Who's Who

Looks like Liz Sladen's confirmed as returning in next series of Doctor Who as well, which suggests that the rumors that the Doctor-lite episode will indeed focus on ex-companions, since Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman and John Barrowman are all confirmed as appearing too.

Someone put in a call to Frazer Hines, Sophie Aldred and Nicholas Courtney, stat.

Although an interview with Liz Sladen in SFX magazine suggests a more involved role:

"You must know how many people are in it," she says, referring to the number of special guests from the Doctor’s (recent) past who, it's been confirmed, will be making reappearances alongside Sarah Jane. "So I don't think I'll be at the centre of things. I would think it would be apportioned off, a bit here a bit there, and the major people will be the Doctor and Donna. That is my take on it. We are coming back to reinforce an already established team. So I don’t think I’ll be leading the group, if you know what I mean! I think there will be a distinct kind of sectioning and apportioning off. Because you can only do so much with so many people."

Meanwhile, former ER star Alex Kingston will join Doctor Who for two episodes, the BBC has also announced.

She will play River Song, a mysterious character who meets the Doctor on an expedition to uncover the secrets of an abandoned library.

She is joined by James Bond regular, Colin Salmon who also stars in the two episodes.

Further guest stars already confirmed to appear in the new series include Sarah Lancashire, Felicity Kendal, Lesley Sharp, Georgia Moffett, Lindsey Coulson, Fenella Woolgar, Tim McInnerny, Peter Capaldi, Phil Davis, Bernard Cribbins, Tracey Childs and keeping the family tradition going, David Troughton.