David Tennant and Billie Piper will appear in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special.

The BBC's official Doctor Who Twitter account (@bbcdoctorwho) posted an image of Tennant - apparently confirming the Scottish actor's return to the series.

A second tweet - featuring an image of the character Rose Tyler - followed, confirming Piper's role in the 50th special.

Tennant and Piper last played the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler in two-part special 'The End of Time', which aired on Christmas Day 2009 and New Year's Day 2010.

Doctor Who's 50th anniversary episode will be 90 minutes long, reports suggest, and receive a limited worldwide cinema release.

It was previously confirmed that the special will be shot in 3D and directed by Who veteran Nick Hurran.

Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt has also been linked to the special - the 73-year-old star is known for his roles in the movies Alien (1979) and The Elephant Man (1980) and for playing the lead role in 1975 TV film The Naked Civil Servant.

Doctor Who returns to BBC One tonight at 6.15pm with new episode 'The Bells of Saint John'.

Issue 459 of Doctor Who Magazine is available to buy from April 4.

> Matt Smith on Doctor Who 50th: 'It celebrates old Doctors'

> Doctor Who star John Barrowman: "I will not be involved in the 50th"



Watch the stars of Doctor Who talk the 50th anniversary with Digital Spy below: