Doctor Who: Keeley Hawes to star alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman

Hawes will make cameo appearance as mysterious character Ms Delphox

Keeley Hawes as Ms Delphox in Doctor Who (BBC)

Ashes to Ashes star Keeley Hawes will be making a guest appearance as a mysterious character with a dark secret in the new series of Doctor Who.

The actress, who is best known for her roles in the Life on Mars spin-off and more recently Line of Duty, will be starring as the powerful and otherworldly figure Ms Delphox.

The twelfth Doctor and Clara will encounter the enigmatic Ms Delphox when they venture onto a strange and puzzling planet.

The episode has been penned by Sherlock writer Steve Thompson, who also wrote the Doctor Who adventures The Curse of the Black Spot and last year’s Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

Hawes said “I am delighted to join Doctor Who and to be working with this incredible team. Ms Delphox is a great character and someone I've had a lot of fun playing.”

Hawes is one of a long line of famous stars who have appeared on the show, including Dougray Scott, Kylie Minogue and John Hurt.

She will be following in the footsteps of her Tipping the Velvet co-star Rachael Stirling who appeared alongside her mother Dame Diana Rigg last year.

Doctor Who celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and filming is underway in Wales on Capaldi’s first-ever series as the Time Lord.