Hi, this is my first new topic so be gentle.

What if the mysterious old friend with a new face was Susan? We know Gaiman said he was inspired by Who's roots for this episode and in the next time trailer we saw some kind of freeky body swap moment where the doctor went all weird and walked off saying your not my mother. Is this the sort of thing you'd say to your grandfather if he tried to discipline you?

Just a thought, probably way off!

I wonder though if this was in reply to Idris' line

It's a possibility but I doubt it. I think it would be too big a character to bring back for a one-off episode.
This "old friend" line is the one thing from the interview which really stood out for me. I think the important thing is whether they are from the old or new series. I might have expected them to use a character that had been mentioned so that the majority of viewers aren't confused but from what Gaiman was saying it sounds like they are from the classic series. Personally I'd like another link between the two eras but my knowledge of old characters is not complete!

Could maybe be an 'old friend' of the Drs who we have never seen on screen?

There was a recent interview with Suranne Jones which even though it covered a few words with ****** made it pretty clear who Idris is.

And it's not Susan.

I posted this elsewhere but what the heck...

In 1969, shortly after the Apollo 11 moon landing, Colonel Gaddafi gained power by deposing Libya's monarch - King Idris.

Spooky or what?

I read the interview that I think you mean and it wasn't obvious to me, am I being blonde?

I don't have a clue who it is either but I am guessing its a male character that regenerates into the female Idris we see in the trailers.

I have drawn that conclusion from this...

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/05/07/doct...-free-preview/

"There’s something in the pre-credit teaser that settles an argument that’s been raging in fandom for some time"

I may be wrong, infact I hope I am as I hate that idea but I reckon this is the case.

Link don't work

Try this

http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/05/07/doct...-free-preview/

I thought this line was in reference to the Ood, but I could be wrong...

Just looked at the Interview again and they've removed whole paragraphs now so they must have thought it gave too much away.

"An old friend with a new face" - I just assumed that meant Borrowman's had more Botox.

But seriously folks - "old", "friend" and "face" could point to a cat lover with body odour - or something.