Preparations under way for first series of Doctor Who featuring Matt Smith as the Time Lord

This article is more than 11 years old

This article is more than 11 years old

The BBC has appointed a new Doctor Who production team in preparation for the shooting of the first series featuring Matt Smith, the 11th incarnation of the Time Lord, later this summer.

BBC Wales, which is responsible for the Cardiff-based production, has appointed Tracie Simpson, producer of last weekend's Easter special Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, and Torchwood producer Peter Bennett to oversee the new series.

The new series producers both have previous experience as part of the Doctor Who production team.

In addition Beth Willis, the producer of BBC drama Ashes to Ashes, joins Doctor Who's new showrunner Stephen Moffat and Piers Wenger, the BBC Wales head of drama, as an executive producer on the show. Willis will also work across a range of other BBC Wales dramas.

The BBC described the appointment of the new team as the "start of a new chapter" for the hugely popular Doctor Who franchise. Pre-production begins next month with shooting due to get under way in the summer around Cardiff.

"Tracie and Pete are the backstage stars of Doctor Who and having them on board as producers isn't just the best possible news for Matt Smith's first series, it's a massive relief," said Moffat, the show's lead writer and executive producer.

Wenger added: "In their time on the show, Tracie and Pete have worked miracles. Joining forces with a talent like Beth will ensure that Doctor Who remains one of the most exciting and, frankly, formidable production teams around."

Former EastEnders star Michelle Ryan starred alongside David Tennant in Saturday's first Doctor Who special, Planet of the Dead.

Three more Doctor Who specials will air this year as the swansong for Tennant as the Doctor and Russell T Davies – the executive producer and showrunner responsible for the sci-fi drama's hugely successful revival in 2005.

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