BBC has confirmed that British actress Millie Gibson will play Ruby Sunday, the Doctor's (Ncuti Gatwa) new companion in the next season of Doctor Who. She'll make her debut in the series "over the festive season in 2023" when the Fifteenth Doctor board the TARDIS for the first time.
Best known for starring in British soap opera Coronation Street, Gibson won an award for "Best Young Performer" at The British Soap Awards earlier this year, and has also previously appeared in Butterfly and Love, Loves and Records. However, this is by far her biggest role to date and, with Doctor Who heading to Disney+ in the U.S., she'll soon be shot into superstardom.
"Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion," the actress says. "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."
Gatwa, meanwhile, adds: "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!"
Returning showrunner Russell T Davies has also weighed in by saying, "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."
While many of you will be unfamiliar with Gibson, she's one heck of a talent and this is a huge break for the up-and-coming actress.
New episodes of Doctor Who will return to screens in November 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary. David Tennant will play the Fourteenth Doctor for three specials next year, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Check out a first look at Gibson as Ruby Sunday below.