Keeley Hawes will guest star in Peter Capaldi’s first season as The Doctor, Contact Music has learned. The Line of Duty actress will take on a villainous role in the popular BBC sci-fi drama, playing on the current zeitgeist of ‘evil bankers’.

Peter Capaldi Doctor WhoPeter Capaldi On The Set of Doctor Who

Hawes has a deep history with The BBC, starring in dramas Ashes to Ashes and Spooks. She describes her character - Ms Delphox -in the new Dr. Who as "a powerful out of this world character with a dark secret".

Doctor Who boss Steven Moffat is very impressed with the new addition, citing her impressive CV as evidence that his show will be better off with her on board.

“Anyone watching Jed Mercurio's amazing Line Of Duty will know that Keeley Hawes is having one hell of year," he said. "And now it's about to get even better as she achieves the greatest villainy yet attempted on Doctor Who: she plays a banker."

Hawes said: "I am delighted to join Doctor Who and to be working with this incredible team. Ms Delphox is a great character and someone I've had a lot of fun playing."

More: Benedict Cumberbatch is excited for Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who.

But what will the fans make of her appointment? Who fans are particularly fussy, as evidenced by the furore that surrounded Matt Smith’s exit and the possibility of a new Doctor – luckily, Capaldi seems to have been accepted without a fuss.

The Guardian’s Dan Martin suggests it’s a brilliant choice, saying: “Here is a woman who has served enough time on the nerd benches, or rather, the greatest UK genre shows in recent memory,” in this article. “This is nothing but good and exciting news,” he adds.