Part will 'showcase his wit and charm'

Frank Skinner is to achieve his dream – by appearing as a guest star in the new series of Doctor Who.

Details of his character have not been revealed, but the comic said he was 'beyond excited to take part.'

He said: 'I love this show. I subscribe to Doctor Who magazine, I've got a Tardis ringtone, a 5ft cardboard Dalek in my bedroom and when I got the call saying they wanted me to read for the part, I was in the back of my tour bus watching episode three of The Sensorites. I am beyond excited.'

Skinner will appear alongside Peter Capaldi in an episode being penned by Jamie Mathieson, the Being Human writer and former stand-up.

Show runner Steven Moffat added: 'It's no secret that Frank's been pitching vigorously to get into Doctor Who for a while. He's been volunteering to be "third monster on the left" as long as I've been in this job.

'But now, in Jamie Mathieson's sparkling script, we finally have a part that can showcase all of Frank's famous wit and charm. Hopefully he'll get out of my garden now.'

Previous comics to have appeared in Doctor Who since its comeback include Lee Evans in Planet Of the Dead; Peter Kay in Love & Monsters; and of course Catherine Tate who played Donna Noble in several episodes.

In November, Skinner appeared in the one-off Doctor Who 50th anniversary comedy homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

Published: 16 May 2014