Thirty-nine-year-old Tate, who is best known for a sketch show where she unleashed catchphrases such as "Am I bovvered?", said she was excited at her further adventures with the Doctor.

"I look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey," she said.

The 13-episode series will begin filming later this year to be broadcast next spring in the UK.

"We are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us," said Russell T Davies, Doctor Who’s head writer and executive producer.

Martha Jones, the doctor’s current assistant, will also reprise her role when she returns halfway through the new series.

Freema Agyeman, who plays Jones, originally won the role after she impressed Davies with a small role in the series two episode Army of Ghosts.