The guest cast has been announced for the two-part opening story of Doctor Who‘s new season.

Written by showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Hettie Macdonald (‘Blink’), the story’s episodes are titled ‘The Magician’s Apprentice’ and ‘The Witch’s Familiar’.

Kelly Hunter, Clare Higgins (Hellraiser) and Jaye Griffiths (Casualty) will all appear in the story.

Hunter previously played the Shadow Architect in 2008’s ‘The Stolen Earth’, while Higgins played Ohila, a member of the Sisterhood of Karn, in ‘The Night of the Doctor’.

Other confirmed guest stars include Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Aaron Neil, India Ria Amarteifio, Joey Price, Dasharn Anderson, Harki Bhambra and Demi Papaminas.

The BBC also announced today that Michelle Gomez will be back as Missy in the story, with Jemma Redgrave returning as UNIT’s Kate Stewart too.

Season 9 began filming in Cardiff last month and will air on BBC One this autumn.

> Here’s everything we know about Season 9 so far.

Are you looking forward to Season 9’s opening two-parter? Let us know below…