More than two decades since he last played the part, Eric Roberts is returning to the world of Doctor Who as The Master.

Roberts played the Doctor’s arch-nemesis in the 1996 TV movie opposite Paul McGann and is finally reprising the character in a new release from Big Finish.

And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Michelle Gomez will also appear as Missy, having made her exit from the television series last year.

Roberts and Gomez will star alongside Alex Kingston in audio drama box-set The Diary of River Song: Series 5, out in January 2019.

Kingston’s River will actually be facing off against four incarnations of The Master – with Derek Jacobi (who played the character on TV in 2007) and Geoffrey Beevers (who battled Tom Baker in the 1980s).

The Diary of River Song: Series 5 will be comprised of four stories: ‘The Bekdel Test’ by Jonathan Morris, ‘Animal Instinct’ by Roy Gill, ‘The Lifeboat and the Deathboat’ by Eddie Robson and ‘Concealed Weapon’ by Scott Handcock.

“It‘s a medley of Masters!” said producer David Richardson. “In previous box sets, River has been travelling back through the Doctor‘s incarnations. This time around she is meeting some of the Masters – and we have some amazing firsts in this box set!

“Yes, it‘s the first time Eric Roberts has returned to the role since the TV movie in 1996, and the first appearance of Michelle Gomez as Missy in a Big Finish production. With Derek Jacobi as the War Master and Geoffrey Beevers as the decayed Master, it‘s an unmissable line-up!“

The Diary of River Song: Series 5 is available for pre-order now at £23 on CD or £20 on download from bigfinish.com.