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Doctor Who will battle old villains the Cybermen in a plot that is the stuff of classic horror.

Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord clashes with them in the 19th century in a “darker” new series out next year.

And the plot involves the part-human, part-machine monsters inspiring author Mary Shelley to write iconic horror novel Frankenstein.

A source said: “This new run is much scarier than Jodie’s first year and will ­definitely put the frighteners on fans. Things are about to get darker for the Doctor.”

The Cybermen have not been seen since they shot Peter Capaldi’s 12th Doctor in 2017, causing him to regenerate as Whittaker. They first appeared alongside original Time Lord William Hartnell in 1966.

(Image: BBC)

Mary Shelley has been in audio plays as a companion of the 8th Doctor, played by Paul McGann.

Chris Chibnall, who took over from Steven Moffat as showrunner in 2018, did not use any “old monsters” in his first series – but put a Dalek into the Christmas special.

He has since dropped hints that Whittaker’s second run will feature some familiar faces.