TV legends added to Doctor Who Xmas special

Veteran comedy actors Geoffrey Palmer and Clive Swift have been lined up for roles in the Doctor Who Christmas Special.

Geoffrey, 80, is best known for playing grumpy Lionel in As Time Goes By, while viewers will recognise Clive, 71, from Keeping Up Appearances where he played the put-upon husband of the tyrannical Hyacinth.

But their new Doctor Who roles will not be their first, as both have appeared on the popular sci-fi show before.

Geoffrey turned up in two episodes in 1970 and 1972 with Jon Pertwee playing the Doctor, while Clive landed a role on the show in 1985 alongside Colin Baker as the eccentric time-traveller.

This follows the announcement that Kylie Minogue is set to make an appearance on the show which starts filming in Cardiff next month.

And Clive seemed delighted with the chance to appear in the revamped version of the show, saying: "It's a lovely part and I'll be working with Kylie, who I was introduced to at the read through, and David Tennant, who is a terrific actor."

An insider commenting on the addition of Geoffrey told the Sun: "Geoffrey is one of Britain's best loved telly actors so it's a real coup to get him on board. He has starred in the show before, back in the 70s, and is a big fan."

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