Former vampire James Marsters has joined Kylie Minogue among the burgeoning roster of foreign thespos selected to appear in Doctor Who and its spin-offs, the BBC has announced.

Marsters, who played Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and subsequently Angel, will appear in the first episode of the next series of Torchwood, and has declared himself "really excited" at the prospect.

He teasingly said of his character: "I can't say too much about him, except he is naughty and a bit of a psychopath."

Also joining Torchwood is former Neighbours actor Alan Dale, who dutifully admitted he was "thrilled" to appear. He offered the traditional: "I am a huge fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood so it was me who knocked on their door. I am thrilled to be working on Torchwood - I am a huge fan of British television drama."

Dale and Marsters will be rubbing shoulders with all the Torchwood regulars, as well as Freema Agyeman, aka Martha Jones, who's been temporarily seconded to the show. During her absence from the first half of series four of Doctor Who, the Time Lord will be accompanied by Catherine Tate, reprising her role as The Runaway Bride - a casting choice which has provoked a certain amount of agitated waving of sonic screwdrivers among Who fans.

Torchwood will return to UK screens in 2008. ®

16 comments posted — Comment period finished