It’s been a while, but Doctor Who is resurrecting the three-parter for Peter Capaldi’s final series aboard the TARDIS.

New monsters The Monks were previously confirmed to be appearing in several episodes across series 10 – now Gallifreyan Newsroom can confirm that a trio of adventures (episodes 6-8) in the new series are linked.

Toby Whithouse, who’s written the concluding chapter, revealed: “Mine is the third part of a three-parter – Steven [Moffat]’s done the first one, Peter Harness did the second and I’ve done the third.

“It’s set modern-day… and I think anything more than that and Steven will come round and kick me in the shin!”

The Doctor, Nardole (Matt Lucas) and new companion Bill will all face the Monks – with Whithouse telling us that actress Pearl Mackie is not just “terrific” but also “very different to previous companions”.

“She has very good comic timing,” he said. “And there’s a lovely chemistry between her and Peter.”

The Monks are – it appears – a new threat in a series that features more than a few old threats returning to menace the Doctor.

The Daleks, the Ice Warriors, Missy (Michelle Gomez), and the Cybermen – the original 1960s vintage – will all be back… but will it be one of them that sets off the Doctor’s latest regeneration?

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on Saturday, April 15.