Peter Capaldi begins stint as new Doctor Who

Doctor Who returns for American audiences on BBC America beginning Aug. 23 at 8pm ET. The start of a new Doctor Who season would already be cause for celebration among fans, but this one is particularly special as it begins the stint of award-winning actor Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor.

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In the season premiere, “Deep Breath,” written by Steven Moffat, the Doctor lands in Victorian London and finds a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly combustions. He and Clara (a returning Jenna Coleman) embark on a mission into the heart of an alien conspiracy. BBC America says the the Twelfth Doctor’s era will see the return of The Paternoster Gang, with neve McIntosh as Madame Vastra, Catrin Stewart as Jenny Flint and Dan Starkey as Strax.

Before the season premiere, there will be a 15-minute live pre-show at 8pm (so the episode itself actually begins at 8:15pm, and runs for about one hour and 45 minutes). It is followed by the series premiere of Intruders and then, at 11pm, there will be a live Doctor Who post-show called Doctor Who: After Who Live. The show, hosted by Chris Hardwick (who also hosts the pre-show) features guests including writer and actor Mark Gatiss, actress Natale Morales and others, discussing reactions to the season premiere.

The day before the premiere, Aug. 22, BBC America will also be airing a one-hour special called Doctor Who: Earth Conquest at 9pm ET. The program follows Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman on Doctor Who: The World Tour, which sees them visiting seven cities across five continents in 12 days to publicize the new season. The tour launched in Cardiff, Wales, on Aug. 7, and hits London, Seoul, Sydney, New York City, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.

The new season of Doctor Who begins Aug. 23 at 8pm ET on BBC America with a 15-minute live pre-show.

Doctor Who: After Who Live airs Aug. 23 at 11pm ET.

Doctor Who: Earth Conquest premieres Aug. 22 at 9pm ET.

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Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman in Doctor Who: Ray Burmiston, ©BBC/BBC Worldwide 2014