Supernatural’s Mark Sheppard will star in the new series of Doctor Who.

Sheppard, who plays the demon Crowley in the horror drama and has also appeared in Warehouse 13 and Battlestar Galactica, was due to attend ValleyCon36 last weekend, but had to pull out when he was offered a role in next year’s series of Doctor Who.

“We had just booked Mark’s airline tickets a week ago,” announced the event organisers in a statement. “Less than 12 hours later he got the dream job of any kid who grew up in England – and many kids here too. He landed a huge role in the new Dr. Who…”

Doctor Who is shooting in America in a Utah desert for the sixth series’ two-part opener. The Doctor, Amy and Rory travel to America in the late 1960s where they receive a secret summons to the Oval Office. It is believed that Sheppard will play a role in the opening episodes.

Doctor Who will next air on UK screens on BBC One, Christmas Day, before returning for its sixth season in spring 2011.

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