Happy Birthday, Doctor Who!

By John Freeman on November 23, 2022

Hot on the heels of the announcement of Millie Gibson landing the role of new companion, Ruby Sunday, the BBC has released a special celebratory image to mark Doctor Who‘s “birthday” today, 23rd November.

Doctor Who was first broadcast on Saturday 23rd November 1963, continuing until 1989 for what is now identified by many as its “Classic Who” run, returning to TV with a TV Movie in 1996 and “New Who” in 2005.

New episodes of Doctor Who will return to screens in November 2023 to coincide with the 60th anniversary. David Tennant – who has already taking the helm in the official Doctor Who Magazine comic strip – will play the Fourteenth Doctor for three specials, before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the Fifteenth Doctor over the festive season.

The BBC and Disney Branded Television have joined forces to make Disney+ the new global home, outside of the UK and Ireland, for future seasons of Doctor Who.

*Ncuti Gatwa (Fifteenth Doctor) and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday). Image: BBC*

Millie Gibson was recently announced in the role of Ruby Sunday, the Doctor’s new companion. Starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa, Millie will make her debut over the festive season in 2023 when the Fifteenth Doctor takes control of the TARDIS.

Best known for her role as Coronation Street’s Kelly Neelan, 18-year-old Millie was the recipient of the Best Young Performer Award at The British Soap Awards earlier this year. Millie has also appeared in dramas Butterfly (ITV) and Love, Lies and Records (BBC).

Speaking of her new role, Millie Gibson said: “Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. 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.”

Ncuti Gatwa added: “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!”

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, who brought Doctor Who back to our screens in 2005, said: “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.”

The current issue of the official Doctor Who Magazine (No. 584), on sale now from branches of WH Smith and selected supermarkets, includes a fantastic new comic strip that ties in directly with the upcoming TV stories starring David Tennant as the mysteriously retroactively regenerated Time Lord.

• Doctor Who – Official BBC Web Site

• Doctor Who Magazine Issue 584 is on sale now from panini.co.uk and WH Smith and select supermarkets priced £6.99 (UK) | Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £5.99 | Web: doctorwhomagazine.com

• On Facebook? Join the Doctor Who Comics and Art: A Voyage group

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.