Frank Skinner to guest star in Doctor Who season 8

Frank Skinner will play a cameo role in Doctor Who series 8 (Rex)

Comedian Frank Skinner is to guest star in Doctor Who, the show’s producers have confirmed.

Creator Steven Moffat said Skinner has been eying up a role on the drama for some time, but has not revealed any more details about his character.

The Room 101 host, who is such a fan of the show he even has a Tardis ringtone, said he was “beyond excited” at the chance to play a cameo role.

“When I got the call saying they wanted me to read for the part, I was in the back of my tour bus watching episode three of The Sensorites,” he said.

Skinner previously appeared in the one-off Doctor Who 50th anniversary comedy homage The Five)ish Doctors Reboot.

He will join already confirmed guest stars Ben Miller, Tom Riley, Hermoine Norris and Keeley Hawes for the eight series, which will see Peter Capaldi's first outing as the doctor.

Moffat said: “It's no secret that Frank's been pitching vigorously to get into Doctor Who for a while. He's been volunteering to be ‘third monster on the left’ as long as I've been in this job.

“But now, in Jamie Mathieson's sparkling script, we finally have a part that can showcase all of Frank's famous wit and charm. Hopefully he'll get out of my garden now.”