What’s in store for the good Doctor this season? Big changes — especially to the relationship between lovable red-head companion Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and The Doctor (Matt Smith), according to Doctor Who director Toby Haynes, who along with writer Neil Gaiman and actor Mark Sheppard participated in a panel this weekend at WonderCon 2011.

Haynes is the director of the Season 6 premiere episode “The Impossible Astronaut” as well as the second part “Day of the Moon,” but fans may recall his previous directorial credits, which include “The Pandorica Opens” and “A Christmas Carol.”

During the panel the audience was shown a clip from the opener that contained a scene with Sheppard’s character former FBI agent Denver (an American for those wondering) speaking with President Richard Nixon. Haynes said the President needed someone for a special mission who was outside of the government’s watchful eyes, but still trained in their ways. The conversation between Nixon and Denver happens on the phone, where the President tells him about the mission and that Denver is his second choice. Denver response: “That’s all right. You were my second choice for President.” River Song (Alex Kingston) then briefs The Doctor and crew on Denver and his mission.

Check out the embedded videos of the panel below from Geeks of Doom’s YouTube channel.

Videos