Official production of the second series of the new Doctor Who began on July 25, with new Doctor David Tennant and first series companion Billie Piper commencing work on both the second series and a Christmas special.

Photo Copyright © BBC.

David Tennant steps into the role of the tenth Time Lord. Photos on the official BBC website reveal his costume for the coming series."I think we've come up with something distinctive that's both timeless and modern," says Tennant on the official website. "With a bit of geek chic and of course, a dash of Time Lord! Most importantly Billie tells me she likes it – after all she's the one who has to see me in it for the next nine months! "

Billie Piper returns as the Doctor's feisty young companion, Rose Tyler, and together they will travel through time and space battling new and returning aliens and monsters. "I'm thrilled to be stepping back into the role of Rose," Billie told the official website. "We plan to make series two even bigger and better and challenge the viewers' imaginations like never before. Wait until you get a load of the new doctor!"

Executive Producer Russel T Davies promises new excitement in the coming series, revealing the return of an old enemy. "We were delighted and honoured by the first series' success, and we can promise new thrills, new laughs, new heartbreak, and some terrifying new aliens. The Doctor and Rose are destined to meet Queen Victoria, an evil race of Cat Women, and the dreaded Cybermen. 2006 is going to be scarier than ever!"

The holiday special "The Christmas Invasion" will be filmed first, with production starting in London and later continuing in Wales, mostly in Cardiff.

Cast and Crew Update

The Official Doctor Who website reports that Penelope Wilton returns as Harriet Jones in the Doctor Who Christmas Special. Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Little Britain) and Adam Garcia (Coyote Ugly, Saturday Night Fever The Musical) are now confirmed to star in series two. Elisabeth Sladen resumes her role as the iconic character Sarah Jane Smith; remembered by a whole generation of Doctor Who fans as the assistant to both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. Camille Coduri returns as Rose's mum Jackie and Noel Clarke as Mickey.

(l to r) Anthony Head, Andy Garcia, Elisabeth Sladen, Penelope Wilton

Another exciting piece of news is that British comedian Stephen Fry (Blackadder, voice of the book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy film) is to write an episode of series two. Other writers include series producer Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Toby Whithouse, Tom Macrae and Matt Jones.

The Christmas Special will be screened in the UK later this year and series two is scheduled for spring 2006.