Doctor Who Heads to the U.S.

LONDON: Season six of the BBC’s Doctor Who opens with a two-parter co-produced with BBC America and shot in Utah, the British broadcaster has announced.

Penned by Steven Moffat, the episodes feature a story line set in the late ’60s, with the Doctor, Amy and Rory on a secret summons that takes them on an adventure from the desert in Utah right to the Oval Office itself. Cast members Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will head to the U.S. in mid-November to shoot key scenes.

"The Doctor has visited every weird and wonderful planet you can imagine, so he was bound get round to America eventually!," said Moffat, showrunner and lead writer. "And of course every Doctor Who fan will be jumping up and down and saying he’s been in America before. But not for real, not on location, and not with a story like this one! Oh, you wait!"

Piers Wenger, head of drama at BBC Wales and executive producer, added: "Steven’s scripts generally inspire us to go that extra mile—this time we’re going that extra four thousand. Thanks to our friends at BBC America and to the continuing ambition of our lead writer and production team, the first two episodes of Matt Smith’s second series as the Doctor are going global and look set to become Doctor Who‘s most action-packed and ambitious season opener yet."

The new season kicks off on BBC One in spring 2011, with the second half of the season airing in the fall.