The Thick of It star Chris Addison to reunite with Peter Capaldi on Doctor Who

(Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

Chris Addison is to reunite with his The Thick Of It co-star Peter Capaldi - with a guest role in Doctor Who.

The comedian - who played special adviser Ollie Reeder opposite Peter's foul-mouthed spin-doctor character Malcolm Tucker in the cult BBC comedy as well as spin-off film In The Loop - has a cameo appearance in the series eight two-part finale, Dark Water/Death In Heaven.

Chris revealed to RadioTimes.com: "'Would you like to be in Doctor Who?' is the easiest question I've ever been asked. It's a 35-year dream come true. Seven-year-old me would be going off his nut and I'm not far behind.

"It's a great way to spend a couple of weeks, working with people I've always wanted to work with on a show I've loved all my life. My bucket list is quite a lot shorter now."

And now Chris is being tipped to replace Jenna Coleman as the Doctor's new companion.

Jenna, who plays Clara Oswald, is rumoured to be leaving the show at Christmas and several names have surfaced as her possible replacement.

Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie, 27, is the favourite, according to Ladbrokes, with odds of 14/1.

But Chris is joint second favourite at 16/1, alongside former Doctor Who star Karen Gillan, who is rumoured to be ready to reprise her role alongside the new Time Lord.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.