River Song -- as well as a classic big bad Doctor Who villain -- may just be returning for Peter Capaldi’s first series as the Doctor.

According to Doctor Who showrunner Stephen Moffat, the Who season-eight premiere will feature the return of fan favorites Neve McIntosh as Madame Vastra, Catrin Stewart as Jenny Flint and Dan Starkey as Strax (all in all, a pretty good roster for Peter Capaldi’s very first outing as the new Mad Man in the TARDIS).

Here’s what Moffat said:

“This time I’ve made sure we’ve got a bunch of characters around him so that we can have a new Doctor introduced and we can push that Doctor a bit further if you’ve got a familiar world around him.” Moffat also said Capaldi is going to be an older, trickier and fiercer Doctor. “I think the fun story will be – and we have the opportunity here – is this is what regeneration can do to you. He can be very, very different.” Moffat later added: “Now it’s time for the old beast to snarl at you for a bit!”

Right you are there, Stephen Moffat! Let the Doctor snarl away.

Another fan favorite who could make her eagerly anticipated return to the series is the Doctor’s wife herself, Melody Pond, aka River Song (Alex Kingston). Back in October, the actress hinted at a possible return in this video below.

Alex Kingston said: "I look forward to sharing more of her with you in the future, but … spoilers!"

Some writers have been confirmed for season eight, including Mark Gatiss, Neil Cross and Gareth Roberts. Neil Gaiman, Chris Chibnall, Tom MacRae and Jack Lothian are possible writers for the new series, but nothing is confirmed for them yet. We have to say that we'd love to have Gaiman have a shot at another Doctor Who story that'll hopefully be more along the lines of “The Doctor’s Wife” than “Nightmare in Silver.”

Other rumors report that the Doctor will be getting a new companion, with Clara’s fellow Coal Hill School teacher Tom (Tristan Beint) as a potential candidate.

Mark Gatiss is also apparently penning another story that’ll feature the Ice Warriors, and Daleks are also rumored to appear in the season-eight premiere episode.

Last, but definitely not least, the Master is also being heavily rumored to be the major series villain (and we’re pretty much OK with that). The only downside is that John Simm may only return for a regeneration.

What do you guys think? Do you want to see River Song make a return appearance to the TARDIS? (At least she knows how to fly it!) And how about the Master’s rumored return -- do you guys think he’d be the perfect foil for Capaldi’s trickier, fiercer Time Lord?

(Doctor Who TV via kpopstarz)