After numerous denials, we finally have the first officially confirmed piece of news about the upcoming 50th Anniversary special of Doctor Who. As first reported by Blogtor Who as being revealed by this week’s Doctor Who magazine and later confirmed by the BBC, David Tennant and Billie Piper will reprise their roles as the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler for this fall’s Doctor Who 50th anniversary special.

The magazine and official confirmation also said that English film actor John Hurt would also have a role in the upcoming special. His part hasn’t been confirmed yet but early fan speculation is that he could take on the role of one of the first three Doctors, all of whom’s actors are deceased.

Rumours have been all over the board when it comes to casting the anniversary special. We’ve gone from there will be a special with all previous Doctors making an appearance to the special being just an ordinary episode of the show run as part of the fall 2013 series with none of the Doctor’s past incarnations taking part. It certainly looks like we’re getting something at least a little bit special for this anniversary.

It would have been a break from tradition if the BBC didn’t bring back some previous Doctors for an anniversary special. William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee reunited for The Three Doctors in 1973 which marked the 10th anniversary of the show and was the first proper Doctor Who special. The Doctor’s first four incarnations appeared alongside Fifth Doctor Peter Davison for The Five Doctors 20th anniversary special. (Okay, Tom Baker didn’t actually appear in that special but did appear in previously unaired archive footage.)

According to the BBC, the 50th Anniversary special will air (in 3D) on November 23rd of this year. Likely not coincidentally, the series premiere of Doctor Who was November 23, 1963. Makes sense that the episode would air then.