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“If someone who knew the future pointed out a child to you, and told you that that child would grow up totally evil, to be a ruthless dictator who would destroy millions of lives…could you then kill that child?”

It’s a classic philosophical question, one that the average person would never truly have to face. Of course, The Doctor is not the average person, and as such, has to face it nearly constantly. But never so personally, and so literally as when a young boy calls for help…and The Doctor walks away.

The Magician’S Apprentice / The Witch’S Familiar

Written by Steven Moffat

Directed by Hettie MacDonald

The Doctor lands on a planet torn asunder by war, a war going on so long that it’s using progressively declining technology – space fighters are being shot at with bows and arrows. When a young boy is trapped in a mine field,...

Spoilers: here are our viewing notes for Doctor Who series 9 episode 1, The Magician's Apprentice. There's a lot to spot...

When a show has over 50 years of history, it can sometimes be hard to keep up with all the continuity, callbacks and generally geeky references. Which is why, for series 9 (or series 35), we're trying this extra weekly feature of, effectively, viewing notes.

Which is fortunate because, as you might expect, The Magician’s Apprentice contained more than its fair share of these. Here are the ones we found; if you noticed something we haven’t, feel free to add it in the comments!

This is a very spoiler-heavy article. Thus, we've deployed our spoiler squirrel - Daphne - to stop your eyes accidentally drifting to the text of the article if you want to be spoiler-free. Scroll below Daphne at your peril...

Back to Skaro

It may surprise you to learn...

A clutch of brand new pictures have been released to tease the return of Doctor Who this weekend.

'The Magician's Apprentice' brings back Peter Capaldi as The Doctor alongside his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman).

Doctor Who series 9: A spoiler-free preview of 'The Magician's Apprentice'

The guest cast features Michelle Gomez returning as Missy, together with Jemma Redgrave, Kelly Hunter, Clare Higgins and Jaye Griffiths.

'The Magician's Apprentice' will air this Saturday, September 19 at 7.40pm on BBC One.

"Where is the Doctor? When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, Clara needs her friend," reads the BBC's description of the episode.

Doctor Who series 9: 10 exciting teasers for 'The Magician's Apprentice'

"But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara, survival seems impossible."

All the...

Doctor Who series 9: 10 exciting teasers for 'The Magician's Apprentice'

A new series prologue for Doctor Who series nine episode one has been released.

The teaser introduction features Clare Higgins as Ohila, High Priestess of the Sisterhood of Karn, who previously appeared with Paul McGann in 'The Night of the Doctor' short.

It's different from the series prequel shown in Us cinemas earlier this year. Set on the planet Karn, it sees The Doctor say - seemingly of The Master - that "an enemy's a friend you just don't really know yet".

Doctor Who series 9: A spoiler-free preview of 'The Magician's Apprentice'

He is warned that he is "embarking on an enterprise that will end in your destruction".

Capaldi will return in Doctor Who series nine opener 'The Magician's Apprentice' at 7.40pm on Saturday, September 19.

'The Magician's Apprentice' has been written by showrunner Steven Moffat, and is directed by...

BBC One has confirmed the airtime for Peter Capaldi's return in Doctor Who series nine opener 'The Magician's Apprentice'.

The episode will air at 7.40pm on Saturday, September 19.

Doctor Who series 9: 10 exciting teasers for 'The Magician's Apprentice'

At around 50 minutes in length, the episode will finish at 8.30pm.

This means that 'The Magician's Apprentice' kicks off only 10 minutes earlier than last year's curtain-raiser 'Deep Breath', which was the latest time slot for a new series launch since Doctor Who returned in 2005.

'Rose' aired at 7pm on March 26, 2005, while 'New Earth' was shown at 7.15pm on April 15 the following year and 'Smith & Jones' opened the third series at 7pm on March 31, 2007.

Doctor Who series 9: A spoiler-free preview of 'The Magician's Apprentice'

Series four's 'Partners in Crime' aired 6.20pm on April 5, 2008 - with Matt Smith's debut 'The Eleventh Hour' occupying the same...

Sneak Peek new footage from the BBC's "Doctor Who" Series 9 premiere episode, "The Magician’s Apprentice", written by Steven Moffat and directed by Hettie MacDonald, airing September 19, 2015 on BBC America:

"...the 'Doctor' is missing. When the skies of Earth are frozen by a mysterious alien force, 'Clara' needs her friend. But where is the Doctor, and what is he hiding from? As past deeds come back to haunt him, old enemies will come face-to-face, and for the Doctor and Clara survival seems impossible..."

Cast includes Peter Capaldi as the 'Doctor' and Jenna Coleman as 'Clara', the episode guest stars Michelle Gomez as 'Missy' as well as Jemma Redgrave, Kelly Hunter, Clare Higgins, Jaye Griffiths, Harki Bhambra, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Joey Price, Aaron Neil, India Ria Amarteifio, Dasharn Anderson, Demi Papaminas, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Benjamin Cawley, Stefan Adegbola, Shin-Fei Chen, Lucy Newman-Williams, Barnaby Edwards, Nicholas Pegg and Jonathon Ojinnaka.

Click the images...

We're back with another horror/sci-fi round-up. Guest stars have been revealed for the season 9 premiere of Doctor Who, Titan Comics has a massive Doctor Who comic book crossover lined up, HBO's upcoming New World drama pilot that's likely based on the Salem Witch Trials has enlisted a notable director for its pilot, a new horror film from the duo behind 100 Bloody Acres has is entering production, and Fox has put in a pilot order for a series based on Neil Gaiman's Lucifer from The Sandman comic book series.

Doctor Who Season 9: Via BBC America, TVLine reports that Michelle Gomez will be back on-screen as The Master, aka "Missy", in the two-part season 9 premiere of Doctor Who, which does not yet have a release date. Jemma Redgrave, Kelly Hunter, and Clare Higgins will also reprise their roles as Kate, the Shadow Architect, and Ohila, respectively, in the season 9 premiere,...

We knew she’d be back – Michelle Gomez said she’d be back, we just didn’t know how soon she’d be back. Well, now we know – Missy (Aka The Master) will make her return in the series premiere of Doctor Who later in 2015.

The two-part episode, The Magician’s Apprentice and The Witch’s Familiar, is written by the show’s lead writer Steven Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald (Blink, the Hugo Award-winning Doctor Who episode).

Michelle Gomez is the latest of a long line of actors to play The Doctor greatest nemesis. Starting with Roger Delgado in the early Pertwee years, The Master has plagued The Doctor almost constantly, through a number of regenerations and forms. The latest twist was the reveal that the latest regeneration left The master a woman, played by Michelle Gomez.

Jemma Redgrave will also return as The...

Spoilers Ahead For Last Year's "Doctor Who" Finale

The BBC has announced that Michelle Gomez will reprise her role as Missy/The Master in the upcoming ninth season premiere of "Doctor Who" this Fall on BBC America.

Michelle Gomez says: "Things have been a little beige since I left Missy behind, so I'm delighted to be putting my lippie back on. I'm positively dying to see The Doctor again!" The BBC has also released an announcement video about the casting:

Show runner Steven Moffat penned the two-part episode "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch’s Familiar" with the double bill set to open the new season. Missy, who was last seen in the eighth season finale, will return in those episodes.

Moffat says: "Everybody hide – Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she’s straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener.

Michelle Gomez is back as Missy (also known as The Master) in the new season premiere of Doctor Who this fall on BBC America. She joins Peter Capaldi for his second season as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. Gomez appeared last season on Doctor Who, which was the highest rated season ever on BBC America. Here's what the actress had to say in a statement about returning for Season 9:

"Things have been a little beige since I left Missy behind, so I'm delighted to be putting my lippie back on. I'm positively dying to see The Doctor again!"

The two-part episode, "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch's Familiar", is written by the show's lead writer Steven Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald ("Blink", the Hugo Award-winning Doctor Who episode). Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added his own statement:

"Everybody hide...

The Twelfth Doctor will get a blast from his not-too-distant past when Doctor Who opens Season 9.

BBC America announced on Thursday that Michelle Gomez is set to (improbably?) reprise her role as “Missy” aka The Master.

RelatedJenna Coleman Reveals Her Doctor Who Status at Close of Christmas Special

“Everybody hide,” executive producer Steven Moffat said in a statement. “Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she’s straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener. But what brings her back into their lives is the last thing they’d expect.”

Says...