River Song is by far one of the most compelling characters to be featured on Doctor Who in recent years. When our co-editor, David Hill, wrote an editorial last month arguing that River deserved a spin-off series of her own, it quickly became one of our most popular stories.

“…the sonic screwdriver that I had in ‘Silence in the Library,’ which had been given to me by the Doctor, is not the sonic screwdriver that has been seen… yet.”

After Matt Smith’s regeneration, though, it seemed her story may have come to an end. But new comments from Alex Kingston, the actress behind the famed archaeologist, could give new hope for an encore performance from River Song.

As you know, River’s life was not presented on Doctor Who in chronological order. When we first met her in ‘Silence in the Library,’ David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor had no idea of the larger role she would come to play in the Doctor’s life. By the end of that Steven Moffat-scripted episode, River’s life met its end — although her consciousnesses was preserved.

Over the years that followed with Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, we learned that *spoilers* not only would River become the Doctor’s wife, but she was actually Melody Pond, the daughter of companions Amy and Rory Williams.

The Doctor and River Song say goodbye in ‘The Name of the Doctor.’(Credit: BBC)

River had an emotional send-off in ‘The Name of the Doctor,’ with the Doctor passionately kissing her and River then disappearing with a final, “Goodbye, Sweetie.”

According to reports, though, when speaking at Mega-con last month, Alex Kingston revealed the reasons she thinks River could return:

“All I can say is… spoilers! But what I will say is the sonic screwdriver that I had in ‘Silence in the Library,’ which had been given to me by the Doctor, is not the sonic screwdriver that has been seen… yet.”

Now that IS interesting. It’s not something I’ve seen mentioned online either (and I certainly hadn’t realized it). That would lend credence to the idea of River encountering the Doctor at least one more time. One more clue that River could return? Kingston then added:

“I haven’t been told I’m done [on the show].”

Now that may not mean much; Moffat may have just not bothered to tell her. As much as I like River Song, I don’t think I’d be up for her becoming a regular recurring character again — it does feel as though that ship has sailed. But a one or two episode guest appearance? That would be incredible. And can you imagine the chemistry between Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston? That alone makes this an idea worth pursuing. Kingston doesn’t think the Doctor’s new appearance would come as much of a shock to River, either:

“Well River’s dealt with a lot of Doctor’s faces in the past so I don’t think that it would be a surprise to her.”

Moffat seems to be a big believer in finishing things and not returning to them. Consider how he’s refused to bring back Captain Jack during his tenure or his comments on a possible Paternoster Gang spin-off, saying, “I’m always slightly worried that you can’t keep repeating the joke.”

Surely even he can see the potential onscreen goldmine that is having River Song meet the Twelfth Doctor. The door is open, let’s hope Kingston gets a phone call very soon.