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