The BBC has released a lot of photos this week in the run up to the launch of The Impossible Astronaut, the first episode of Doctor Who Series 6. Opening the season on Saturday April 23 on BBC and BBC America, the new photos (found at the bottom of this post) are mostly promotional character stills, which includes some images of a couple of new characters.

This season begins with a two-part adventure that concludes with episode 2, entitled Day of the Moon. Matt Smith returns as the Eleventh Doctor, as does Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams, and Alex Kingston as River Song. Both opening episodes were directed by Toby Haynes and written by showrunner Steven Moffat.

Doctor Who Series 6 will see the Doctor face off with a new group of villains, known only as The Silents, who are connected to the “Cracks in the Universe” and “Silence/Silents Will Fall” themes from last year’s season. The Impossible Astronaut appears to be their “weapon” in the first episodes; an unlikely person that will bring deadly consequences to one of the main heroes.

Check out the photos below.

Images