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Mysterious signs have started appearing around Cardiff Bay , prompting great excitement among fans of Doctor Who that the hit sci-fi series' greatest villain is about to make a return.

Mock ballot posters emblazoned with the message 'Vote Saxon' have been spotted popping up in Tiger Bay and along Lloyd George Avenue, leading some to believe that the Master - or, at least the incarnation played by John Simm - is to stage a comeback on the long-running BBC show.

If that's true it'll mark the first time The Doctor's 13th regeneration (played by the franchise's first female actor, Jodie Whittaker) will have faced the rogue Time Lord - the previous face-off with him having taken place during Peter Capaldi 's stint in the TARDIS.

Played by numerous actors over the decades, The Master was first portrayed by Simm in 2007 when he was picked by show runner Russell T Davies to go up against David Tennant.

(Image: BBC WALES)

Simm debuted as the Master in a trio episodes - Utopia, The Sound of Drums and Last of the Time Lords - in the guise of slimy politician and wannabe Prime Minister Harold Saxon, who eventually went on to cause chaos after being voted into Number 10 Downing Street.

However, in the final scene of Last of the Time Lords, the Master gets killed, but his ashes were used to resurrect him two years later.

The last time we saw Simm was in 2017 when, via some time travel loophole, he was brought back to star opposite Michelle Gomez , who had succeeded him to play the role, thereby making it the first time two different versions of the Master had turned up together on the series.

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And with the next season of Doctor Who currently filming around Barry Island, it certainly looks like the Vote Saxon posters could be legit.

What is more, Simm himself has never ruled out another return to the part.

"You never know. Doctor Who (has) its own rules and if they want you back, then great," he admitted to Doctor Who Magazine in 2017.

"I would definitely think about it."

The new series of Doctor Who will screen on BBC One in early 2020.