John Simm
John Simm as the Master in "Doctor Who" bbc.co.uk

“Doctor Who” will be bringing back John Simm to play the Master for season 10. With the previous incarnation of Doctor’s archenemy appearing in an unknown number of episodes, how will this affect his current self, Missy (Michelle Gomez)?

“I can confirm that it’s true, thanks to the power of time travel, I’m back. It’s always a pleasure to work with this great team of people and I can’t wait for you all to see what the Master gets up to in the next series,” Simm said in a statement.

The Master is a renegade Gallifreyan Time Lord who was also the Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi) childhood friend. There have been eight incarnations of the Master so far, with Simm first playing the character in season 3’s “Utopia.” He was last seen in “The End of Time.” He then regenerated into a female body, Missy, who first appeared in season 8’s “Deep Breath.”

The confirmation did not specify how many episodes Simm would be in, if he would be in a multi-episode arc or just in one special. One thing is for sure, though: the Master and Missy will be appearing in at least one episode together.

“Nothing stays secret for long on ‘Doctor Who,’ but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see exactly what the Master is up to and how he makes his return to face the Doctor,” current showrunner Steven Moffat said. “It’s been a huge pleasure to have fan favourites John Simm and Michelle Gomez face to face in the same role! It’s not often you get to see a solo personality clash.”

It’s not unusual for a Time Lord/Lady to meet their past incarnations in one point in time. The Doctor himself has crossed paths with his former selves. The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) met the Fifth (Peter Davison) in a short scene in “Time Crash.” He also met his next incarnation, Eleven (Matt Smith), in the show’s 50th anniversary special “The Day of the Doctor.”

Meanwhile, Simm and Billie Piper, who played another “Doctor Who” favourite Rose Tyler, will be working together in the four-part UK TV thriller “Collateral.” The Master and Rose never on screen in the sci-fi show.

“Doctor Who” season 10 will premiere on April 15 in the UK. It will be shown in select cinemas on April 16 in Australia. Pearl Mackie and Matt Lucas, who play new companion Bill Potts and Nardole respectively, will be joining Twelve in his last season before his regeneration.

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