We’ve known for some time that Ncuti Gatwa would be the next Doctor. (He takes over after the 60th Anniversary specials featuring a returning David Tennant). Now we know who will be the plucky human who will get swept up on the trip of a lifetime.
Meet Millie Gibson.
Millie will be playing Ruby Sunday! (I guess her parents are Rolling Stones fans?) Ruby will join the series during the 2023 holiday season special when Gatwa’s Doctor officially gets his hands on the TARDIS dematerialization switch and gets to head off on his own adventures in the upcoming 14th season.
The announcement was teased by showrunner Russell T. Davies via social media. Like earlier announcements (Gatwa’s casting), he used some simple emojis to indicate the Doctor would be getting a new friend.
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Mille Gibson is known in the UK for her role as Kelly Neelan on the long-running soap opera Coronation Street. The 18-year-old actress received the Best Young Performer Award at The British Soap Awards earlier this year. Her other credits include dramas Butterfly, Love, Lies and Records, and Jamie Johnson.
Speaking of her new role, Millie Gibson says:
Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have travelled in before me. And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started.
Her Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, said:
Millie just is the companion. She is full of talent, strength, she has a cheeky sparkle in her eye and is sharp as a razor. From the moment she walked into the room she captured all of our attention with her effervescence and then solidified that attention with the sheer torque of her talent. This adventure is going to be so wild and so fun, I cannot WAIT to sail the universe with Millie!
Showrunner Russell T. Davies also sang the praises of the young actress:
It’s the great honour of my job to find the next generation of talent, and Millie shines like a star already. She’s brilliant, dynamic, clever and a wonderful actor. As a Coronation Street fan, I’ve seen Millie survive chases, guns and sieges, but that’s nothing compared to what lies ahead for Ruby Sunday.
Gibson and Gatwa join the program at a very exciting time. The show recently announced that the BBC and Disney Branded Television have joined forces to make Disney+ the new global home, outside of the UK and Ireland, for future seasons of Doctor Who. The streaming service is reportedly pouring lots of money into the series as the show heads off for another 60 years.
