Doctor Who Series 6.2: Matt Smith Q&A

The Doctor is back this month, and he's got a huge task on his hands as he searches space and time for Amy and Rory Pond's missing baby, Melody. Oh, and if the first episode of the series was anything to go by, he's also likely to die at some point at the hands of a mysterious astronaut.

Here, show star Matt Smith tells us about his reaction to the River Song reveal, his joy on working with guest stars James Corden and David Walliams, and the smart new coat we've seen the Doctor sporting in the latest trailer.

How did you feel when you found out the truth about River Song?

"I thought it was brilliant because it's such a great science fiction pay-off. Steven Moffat set it up so well and it now leaves the story open to go in so many different directions. She's Amy and Rory's daughter which is mad, but yet brilliant, and it's going to be really interesting to see how the dynamic between all of the characters shifts."

What can we expect from River now?

"We get to learn a lot more about River in Let's Kill Hitler. She's on her best flirty form; the River I love! It's certainly Alex's episode and we had great fun filming the scenes, so hopefully we have some good on-screen chemistry."

What monsters can we expect to see in upcoming episodes?

"I think it's fantastic the way the show can tap into people's primal fears as children. Mark has come up with a really clever idea by featuring a dolls house with terrifying and creepy dolls – it's a brilliant adventure-packed episode and Danny Mays, who guest stars, is superb in it."

Who were your favourite guest stars in this series?

"James Corden reprises his role as Craig, who appeared in The Lodger last year. He's back in an episode which also features the Doctor's arch enemies, the Cybermen. We had such fun on set; it was hard to keep a straight face when we were filming. David Walliams was also hilarious. He plays a character called Gibbis and he had to wear a lot of prosthetics for the part. Once he was all made up he looked a lot like a giant Mole, so it was hard to take him seriously!"

So what's next for the Doctor?

"The Doctor died at the start of the series. He was shot in the future by someone in a space suit and, despite the adventures he goes on in these next few episodes, inevitably he's moving closer towards his own death. Amy, Rory and River are aware of his fate but they have no way of stopping it. I can't tell you what happens but Steven has set up an explosive finale."

Will we see the Stetson return?

"Yes, I can tell you the Stetson is back; I do love a good hat! The Doctor also has a new coat; a long green moleskin one. We always wanted the Doctor's outfit to evolve and the coat certainly kept me warm when filming during the winter. I still haven't lost my clumsy streak though. We were filming the final scenes last month in a cornfield and, needless to say, I was the one who tripped over and twisted my ankle!"

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on Sat 27 August.