Beware of Spoilers if you haven't yet seen The Interstellar Song Contest

This week’s journey to the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest took a shocking twist when Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) bi-generated and revealed her true identity to be the Rani. Originally played by Kate O’Mara, the Rani is a Renegade Time Lord and enemy of the Doctor who first appeared back in the 1985 classic serial ‘The Mark of the Rani’. 

Now, alongside Anita Dobson, the Emmy Award-winning Archie Panjabi joins Doctor Who as the Rani, who has been hiding in secret as Mrs Flood and meticulously waiting for her time to face the Doctor.

Archie Panjabi is known for her roles as Zahra Gahfoor in Hijack, Kendra Malley in Departure, and Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife, for which she earned critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award. Her impressive career spans both film and television with roles in films including Bend It Like Beckham, Yasmin, and San Andreas.

Archie Panjabi and Anita Dobson will appear in the two-part finale ‘Wish World’ and ‘The Reality War’, which will see the Doctor and the Rani go head-to-head in a monumental battle that will send shockwaves through the Whoniverse.

On joining Doctor Who, Archie Panjabi said:

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, said: 

Doctor Who continues with the first episode of the epic two-part finale, ‘Wish World’, on Saturday 24th May, launching exclusively on BBC iPlayer at 8am and Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).

The season two finale of Doctor Who, ‘The Reality War’, will premiere simultaneously on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in a primetime evening slot on Saturday 31st May, and Disney+ outside of the UK (where available), as well as in over 450 cinemas across the UK & Ireland.

The BBC has confirmed that this year's Doctor Who Finale will have its premiere on BBC One rather than being available earlier on BBC iPlayer. 

Following a cosmic journey of twists and turns as the Doctor attempts to get Belinda home, the season two/41 finale of Doctor Who will premiere in a primetime evening slot on Saturday, 31st May, and in over 450 cinemas across the UK & Ireland.

Titled ‘The Reality War’, fans across the globe will be able to all watch together as the Doctor faces one of his most terrifying and monumental battles to date in an extra-special-length episode.

The season two finale will air exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, with the exact transmission time to be confirmed in due course, and simultaneously on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television.

The finale of the current series of Doctor Who is to be screened in cinemas across the UK and Ireland

As the season draws to a close, fans across the UK and Ireland will have the opportunity to come together in cinemas to watch the epic two-part finale on 31st May, starting with the penultimate episode Wish World / The Reality War and ending with the last of the season The Reality War.

Both episodes are written by Russell T Davies and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai.

Natasha Spence, Events Director, BBC Studios commented:

John Travers, Head of Acquisitions & Distribution for CinemaLive said:

Tickets go on sale at 10am on 1st May. For more information, visit doctorwho.tv

Doctor Who Episode Two comes to screens worldwide tomorrow withLux.

It stars Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Varanda Sethu as Belinda Chandra

Guest starts include Alan Cumming as the voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding and Linus Roache as Reginald Pye

The episode is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Amanda Brotchie.

Doctor Who can be viewed from 0800 British Summer Time (0700 GMT) on Saturday 19th April. The show will be available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ outside the UK. 

Viewers of BBC One can watch the show at 7.15 pm on Saturday. 

Doctor Who returns to screens worldwide tomorrow with The Robot Revolution.

The story launches the 41st series of the programme which began in November 1963.

It stars Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Varanda Sethu as Belinda Chandra

The episode is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Peter Hoar.

Doctor Who can be viewed from 0800 British Summer Time (0700 GMT) on Saturday 12th April. The show will be available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ outside the UK. 

Viewers of BBC One can watch the show at 6.50 pm on Saturday. 

Star of stage and screen Charlie Condou is set to join the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an adventure in time and space in the upcoming second season of Doctor Who, launching on 12th April.

Condou has starred in multiple prominent dramas, including Holby City, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Unforgotten, Midsomer Murders, and Coronation Street, and has lit up stages across the country in the UK tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Arthur Miller's The Crucible.

Condou is no stranger to the Whoniverse, having voiced characters in multiple Doctor Who Big Finish audio dramas. This time he will come face to face with Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor in an exciting new escapade.

Charlie Condou, said:

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on 12th April exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).

The BBC has revealed the titles for the episodes in the upcoming series of Doctor Who, the Forty-First since the series launch in 1963

On 12th April 2025 the simultaneous global launch will kick start with The Robot Revolution at 8am exclusively on BBC iPlayer and later that day on BBC One in the UK. Those outside of the UK can watch exclusively on Disney+ (where available).

New episodes will then debut weekly with an array of guest cast including Emmy Award winner Alan Cumming as cartoon foe Mr Ring-a-Ding, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Anita Dobson, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Ruth Madeley, Susan Twist, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Christopher Chung, Evelyn Miller, Ariyon Bakare, Julie Dray, Michelle Greenidge, Angela Wynter, Alexander Devrient, Rylan, Freddie Fox, Jonah Hauer-King, Kadiff Kirwan and many more.

Doctor Who – Season Two | Episode Titles:

1. The Robot Revolution: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar
2. Lux: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Amanda Brotchie
3. The Well: Written by Russell T Davies & Sharma Angel Walfall, directed by Amanda Brotchie
4. Lucky Day: Written by Pete McTighe, directed by Peter Hoar
5. The Story & the Engine: Written by Inua Ellams, directed by Makalla McPherson
6. The Interstellar Song Contest: Written by Juno Dawson, directed by Ben A. Williams
7. Wish World / The Reality War: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai
8. TheRealityWar: Written by Russell T Davies, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

The BBC has announced that the actor Kadiff Kirwan will appear in the new series of Doctor Who.

Since shooting to stardom playing Aaron in hit comedy Chewing Gum, Kadiff Kirwan has gone on to star in hit series after hit series including Black Mirror, Fleabag, I May Destroy You, This Is Going to Hurt, and most recently Slow Horses.

Kirwan can also be spotted on the big screen, with film roles ranging from 2018’s Mary Queen of Scots to 2022’s My Policeman, and on the stage in the Pulitzer Prize winning play The Hot Wing King.

Now, Kirwan is set to blast off into the Whoniverse as he joins the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an intergalactic escapade in the upcoming second season of Doctor Who, launching on 12th April.

Kadiff Kirwan, said:

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on 12th April exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ outside of the UK

Actor Freddie Fox will be jumping aboard the TARDIS with the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for an adventure in time and space in the upcoming second season of Doctor Who.

Since his on-screen debut in 2009, Fox has appeared in many TV hits including The Gentlemen, The Crown, The Great, Slow Horses, and most recently as Ser Gwayne Hightower in House of the Dragon.

In 2015, Fox appeared as Freddie Baxter in Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 dramas Cucumber and Banana. In addition to his TV roles, he has also made a big impact on stage, earning a Laurence Oliver nomination for his role as Tristan Tzara in the revival of Travesties at the Apollo Theatre.

Fox is now heading to the Whoniverse, to play a fearsome villain from another planet in an upcoming episode.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Freddie Fox, said:

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on 12th April exclusively on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available)

The BBC have released a new trailer for the forthcoming second series of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa, Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson.

The two minute trailer features a host of guest stars who will appear during the eight episodes, including Rylan Clarke (playing himself as the co-host of the Interstellar Song Contest), Alan Cumming (the voice of villainous cartoon character, Mr Ring-a-Ding), Caoilfhionn Dunne, Christopher Chung, Evelyn Miller, Ariyon Bakare, Julie Dray and Jonah Hauer-King. It also sees the return of regulars Anita Dobson, Bonnie Langford and Jemma Redgrave, 

Rylan Clarke:

Evelyn Miller:

Ariyon Bakare:

Caoilfhionn Dunne:

Julie Dray:

Season Two Trailer on YouTube

Season Two launches on Saturday, April 12th on BBC and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).