Miriam Margoyles joins Doctor Who as the voice of infamous comics character The Meep

We've known for a while now that fondly-remembered Doctor Who comics character Beep the Meep is making the leap from page to screen for the sci-fi show's upcoming 60th anniversary. Now it's finally been revealed who will be voicing the cute little critter: Miriam Margolyes.

The veteran actor will appear in The Star Beast, the first of three special episodes starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. Her character - now seemingly simply known as The Meep - was created in 1980 in Doctor Who and the Star Beast, a comic strip for Doctor Who Weekly, written by Pat Mills and John Wagner, and drawn by Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons.

Margolyes said, with typically amusing candour, "I'm relieved I got to work on Doctor Who before I died. With sci-fi you never know. Thank you for making an old woman very happy."

Possible Doctor Who anniversary spoilers ahead

In the original strip Beep is the leader of the Meeps - a once peaceful race who have now turned nasty. Beep's cutesy outside appearance masks a malevolent streak and a cunning intellect.

We already know that his enemies from the comic, The Wrarth Warriors, will also be making an appearance in the episode - they're the bug looking creatures in the trailer - and it will be interesting to see if the rest of The Star Beast is a direct remake of the classic comic.

There's no word as of yet on exactly when the new episode will air, though sometime in November is a safe bet. Until then, you can read Doctor Who and the Star Beast in the Iron Legion trade paperback, published by Panini.

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