Richard E. Grant to star in Doctor Who Christmas special

Withnail and I actor Richard E. Grant is set to follow in the footsteps of Kylie Minogue and Katherine Jenkins by making a guest appearance in this year's Doctor Who Christmas special. Details of Grant's role in the festive episode have not yet been announced, but it is rumoured that his character will be a villain.

The Christmas episode will not be Richard's first involvement with Doctor Who, as he appeared in a Comic Relief special in 1999. He played a version of Doctor Who himself, nicknamed "The Quite Handsome Doctor." The sketch also featured Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent and Joanna Lumley as alternative versions of the Doctor.

Doctor Who fans not only have the Christmas special to look forward to but a whole new series of the show, expected to premiere later this month. The new series will be the last to feature the Doctor's current companion Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan. The new companion, to be played by ex-Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman, is as yet unnamed and expected to make her debut alongside Richard E. Grant and current Doctor Matt Smith in the Christmas episode.

Image courtesy of WENN.com.

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