Doctor Who boss Steven Moffat has been discussing this week’s return of an alien race from the ’classic’ era ahead of the Series 10 debut.

The opening episode, The Pilot (written by Moffat), sees an appearance from one of the Daleks’ greatest foes, the Movellans.

Talking to Doctor Who Magazine 511, the showrunner said:

“It was actually Mark Gatiss who said, ‘Ooh, make them Movellans. That would be funny,’ so I said, ‘Okay, they’re Movellans.’

They’re dirtier and more frightened than the ones we saw in Destiny, so I set it long ago in the past, when they might have been slightly more human Movellans. It’s the way that kind of continuity should work: it’s a fleeting moment that doesn’t impede the story, while giving a little moment of pleasure to the long-term fan.”

Their only on-screen story came in 1979’s four-part adventure with the Fourth Doctor and Romana, Destiny of the Daleks. The two races had been locked in a brutal war until the return of Davros though, according to 1984’s Resurrection of the Daleks, Skaro’s finest lost that particular war to the Movellans.

However, don’t get too excited for their return as Steven warns, “blink and you’ll miss ’em in the actual episode.”

Watch the return of the Movellans from April 15, 2017 in Doctor Who Series 10, The Pilot with new companion Bill joining the Twelfth Doctor and Nardole.

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