Doctor Who Season 14 – also known as Season 1 – will premiere later this year, with Ncuti Gatwa’s Time Lord returning. Here’s what we know, including any release date updates and cast details.
Gatwa first appeared as the Doctor in the third and final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, ‘The Giggle,’ in December 2023.
He then reprised the role later that same month, in the 2023 Christmas special, ‘The Church on Ruby Road.’ This bumper-sized festive adventure also introduced the Doctor’s new companion, Ruby Sunday (Mille Gibson).
The stage is now set for Doctor Who Season 14 proper – so read on for a round-up of the all major info about the Fifteenth Doctor’s initial wave of exploits across space and time!
Contents
Is there a Doctor Who Season 14 release date?
According to the BBC, Doctor Who Season 14 will premiere in May 2024. It will run for eight episodes total and will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (UK & Ireland) and Disney+ (everywhere else).
Filming on Doctor Who Season 14 kicked off on December 5, 2022, and wrapped on July 14, 2023. Russell T Davies is back as showrunner, having previously masterminded the franchise’s 2005 revival. Davies also oversaw the 60th anniversary specials and Christmas specials, as well.
Season 14’s directors are Dylan Holmes Williams, Mark Tonderai, Julie Anne Robinson, Ben Chessell, and Jamie Donoughue. Confirmed writers aside from Davies himself include Kate Herron and Briony Redman.
Davies and co. aren’t resting on their laurels, either. Not only has Doctor Who Season 15 started filming, but Davies recently confirmed he’s already mapping out Seasons 16 and 17.
Given Davies’ previously stated promise of “annual Doctor Who, no gap years,” we should therefore expect Seasons 15, 16, and 17 to drop in 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.
Doctor Who Season 14 trailer
Yes, the BBC released the official teaser trailer for Doctor Who Season 14 on December 25. You can check it out below:
As you’d expect, the Season 14 teaser hints at the eight-episode run’s biggest moments. This includes the Doctor and Ruby visiting different historical periods, including the Regency era and the Swinging Sixties.
The trailer also shows off Doctor Who Season 14’s action set pieces. Notably, we see the Doctor and Ruby racing through the streets of London on a scooter, and taking on numerous alien lifeforms.
Doctor Who Season 14 cast: Who is starring in the next season?
- Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor
- Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday
- Varada Sethu as a new unnamed companion
- Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
- Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble
- Aneurin Barnard as Roger ap Gwilliam
- Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday
- Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood
- Hemi Yeroham as Abdul
- Jack Forsyth-Noble as Will
- Indira Varma as the Duchess
- Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush
- Lenny Rush as Morris
- Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christopher Ibrahim
- Jinkx Monsoon as an unnamed villain
- Jonathan Groff as an unnamed Regency era character
- Bhav Joshi in an unknown role
- Eilidh Loan in an unknown role
- Pete MacHale in an unknown role
- Miles Yekinni in an unknown role
- Jonah Hauer-King in an unknown role
Gatwa is best known for his role as Eric Effiong in Sex Education. Meanwhile, Gibson has won considerable acclaim for her performance as Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street.
In response to his casting, Gatwa said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honored, beyond excited, and of course a little bit scared.”
“This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself,” he continued. “And each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavor my utmost to do the same.”
For her part, Gibson said (per Digital Spy): “Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honored to be cast as the Doctor’s companion.”
The BBC announced both Gatwa and Gibson’s casting on social media – and later did the same for returning cast member Jemma Redgrave. Redgrave has played Kate Lethbridge-Stewart since 2012.
Looking wider afield, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon is set to play a “major role” in Season 14. The BBC revealed Monsoon’s involvement in an April 2023 press release, in which Russell T Davies teased that Doctor Who “will never be the same again” after the performer’s debut.
We got our first look at Monsoon’s costume that same month, via Doctor Who’s various social media accounts. Aside from showing off Monsoon’s musical-themed outfit, these posts billed Monsoon’s as-yet-unnamed character as “the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet.”
A month later, the BBC announced that Jonathan Groff would play “a mysterious key character” in Season 14. An awarding stage performer, Groff was famously part of Broadway smash Hamilton’s original cast. His recent screen credits include Frozen, The Matrix Resurrections, Lost Ollie, and Mindhunter.
However, there was a twist early in 2024: while Gibson will reprise her role in the upcoming episodes, she’ll eventually be replaced by Varada Sethu. “Sethu will play Gatwa’s companion, a source confirmed. No other details have been revealed about her role,” Variety wrote.
Doctor Who Season 14 plot: What will happen next season?
There is currently no official, in-depth Doctor Who Season 14 plot synopsis. There is, however, a brief description promising fans that the Doctor and Ruby “will face new monsters as they head off in the TARDIS for many out-of-this-world adventures.”
We can also glean other major narrative details from interviews Russell T Davies has given since taking over as Doctor Who showrunner. For example, the Welsh scribe recently confirmed that the Doctor and Ruby will meet The Beatles in Season 14’s second episode.
Davies also made it clear that fans haven’t seen the last of Yasmin Finney’s Rose Noble, following her introduction in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials. Exactly how big a part Rose will play in Season 14 isn’t clear, although the teaser trailer shows her and the Doctor embracing.
Regardless of whether Rose actually joins the Doctor on the frontlines, one thing is clear: our Time Lord hero won’t be fighting two of his most iconic enemies. Davies let it be known in a November 2023 interview that neither the Daleks nor the Cybermen would appear in Season 14, as he wants to prioritize new baddies, instead.
And don’t forget the secret identity of Ruby Sunday’s mother – a mystery set up in “The Church on Ruby Road.” Davies recently warned fans that this question will hang over Season 14’s wide narrative, culminating in “the most magnificent finale ever shot on planet Earth.”
Doctor Who Season 14 soundtrack: Who is the composer?
The BBC confirmed in April 2023 that composer Murray Gold and the National Orchestra of Wales will supply Doctor Who Season 14’s soundtrack.
Gold previously collaborated with Davies on the 2005 Doctor Who revival, remaining in post until Davies’ immediate successor, Steven Moffat, exited the franchise in 2017. He also scored all three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials and “The Church on Ruby Road,” as well.
Commenting on his return to the series, Gold said: “I’m so happy to be invited back for another joyful ride in the TARDIS. I didn’t think twice. Working with Russell and his team is just a pleasure.”
That’s everything we know about Doctor Who Season 14. In the meantime, check out our other hubs:
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