Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling cast in Doctor Who

Dame Diana Rigg and Rachael Stirling will appear together in Mark Gatiss' Doctor Who story in 2013, the BBC have announced.

The real life mother and daughter duo are set to play the same relationship in Doctor Who, with their characters holding a dark secret.

The episode features Matt Smith, incoming companion Jenna Louise-Coleman and will be directed by Saul Metzstein.

Dame Diana Rigg, who will play a Yorkshire local, says: “The first time Rachie and I will be working together is on an episode of Doctor Who specially written for us by Mark Gatiss. How lucky is that?”

Rachael Stirling, on working on Doctor Who, said: “What joy. I am looking forward to the madness of Doctor Who enormously. Mark Gatiss has written a gift of a script and an on-screen relationship between Ma and I that is truly delicious. We have never before worked together because the offers have not been tempting, but when such a funny and original script comes through you know the time has come.”

Steven Moffat, executive producer and head writer on Doctor Who, says: “Dame Diana Rigg, Rachael Stirling and a Mark Gatiss script - a combination of talents you could only get in Doctor Who. Frankly, I'm terrified already!"

Production on the story will began today at the BBC's Roath Lock studios in Cardiff.

(Source: BBC Media Centre, Doctor Who Blog)