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TheeighthserieshasbeenconfirmedtoairstartingonFriday6January2012onBBC1at9pm.HowevercreatorTonyJordanhassaidthatthiswillbethelastforatleastawhileandthelastwiththecurrentcast.GueststarsfeaturingthisseasonwillincludeSheilaHancock,MartinKempandPatersonJoseph.PeterPolycarpouandJohnBarrowmanhavealsorevealedonTwitterthattheywillhaveguestrolesinserieseight.ThiswillbethethirdseriestobefilmedinBirmingham,thefifthinHDandthefourthseriesfeaturingallofthecurrentcast.AdrianLesterisalsosettodirectanepisode,inwhichMickeyiskidnapped.Otherconswillseetheteamtakeontheworldofslimmingpillsandpulloffagoldheist.JaimeMurrayreprisedherroleforthefinalepisode.