Doctor Who Season 14 Cast & Character Guide: Who Appears In Each Episode

SUMMARY

• Doctor Who season 14 represents a fresh start with new actors and characters, while also maintaining a sense of tradition through familiar faces.
• Ncuti Gatwa impresses as the upbeat and intense Fifteenth Doctor, while Millie Gibson’s mysterious Ruby Sunday adds intrigue.
• Episode 2 dives into a ’60s throwback, featuring historical figures like The Beatles and Cilla Black.

Doctor Who season 14’s cast is almost a complete reset for the franchise’s new era, with only a handful of familiar faces returning. With a new lead actor taking over as a result of Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary ending, the show’s first season on Disney+ has a fresh start. Although the 2023 Christmas Special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” introduced a few members of the new Doctor Who cast, season 14 continues to bolster the roster as the Fifteenth Doctor takes up his new residence in the TARDIS.

Even though Doctor Who‘s Disney era began in 2023 with David Tennant returning to the lead role, Doctor Who season 14 has a new actor portraying the famous Time Lord. As is often the case with a new season of Doctor Who, the Doctor also has a fresh companion in the form of Ruby Sunday, and the duo meet several interesting figures along the way. Despite what is essentially a very soft reboot of the Doctor Who franchise, season 14 also includes familiar figures from the classic era, as well as characters who debuted after the show’s 2005 revival.

Ncuti Gatwa As The Doctor

Date Of Birth: October 15, 1992

The Actor: Gatwa’s debut as the Doctor came in “The Giggle,” with his version of the character coming into existence as a result of Doctor Who‘s bi-generation twist and separating entirely from David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor. Gatwa’s first full appearance as Fifteen was in “The Church on Ruby Road,” although he has an acting history dating back to 2014 that helped him to snag one of the biggest roles in TV.

Before being cast as the Doctor, Gatwa was most widely known for his role as Eric Effiong in Sex Education. However, Gatwa also appeared in Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air, and was one of the many Kens in 2023’s Barbie movie. Gatwa was born in Rwanda before his family left the country to settle in Scotland a few years later.

The Character: Gatwa’s Doctor is referred to by viewers as “The Fifteenth Doctor,” however the character only over calls himself “The Doctor.” His version of the Time Lord is upbeat, but like any good iteration of the Doctor he can snap into an intense demeanor at the drop of a fez. Gatwa is the first new actor to play the Doctor since Jodie Whittaker stepped back from the role in late 2022. As such, his Doctor is still processing the Timeless Child storyline and refers to himself as having been “adopted” by the Gallifreyans.

Millie Gibson As Ruby Sunday

Date Of Birth: June 19, 2004

The Actor: Doctor Who is Gibson’s second major acting role. Her first appearance came in “The Church on Ruby Road,” with Ruby Sunday immediately becoming a point of huge interest due to the character’s enigmatic background. It was reported before Doctor Who season 14 even began that Gibson would exit as a member of the main cast, but showrunner Russell T Davies later confirmed that Ruby would return for season 15.

Doctor Who isn’t the only British mainstay in Gibson’s career, as she appeared as Kelly Neelan in 172 episodes of the long-running soap opera Coronation Street from 2019 to 2022. She has been active since 2017 and worked steadily throughout her pre-Doctor Who career. She was born in the British county of Greater Manchester, which is also where Coronation Street is set.

The Character: Ruby Sunday’s mysterious past has sparked many Doctor Who theories, with very little known about her lineage. Ruby shares several similarities with Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler, who was the Ninth Doctor’s companion at the start of the show’s 2005 revival. Before meeting the Doctor, Ruby lived with her adoptive mother and grandmother, and all three women have now met the famous Time Lord.

Bonnie Langford As Mel Bush

Date Of Birth: July 22, 1964

The Actor: Langford has been active as an actor since 1973, and was also part of Doctor Who‘s original run from 1986-1987 before returning to the franchise in 2022. Although Mel is one of Langford’s most prominent roles, the actor spent 348 episodes of the British soap opera Eastenders playing the character of Carmel Kazemi. She has also appeared in several productions in London’s West End theater district.

The Character: Mel traveled with the Sixth Doctor and Seventh Doctor during her original run on Doctor Who. Langford has reprised the role several times outside the show, including in a number of Doctor Who audio adventures. Her return in the 60th anniversary specials revealed that she now works for UNIT in Doctor Who, an organization with a bigger part to play in season 14.

Jemma Redgrave As Kate Lethbridge-Stewart

Date Of Birth: January 14, 1965

The Actor: Redgrave is another actor being brought back for Doctor Who‘s new era, with the UNIT leader arguably the role for which she is most revered. Between 2016 and 2022, Redgrave appeared as Bernie Wolfe in 68 episodes of Holby City – a British medical drama. Like other Doctor who actors, Redgrave has remained involved with the franchise and has voiced her character in other mediums too. She was born in London.

The Character: Kate is the daughter of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, otherwise known as The Brigadier, who also commanded UNIT and developed a strong bond with the Doctor during Doctor Who‘s classic era. The first version of the Doctor she met was Matt Smith’s Eleventh, and she has had run-ins with every regeneration since – including David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor.

Michelle Greenidge As Carla Sunday

Date Of Birth: June 15, 1969

The Actor: Greenidge was born in the English city of Bradford. Like Millie Gibson, she made her Doctor Who debut in the 2023 Christmas special. As well as her recurring role on Doctor Who, she also plays Lola Okonedo Akimbo in the BBC comedy Mandy. Greenidge collaborated previously with Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies when she starred as Rosa Babatunde in It’s a Sin, and was part of the main cast for Ricky Gervais’ After Life.

The Character: Carla Sunday is a devoted foster mother who has taken in countless babies needing a home. Among these infants was Ruby Sunday, whom she eventually adopted. Carla is very protective of Ruby but seems to more or less trust the Doctor with the safety of her daughter – a rarity for the guardian of a companion in Doctor Who. Carla’s own mother lives with her and Ruby.

Yasmin Finney As Rose Noble

Date Of Birth: August 30, 2003

The Actor: Doctor Who is one of Finney’s very first acting projects, with only two other credits to her name before stepping into the role of Rose Noble. Prior to being in Doctor Who, she played Elle Argent in all 16 episodes of Netflix’s Heartstopper from 2022 to 2023. Finney made her Doctor Who debut in “The Star Beast” – the first of the three 60th anniversary specials.

The Character: Rose is the daughter of Donna Noble – the companion to David Tennant’s Tenth and Fourteenth Doctors. The suppressed metacrisis harbored by Donna influenced her daughter as she grew, subconsciously imparting information to the baby. This connected Rose to Doctor Who‘s Time Lords, causing her to make decisions and take an interest in certain areas without really knowing why.

Jinkx Monsoon As Maestro

Date Of Birth: September 18, 1987

The Actor: Monsoon’s introduction came in Doctor Who season 14, episode 2, “The Devil’s Chord.” A drag queen before she hit the big time, Monsoon’s career really started to blossom when she won RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5 in 2013. She was born in Portland, Oregon, making her a rare American addition to the Doctor Who cast. Many of her previous acting jobs have been brief appearances, but Doctor Who may allow Monsoon to have a longer run as the same character.

The Character: Doctor Who‘s Maestro is a member of an order of beings from outside the universe known as the Pantheon. Monsoon’s character is the child of Neil Patrick Harris’ Toymaker and boasts incredible sonic and music-based abilities. As one of the Doctor’s most formidable opponents yet, Maestro is in the rare position of instilling genuine fear in the Time Lord, making their battle even more important.

Anita Dobson As Mrs. Flood

Date Of Birth: April 29, 1949

The Actor: Dobson was born in London and her acting career dates back to the 1970s. She has had countless roles through the decades, but appeared in Eastenders as Angie Watts between 1985 and 1988. Dobson played Angie in a total of 274 episodes before stepping back from the show. Interestingly, Dobson has been part of the Doctor Who universe before, voicing Eileen Klint in The Eighth Doctor Adventures alongside Paul McGann.

The Character: Mrs. Flood is another mystery introduced during “The Church on Ruby Road.” Dobson’s character seems to know much more about the Doctor and the TARDIS than she outwardly shares, implying Mrs. Flood could be a Time Lord. Although she comes across cantankerous at times, this appears to be an act, as she often reverts to a placid, pensive state rather quickly. Flood ends her first episode by addressing the audience directly – something that is happening more and more in Doctor Who season 14.

Susan Twist As Various

There’s Always A Twist At The End

The Actor: Susan Twist is a storied actor of both British TV and theater. Onscreen, Twist has featured in Coronation Street, In The Flesh, and See No Evil: The Moors Murders.

The Character: One of Doctor Who season 14’s many mysteries concerns Susan Twist’s habit of appearing as different characters in separate episodes. Twist played Isaac Newton’s maid in “Wild Blue Yonder,” a woman requesting a song in “The Church on Ruby Road,” crew member Gina Scalzi in “Space Babies,” the Abbey Road tea lady in “The Devil’s Chord,” the Ambulance avatar in “Boom,” the Hiker in “73 Yards,” and Lindy Pepper-Bean’s mother in “Dot & Bubble.”

“Space Babies” Doesn’t Introduce Many New Cast Members

The Doctor Who season 14 premiere includes several new figures, most of which are infants CGI-augmented to give the impression they are speaking fluent English. There is also a new, mucus-based monster to contend with, but only one new actor may be familiar to audiences. She is most known for one specific character, and Doctor Who is a fun departure for her.

The Actor: Born in Guyana, Rosheuvel’s family eventually moved to London several years after her birth. Her most famous role is Bridgerton‘s Queen Charlotte, a character she also played in the 2023 prequel Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. She has previously appeared in the Doctor Who universe via the spinoff TV show Torchwood in 2008, where she played Dr. Angela Connolly rather than her Doctor Who season 14 character.

The Character: Rosheuvel occupies an almost dual role in “Space Babies.” Initially, it seems as though she is simply the voice of the station’s AI that cares for the children aboard. As the episode progresses, it’s revealed that there is a flesh-and-blood character behind the Nan-E persona: Jocelyn. The character remains onboard to aid the abandoned babies and does her best with her ill-suited skill set.

Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 2, “The Devil’s Chord” Cast

This ’60s Throwback Includes Actors Playing Real Historical Figures

“The Devil’s Chord” is full of tributes to 1960s Britain, including iconic musicians of the time. All four members of The Beatles are cast, as well as Cilla Black. Although it’s only ever the Doctor and Ruby who battle Maestro – the episode’s villain – Paul McCartney and John Lennon unknowingly play a huge part in the victory. The installment ends with a high-energy musical performance that brings everyone together.

• Jeremy Limb as Timothy Drake – Timothy is the piano tutor at the beginning of the episode who accidentally frees Maestro with his musical genius. He appeared in two episodes of Ghosts (UK) in 2021.
• Kit Rakusen as Henry – Henry is Timothy’s student and the “prelude” of Maestro. Rakusen has appeared in some big franchises before Doctor Who, including PAW Patrol, Foundation, and Knuckles.
• George Caple as Paul McCartney – Caple has previously appeared in Doctor Who as Alfie in season 12. His version of McCartney is the only Beatle to interact directly with the Doctor in “The Devil’s Chord.”
• Chris Mason as John Lennon – Riverdale fans may recognize Mason as Chad Gekko.
• Philip Davies as George Harrison – Davies has limited acting experience, appearing mostly in short films.
• James Hoyles as Ringo Starr – Similar to Davies, Hoyles is relatively inexperienced. Neither George Harrison nor Ringo Starr have especially prominent roles in the episode.
• Ed White as George Martin – White had a small part in 2008’s Mamma Mia! and has appeared in British dramas/soaps such as Hollyoaks and Doctors.
• Josie Sedgwick-Davies as Cilla Black – Sedgwick-Davies has a muted role in “The Devil’s Chord,” with Cilla Black included mainly for historical context. She voices Frizzle in 2023’s Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and Doctor Who is one of the actor’s first live-action roles.

Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 3, “Boom” Cast

Some Big Guest Stars Appear In “Boom”

• Varada Sethu as Mundy Flynn – Known for her supporting role in Star Wars show Andor, Varada Sethu’s appearance in “Boom” is far more notable because the actor has already been confirmed as a full-time companion for Doctor Who season 15. It is unknown whether Sethu will be returning as Mundy or playing a new character entirely, but Doctor Who has a history of casting guest stars as future companions.
• Joe Anderson as John Francis Vater – A face many will recognize, Joe Anderson boasts a string of major movie credits. These include Becoming Jane, The Crazies, Peter Hook in Control, Love Happens, Horns, and The Grey alongside Liam Neeson.
• Caoilinn Springall as Splice Francis Vater – Despite her relative youth, Caoilinn Springall previously landed an impressive role in Amazon’s Citadel and starred opposite George Clooney in 2020’s The Midnight Sky.
• Bhav Joshi as Canterbury James Olliphant – Born in Scotland, Bhav Joshi has appeared in Granite Harbour, The Diplomat, and Wedding Season.
• Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy as Carson – Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy’s most prominent past role was as Jesse in the British soap Hollyoaks.

“73 Yards” Is Packed With Guest Actors

• Aneurin Barnard as Roger ap Gwilliam – Before playing Doctor Who‘s trigger-happy prime minister, Aneurin Barnard was best known for his appearance in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk. Barnard also counts The Goldfinch and Cilla among his various movie and TV credits.
• Amanda Walker as Old Ruby Sunday – Old Ruby herself is portrayed by Angela Walker, who has a litany of credits from major movies and TV shows across the past few decades. These include Triangle of Sadness, 28 Weeks Later, A Room with a View, Cloud Atlas, and a variety of British TV classics dating back to 1960.
• Hilary Hobson as The Woman – The figure that follows Ruby Sunday throughout “73 Yards” is played by the little-known Hilary Hobson.
• Sophie Ablett as Marti – Upcoming actor Sophie Ablett previously appeared in Tell Me Everything and A Brixton Tale.
• Maxine Evans as Lowri – Known for her role in Stella, Maxine Evans was a member of the Whoniverse already after appearing in Torchwood season 1’s “Countrycide.”
• Siân Phillips as Enid – The acclaimed Siân Phillips, a dame of the British Empire, is a legend of the stage, but also known for her work in TV and film. Highlights include Clash of the Titans, 1984’s Dune movie, and her award-winning turn in I, Claudius. Phillips is no stranger to Doctor Who either, having previously been involved in multiple audio projects.
• Sion Pritchard as Joshua – When he isn’t running away from creepy pensioners on his way home from the pub, Sion Pritchard appears in comedies such as PhoneShop, The Indiana Doctor, and Trollied.
• Gwion Morris Jones as Ifor – Gwion Morris Jones played Culwyn in The Winter King and Lt. Wilson in Masters of the Air.
• Miles Yekkini as Craig – Miles Yekkini can be spotted in Netflix’s Fool Me Once and 2024 horror movie The Strangers: Chapter 1.
• Amol Rajan as Himself – Amol Rajan is a real-life journalist, broadcaster, and presenter, currently known for University Challenge.

Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 5, “Dot & Bubble” Cast

Callie Cooke As Lindy Pepper-Bean

The Actor: Callie Cooke was born in Leicestershire, England, on October 23, 1993. Before taking the lead role in Doctor Who season 14’s second Doctor-lite episode, Cooke appeared in various smaller TV shows such as Britannia, Wedding Season, Cheaters, and Peacock.

The Character: Living during an unspecified point in the future, Lindy Pepper-Bean was sent by her adoring mother, Penny, from her homeworld to the colony of Finetime. Like her fellow residents, Lindy comes from a wealthy, privileged family, which may explain why she resents her two-hour workday and is entirely reliant on the Dot & Bubble social media platform to complete even the most basic human tasks.

Supporting Cast In Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 5

• Tom Rhys Harries as Ricky September – Tom Rhys Harries, the actor behind everyone’s favorite singing sensation, has starred in two major streaming shows: Suspicion on Apple TV+ and White Lines on Netflix. Curiously, he also appeared in Britannia alongside Callie Cooke. Harries has enjoyed smaller roles in major movies Under Milk Wood and 2019’s The Gentlemen.
• Niamh Lynch as Hoochy Pie – As well as Doctor Who‘s insufferable Hoochy Pie, Niamh Lynch played Karen in Normal People, and featured briefly in blockbusters Cruella and Death on the Nile.
• Jamie Barnard as Brewster Cavenish – In addition to his work as an actor, Jamie Barnard is also a personal trainer in the London area.
• Eilidh Loan as Cooper Mercy – As well as teaching some vital life lessons in 2023’s How To Have Sex, Eilidh Loan featured in the Brooke Shields Christmas movie A Castle for Christmas.
• Pete MacHale as Gothic Paul – The actor behind Gothic Paul can be seen in Netflix’s Choose Or Die, Amazon’s The Feed, and Sky’s Gangs of London.
• Millie Kent as Valerie Nook – Millie Kent is best known as India from Saltburn, but also featured alongside John Travolta in Disney’s The Shepherd.

Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 6, “Rogue” Cast

Jonathan Groff As Rogue

The Actor: A star of both Hollywood and Broadway, Jonathan Groff was born in Pennsylvania in 1985 and began his career on stage before turning his attention to movies and TV. Groff’s screen breakout came when portraying Jesse St. James in Glee, but has gone from strength to strength since, voicing Kristoff in Frozen, playing King George III in Hamilton, Smith in The Matrix Resurrections, and Holden Ford in Mindhunter. Jonathan Groff’s other notable credits include Knock at the Cabin, Invincible, and HBO’s Looking.

The Character: Groff plays Rogue in Doctor Who season 14 – a morally ambiguous time-traveler the Doctor encounters in Regency-era England. Rogue is effectively Doctor Who‘s replacement for Captain Jack Harkness. Both characters are flirtatious mavericks who, despite playing by their own rules, ultimately fall onto the side of good. Just like Groff, Captain Jack’s actor, John Barrowman, also hails from a musical theater background.

Indira Varma As The Duchess

The Actor: A British actor born in 1973, Indira Varma has been prolific since her 1996 movie debut in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. Varma has featured in Luther, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Rome, but will likely be most familiar as Ellaria Sand from Game of Thrones. Curiously, “Rogue” isn’t Varma’s first visit to the Whoniverse, as she previously played Suzie Costello in Torchwood.

The Character: The Duchess plays a dual role in Doctor Who‘s “Rogue.” On one hand, she is an ever-present figure at the nadir of high society in the episode’s Bridgerton-esque world. Her character is modeled heavily on the likes of Lady Featherington and Lady Danbury from Netflix’s saucy period drama. On the other hand, the Duchess is also a monstrous bird-like alien and the main villain at the heart of “Rogue,” which is not something modeled heavily on Netflix’s saucy period drama.

Supporting Cast In Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 6

• Paul Forman as Lord Barton – The face of Lord Barton belongs to Paul Forman, who is best known for playing Nicolas in Emily in Paris. He also featured as Luke in the Prime Video series Riches.
• Camilla Aiko as Emily Beckett – A relative newcomer, Camilla Aiko has predominantly appeared in stage productions, notably portrayings Ava in Scarlet Sunday. Evidently destined for bigger things, Aiko will appear in Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter movie (via UnitedAgents).
• Maxim Ays as Lord Galpin – Ays has some experience in the period drama realm – one of his most notable roles before appearing in Doctor Who came in the I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-Bridgerton series Sanditon.