Sir Lenny Henry and Stephen Fry are the latest names to be confirmed as guests in the next set of BBC adventures for The Doctor (played by Jodie Whittaker) and her stout companions, which will hit television screens in the New Year.

The announcement comes as fan speculation has intensified over the show materialising on screens this New Year’s Day.

While there’s no Christmas Day episode for the second-year in a row, 2020 will begin with a new 10-part series of the sci-fi show.

Within the new run there are a host of high-profile guest star roles and names on British TV don’t come much more high-profile than this duo.

Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who’s showrunner, has confirmed the pair will be involved in the opening story to the new series.

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Prior to this announcement a couple of other actors were reported to be joining as cast members.

Comic actor James Buckley is rumoured to be playing a character named Nevi.

Anjli Mohindra, from smash-hit Bodyguard and ITV crime drama Dark Heart, will reportedly play a character named Queen Skithra.

She will be familiar to Doctor Who fans after playing Rani Chandra in spin-off The Sarah-Jane Adventures.

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Stephen Fry spoke of his excitement at being cast in the long-running series, although he admitted a role on the show is second-best to another long-held ambition.

“Short of being picked for a British space exploration programme and I readily concede that I’m past the age where I’d be considered (if I was ever the right age for such a posting) – then being in an episode of Doctor Who will certainly do as a very sweet second-place excitement.”

NASA and the European Space Agency have so far not announced Fry as a member of an upcoming mission.

Unless, of course, Fry was dropping a subtle clue towards the role he might be playing?

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For Sir Lenny Henry becoming part of the Doctor Who universe – Whoniverse, even – reminded him of a time when he played a version of The Doctor earlier in his career.

He also couldn’t contain his excitement as a lifelong fan of the show.

“It was absolutely brilliant to be welcomed into the fantastical world of Doctor Who.

“The nearest I have been to the TARDIS was when I played the Caribbean Doctor in The Lenny Henry Show, so as a life-long (hiding behind the sofa type) Doctor Who fan this is a very special moment for me.”

Chris Chibnall, the creator of Broadchurch who became Doctor Who showrunner in 2017, has said both actors are taking part in one of the show’s “biggest ever” stories, which starts the series.

“Doctor Who is coming back with a bang – with two great British icons in major roles.

“One of the great joys of Doctor Who is getting to work with actors from your wish list.

“Stephen and Lenny are two of my absolute favourite actors – and to be able to bring them into Doctor Who, in our one of our biggest ever stories to kick off the new series, is an absolute thrill.”

Doctor Who will return in 2020.

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