Doctor Who is ‘madder than ever’ as The Traitors legend joins cast
We can't wait!
Doctor Who is promising to be ‘madder than ever’ as a surprising TV legend is joining the cast.
Ncuti Gatwa is returning as The Fifteenth Doctor for a beloved second season, with a release date finally revealed to be April 12.
Joining him, Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) will be Emmy award-winning actor and the host of The Traitors US, Alan Cumming.
The Scottish star, 60, will feature in the second episode as Mr Ring-a-Ding, ‘a happy, funny, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally’.
His world is about to turn upside down though with a terrifying awakening of the real world behind the screens he’s surrounded by.
The plot teases: ‘However, in 1952, after years of repeats in cinemas across the land, Mr Ring-a-Ding suddenly looks beyond the screen and sees the real world outside – and the consequences are terrifying.’
The Traitors US host Alan Cumming will be playing Mr Ring-a-Ding (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert/Peacock/Euan Cherry)Showrunner Russell T Davies said: ‘Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun.
‘He makes the whole universe of Doctor Who wilder and madder than ever, and it’s an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS.’
The new season also guest stars Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Christopher Chung, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave, and Susan Twist.
Ncuti will be joined by Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson (Picture: James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios/PA Wire)A teaser for the second season dropped just after Christmas last year, leaving fans blown away as it began with Ncuti’s character saying ‘There are forces beyond this universe,’ before offering a glimpse of the terrifying villains yet to come.
‘It’s all a game to them, but the games are deadly,’ the narration continued, before giving a first look at Varada as the Doctor’s companion for season two.
The synopsis teased: ‘The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her 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.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next PageThe latest release date announcement comes after reports Sex Education star Ncuti, 23, sparked fears he was leaving the show and planned to move to the US, with David Tennant tipped to make a comeback – though he confirmed his time as the Doctor was well and truly over in May 2024, saying: ‘David is parked and retired and it’s all Ncuti’s show now.’
A source had told The Sun: ‘Ncuti doesn’t want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him.
‘His team also sees a lot of fan backlash from the series and doesn’t want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.’
There are rumours Ncuti may be leaving Doctor Who (Picture: BBC Studios/Lara Cornell)The reports come just months after Ncuti himself confirmed he would be returning for a third series ahead of the Christmas special.
It had initially been claimed that Doctor Who itself was facing the axe after 62 years on screens.
However, a BBC spokesperson has confirmed to Metro that such rumours are ‘incorrect’.
‘Doctor Who has not been shelved,’ they said.
‘As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs.
‘The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit.’
Ncuti’s future as the Doctor does remain unclear though, as the BBC added: ‘As for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.’
Doctor Who returns to BBC and Disney+ on April 12, 2025.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
