In Doctor Who Magazine 593, showrunner Russell T Davies teased a famous guest star who makes a cameo appearance in a “crucial” scene with a “famous” guest star in the two-part finale of the 2024 series of Doctor Who.

“There’s a great set in the very last block of the 2024 series. It only appears for one scene. But a crucial scene! With a really lovely guest star, unseen by the public, unannounced in the press, cos the scene takes place secretly within the studio, so you’ve got a nice surprise to come. Oh, but this scene has been hotly debated. This much I know! Should it exist? Is it needed? It’s been in, it’s been out, it’s been reinstated, it’s been cut again. Until finally, it stayed, its in-and-out status betrayed by its designation, Scene 27B.”

The showrunner goes on to describe a “haunting”, “atmospheric and beautiful” scene involving rubble and fallen rocks with eight-foot high, ancient, fallen statue head among the ruins.

In other 2023 Doctor Who series news from script editor Scott Handcock’s Production Diary, on 27 June, Russell T Davies and the crew enjoyed listening to Murray Gold’s a brand new theme for the upcoming era.

Also in Handcock’s Production Diary, plans are well underway for a second series starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. On 13 June, the senior production team met to discuss future crewing for the next season; on 16 June, costume designer Pam Downe met with producers to discuss budgets and plans for “Season 2” and on 22 June, the first draft of the first script for the next season was delivered.

Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble titled The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle.

In the following festive period, Ncuti Gatwa will star in his first full Doctor Who episode as the Fifteenth Doctor in the Doctor Who festive special alongside Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday.

A new 8-episode Doctor Who series starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby will debut in 2024.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 593 is on sale Thursday 20 July from Panini and WH Smith and as a digital edition from Pocketmags.