Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has been revealed as a guest star on the new series of Doctor Who.
Speaking on BBC Morning Live, co-host Gethin Jones asked if someone else in the studio could be "potentially" joining the show.
Showrunner Russell T Davies then jokingly responded: "Do you mean the top secret information that Shirley Ballas is going to appear?"
The camera then panned out to reveal the Strictly Come Dancing judge as she confirmed the exciting news.
🚨 DOCTOR WHO TOP SECRET EXCLUSIVE ALERT! 🚨@russelldavies63 reveals 'a scoop' that someone in the Morning Live studio will be appearing on new @bbcdoctorwho. Watch this to find out WHO it is. She's been keeping it STRICTLY a secret until now. SHIRLEY not?!!#DoctorWho60 pic.twitter.com/1oheqTYF9u
— BBC Morning Live (@BBCMorningLive) November 22, 2023
She said: "Well, I can tell you the filming was one of the best days of my life."
Shirley Ballas added: "We're doing a guest appearance with Jojo (Johannes Radebe), where I actually get to perform with Jojo and so many other dancers on the show. I'm very excited for people to watch."
Speaking about what fans at home can expect from the new episode, Russell T Davies explained that he was present during the filming as there was "no way" he was going to miss it.
He said: "Dame Shirley Ballas on Doctor Who, it was great".
When will the 60th-anniversary Doctor Who episodes air on the BBC?
The 60th-anniversary episodes of Doctor Who will be broadcast each week with the first episode - The Star Beast - airing on Saturday, November 25 at 6:30 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This will then be followed by Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle on December 2 and December 9.
Who is starring in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials?
The Doctor Who 60th-anniversary cast is set to include:
- David Tennant - The fourteenth Doctor
- Catherine Tate - Donna Noble
- Miriam Margolyes - the voice of the Meep
- Neil Patrick Harris - The Toymaker
- Yasmin Finney - Rose Noble
- Jacqueline King - Sylvia Noble
- Karl Collins - Shaun Temple
- Ruth Madeley - Shirley Anne-Bingham
- Jemma Redgrave - Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will take over as the 15th Doctor during the festive period.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here