Michelle Gomez is back as Missy (also known as The Master) in the new season premiere of Doctor Who this fall on BBC America. She joins Peter Capaldi for his second season as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. Gomez appeared last season on Doctor Who, which was the highest rated season ever on BBC America. Here's what the actress had to say in a statement about returning for Season 9:

"Things have been a little beige since I left Missy behind, so I'm delighted to be putting my lippie back on. I'm positively dying to see The Doctor again!"

The two-part episode, "The Magician's Apprentice" and "The Witch's Familiar", is written by the show's lead writer Steven Moffat, produced by Peter Bennett and directed by Hettie Macdonald ("Blink", the Hugo Award-winning Doctor Who episode). Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added his own statement:

"Everybody hide - Michelle Gomez as Missy was an instant hit last year, so she's straight back to plague the Doctor and Clara in the series opener. But what brings her back into their lives is the last thing they'd expect."

Following appearances in Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor", and last season's "Dark Water" and "Death in Heaven", Jemma Redgrave returns to the guest cast for the new season. Also guest starring in the season opener are Laurence Olivier Award nominee Kelly Hunter, Clare Higgins and Jaye Griffiths. Confirmed guest stars for the new season include Daniel Hoffmann-Gill, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Aaron Neil, India Ria Amarteifio, Joey Price, Dasharn Anderson, Harki Bhambra and Demi Papaminas. Doctor Who is a BBC Cymru Wales production for BBC One and a BBC America co-production.