Ingrid Oliver, Doctor Who Series 9 (Picture BBC)

The BBC announced on Friday that Moffat is brining back UNIT scientist Osgood, played by Ingrid Oliver, back from the dead for Series 9. 

In the Series 8 finale ‘Death in Heaven,’ Osgood was killed by Missy (Michelle Gomez). Executive producer Steven Moffat says that in a show about time travel, anything is possible.

“Osgood is back, fresh from her recent murder at the end of last series. We recently confirmed that Osgood was definitely dead and not returning – but in a show about time travel, anything can happen. The brilliant Ingrid Oliver is back in action. This time though, can the Doctor trust his number one fan?”

Oliver commented on Osgood’s return: “As every actor who’s worked on ‘Doctor Who’ will tell you, there’s always the secret hope you’ll get the call asking you to come back. To actually receive that call is both unexpected and brilliant. The word ‘honour’ gets banded about a lot, but it really is, it’s an honour. Especially because I was so sure Osgood was a gonner after the last series!”

Also returning to Doctor Who are the Zygons, the shape-shifting race first introduced in 1975’s ‘Terror of the Zygons’ and last featured in the 50th anniversary special, ‘The Day of the Doctor’.

Osgood and the Zygons will return for a new two-part episode written by ‘Kill The Moon’ writer, Peter Harness. The two-part episode is currently being filmed in Cardiff and is produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Daniel Nettheim. Will feature a guest cast including Jaye Griffiths, Cleopatra Dickens, Sasha Dickens, Abhishek Singh, Todd Kramer, Jill Winternitz, Nicholas Asbury, Jack Parker and Aidan Cook.

‘Doctor Who’ Series 9 will return to BBC One this autumn.