BBC America Announces Special Programming and Nationwide Theatrical Events to Launch 'Doctor Who's' First Season Starring Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi is the new Doctor Who.

It's a new beginning for the iconic series that explores all of space and time, as award-winning actor Peter Capaldi takes on the role of the mysterious time traveler, the Doctor. BBC America will launch Peter Capaldi's first season of Doctor Who with special programming on the channel and theatrical events across the country with Fathom Events. The new season of Doctor Who premieres Saturday, August 23, 8 p.m. ET on BBC America.

Comedian and Doctor Who superfan Chris Hardwick will host Doctor Who: Live Pre-Show at 7:30 p.m. ET and Doctor Who: After Who Live at 11 p.m. ET following the premiere of Intruders on August 23. The pre-show and post-show will feature an array of guests in the studio including writer and actor Mark Gatiss along with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

'Doctor Who' Returns to BBC America August 23

BBC America has announced the premiere date for the eighth season of Doctor Who. The feature-length episode, entitled "Deep Breath," will air Saturday, August 23 at 8 p.m. ET. The episode ushers in an exciting new era for the show as Peter Capaldi (The Musketeers, The Thick of It) steps into the role of the Doctor. Fans first got a glimpse of Capaldi's Doctor in November's 50th Anniversary Special, and again in the final minutes of last year's Christmas Special, but the upcoming season premiere marks the first full episode for the Twelfth Doctor.

Capaldi will be joined by Jenna Coleman (Death Comes to Pemberley), who returns as companion Clara Oswald, and Samuel Anderson (History Boys, Gavin & Stacey) who joins the cast as Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where Clara also works. Previously announced guest stars include Ben Miller (Primeval, Death in Paradise), Keeley Hawes (Line of Duty, Upstairs, Downstairs), and Tom Riley (Da Vinci's Demons).

Leading up to the premiere, Capaldi and Coleman will appear together in the United States for the first time when they arrive in New York on Thursday, August 14 as part of the first ever Doctor Who World Tour. The largest promotional undertaking in the show's 50-year history, the tour will kick off in Cardiff, Wales before heading to London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro.