A familiar face joins the staff at Coal Hill School in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara and Danny are in trouble in 'The Caretaker' when a deadly force threatens the Earth
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor at work in his workshop at Coal Hill School
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny Pink is not quite sure what he has just witnessed in 'The Caretaker'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor tries to communicate with the Skovox Blitzer
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Mr Porrima (Trevor Sellers), The Doctor , Clara (Jenna Coleman) and Psi
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 With Clara by his side, there's no turning back
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The twelfth Doctor turns bank robber...
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 ...and he looks more than ready to take on the challenge
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and Clara are walking right into danger's way...
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 ... and must evade the Bank of Karabraxos' intensive security
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Saibra, played by Pippa Bennett-Warner
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) must take on one of his most difficult tasks yet
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Teller - a formidable creature with the ability to detect guilt
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 On the Doctor's team: Psi (Jonathan Bailey)
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Bank of Karabraxos' head of security Ms Delphox, played by guest star Keeley Hawes
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The bank heist is on
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and Clara enter the bank of Karabraxos
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Orson Pink a time traveller in 'Listen' played by Samuel Anderson
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor poses the question of whether we are every truly alone in 'Listen'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Orson Pink embarks on his voyage in 'Listen'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Peter Capaldi as the twelfth Doctor surrounded by his calculations
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor boards a spaceship in 'Listen'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Danny Pink does not look impressed in 'Listen'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor tinkers about with the controls on a spaceship in 'Listen'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Orson Pink played by Samuel Anderson, who also plays Danny Pink
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and Clara meet Robin Hood in 'The Robot of Sherwood'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The knights are not what they seem
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Robin Hood played by Tom Riley
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor is not pleased when he finds an arrow in his Tardis
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 One of the deadly knights belonging to the Sheriff of Nottingham in 'The Robot of Sherwood'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Robin teaches Clara to shoot an arrow
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara, the Doctor and Robin Hood get captured in 'The Robot of Sherwood'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Robin Hood and his band of merry men
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara and the Doctor stumble across something in 'Into the Dalek'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and the Dalek meet
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Daleks attack in 'Into the Dalek'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Journey Blue investigates goings-on in 'Into the Dalek'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Zawe Ashton as Journey Blue in 'Into the Dalek'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor faces one of his oldest foes
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara meets the Daleks
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Michael Smiley as Colonel Morgan Blue in 'Into the Dalek'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara steers the Tardis
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Samuel Anderson as Danny Pink, the new companion and a teacher at Coal Hill School
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Clara and the twelfth Doctor embark on their first adventure together
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The new Doctor and Clara in the Tardis
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor and Clara have their first real heart to heart since he regenerated in 'Deep Breath'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 The Doctor on the banks of the Thames stares up at the creature that has been terrorising Londoners in 'Deep Breath'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Madame Vastra has a plan of action in 'Deep Breath'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 Peter Capaldi as the twelfth incarnation of the Doctor in 'Deep Breath'
BBC
In pictures: Doctor Who series 8 Doctor Who - Series 8 'Deep Breath' is Peter Capaldi's first full-length adventure as the twelfth Doctor
PA
Doctor Who returns to BBC One with feature-length series opener “Deep Breath” on Saturday 23 August at 7.50pm.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies