Kylie confirms 'Doctor Who' role

[Luna]

Kylie Minogue has confirmed that she will be appearing in an episode of Doctor Who.

Rumours that the Australian pop star was being lined up to play a "sexy Cyberwoman" in this year's Christmas special first hit the tabloids last month.

Asked by InStyle magazine if the reports were true, Kylie replied: "Yes. My gay husband [her stylist, William Baker] is so excited about it! But I'm not going to play a villain."

[Abi]

http://www.gallifreyone.com/images/news/davidkylie.jpg
Confirming long-standing rumors in the British tabloid press, Australian Pop princess Kylie Minogue will join the Doctor in the 2007 Christmas Special, Voyage of the Damned, according to a press release issued this evening on Minogue's official website and now corroborated by the official Doctor Who website.

The 39-year-old actress and singer will have a "major lead role" in the hour-long special, says Minogue's website, which Tuesday morning's edition of The Sun identifies as a waitress aboard the RMS Titanic. Minogue's official site notes that "The production team has also confirmed that the storyline will follow on directly from the ending of series three where viewers witnessed The Titanic crash through the Tardis walls..."

Minogue has one of the longest and most successful careers as a performer in contemporary pop music, and in Europe and Australia she has become one of her generation's most recognisable celebrities and sex symbols. Says Minogue, "It is an incredible thrill to be joining David and the entire Dr Who production for this year's Christmas special. Dr Who enjoys a unique history and it is going to be very exciting to be a part of that."

The episode has been written by Doctor Who's executive producer and head writer Russell T Davies, who noted that "We are delighted and excited to announce that Kylie Minogue will be joining the Doctor. Doctor Who Christmas specials are always a joy and we feel very confident that this will be the most ambitious and best Christmas episode yet."

The news was originally embargoed by BBC press until midnight Monday night; such sites as Digital Spy and the Daily Mail reported the story before pulling it off their feeds later. Sites later began reprinting the article as of the embargo deadline.

Update: BBC News are now reporting the news as the main story in its entertainment section. There is also a video report by arts correspondent David Sillito.

Photo at right: David Tennant with Kylie Minogue, released by BBC Pictures. Photo copyright © Darenote Ltd., used solely for publicity purposes.