Doctor Who fans will be wondering what lurks within, after a mysterious picture of a monster from the new series was unveiled.

The Time Lord and his companion Clara, played by Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, are set to find out if this ominous villain’s bite is worse than its box when the BBC sci-fi show returns to screens later this year.

The Doctor will encounter this creature in the new series (BBC)
The Doctor will encounter this creature in the new series (BBC)

The ninth series of Doctor Who is due to air in the autumn, with Michelle Gomez returning as The Doctor’s arch-enemy Missy, and Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams set to make a cameo.

Executive producer Steven Moffat recently said the show will remain on screen for at least another five years.

The BBC One sci-fi drama has celebrated its 10th anniversary since its relaunch in 2005.

Steven told Doctor Who Magazine that he expects the show to “do a minimum of 15″ years in total, but it could go on for even longer.

“I thought it would last 10 years … It’s going to do a minimum of 15. I mean, it could do 26!”