Tom MacRae has described the first episode of Series 7 as an “absolutely brilliant” opener.

The writer, whose latest contribution to the series was last year’s The Girl Who Waited, recently spoke to Den of Geek about what’s in store in the new series. “There’s a big Dalek story opening it,” he said. “Any expectations you have got, double them. It is that good. It’s so, so brilliant.” He goes on to comment on next year’s 50th anniversary, promising “lots of nostalgia”.

“The 50th is obviously going to be a big hark back to everything that’s gone before,” he teased. “So there’s going to be lots of nostalgia over the next year or two years.”

MacRae has also penned The Crash of the Elysium, which is set to open in Ipswich next month following its successful run in Manchester last year. We’ll bring you more information on that – as well as our exclusive interview with Tom – in the coming weeks.

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

Another Series 7 rumour has surfaced this week courtesy of the Daily Star. This one regards a monster that will reportedly be appearing in the next series.

According to the tabloid’s new claim (link contains spoilers), the Doctor, Amy and Rory will face the likes of a T-Rex, a stegosaurus, a raptor and a pterodactyl, in an episode accurately titled Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

A source describes the episode in question as “a whopper”.

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

In a new interview with TotalFilm, Karen Gillan reveals that her Doctor Who departure isn’t “what people expect”.

The actress will bow out of the series as Amy alongside Arthur Darvill as her on-screen husband Rory during the next series. Scenes for their final story were filmed in New York, and they’ll leave after “a final encounter with the Weeping Angels”. “I couldn’t have asked for a better exit,” she said. “I couldn’t read it without crying. It was the most highly charged read-through I’ve ever experienced.”

She also comments on the speculation surrounding the Doctor Who film to be directed by David Yates. She explains: “I think it would be great in a franchise-y sort of way. I’d look forward to sitting down and watching it.” When asked if she’d consider appearing in it, she said: “Who knows. I guess you can only cross that bridge when you get to it…”

Karen will be making her film debut, as Jane Lockhart, in Not Another Happy Ending.

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

Steven Moffat has spoken to Digital Spy about all of the hot topics in the Doctor Who world at the moment.

In March, it was confirmed that 6 episodes of Series 7 will be broadcast this year, and Steven has explained that this decision was made to keep the show fresh and “shake it up”. “You have got to keep people on edge and wondering when it will come back,” he said. “That is what makes it an event piece, because the more it becomes a perennial, the faster it starts to die. I don’t want that to be the case.”

The interview then moves on to discuss Amy and Rory’s exit in the new series, as the showrunner describes it as “incredibly sad”. He commented: “While the audience are losing people that they see on TV for a few months, Karen and Arthur are walking out of something that they’ve been involved with every day for years. The people that you saw every day and have become absolutely part of your de facto family are gone, never to be in that place again. It isn’t just a professional change, it is also a personal upheaval.”

Of course, the Doctor won’t be alone in the TARDIS for long, because this Christmas he’ll be joined by Jenna-Louise Coleman as his new companion. “I’m excited by it,” Steven teased. “I think we are going to do some fun stuff. But do not expect to learn everything! We’ve got a good story and there’s some proper legitimate surprises in it…”

As for the 50th anniversary, he revealed: “I had a meeting about that earlier this week.”

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

Karen Gillan has described her last ever day on Doctor Who as “serene” in an interview with the Daily Record.

The actress filmed her final shot as Amy Pond on Saturday, and revealed that it was a fitting way for her and Arthur Darvill to finish, because they simply had to walk into the TARDIS for the scene. “The last thing we filmed was us going into the TARDIS,” she explained. “Matt closed the door and we hugged and started crying tears of happiness. It was a feeling of ‘Look at what we’ve done’. It was lovely.”

She added: “It was just a weird day and everyone was feeling it. I didn’t get to keep any Pond stuff though, because everything Doctor Who related goes to the exhibitions. Although I might have taken a little special something away with me from the TARDIS…”

Karen is currently in Cannes promoting her new film, Not Another Happy Ending, which starts filming in July. She will play Jane Lockhart, a passionate writer, in the indie comedy, and said that the project appealed to her because “it’s going to be completely different to anything” she has done. She finished: “I am just taking each acting job as it comes, whether it be more TV, film or theatre. I just want to keep on doing good stuff.”

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

Today is Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill’s final day of filming on Doctor Who.

It only seems like yesterday they were being introduced to us in The Eleventh Hour (which coincidentally is repeated tonight on BBC Three at 7pm…), but today they are stepping in front of the cameras as Amy and Rory for the last time.

Their final episode will air in the autumn, and they’ll bow out in “a final encounter with the Weeping Angels”.

To mark the end of an era, @KarenGillan2 tweeted: “Me and smith dawg. Wondering around set all nostalgic. Its a special day!”, and @RattyBurvil has also added: “last day today. I can hear a fat lady singing in the distance. Maybe it’s @KarenGillan2″. Steven Moffat’s also posted to say he’s “too sad, too sad” to be saying goodbye to the Ponds.

We would just like to wish both Karen and Arthur the very best of luck on their final day, and thank them for all their hard work. It’s been emotional! Feel free to share your favourite Karen and Arthur/Amy and Rory moments…

Today marked the end of an era for Doctor Who, as it was the final day of filming at Upper Boat Studios.

The series has been filmed there since its revival in 2005, but it is now time for it to move on to bigger and better things, as it heads to its new home at Roath Lock in Cardiff Bay. The first episode to be filmed at the state-of-the-art drama village will be this year’s Christmas Special, which will feature the debut of Jenna-Louise Coleman as the Doctor’s new companion.

Via the official Doctor Who Facebook, here’s some pictures of Upper Boat’s final day…

Above – The site of the 10th Doctor’s TARDIS.

Above - The Blue Box Cafe.

Above – The blue screen where Kylie once flew!

If walls could talk! Thanks for the memories, and here’s to the future. Series 7’s coming!

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

It has been confirmed that the first episode of Series 7 will be screened at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

The event, which takes place during August of every year, brings together various senior media figures in order to inspire, learn and create new networks throughout the ever growing television industry. Attendees will be able to see the opening episode of the new Doctor Who series before it’s aired, and Steven Moffat will be giving a masterclass.

The news has led to speculation that Series 7 will begin on BBC1 around the same time…

The festival runs from 23rd to 25th August. At last year’s, Let’s Kill Hitler was shown.

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

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is out this week, and inside it looks ahead to the new series with a special feature on the dreaded Daleks!

As you’ll no doubt know, the Doctor’s greatest adversary will be making a comeback in Series 7, but this time it looks set to be the most explosive showdown yet, as “all of them” will be making an appearance, including the 60s design! Inside the new DWM, their “greatest plans” are revealed, so prepare to be exterminated…

Inside there is also an exclusive interview with Steven Moffat about just what is in store.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue #447 will be published this Thursday, 3rd May, priced £4.50!

See the latest Doctor Who products on sale now via our merchandise section!

Start spreading the news! The Doctor Who cast and crew are currently in New York filming for the next series.

The first pics of them on location in the Big Apple surfaced online earlier this week, and today, courtesy of the official website, we’ve got ourselves some new ones!

The scenes are from Episode 5, Amy and Rory’s last. In it, “a final encounter with the Weeping Angels” will result in “tragedy” for the Doctor and his companions.

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…