It’s time to set your alarms for Doctor Who | Series 15
It’s time to set your alarms! The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) is on his way back to your screens, this time with a new addition to the TARDIS, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) as season 15 of Doctor Who premieres on 12 April 2025 on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).
Audiences join The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) on an epic quest to get Belinda back to Earth.
But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-travelling TARDIS team must face great dangers, ferocious enemies and wilder terrors than ever before.
Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor)
Looking back on your first year as the Doctor, what have been the most surprising or defining moments for you in the role?
Certainly the first scenes shot in the interior of the TARDIS. It just felt so epic and monumental to be at the helm of that console which has been going for 60 years.
I’d also say that first club scene when Ruby sees the Doctor for the first time, because I’d never seen anything like that on Doctor Who before. It felt very much like Russell was ushering in a new era for the show, and it felt very much like an opportunity to put my stamp on the character. It was nice to see the beginning sparks of the new Doctor and companion relationship. I’d say that was one of the defining moments for me. Plus, any scene I did with Bonnie Langford was incredibly defining for the show – I think I’m like her Fourth Doctor, so I’m really part of the canon now.
Also, I guess the scope of the show. Going out to America to do the press tour, I was very surprised at how much it has a fanbase there and a fanbase everywhere. Whenever you are in America and you hear an American voice talk about Doctor Who, it’s always kind of confusing. So that is really cool.
And just the immediate reception and love that each new Doctor gets as soon as they’re cast is a lovely thing to walk into.
Going into the second season, will we see any new sides to the Doctor / is there anything new you’re bringing to the role?
Yes, we saw a little bit of it in Joy To The World. I think there are a couple of moments when he gets quite mean in order to achieve the greater good.
There are moments when you see darker elements of the Doctor or his more vindictive elements, which was exciting because I hadn’t seen that before, or that the Doctor has that in him. Of course, we know them as a hero and a good guy, but the Doctor is a humanoid lifeform and therefore a complex emotional being who has dark elements to them as well. It’s interesting to play with that this season.
Where do we find the Doctor at the beginning of the season?
We find the Doctor in a hospital searching for his companion, he’s alone but he’s got a mission. He just left Bethlehem, as you do, and he’s had this beautiful journey with Anita and Joy whereby he learnt a lot about himself and notices he’s a lonely character – so he’s on a search for a new friend and companion.
This season introduces viewers to a new companion, Belinda Chandra played by Varada Sethu. What was it like stepping on set with Varada for the first time?
It was really weird stepping onto set for the first time with Varada because she had been on the Doctor Who set before, and we had spent like a month or two months working together. So, it felt weirdly familiar. We also got on really well when we first worked together.
It was exciting as well, I felt a bit like a kid – you know when you show your friend your favourite film and you talk all the way throughout it telling them ‘This is going to happen’ and ‘This is going to happen’, so it felt like that – it was a very excitable time.
It was such an excitable energy in the air from everyone, everyone was excited by this fresh energy to enter the Whoniverse and she smashed it.
What can fans expect from the dynamic between the Doctor and Belinda? How is this relationship different (or similar) from his relationship with Ruby Sunday?
I think the viewers can expect to see the Doctor challenged by Belinda in a way that he hasn’t been before. He’s very used to sort of charming his way out of anything and getting what he wants, but Belinda doesn’t want to be in a spaceship with him – she wants to go home and be on Earth and get to her shift, and has no interest in exploring the universe with a madman that breaks all his promises.
So, I guess it’s different from Ruby because Belinda has accumulated more responsibilities throughout her life. She’s at the stage in her life where she has responsibilities, and isn’t interested in flying around the universe. It’s an interesting dynamic.
It starts quite push and pull. I think with Ruby and the Doctor it was like two magnets attracted to each other, and this one is like they’re trying to figure each other out. The amount the Doctor learns from Belinda about himself, and the less desirable qualities about himself, actually helps him to grow. Each companion helps the Doctor to grow, but this one is in a very different way because he’s learning about the sides of him that aren’t great.
What new outfits can we expect the Doctor to wear this season, and what were some of your favourite looks?
You can expect the Doctor to pay homage to an actor who plays his roots! [Laughs] He’s in a kilt this season which is very exciting.
You can expect a different look every episode this year, one that is as always very suited for his adventures. It’s really interesting to see what each costume brings out of you as an actor and how it informs the story, so it was nice to continue that fashion journey with the Doctor.
This season has some great guest stars. What can you tell us about working with them?
Rylan! Rylan is a great actor and took me by surprise. He just absolutely gave his heart and soul to it, and I was shocked to discover he is a huge Whovian. He is the loveliest, loveliest, loveliest man, his energy stayed on set for a little while, everyone kind of felt the love for Rylan, so it was really nice to work with him.
Rose (Ayling-Ellis)… It was brilliant to work with Rose and amazing to learn British Sign Language. I was very much struck by how much of a better way it is to communicate. It feels so much more heartfelt and emotive and expressive. She is so hilarious and talented and brilliant.
Jonah (Hauer-King) was a real pleasure to work with and again the loveliest loveliest boy. Everyone who has joined this season – and there are still some surprises to come – have been great.
Without giving too much away, can you share a few hints about what fans can expect from season two?
This season is so exciting because they go to places on Earth that we haven’t seen the Doctor go to before. There are plot points and journeys in this season that are very intrinsic to the Fifteenth Doctor’s iteration. There are layers peeled back from the Doctor and his life, both the Doctor as a whole’s life and Fifteen.
Do you have a favourite location that the Doctor visits this season?
I did and that was Lagos, Nigeria. It’s where he goes to get his haircut, which is also my favourite thing to do!
It was exciting because it is a very new part of Doctor Who lore. It’s ironic that we have a character that is an alien, and him and his spaceship are able to mould into any time and place everywhere and blend in seamlessly. But I guess Fifteen, Thirteen and the Fugitive Doctor are three Doctors who can’t do that. So this is a relatively new experience for the Doctor to not just blend in everywhere. So story wise, that was very interesting for me to portray going to Nigeria because that’s somewhere on Earth where he feels more at home. Also, the TARDIS in Africa is a great thing.
If you could describe season two in one word, what would it be?
Revealing…
Are there any big shocks in the season?
There are big shocks, yes – and I cant tell you any, you’ll just have to watch and see…
Is this season scary? Which monster or villain did you find the scariest?
I think this season is scarier than last season. There is a chilling quality that runs across the whole season, it feels more psychologically chilling. I would say my favourite monster is the one from The Well. It’s like a psychological thriller
Is there a certain message that you hope viewers take away from this season?
Yes, a work life balance is important as we see through the wonderful character of Belinda Chandra! [Laughs].
Audiences can watch season one and two of Doctor Who on BBC and BBC iPlayer in the UK and stream it on Disney+ across the globe (where available). How excited are you for global audiences to be able to see more of the Doctor’s adventures?
I am so excited for the global audience to be a part of the Doctor’s adventures, because they are epic! It’s a show like none other in the world, so everyone in the world should watch this one. There is something for everybody. The variety of places the Doctor goes allows for the bringing in of new audiences and communities across the globe.
I’m excited for the world to see our wee British show that is brilliant, I am excited for them to see the work we do here in Cardiff, Wales.
Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra)
How did you react when you found out you got the role of Belinda, the Doctor’s new companion?
I literally couldn’t believe it, especially as I’d already been in ‘Boom’ in the previous season, I just thought it was a closed door. I didn’t think there was any chance that they’d call me back, so it was a total surprise! I was so happy to be back on set and to have the opportunity to work with Millie, Ncuti and the team again. I love them so much, there’s such a beautiful family atmosphere.
You previously played Mundy Flynn in Boom, did you know that you were going to go on to play Belinda and if not how did you find out?
I had no idea! I didn’t know that Doctor Who had a history of actors that are companions who have played another role in a previous episode, so in my mind I just thought it was completely off the table. I had filmed Boom in early 2023 and then did my own thing for a good seven, eight months and then around October I got a call to ask to possibly meet for a conversation about maybe being the companion. It was all so vague. So, I went into the meeting with Russell and Jane Tranter and pretty quickly realised it’s not an audition. They were pitching it to me, I didn’t have to sell myself in any way!
Have you spoken to any past companions about the role and did they give you any advice?
I spoke to Millie, of course. And Mandip Gill reached out as well. I think the general consensus is that it’s an intense, mad job, but to just lean into it and have as much fun as possible. And I think honestly that’s the best advice, it is fast-paced and demanding and at times, overwhelming but you’re going to have a lot of fun if you lean into it.
How would you describe Belinda and is there any connection to Mundy?
Belinda is quick-witted, brave and independent, and is very rooted in her own values and beliefs. In that sense, she is kind of similar to Mundy – she isn’t afraid to stand up to the Doctor. They’re genetically linked thousands of years apart, and it adds another layer to why Belinda is so special to the Doctor, but you’ll have to watch to find out more.
What has it been like working with Ncuti?
It has been one of my best parts of the job. It is a privilege to be working with someone so talented, so dynamic, so caring and supportive, AND funny! Can’t forget funny. There’s no end of compliments I could give him. I absolutely love working with him and I think he brings an energy to the Doctor that is so vibrant. As an actor opposite that, you simply have to match it, you have to level up your own game and so I feel like it brought out the best in me. I’m so grateful for that.
How would you describe the relationship between the Doctor and Belinda this season?
I would describe it as a deeply loving and healthy relationship. I love that they’re two very strong and individual people. They really care about each other, they’re protective of each other, they care about others, they’re both very selfless and I feel like their value systems align with each other. They’re truly equals. I think that’s what makes their friendship so beautiful, and why they make such a great team.
Why do you think audiences love the series so much?
I think people love it because, what’s there not to love? There’s a character who is shape-shifting and evolving constantly. I love that there’s a common thread that weaves through all the Doctors, but at the same time, you’re in a different time, on a different planet, dealing with different monsters and all sorts of adversities each time. I love that there’s a core message of leading with love and compassion, and that there’s an epic lore that stretches on for years and years, but at the same time, it can never get old because there’s something new and refreshed every single episode.
Without giving it too much away what can we expect from this upcoming season? And also, is there a favourite location that the Doctor and Belinda visit as well?
Oh, there’s so much going on! So many fantastic locations and guest artists. The Doctor and Belinda go to 1950s Miami – that is probably one of my favourite episodes, facing off a cartoon monster voiced by the inimitable Alan Cumming. And then there’s the spectacular Interstellar Song Contest, with the hilarious Rylan Clark hosting. I’m so excited to see what fans make of it.
If you could travel in the TARDIS to any time or place in the universe, where would you go and why?
I think I would go to some beautiful abandoned place, like an untouched Galapagos Island, maybe in the 1400s.
If you could describe season two in one word or a phrase what would it be?
I think I’d say it’s unpredictable. There’s twists and turns constantly, and you really don’t know where they’re going to land or who they’re going to run into on their journey home!
How excited are you for global audiences to meet Belinda and watch her adventures with the Doctor?
I am so excited! One of the things that surprised me since joining the Whoniverse was how much of a following it has outside of the UK. I had always assumed it was just a quintessentially British show that was celebrated among us mainly. But it’s been so beautiful to see how people all around the world have connected over Doctor Who, it truly is universal.
Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood)
Welcome back to the Whoniverse. How have you found the experience of playing the mysterious Mrs Flood so far?
I’ve absolutely loved it. When Russell asked me to come on board, he said I can have some fun with it, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. It’s been fantastic!
Have you met many fans since you’ve appeared in the series?
Yes, because I’ve gone along to a couple of Comic Cons where you do the signings, and so there’s lots of Doctor Who fans there, and they’re all lovely. I mean, it just seems as if, because the show’s such fun to do, the fans are fun to be around. It’s very good, yes.
The funny thing was, right at the beginning, when I did the first couple of Comic Cons, they would obviously keep saying, “Who is she? where did she come from?” And even I didn’t know, so I could say with complete truth from us, “I haven’t got a clue.”
Have you seen anyone dressed up as you?
Not as me, no. But my husband did walk in one day wearing a Mrs. Flood t -shirt. And I said, “Where did you get that?” He said, “Somebody gave it to me.” And my godson also, he’s found a couple of things like little beanie hats and odd little bits and pieces that people are customising to make their own, so it’s quite lovely.
How was it getting back into Mrs Flood’s shoes for season two?
Well, that was very exciting because a little way in, I’d had the script, so I knew what was happening. So, it was very exciting to come back and know that there’s going to be some kind of climax, and it was good fun and the readthrough was really exciting as well.
What can we expect from this season, and do you have any highlights from filming?
I think from this season there’s a couple of new characters coming in so that’ll be quite exciting for the fans and just generally you watch it take a slightly different course to what you’d expected, which is what Russell is brilliant at. You think you’ve got it down and then suddenly he throws a curveball and you think, “oh! we’re going there now” and that’s exciting. I tell you one thing though; I was absolutely blown away the first time I actually went on set and saw the TARDIS. I was amazed. It is stunning, I tell you, the sets are magnificent.
Will we see more of Mrs Flood this time around?
Well, she generally is the kind of character that pops in and out, bit like a little animal. She is just sort of there, maybe briefly but maybe not, and you don’t know when she’s going to appear or why? So, I think you will see a bit more of her popping in and out, but in different amounts if you like. As the course of the series goes on, she’s around a little bit more.
Without giving too much away, will we discover more about Mrs Flood?
By the end of this season, you will know a lot more about her than you have up to now. That’s all I can say about it, but yes, you’ll know much more, and you’ll get an inkling of what she possibly could be, though nothing is set in stone with Doctor Who. You will have a much more of an idea of what kind of creature or person she is.
If you could travel in the TARDIS to any time or place in the universe, where would you go and why?
Oh, that’s a tough one, really. I do quite like being born in this particular century, but I think that’s the joy of the TARDIS and Doctor Who, that he goes to different places. So, if I could go to different places, I’d like to go back to the Victorian times because I love the costumes and everything. I would just like to pop in and submerge myself in the culture and the clothes. I mean, I’m a terrible clothes queen. So, I’d love to go back and actually just look at the styles and the way people were, and the different attitudes to life that they had. Obviously back in the Victorian times, women didn’t have the freedom that they’re starting to have a bit more of now. So yeah, that would fascinate me. Different kind of eras for culture, clothing, music and just a way of life.
If you could describe season two, what would it be?
Exciting. It really took me by surprise and I think people won’t be expecting it.
Russell T Davies (Showrunner)
What can viewers expect from season two, what was your vision?
The vision is to be bigger, and brighter, and bolder than ever. There are some darker swings in this season but some bolder swings as well. There’s an Interstellar Song Contest; that’s possibly the biggest and maddest thing we’ve ever done! It’s absolutely gorgeous. The joy of Doctor Who is that it’s different every single week. People keep on saying to me, “what’s different about season two?” And that’s the point of the show, it’s designed to be different each week and we’re leaning into that.
There are hostile planets – more hostile than ever – the Interstellar Song Contest has got more aliens than we’ve ever had. We keep learning on this job, we keep enjoying it more and more, loving the show, and pushing it further. There’s lots more energy, lots more scares, lots more thrills and lots more laughs as well. It’s a more grandiose series, and we’re very proud of it.
In season one, we had the theme of finding Ruby’s birth mother. Is there a theme in season 15?
Yes, the theme is “get Belinda home”! Surviving the first episode is a bit of an ordeal for her, but once that happens it’s a very unusual story in that the Doctor can’t get her home – specifically to the 24th May 2025, 7.30am in the morning… And, the reason for that is something very important that runs across the series. You can still watch every single episode, completely unencumbered by that knowledge. It doesn’t stop you enjoying every week’s episode as an anthology series but nonetheless – why can’t the Doctor get Belinda home? What is happening? What force is working against them. Is it to do with her? Is it to do with him? Is it something on that date? We are heading towards the transmission of an episode on the 24th May 2025 – that’s the exciting thing – that’s part one of the season finale.
Belinda has a mum and dad who she loves very much. Her dad is a taxman, her mum’s a violinist and that’s a life she wants to get back to. Of course, it has to be said, within this space of one journey to Miami, she’s also loving being on board the TARDIS because I think it would be strange for her to not love what the Doctor does, and to love his character as well. So, she’s very quickly enamoured by the whole setup. Nonetheless, she’s got very strong reasons for getting back.
Varada is absolutely wonderful and was obviously in the show last year (Boom, written by Steven Moffat) and we loved her so much. We went to audition for Belinda and we went to a lot of people and saw some really great names and, at the same time every day, we were still working on Season One. As I watched another edit of Boom – I must see an episode about 50 times by the time I’m finished – and every single viewing I was more and more impressed by her, and then suddenly, like a light in my head, I went, ‘oh, why don’t we just bring her back?’ Doctor Who’s been doing that for many, many years – finding actors that we like and bringing them back again. So, I sent everyone an email, and everyone just said yes straight away, all the way up to the heads of the BBC and Disney+ because they all adored her. It was one of the easiest decisions we’ve ever had.
What can you tell us about the dynamic between the Doctor and Belinda?
She’s tougher with him than Ruby was. Ruby was younger, and Ruby was also looking for a family and a more exciting life. Finding the TARDIS fitted her exactly and we’re coming back to that story, because of course Ruby’s returning, but for Belinda it’s more of a life interruption and “how dare he have the nerve to do this”. Seeing alien planets and vistas and travelling in history is obviously a wonderful thing, but she’s very much aware of the death sentence that’s put over your head whenever you step outside the TARDIS. You can’t take a single step without a rock, or a laser, or an arrow being fired at you and she’s very much aware of that. She knows this is deadly and it’s quite surprising that companions of the Doctor in the past don’t really point this out much! It’s all danger and disaster from the word go, but she is very open to that.
I like the fact she works in A&E and she’s always cleaning up other people’s troubles. It’s hard work in A&E, that really is the front line of the NHS. So, she’s very much wondering why anyone would live a dangerous life, because she sees what happens to people. She’s keenly aware of physical and moral danger and thinks the Doctor has no right to put her there. Belinda is a bit more of an equal for him, she doesn’t listen to him and she won’t be charmed by him so easily. That’s a nice tension on board the TARDIS. It’s fun.
And speaking of the Doctor, will we see a different side to him this year? Is the character going to develop anymore?
There are always different sides to him. Again, without giving away too much, there’s a couple of episodes where he’s very much out of his depth. It’s always very interesting to watch an actor and work out what they’re not doing, so we can push things into that area, which is difficult with Ncuti because he’s got absolutely full range and he offers you everything. But nonetheless, there’s some moments of real genuine comedy that I think we’ve never had a chance to play, and at the other end of the scale, absolute darkness… Ncuti is wonderful, that’s what these great Doctors are, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with many of them. It’s just limitless performance where you think they could be as angry, or as sad, or as happy, or as mad as you could possibly hope for, and they simply deliver. It’s brilliant.
Ncuti gave some absolutely incredible performances last year. Is there a particular episode or moment this year that you’re excited for viewers to see?
Yes, all of them! There’s a living cartoon coming up, and the Doctor himself becomes a cartoon at one point in that episode and that’s really fun, but also rather dark and strange. It’s a really weird, surreal situation for the Doctor to be in. And of course, I have to say the finale where he’s pushed further than ever before and saving everyone’s lives is harder than ever. It’s a really tough season finale where everything’s on the line and we discover things about the Doctor we’ve never discovered before…
And moving on just to talk about the writers, we’ve got four new writers on board this year. So what do each of them bring to the show? And what is it you look for when you’re deciding on new writers?
Simply new voices, that’s all, with a great range and a great talent. I mean, it’s a very tough show to write for because all rules are off. In most dramas people sleep and get into cars. They might argue with their boss or, they pick up a gun. Picking up a gun is normally scene one for Doctor Who, there’s always a laser, or a nuclear reactor being aimed at you, in some way. So, it’s hard, there are various technical problems with Doctor Who that make it difficult to write. Number one being that the Doctor arrives in the most unique and powerful and invulnerable spaceship ever created in the history of the universe, the TARDIS. And so, with every episode, it’s like, “Why don’t you just turn around and go back to the TARDIS?” And you genuinely have to find ways around that. But that’s just technical details. What you want with a writer is a great voice. And with all of these people, there’s tremendous voice.
Inua (Ellams) is just so good. Inua works as a poet, he’s also a performance poet. And he has so much culture in his soul. He brings extraordinary knowledge and imagination and cultural depth to Doctor Who, The Story & the Engine is unlike any episode you’ve ever seen before.
Juno (Dawson) is very experienced, she’s a Sunday Times bestseller with her fantasy novels. Those novels are extraordinary, they’ve gone around the world. And so, to tap into that imagination and to bring that to Doctor Who, was fantastic.
Sharma (Angel-Walfall) is young and so full of ideas and energy and excitement. Apparently I met Sharma when she was at school! I gave a talk at a theatre and she was there. So just all these years later here we are working together and that’s been a joy. When you work with someone that young and brilliant, I learn more of them than they could ever learn of me.
And lovely Pete McTighe! Pete lives in Cardiff. It’s kind of ridiculous that we haven’t got around to using him faster and sooner. He knows Doctor Who intimately, it’s literally his favourite show in the world. The great thing about him knowing Doctor Who so well is that he thinks of ideas that Doctor Who had never done before and pushes into that area. He writes the story of Ruby Sunday coming back, which is the life of a companion once the Doctor has left, which hasn’t been touched on before. We’re lucky to get Pete as he’s the showrunner of his own shows, he’s brilliant. So, you just count your lucky stars when you get a writer like that on board.
What can you tease about the Interstellar Song Contest and Rylan as well, how did that all happen?
Rylan has been sending me DMs asking me to be in the show for about five years now! It took a long time to build up to this. Literally, for the past three or four years, I’ve been saying just wait, just wait. Because I kind of always knew we had this on the way. We had to work out whether we could do this Interstellar Song Contest and when we decided to do that, I did send out a text and that was a great day in the Clark House, I think he was leaping around the place! I also I knew he’d be brilliant. He gave us a lot of his time. He doesn’t just pop up for six lines, he’s properly in the episode and it’s amazing because it’s one of the hardest things you can ever have to do is to cast people to act as television presenters, or as on-screen presences because it’s a real skill, he’s brilliant.
And moving on to Mrs. Flood, there’s a big question around her and who she is going into this season will viewers get their answers this year? Or is there anything you can tease about that?
There are very definite answers. It may raise more questions as well, but yes, we adore Anita. And a long time ago, it must have been a couple of years ago, I sat her down at my office and explained where we were heading, and that was a great moment, her eyes were popping out of her head, and she was so delighted to be given such a big story. So, she will be mysteriously cropping up throughout time and space, she’s no longer just a neighbour watching the Doctor go to and fro. Suddenly she has that ability across planets and history. So how on Earth has that happened? I promise you reveals. By the time we get to the season finale the doors are open, and the battle is on.
And we’ve mentioned Rylan, we’ve mentioned Anita but there are some incredible, incredible guest artists this year. How does it feel to be part of this show that just attracts such a high calibre of actors?
It’s just brilliant. When it comes to someone like Rose Ayling-Ellis, we all learn. We had to sort of sit down and write how would the deaf community live in the year of 400,000? How would that be different? What would be the same? Talking to Rose, and talking to her team who interpret for her, was just such a great learning experience, and you just come out of it just a bit wiser and bit better. What I didn’t quite realise is that we’d be getting one of the greatest actors I’ve ever worked with. I kind of knew she’d be wonderful, I watched her in EastEnders. I knew she was a class actor, but actually that character goes through absolute terror and bravery and twists. Then it’s fascinating to watch and its immaculately performed.
And then at the other end of the scale, you get Jonah Hauer-King coming in, who’s in big Hollywood movies. He has a big relationship with Ruby (Millie Gibson) and you don’t just give that to any actor. He comes in with so much love and decency and imagination, he’s just lovely.
With Christopher Chung, you kind of build-up relationships among actors over the years, and hoping one day you’ll find the right path for them. That was another instant offer. Kadiff (Kirwan) as well, it’s extraordinary I’ve never worked with him.
And of course, Alan Cumming, the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding, that was gorgeous. I didn’t get to meet him as his final voice work was done in New York. But that’s brilliant. And he’s very happy with it, apparently. We’re just so lucky.
And there are some guest stars we’re not even mentioning yet. Just keep watching, it’s very exciting…
What can you tell us about Ruby Sunday?
We’re so delighted that Millie’s coming back and that was always the plan. We’re so lucky she always wants to come back because she’s been so successful. We love the fact she will always give up her time and come back to Doctor Who because there’s so much more to be explored. And there are moments in this season where we see the Doctor and Belinda and Ruby together that are wonderful.
Plus, her mother Carla played by Michelle Greenidge, and her grandmother, Cherry, played by the amazing Angela Wynter. They’re all back. The whole team is back. Millie just grows in strength and power. I adore watching her, and there is a really extraordinary episode for Ruby, doing things Ruby’s never had to do before.
And last year had quite a few hide behind the sofa moments. Are there going to be more of that this year.
Yes, I think it’s scarier this year. We’re keeping quiet about episode three because there’s some jumps and jolts in that one and some real horror in it. It’s a very unusual episode. The Interstellar Song Contest episode isn’t what people think. It’s tough, that episode. It’s much tougher than people think. And every episode has some really big thrills. I think a living cartoon is a really sinister idea. There’s something so enforced about the duality of the cartoon, there’s something sinister in that all on its own. So, lots of scares. And in the first episode, the enemy that Belinda ends up facing is really a tough piece of work, an amazing piece of design as well. Some of the best prosthetics I’ve ever seen from Neil Gordon and his prosthetics teams.
Last year saw Doctor Who launch globally for the first time ever on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ ahead of BBC One. And it was a huge success. Can you just talk us through that success?
It’s been great, we’re thrilled. Our last episode that went out at Christmas has been watched by over 7 million now, which is huge. The figures as a whole for Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer are ferocious. For the whole brand of Doctor Who, there had been over 70 million viewer hours in 2024*, and with people being able to go back and watch any episode in the Whoniverse, the episodes are all still growing. That’s just extraordinary – 70 million viewer hours! It’s one of the top five brands on iPlayer and let’s bear in mind that BBC iPlayer is one of the biggest and and fastest- growing streaming platforms in Great Britain. It’s huge, it’s huge. (* Source: BARB Data)
And if you could describe this season in one word or phrase, what would it be?
Get Belinda Home!
