By Todd Allen

Here’s some media news that has broken prior to Comicon.  Diana Rigg, best known for her time as Emma Peel on The Avengers (the British spy show Mark Waid will adapting for BOOM!, not the Marvel movie) will be appearing on Doctor Who.  Come to find out, she’s going to be doing an episode with her daughter, Rachel Stirling.  That’s pretty much another royal wedding.

Dame Diana on the left, Ms. Stirling on the right

The official announcement:

Mother and daughter Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling are set to star side by side in the BBC Wales drama Doctor Who, the first time the pair have ever worked together on screen.

Character details remain under wraps, but the episode penned by Mark Gatiss will see Dame Diana and Rachael recreate their off-screen relationship on-screen, as they play a mother and daughter with a dark secret.

Starring alongside the Doctor, Matt Smith and new companion Jenna-Louise Coleman, the episode will air on BBC One in 2013 and is directed by Saul Metzstein. Filming begins this week (2 July) at Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff.

Dame Diana Rigg, who will play a Yorkshire local, said: “The first time Rachie and I will be working together is on an episode of “Doctor Who” specially written for us by Mark Gatiss. How lucky is that?”

Rachael Stirling, on working on Doctor Who, said: “What joy. I am looking forward to the madness of Doctor Who enormously. Mark Gatiss has written a gift of a script and an on-screen relationship between Ma and I that is truly delicious. We have never before worked together because the offers have not been tempting, but when such a funny and original script comes through you know the time has come.”

Steven Moffat, executive producer and head writer on Doctor Who, said: “Dame Diana Rigg, Rachael Stirling and a Mark Gatiss script – a combination of talents you could only get in Doctor Who! Frankly, I’m terrified already!”

A funny script, eh?  If you’re unfamiliar with Diana Rigg’s more recent comic efforts, I’d point to an episode of Extras a couple years back, where she puts that scamp, Daniel Radcliffe, in his place.

1 COMMENT

  1. Sounds fantastic!! She was Mrs. James Bond too!

    And if you like Bond and Who, San Diego is going to be the place to be next week. BBC is bringing out the cast to Doctor Who again and MGM is bringing in a whole bunch of Bond memorabilia to celebrate the 50th and pimp the new Blu-Ray set.

    I’m thinking I won’t have to line up 12 hours before for the Bond stuff. :)

  2. Sounds fantastic!! She was Mrs. James Bond too!

    And if you like Bond and Who, San Diego is going to be the place to be next week. BBC is bringing out the cast to Doctor Who again and MGM is bringing in a whole bunch of Bond memorabilia to celebrate the 50th and pimp the new Blu-Ray set.

    I’m thinking I won’t have to line up 12 hours before for the Bond stuff. :)