Actress Varada Sethu has been officially announced as the newest companion in Doctor Who, joining Ncuti Gatwa for his second series as the iconic Time Lord. The BBC confirmed the news, exciting fans eager to learn who will be adventuring alongside the Fifteenth Doctor in the TARDIS. Sethu, recognized for her roles in Disney+’s Star Wars series Andor and Jurassic World Dominion, expressed her enthusiasm and honor at becoming part of the beloved science fiction show.
Sethu’s casting arrives ahead of Ncuti Gatwa’s debut series as the Doctor in May, which will introduce Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, his first companion. However, Sethu will be joining the Doctor and Ruby in the subsequent series, set to air in 2025, expanding the TARDIS team to a trio. This news comes after earlier speculation regarding Sethu’s involvement with Doctor Who, with rumors suggesting she might replace Gibson. Instead, it appears Doctor Who is embracing a larger ensemble, promising exciting dynamics and adventures for viewers.
Varada Sethu shared her excitement about joining the Whoniverse, stating it was an “honour” and expressing her delight at working with Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson. She remarked on feeling like “the luckiest person in the world” to be part of such a significant show and praised her co-stars as the ideal team for this new chapter.
Showrunner Russell T Davies also welcomed Sethu to the Doctor Who family, recalling their previous collaboration on a BBC production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Davies hinted at the scale of upcoming storylines, stating that “the stakes are higher than ever!” and emphasizing the necessity of having all three actors – Gatwa, Gibson, and Sethu – working together. This suggests a significant role for Sethu’s character and potentially complex narratives involving multiple companions.
While details about Sethu’s character remain under wraps, the BBC released images of her participating in a table read with Gatwa and Gibson, offering a first glimpse of the on-screen team. The introduction of a second companion in the same era as Ruby Sunday marks a notable shift for Doctor Who, raising questions and anticipation about the dynamic between the three leads and the adventures they will face together when the series returns in 2025. Fans can look forward to the premiere of Ncuti Gatwa’s first series on May 11th, streaming on BBC iPlayer before its BBC One broadcast, while eagerly awaiting further news about Varada Sethu’s role in the expanding Whoniverse.
