Doctor Who: The Impossible Astronaut

Doctor Who makes its much-anticipated return to our TV screens tonight, with the opening episode to the programme's sixth series, "The Impossible Astronaut".

Synopsis
Four envelopes, numbered two, three and four – each containing a date, time and map reference, unsigned, but TARDIS blue – begin the latest series of the time-travelling adventures. Who sent them? And who received the missing number one?

This strange summons reunites The Doctor, Amy, Rory and River Song in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret that The Doctor's friends must never reveal to him.

Placing his life entirely in their hands, The Doctor agrees to search for the recipient of the fourth envelope. Just who is Canton Everett Delaware the Third? And what is the relevance of their only other clue: "Space 1969"? Their quest lands them in the Oval Office, where they are enlisted by President Nixon himself to assist enigmatic former FBI agent Canton in saving a terrified little girl from a mysterious spaceman.


Doctor Who: The Impossible Astronaut will air on BBC One/HD in the UK at 6.00pm; BBC America will broadcast the episode in the USA at 9.00pm and SPACE will air the episode in Canada at 8.00pm.

The episode will mark the passing of Elisabeth Sladen, with a dedication to the much loved actress. Following BBC One's broadcast of Doctor Who, a 15-minute tribute programme, 'My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen' featuring contributions from Matt Smith and David Tennant, will be shown on the CBBC channel at 6.45pm.


Doctor Who Confidential also returns to BBC Three with behind-the-scenes coverage of the episode at 7.00pm.