Joan Collins Set To Become ‘Who’ Villain

There seems to be a common theme running through the many rumors circulating about alleged casting calls for “Doctor Who’s” fourth season: villains.

From Britney Spears to Dennis Hopper, each report indicated that the series was looking for a big name for a terrifying adventure. Now it seems that the big name producers were hoping for has finally been found as British screen-legend Joan Collins sets out for an epic journey in time.

According to The News of the World newspaper, the 74-year-old actress has already agreed to a role on the series and will have her re-inventing a recognizable Gallifreyan villain from the classic series. This character is, of course, The Rani, a Time Lady from The Doctor's homeworld who has butted heads with The Doctor on two occasions in the past.

" The ‘Doctor Who’ team are delighted they've managed to sign Joan," a BBC insider told the newspaper. "It's a real coup. She's perfect for the role ... like Alexis Colby with a sonic screwdriver."

Collins’ casting of The Rani comes as a surprise considering that The Sun newspaper recently announced “Footballers' Wives” star Zoe Lucker was ready to walk away with the part. However, The Sun’s coverage of "Doctor Who" has been questionable this year with the paper churning out stories of cancellation, sackings and behind-the-scenes re-organization of the show's creative minds. The BBC has quickly denied many of those reports.

The Rani was originally introduced in "The Mark of the Rani" and was played by Kate O'Mara. The episode was also the debut episode of Colin Baker as The Doctor. Two years later in 1987, the character returned in "Time and the Rani" and then again for a 1993 "Children In Need" special.

Collins is best known to genre fans not as "that bitch from Dynasty," but as the sweet and kind Edith Keeler from the original "Star Trek" episode "City on the Edge of Forever." Collins has a connection to "Footballers," however, playing Eva de Wolffe in two episodes of the British series last year.

"Doctor Who" returns to BBC One in early 2008, with its annual Christmas special scheduled for Dec. 25. The third season is currently airing on SciFi Channel Friday nights at 8 ET in the United States.

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