Launching in January 2016, Doctor Who: The Diary of River Song continues the adventures of the Doctor's wife and Time Lady adventuress; once again portrayed by Alex Kingston. Already announced is Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor; but today we're pleased to reveal other key names.

Opening the adventures will be Alexander Vlahos (Merlin, The Confessions of Dorian Gray) as Bertie, who will join River at an archeological dig in opening story The Boundless Sea, written by popular novelist Jenny T Colgan.

'Jenny has been on my writing wish-list for a while,' says script editor Matt Fitton, 'and she's created a funny, thrilling and scary adventure to kick start River's journey'.

From there, River heads to the most exclusive gathering in the middle of Hyperspace in Justin Richards' I Went to a Marvellous Party. There she meets Gifford (Alexander Siddig – Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Game of Thrones) and Isabella (Imogen Stubbs – Twelfth Night, Sense and Sensibility), a pair of socialites with connections to the mysterious Rulers of the Universe.

Next James Goss puts River on the trail of mysterious, planet-killing Spore Ships in Signs, where we are also introduced to a handsome time-travelling stranger  – her future husband Mr Song, played by Samuel West (Howard's End, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell, Doctor Who – Dimensions in Time).

The series concludes with the Eighth Doctor's arrival in The Rulers of the Universe by Matt Fitton. River must contend with a secret society, and a face off with an ancient alien force; with her future husband caught in the middle!

Doctor Who: The Diary of River Song is due for release in January 2016. Pre-order your copy today!

River Song will return in March 2016 in Doctor Who: Doom Coalition 2.