Watch THE CHURCH ON RUBY ROAD on Christmas Day, on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ in the rest of the world.

Long ago on Christmas Eve, a baby was abandoned in the snow. Today, Ruby Sunday meets the Doctor, stolen babies, goblins and perhaps the secret of her birth...

Christmas has come early as brand new images are released from the Doctor Who Christmas special – The Church on Ruby Road. As the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, takes over the TARDIS for his first epic adventure he will be joined by Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, as she makes her debut as the Doctor’s companion.

The Church on Ruby Road lands on Christmas Day 2023 on BBC One in the UK and Ireland, on BBCiPlayer in the UK and on Disney Plus for the rest of world.

The episode sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.

Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby. Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry her world is about to be turned upside when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together...

Alongside Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson is Davina McCall who will be playing herself as she joins the cast alongside Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood.

Davina said:

“It is beyond an honour to be asked to appear in not only Doctor Who but also Ncuti’s first episode as the new Doctor. It was such an extraordinary experience and Russell has written you all a Christmas delight! Now I just can’t wait for everyone to see it!”

Russell T Davies, Showrunner adds:

“From Day One in this job, I wanted Doctor Who back on Christmas Day! And with Ncuti, Millie, Davina and the Goblin King, I hope it’s a feast for all the family!”

Watch Doctor Who from the 11th May on BBC iPlayer in the UK and stream on Disney+ where available.

Varada Sethu will be joining Doctor Who, playing Ncuti Gatwa's companion in his second series as the Doctor.

The actress who recently appeared in the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor said it's an "honour" to appear in the show.

Ncuti Gatwa's first series as the Doctor will begin in May, with Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson playing companion Ruby Sunday.

The BBC says that Sethu will join the pair in the following series which will be broadcast in 2025.

As well as Andor, the actress has been seen in the 2018 crime drama Hard Sun, and Jurassic World Dominion.

Sethu said it was an "honour to be a part of the Whoniverse" and she felt "like the luckiest person in the world".

"I couldn't ask for a better team than Ncuti and Millie to be on this adventure with."
Companion speculation

Earlier this year there had been speculation that Sethu would be replacing Gibson in the long-running time travel drama.

Gatwa and Gibson were first seen together in the show's Christmas Special, The Church on Ruby Road, where viewers learnt that Sunday was adopted, with the identity of her birth parents a mystery.

No details have been given for Sethu's character, but the BBC has released pictures of her alongside Gatwa and Gibson at a table read for a forthcoming episode.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said he "first worked with Varada on a BBC production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it's a joy to welcome her on board the TARDIS.

"Right now in the studio, shooting for 2025, we've got Ncuti, Millie and Varada fighting side by side - we need all three, because the stakes are higher than ever!"

When the show returns on 11 May, for the first time it will premiere on BBC iPlayer at midnight, before being broadcast on BBC One later that day.