The Doctor Who star fell ill at his home in California earlier this week and was rushed to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

He was told by doctors that he had appendicitis and would have to have his appendix removed immediately.

Ahead of his surgery, he shared a video on Facebook as he lay in bed and explained the procedure to his fans while he was accompanied by his parents.

John, 50, later took to Instagram to update his 724,000 followers on his progress.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW-277sFIH-/

Lying in a hospital gown, he explained: “I feel a bit like I have been hit by a car and I am just sore all over. And my voice is sore because of the tube going down my throat.

“They are going to see how I am today and they said if I’m okay I may get to go home but otherwise I’ll be here.”

The actor later shared a snap of himself giving a thumbs up and showcasing his TARDIS socks which were gifted by a fan.

“Got my fan made #TARDIS socks on keeping my feet warm in the hospital,” he captioned the shot.

It comes just days after he dressed up as the Doctor’s time travelling phone box and sang Copacabana at San Diego Comic-con.

He could be seen in a blue tutu and matching vest top with a black belt, which read “police box” around his waist as he took to the stage.

Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is to receive Edinburgh Television Festival’s 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award.

The writer and producer will receive the prize from from television producer and founder of Red Production Company Nicola Shindler, the executive who oversaw one of his first major TV hits, Channel 4 drama Queer as Folk. Last year’s winner was Happy Valley and To Walk Invisible writer Sally Wainwright.

The presentation on Friday 25th August 2017 follows a panel talk in which Davies will discuss creating some of the UK’s best television dramas, from shows like Bob & Rose – starring Alan Davies as a gay man who has an affair with his female best friend – to The Second Coming which starred Christopher Eccleston as the son of God.

Following his work on Doctor Who and spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, more recently Davies created Cucumber, Banana, Tofu for Channel 4, three interconnected drama series which earned Davies the BAFTA for Best Drama Writer.

Davies then went on to adapt A Midsummer Night’s Dream for BBC1, and is currently working on A Very English Scandal, the story of disgraced politician Jeremy Thorpe, for the same channel.

Diederick Santer, the Edinburgh TV Festival’s Advisory Chair said: “I am delighted that Russell is returning to the TV Festival to receive our Outstanding Achievement Award. He’s the man behind some of the nation’s favourite dramas, and his career continues to be incredibly successful and remarkably varied. I am very excited to hear what will no doubt be an insightful and funny look back over 30 years of great work.

“And with his long-term collaborator Nicola Shindler of Red asking the questions, we can be sure there’ll be no holds barred.”

The Davies session is one of a number that is being made available to the public. Tickets are available here.

Hold on to your black straw hats, Whovians: Michelle Gomez might not be through with Doctor Who just yet.

Although her character, rogue Time Lord Missy, was last seen in the series 10 finale apparently zapped to death by previous incarnation The Master, Gomez recently hinted she could re-materialise at some point in the future (or the past).

When asked by TVLine at the San Diego Comic-Con if the actor would return, Gomez said: “Probably not. I think that’s enough of Missy now. It’s good to know when to leave the party.

“It was a jolly good party, but time to leave – and then maybe come back, but time to leave for now.

“It feels like this was a chapter – a perfect chapter, actually – with [showrunner] Steven [Moffat] and Peter [Capaldi]. I don’t know about being a Master to another Doctor. I feel very loyal to Peter and I don’t know how that would work, but I am willing to find out at a later date.”

(Yes, we have unashamedly underlined the relevant sections for emphasis)

That’s right: Missy could maybe return at later date. You know, just like how John Simm’s version of The Master miraculously reappeared on the show after seven years. Is it possible we’ll see Missy ripping off a disguise in 2024?

Missy isn’t the only mischievous Gallifreyan who could make a comeback either. Simm himself recently hinted his version of The Master could be back again.

“You know what, I don’t know,” said Simm when asked if he’d come back to the show by Doctor Who Magazine (issue 514). “I mean, I wouldn’t have thought in a million years that I’d be back [in 2017], yet here I am talking about it. So never say never.”

You never know: Simm and Gomez could reunite for another multi-master story in a few years time – maybe with another incarnation thrown into the mix.

Doctor Who will return this Christmas

Playing the lead role in Doctor Who is not like playing the lead role in any other show. It’s a huge job — a big commitment. And that’s without the pressure of being the show’s first female Doctor.

This is why, typically, the outgoing Doctor gives their successor some advice. So what was Peter Capaldi’s tip for Jodie Whittaker?

“I said just enjoy it because it’s absolutely incredible,” he revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “She’ll be fabulous. It was lovely to speak to her and see how much affection and passion she has for the show. She’s going to be brilliant.”

Speaking on the Doctor Who panel at San Diego Comic Con, Capaldi went even further in his praise of Whittaker, saying that, “it’s really, really thrilling to know [Doctor Who] is in the hands of somebody who cares for it so deeply and is going to do really, really exciting things with it. She’s a great choice.”

Capaldi’s praise preceded a rant from Steven Moffat against journalists, who he claimed had twisted the reaction of a ‘progressive’ and ‘enlightened’ fandom.

“There are so many press articles about a backlash within the Doctor Who fandom against the casting of a female Doctor, he said. “There has been no backlash at all. The story of the moment is that the notionally conservative Doctor Who fandom has utterly embraced that change. Completely. 80% approval on social media, not that I check these things obsessively…

“And yet so many people want to pretend there’s a problem — there isn’t. In fact, it strikes me that Doctor Who fans are more excited about the idea of a brilliant actress playing the part, than the fact she’s a woman. It’s been incredibly progressive and enlightened and that’s what really happened. I wish that every single journalist writing the alternative, would shut the hell up.”

At San Diego Comic Con earlier this week, Fifth Doctor Peter Davison divided opinion when he said that the casting choice was a “loss of a role model for boys, who I think Doctor Who is vitally important for.” However, he also added that Whittaker would do a “wonderful job” in the role.

Peter Capaldi’s Time Lord will regenerate into Jodie Whittaker Thirteenth Doctor in Christmas special, Twice Upon a Time.

From his first episode Deep Breath to the tear-inducing series 10 finale, Peter Capaldi has captivated Doctor Fans during his time in the Tardis. And with the new Christmas special trailer reminding us that the Time Lord is on the verge of his 13th incarnation (or 14th or 15th, depending how you look at it), it’s the perfect time to look back at everything he’s brought to the Whoniverse.

Enter this video from the BBC, reliving Capaldi’s best moments from the show and thanking him for being a great Doctor. It’s all there: the guitar playing, the sonic glasses and his grey Gallifreyan locks. Adventures through time and space; enemies vanquished, friendships forged and lost.

We’ll never forget when The Doctor was you, Peter.

Thank you, Doctor. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/2zFGYYx8ZL

— Doctor Who on BBC America (@DoctorWho_BBCA) July 23, 2017

Doctor Who will return this Christmas

As the Doctor Who Christmas special hurtles closer, many of the pre-emptive farewells have been directed at outgoing Time Lord Peter Capaldi. However, showrunner Steven Moffat, companion Pearl Mackie, ‘Missy’ Michelle Gomezand possibly Matt Lucas and Mark Gatiss are also all exiting the Tardis. And it’s clear Capaldi will miss them as much as we will.

After receiving a standing ovation at the San Diego Comic Con, the departing Doctor went on to deliver an emotional speech praising his co-stars, who appeared alongside him on the panel. Firstly, he turned to Moffat, who has been head writer on the show since 2010: “He’s an incredibly gifted artist. The message of kindness comes from his heart.”

Capaldi went on to applaud Moffat’s influence in the casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor: “The creation of a female Doctor comes really from the creation of a female Master, played so beautifully by Michelle [Gomez, also present on the panel], who has delivered a multi-layered, sinister and fabulous performance, for which I’m deeply grateful.”

Then it was time for a tribute to Mackie: “Pearl has been an absolutely magnificent new contribution to the show. She’s stepped into this juggernaut that we have and brought us a real living character in Bill Potts, who has her feet on the ground and heart in the stars. Which is where we all want to be, right?”

Here's a highlight from today's @BBCAMERICA #DoctorWho panel at #SDCC in which Peter Capaldi takes a bow and gives a speech. pic.twitter.com/0gI8gh5DSW

— Doctor Who on BBC America (@DoctorWho_BBCA) July 24, 2017

Next, Capaldi turned to Lucas, who played Nardole in series 10: “Matt has come along and delivered a creation, a brand new thing: an alien being who is a sidekick who’s a little bit scary, a little bit funny and one that’s made a huge contribution to the show.

“He’s come into it with a huge generosity of spirit and kindness. This is a man who’s immensely famous, immensely talented and he stepped up to the plate in our show with humility and grace and made season 10 one of the most special seasons ever.”

Finally, Capaldi addressed Doctor Who writer and actor Mark Gatiss, who will appear in the Christmas special: “He’s a great friend, a great lover and supporter of Doctor Who.

“I know that sounds a bit odd that Doctor Who needs lovers and supporters, but this show hasn’t always enjoyed the success that it enjoys at the moment. It’s not always been the most popular show to hang your coat on. Mark has always been there for the show. He’s written the most fabulous episodes. I’m so thrilled that he was able to appear in the show and I was able to act with him.”

We already knew it from The Zygon Inversion, but boy, that Time Lord can deliver a speech.

Doctor Who will return this Christmas