We are now over halfway through the year (blimey!), and so far 2012’s been pretty Doctor-less in the TV department.

All we know for sure is that we’ll be getting 6 new episodes in the autumn, including the Christmas Special in December, but just when we can expect the Doctor back on our screens is, for the time being, up in the air.

Going from what we’ve been told, however, at the moment it is looking like the new series will begin in August.

Two screenings of the first episode, Asylum of the Daleks, have been confirmed to be taking place next month, the first for members of the public at the BFI on 14th August, and the second towards the end of the month, for senior media figures, at the MGEITF, and it seems likely that the air date will be within a stone’s throw of these events (as last year Let’s Kill Hitler was shown at the MGEITF the day before its BBC One premiere).

As well as that, it’s been confirmed today that, beginning on Saturday 4th August, BBC America will be airing four exclusive specials – The Science of Doctor Who, The Women of Doctor Who, The Timey-Wimey Stuff of Doctor Who and The Destinations of Doctor Who – in preparation for the new series. If they are shown weekly, they would finish on Saturday 25th August, the air date which looks most likely taking all of this into account.

As always, this is all speculation, and the dates won’t be finalised until a couple of weeks before broadcast. For now let’s just take comfort knowing that the Doctor is on his way…

WATCH the Series 7 trailer for a preview of the Doctor’s Wild West adventure!

See the latest Series 7 headlines to discuss all the developments as and when…