What can you say about John Hurt that hasn't already been said? Ian McKellen may have box office records, David Warner may have an unrivalled cult status, but surely it is John Hurt who has everything. He began his string of iconic roles back in the 70s, winning the first two of his four BAFTA awards for Midnight Express, and his highly celebrated portrayal of Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant. As if this wasn't enough, he ended the decade on a high with what is generally considered on screen Science Fiction's most memorable moment; as Kane in Alien, he was at the centre of the infamous "chestburster" scene. Since then he has appeared in the Oscar nominated The Elephant Man, pivotal dystopia 1984, comic adaptations Hellboy and V For Vendetta, and indie vampire film Only Lovers Left Alive. Surely there is no other actor that could have been cast, or whose name would have had such dramatic suspense, to fulfil the game changing season seven cliff hanger of appearing "as the Doctor". When it comes to movie stars in Doctor Who, it is more than fair to say that Moffat and co. have saved the best for last, although a more accurate description would merely be latest. As recently as just this week Zoe Saldana, no stranger to alien make-up having starred in Avatar and The Guardians Of The Galaxy, admitted she "would love it" if she appeared in the series. More impressive than even this though, Steven Moffat himself recently said that an episode directed by Peter Jackson "will probably happen" at some point. Whether these turn out to be, or are just a case of wishful thinking however, it's fair to say that the calibre of stars who have been appearing in the show has been getting bigger and better in recent years, and there don't seem to be any signs of this trend abating any time soon. As such we can only sit back and wait for any number of surprise guests in season 8...
