Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special 2013 [PHOTO]: Prince Charles & Camilla Tour the TARDIS, Wilfred Mott Returning in Season 8?
In celebration of 50 years of the BBC series Doctor Who, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles of Wales and his Wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, visited the show's set this week. The Royals got to meet current Doctor Matt Smith and his companion Jenna-Louise Coleman, who plays Clara Oswald. Prince Charles and his wife enjoyed a great tour of the TARDIS and were educated on some behind-the-scenes information.
Their Royal Highnesses were treated to numerous tours on their visit, including demonstrations from the special effects departments as well as a look at some of the show's iconic villains. Here is an excerpt from BBC's coverage of the visit:
"A trip to the TARDIS was next on the agenda where the royal couple were introduced to Steven Moffat (Executive Producer and Lead Writer), Jenna Coleman (Clara) and Matt Smith (the Doctor) who gave Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall a quick lesson in how to fly the TARDIS! Moments later, Their Royal Highnesses operated the console controls and the time machine sprang to life as if in flight!"
Doctor Who executive producer Faith Penhale said "It was lovely to welcome Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to the home of Doctor Who to help celebrate the show's 50th anniversary. Certainly, seeing Prince Charles flying the TARDIS and Their Royal Highnesses chatting to a Dalek are memories to cherish from what looks set to be a very memorable year!"
As far as the actual 50th anniversary special, which airs in November, there have yet to be any new information released besides the casting list and some on-set pictures. But if you were wondering is Donna Noble's loveable grandfather, Wilfred Mott, might turn up, don't get your hopes up.
Bernard Cribbins, who portrayed Mott with during the David Tennant era of Doctor Who, recently revealed that he would not be in the series any time soon. But he did share that he would be interested in returning!
"No, I'm not [involved]," he said "I rang Cardiff [where the Doctor Who production unit is based] a little while ago and said, 'Am I going to be involved?' and they said, 'Well no. We're shooting at the moment and maybe something later on but at the moment, no.'
"I would love to get back into it. It would be nice," Cribbins said.