Part of Block one. Filmed in January 2014

The BBC has today confirmed the much-anticipated eighth series of the hit sci-fi drama Doctor Who will land on BBC One on Saturday 23 August, 2014.

The feature-length premiere episode entitled “Deep Breath” will see Peter Capaldi take on one of TV’s most iconic roles as the Twelfth Doctor, alongside Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara.

An exclusive 15-second TV teaser showing a first-look glimpse of the new Doctor and Clara aired this evening on BBC One at 8.00pm confirming the date, and can be seen here.

BBC Worldwide is delighted to announce that the first episode of Doctor Who Series 8 - Peter Capaldi’s debut season in the iconic role - will be screened in cinemas around the world from 23 August 2014.

This year’s screenings follow the success of the global cinema release of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor which was screened in over 1500 cinemas around the world, allowing fans to come together to watch the show like never before.

Doctor Who makes a spectacular return to the big screen in the feature-length premiere episode of Series 8; Deep Breath. Directed by acclaimed Director Ben Wheatley (Sightseers, A Field in England) and written by Lead Writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat, the beginning of the Twelfth Doctor’s era stars Peter Capaldi as the Doctor, Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald and sees the return of fan favourites The Paternoster Gang - Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart) and Strax (Dan Starkey) – in a pulse-racing adventure through Victorian London.

Steven Moffat comments, "Last November the Doctor didn't just conquer the world on television, he did it in the cinemas too. And like the show-off he is, he can't resist another go - one taste of the silver screen is never enough. On August 23rd the new Doctor will begin his new adventures on BBC One and in cinemas all over the world. Movie-land beware - Capaldi is coming to get you!"

Doctor Who: Deep Breath will be screened in participating cinemas around the world from 23 August, 2014. More information will be released by BBC Worldwide and participating cinema chains over the coming weeks. For all of the latest information please visit doctorwho.tv/watch/cinema. For information on all Doctor Who events and products visit doctorwho.tv and sign up for the newsletter

In an explosive return to the UK from their world tour, the Doctor, Peter Capaldi, and his companion Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman, made a surprise appearance this morning at the site of a specially constructed crash-landed TARDIS on London’s Parliament Square.

Ahead of the eighth series, returning to BBC One this weekend, the theme of the crashed time machine was in keeping with the feature-length opening episode, entitled Deep Breath, which sees the Doctor arrive in Victorian London to find a dinosaur rampant in the Thames and a spate of deadly spontaneous combustions.

In front of the TARDIS and through the debris of dinosaur bones, the show’s transmission date can be seen emblazoned in the grass: Saturday 23 August. Deep Breath airs at 7.50 PM.

The Doctor has proven himself on the big screen, breaking box office records once again for the BBC AMERICA and Fathom Events special theatrical showing of the hit series with “Doctor Who Season Premiere: Deep Breath.” According to Rentrak, the theatrical event on August 25screened in more than 650 theaters nationwide ranked No. 1 at the box office compared to all other films that Monday night.

In addition, “Doctor Who Season Premiere: Deep Breath” stands as the No. 1 alternative content event in U.S. theaters this year.

“Doctor Who continues to grow in the U.S. and it is thrilling to see the fans come out for the theatrical screening experience as we’ve embarked on new adventures with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor,” states Soumya Sriraman, BBC Worldwide North America’s EVP Home Entertainment and Licensing. “We’ve enjoyed partnering with Fathom Events and our accomplishment in the box office is a testament to the successful collaboration between our two companies.”

“To say we are extremely pleased with the performance of the ‘Doctor Who Season Premiere’ event in cinemas would be an understatement,” Fathom Events CEO John Rubey said. “The fact that it did so well compared to top summer blockbusters shows that this series continues to inspire a dedicated and passionate fan following. We look forward to partnering with on future events to bring audiences more of the programs they love and want to experience in theaters together.”