Beware of spoilers if you have not yet watched The Reality War

Tonight (Saturday 31st May) viewers saw Ncuti Gatwa’s final scenes as the Doctor as he steps down from one of the most iconic roles in British television. In an epic two-part season finale, viewers saw the Doctor face the Rani in an extraordinary battle to save the world and the Doctor made the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of one little girl.

Since being announced as the Doctor in May 2022, Ncuti Gatwa was launched into the Whoniverse and immediately taken into the hearts of Doctor Who fans across the globe. With his first appearance being part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebrations in November 2023, Gatwa’s arrival into the show was a never seen before bi-generation which saw him split from the Fourteenth Doctor, played by David Tennant. His portrayal of the Doctor won Gatwa a Best Actor award at BAFTA Cymru Awards in 2024, as well as nominations for a BAFTA Scotland Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen, and Best Actor in a Drama Series at The Critics Choice Television Awards in the US in 2025.

Gatwa’s first full episode, The Church on Ruby Road saw the Doctor team up with companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, and the two travelled on out of this world adventures, with episodes including The Devil’s Chord, Rogue and Boom with Gatwa winning praise globally for his iteration of the iconic character. In season two, Gatwa gained another companion, Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu and the stakes got higher, with battles bigger than ever before with the duo going back in time to Miami in Lux, travelling to Lagos in The Story & the Engine as well as attending the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest before facing the Rani and Omega in his final battle to save earth before regenerating once more.

Speaking of his decision to leave, Gatwa said:

Speaking of Ncuti’s departure, Russell T Davies, Showrunner said

Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama added

BUT AS VIEWERS SAY GOODBYE TO THE DOCTOR THEY GOT A HELLO FROM A MUCH-LOVED FACE

As everyone said farewell to this iconic Doctor, they also got sight of a very familiar face as the Doctor regenerated and it was none other than Billie Piper… Billie first appeared in the Whoniverse when Doctor Who returned to screens in 2005, as Rose Tyler, the much-loved Companion to the Doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. But just how and why she is back remains to be seen…

Speaking of the surprise twist, Russell T Davies adds

Speaking of her return, Piper said:

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

The BBC has confirmed that the special edition of Doctor Who: Unleashed, celebrating 20 years since the return of the series, will be available from Saturday, 7th June 2025. 

Joining the previously announced contributors will be Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill who played Amy Pond and Rory Williams in the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who.

Steffan Powell will take a journey through the time vortex alongside an intergalactic lineup of previously announced Doctors, companions, and showrunners: Ncuti Gatwa, David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Varada Sethu, Billie Piper, Pearl Mackie, Mandip Gill, Steven Moffat, Chris Chibnall, and Russell T Davies.

Alongside the stars, Powell will be revealing the secrets from behind the scenes with former production designer Edward Thomas, costume designer Ray Holman, and unpacking the magic Welsh gold dust that has seen the show become one of the biggest and most recognisable brands on television since its 2005 regeneration.

The special hour-long episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed will land on Saturday 7th June at 6am on BBC iPlayer, and air on BBC One Wales and BBC Three later that day, the week following Doctor Who’s epic season two finale ‘The Reality War’.

Previous episodes of Doctor Who: Unleashed are available to watch now in the Whoniverse on BBC iPlayer.

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.

A special edition of Doctor Who: Unleashed is set to air on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and BBC Wales.

Steffan Powell is once again set to take a trip through the time vortex as he invites viewers on a journey celebrating the last twenty years since Doctor Who returned, and he will be joined by a host of cast and creatives that have played a part in bringing the show back into the Whoniverse.

Joining Powell for the ride are some of the show’s most recognisable faces, including past Doctors David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker, former companions Billie Piper, Pearl Mackie, and Mandip Gill, ex-showrunners Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall, the current Doctor Ncuti Gatwa alongside his newest companion Varada Sethu, as well as the current showrunner and the man who brought the show back in 2005, Russell T Davies.

As well as chatting with the stars about what Doctor Who means to them, Powell will be revealing secrets from behind the scenes with interviews with those who work behind the cameras to bring Doctor Who to life.

Speaking of the special episode, Russell T Davies said:

Steffan Powell adds

The special episode of Doctor Who: Unleashed will air on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and BBC Wales next month. Previous episodes of Doctor Who: Unleashed are available to watch now in the Whoniverse on BBC iPlayer.

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. 

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).