Doctor Who season 14: Release date speculation and latest news
Ncuti Gatwa's first season is nigh.
Doctor Who has ushered in an exciting new chapter with its 60th-anniversary specials, setting the stage for Ncuti Gatwa's debut season as the Fifteenth Doctor.
This period marks a promising future, especially with the return of Russell T Davies as showrunner and the introduction of Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, the new companion – and we've already been gifted our first glimpse at Gatwa and Gibson together on-screen.
The excitement doesn't stop there: fans can look forward to Bonnie Langford reprising her role as Mel Bush opposite an array of new monsters.
Speaking at the premiere of The Star Beast, Davies gave a hint about what season 15 will look like, suggesting we won't see the return of classic villains like the Daleks and Cybermen for a while.
He said: "It's very new. Ncuti's new and Millie [Gibson] is new and it was new to us with Disney and the whole new era, as it were. So I didn't want to look... there are no Daleks, there are no Cybermen, I didn't want to look back too much."
However, he reiterated that he "loves" the Daleks and would be happy to bring them back later on during his second tenure helming the series.
So, when exactly can we expect season 14 of the popular sci-fi show? Read on for everything you need to know.
Doctor Who season 14 release date speculation
Doctor Who season 14 is expected to premiere in spring 2024.
However, fans will first get to see Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor in the final 60th anniversary special, The Giggle, which is airing on 9th December 2023. His first full episode as the Doctor will be the 2023 Christmas special, which has returned to its slot on Christmas Day.
Who will star in Doctor Who season 14?
The following stars have been confirmed for Doctor Who season 14.
- Ncuti Gatwa as The Fifteenth Doctor
- Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday
- Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday
- Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday
- Anita Dobson as Mrs. Flood
- Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart
- Bonnie Langford as Melanie "Bel" Bush
- Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christopher Ibrahim
- Aneurin Barnard as Roger ap Gwilliam
- Indira Varma as The Duchess
- Lenny Rush as Morris
- Jinkx Monsoon as TBC
- Jonathan Groff as TBC
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Our brand new Doctor was unveiled back in May 2022 ahead of Jodie Whittaker’s last adventure in The Power of the Doctor, with Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa announced in the role.
Gatwa said at the time: "There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and, of course, a little bit scared.
"This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my upmost to do the same."
He added: "Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger.
"An actor’s metaphorical playground. The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it’s daunting, I’m aware I’m joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show."
More like this
Meanwhile, returning showrunner Russell T Davies said: "The future is here and it’s Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars.
"Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started. I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!"
Davies later gave an update on Gatwa's Doctor, telling RadioTimes.com: "I can promise you a completely new Doctor, and yet a Doctor utterly faithful to the 60 years that came before. Soon, the secret will be out, and we'll all be dancing!"
Meanwhile, the other major addition to the gang is former Coronation Street star Millie Gibson in the role of new companion Ruby Sunday.
After being unveiled as the new companion during Children in Need 2022, Gibson said in a statement: "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."
On Gibson's addition, Gatwa said: "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!"
Meanwhile, returning showrunner Russell T Davies revealed he had been a fan of Gibson's work on Coronation Street as Kelly Neelan.
"It’s the great honour of my job to find the next generation of talent, and Millie shines like a star already," said Davies in a statement. "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."
Gibson will make her debut in the 2023 festive special, so we can look forward to seeing Fifteen and Ruby together for the first time.
Meanwhile, a flurry of new guest stars has been confirmed for the upcoming episodes.
Jemma Redgrave will reprise her role as UNIT boss Kate Stewart after returning for the 60th-anniversary specials The Giggle, while Bonnie Langford will also make a return as the classic companion Melanie "Mel" Bush, also last seen in The Giggle.
Discussing Mel's return, Langford has since said: "[Mel] felt she had to stop travelling the universe and actually, literally, get back to down to Earth and face the things she's been running away from."
Mel was originally a companion of the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) and then the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and was a regular on the show from 1986 to 1987 until her recent guest appearances.
Elsewhere, Indira Varma - who previously played Suzie Costello in Russell T Davies's Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood - will return to the Whoniverse but as a new character named The Duchess.
Additionally, Aneurin Barnard has been added in the role of a politician named Roger ap Gwilliam, while EastEnders icon Anita Dobson will portray a character named Mrs Flood, the next-door neighbour of Ruby Sunday.
Elsewhere, RuPaul's Drag Race icon Jinkx Monsoon has been added in a major recurring role as a mysterious antagonist who we are yet to find out the true identity of.
On the announcement of her new role, Monsoon said: "I'm honoured, thrilled, and utterly excited to join Doctor Who! Russell T Davies is a visionary and a brilliant writer – I can't wait to get into the weeds with him and the crew! I hope there's room in the TARDIS for my luggage."
Meanwhile, Mindhunter and Frozen star Jonathan Groff will appear in the new episodes in a guest role, appearing to have scenes with the Doctor and Ruby in a Regency-set instalment.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said: "This is an incredible coup, and a great honour, to get such a huge star striding on to our set. So strap on your space boots, this is going to be a blast!"
Rising star Lenny Rush has also been added to the guest cast, playing the character Morris.
Russell T Davies teased that Morris will appear as part of a storyline exploring "the Doctor's greatest nightmare".
Finally, the 60th-anniversary specials reintroduced us to Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and her family, including her daughter Rose Noble, played by Heartstopper actress Yasmin Finney.
Could we be seeing them again too? Russell T Davies teased in Doctor Who Magazine in August: "I stand at the back of the studio. Millie catches my eye. We wave across the distance, but I don’t step in. They’re busy. Clock ticking. But around me, people are drawing in."
The screenwriter continued: "Crew, office staff, actors. It’s been a week of goodbyes – Yasmin Finney wrapped a few days ago, big hugs, see you soon – but it all comes down to this. The last scene."
Does this mean that, at the very least, Finney's Rose will become a recurring character in Doctor Who? We'll have to wait and see.
How many episodes are in Doctor Who season 14?
In addition to the Christmas special, there will be eight episodes of Doctor Who season 14.
- Christmas special - The Church on Ruby Road.
- 1. TBC
- 2. The Devil's Chord
- 3. TBC
- 4. TBC
- 5. TBC
- 6. TBC
- 7. TBC
- 8. TBC
We will share further episode titles when they are available.
Doctor Who season 14 plot: What could happen?
Of course, little is known about the plot of the upcoming season, but we have had some clues.
The return of showrunner Russell T Davies, who made Doctor Who popular again with his 2005 revival, promises change is ahead.
Speaking in February 2022 about his shock return, he teased a "brand new ways of telling stories".
He said: "The truth of it is, everyone lies when they leave Doctor Who and says 'Oh, I've moved on! – I've been thinking about it since I was three, so there's no way you stop thinking about it."
"There are things coming up that are brand new ways of telling stories that have never been done before, so it just feels new – I wouldn't have gone back if it wasn't feeling new," he added.
He went on to explain that Doctor Who has a unique appeal to writers, as each week brings its own distinct premise and characters.
"I'm sitting here now, 10 pages away from a climax thinking, 'God, I've never been in this territory before – this is strange and new and hopefully I'll learn something out of it," added Davies.
"The reason why I've worked on 34 programmes in my life is that I don't normally like continuing series. That's why It's A Sin came to an end and I just moved on."
He concluded: "I just like looking at a new set of challenges every time and another blank page, but Doctor Who is always a blank page."
What's more, to mark the BBC's recent deal with Disney that will allow streamer Disney Plus to become the home of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland, Gatwa took part in a Doctor Who Q&A shared on Twitter and revealed what his ideal storyline would look like.
"I cannot wait to put my stamp on the character," he said. He also reveals where he would like his Time Lord to travel, saying: "I would take my TARDIS to Africa, I would take my TARDIS to Nigeria."
Adding that the location would give the Doctor the chance to interact with African mythology, he said: "I would love for the Doctor to meet the Orisha, which were a set of gods in Nigerian mythology, and I think that he'd have a lovely old time."
He also revealed that "there are some extraordinary storylines for this season".
Additionally, Gatwa quizzed Gibson in a video about her thoughts on Doctor Who and what it means to be a companion.
We can't wait!
We know there will be an episode set in the Regency era, while another is set during the 1960s featuring The Beatles.
Is there a trailer for Doctor Who season 14?
Not for the full regular series but we do have a trailer for the Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road.
You can watch the trailer below.
Hopefully, we will see footage of the rest of the season after the Christmas Day episode.
Will there be a Doctor Who season 15?
Yes, the 15th season of Doctor Who has already been confirmed and has begun filming.
This season is expected to premiere in 2025.
Russell T Davies will be back as showrunner and Ncuti Gatwa will reprise his role as the Fifteenth Doctor opposite Millie Gibson back as Ruby Sunday.
Bridgerton and Derry Girls actress Nicola Coughlan will also guest star in the Christmas special for 2024, while The Little Mermaid star Jonah Hauer-King is joining the cast in a mystery role.
Writing duo Kate Herron and Briony Redman are among the screenwriters penning episodes for the next one.
Read more:
- Doctor Who's David Tennant on "getting the band back together"
- Chris Chibnall: Doctor Who's new budget will be "massive leap forward"
- David Tennant says Doctor Who "lives on Saturday night"
- What happened to Donna Noble in Doctor Who?
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer with episodes of the classic series also available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight.
Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
