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The fifteenth series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who is expected to premiere in 2025. It will be the sixth series led by Russell T Davies as head writer and executive producer, and the second since his return to the show in 2023, having previously worked on it from 2005 to 2010. This series is set to be the fifteenth to air following the programme's revival in 2005, and will be the forty-first season overall. As with the changes introduced from series 14 onwards, this series is referred to as "Season Two" in marketing, following the production changes and the acquisition of Doctor Who's international broadcasting rights by Disney+.

This will be the second series to star Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, an incarnation of the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a time machine which appears to be a British police box from the outside. Millie Gibson is to reprise her role as the Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday from the previous series, along with Varada Sethu as additional companion Belinda Chandra. It was confirmed that Nicola Coughlan would appear as a companion in the 2024 Christmas special.

The series, which is set to be preceded by a Christmas episode in 2024, is due to consist of eight episodes, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai, Peter Hoar, Amanda Brotchie, Ben A. Williams, and Makalla McPherson. Alongside Davies, the writers include four other individuals, with former showrunner and head writer Moffat writing the Christmas special. Filming began in October 2023 and concluded in May 2024.

Episodes

Casting

Ncuti Gatwa confirmed that he would return for a second series in July 2023. In November 2023, it was announced that Nicola Coughlan would appear as Joy Almondo in the 2024 Christmas special. Along with Jonah Hauer-King being added to the series, Millie Gibson was revealed to be filming for her second series in November 2023, though reports emerged in January 2024 that Gibson would be leaving the show after the fourteenth series, to be replaced by Varada Sethu. However, in April 2024 it was announced that Gibson and Sethu would appear concurrently throughout the series. Sethu made a surprise appearance in the series prior in "Boom" (2024) as Mundy Flynn before her debut as the new companion. On 27 July 2024, it was announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Sethu's character would be called Belinda Chandra. On 17 September 2024, it was announced that Archie Panjabi would portray a villain. On 20 December 2024, it was announced that Rose Ayling-Ellis would portray a role in the series.

Production

Development

In May 2017, it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China, the company has first right of refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of future series of the programme until and including Series 15.

Similar to the fourteenth series, the fifteenth series will consist of a Christmas special followed by eight regular episodes, consisting of six one-parters and a two-part finale.

Writing

Davies was writing the 2024 Christmas special by December 2022, and the fifteenth series by June 2023. By October 2023, five of the nine scripts had been completed. In May 2024, former showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat confirmed that he had written the 2024 Christmas special instead, and that it was entitled "Joy to the World". The episodes of the series itself were written by Davies and four other writers.

Filming

With filming for the previous series concluding in July 2023, crew were given a four-week turnaround before pre-production started for the next series, on 14 August. Each production block was given ten weeks of prep. The first readthrough was held on 17 October 2023.

Principal photography began on 23 October 2023 at Bad Wolf Studios, with the 2024 Christmas special "Joy to the World" assigned to the first block, directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai. The second block — containing the first and fourth episodes — began filming on 14 November 2023, directed by Peter Hoar. Hoar had previously directed the sixth series episode "A Good Man Goes to War" (2011), and had worked with Davies on It's a Sin and Nolly. Filming for the third block — containing the second and third episodes — began in January 2024, directed by Amanda Brotchie. Location filming at Penarth Pier marked the first time that Sethu was photographed on-set as the new companion. Makalla McPherson and Ben A. Williams directed further blocks, with Williams directing the sixth episode, which he described as a "very big episode", and Davies described as "epic". Production for the series wrapped on 24 May 2024.

Production blocks are set to be arranged as follows:

Release

The fifteenth series is expected to be released on BBC One in 2025. The series will be released internationally on Disney+.

References

1. ^ Mellor, Louisa (14 May 2024). "Steven Moffat Confirms He's Written Doctor Who 2024 Christmas Special "Joy to the World"". Den of Geek. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
2. Rumfitt, Alison. "Ncuti Gatwa on Doctor Who: 'The Doctor is me'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
3. "Nicola Coughlan Will Appear on 'Doctor Who' With Ncuti Gatwa, Russell T Davies Says". Variety. 10 November 2023.
4. Mellor, Louisa (14 May 2024). "Steven Moffat Confirms He's Written Doctor Who 2024 Christmas Special "Joy to the World"". Den of Geek. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
5. Laford, Andrea (15 November 2023). "Millie Gibson films scenes for 2025 Doctor Who in Bristol". CultBox. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
6. Yossman, K. J. (20 January 2024). "'Doctor Who' Star Millie Gibson to Be Replaced by Varada Sethu After One Season". Variety. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
7. "Doctor Who - First Look at Ncuti Gatwa with Varada Sethu and Millie Gibson ahead of season two". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
8. Warner, Sam (17 April 2024). "Doctor Who's Russell T Davies responds to Millie Gibson exit confusion". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
9. Griffin, Louise (18 May 2024). "Who is Varada Sethu's character in Doctor Who? Star makes early appearance as Mundy Flynn". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
10. James Hibbs (27 July 2024). "Doctor Who reveals who Varada Sethu will be playing". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
11. Cordero, Rosy (17 September 2024). "Archie Panjabi To Play 'Doctor Who' Villain In New Season From Disney+ And BBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
12. Mensah, Katelyn (20 December 2024). "Doctor Who casts Rose Ayling-Ellis in scariest season 15 episode: 'It's absolutely terrifying'". Radio Times.
13. Fullerton, Huw (3 June 2017). "The BBC is already preparing for at least FIVE more series of Doctor Who". RadioTimes. Immediate Media Company. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
14. "Doctor Who Gets Brand Boost in China" (Press release). BBC. 25 May 2017. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
15. ^ Quinn 2024d, p. 6.
16. Hearn 2022, p. 7.
17. Cremona, Patrick (22 June 2023). "Russell T Davies reveals 3-word teaser for Doctor Who season 15". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
18. ^ Laford, Andrea (14 October 2023). "Russell T Davies teases Doctor Who 60th anniversary and 2025 Series news". CultBox. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
19. Quinn 2024a, p. 10.
20. Laford, Andrea (15 July 2023). "2024 Doctor Who series wraps filming". CultBox. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
21. Quinn 2023, p. 12.
22. ^ Quinn 2024b, p. 10.
23. Quinn 2024a, p. 12.
24. @bbcdoctorwho (23 October 2023). "TARDIS at the ready! 🎬 Filming starts today on Ncuti Gatwa's second series as the Doctor" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023 – via Twitter.
25. Laford, Andrea (31 October 2023). "Ncuti Gatwa films Doctor Who in Cardiff". CultBox. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
26. ^ Laford, Andrew (1 February 2024). "Russell T Davies gives an update on the Doctor Who 2025 series". CultBox. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
27. Cook, Sam (22 January 2024). "Doctor Who films in Welsh seaside town as rumoured 'new' companion spotted". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
28. ^ "Ben A Williams". Independent Talent. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
29. ^ "Makalla McPherson | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
30. Quinn 2024c, p. 6.
31. Graham-Lowery, Nathan (25 May 2024). "Doctor Who Season 15 Officially Wraps Filming". Screen Rant. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
32. Hayes, Dade (25 October 2022). "'Doctor Who' Moves To Disney+ Outside UK And Ireland Via BBC-Disney Branded Television Partnership". Deadline. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.

Bibliography

• Hearn, Marcus, ed. (December 2022). "Issue 585". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 585. Panini Comics.
• Quinn, Jason, ed. (October 2023). "Issue 595". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 595. Panini Comics.
• Quinn, Jason, ed. (January 2024a). "Issue 598". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 598. Panini Comics.
• Quinn, Jason, ed. (February 2024b). "Issue 599". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 599. Panini Comics.
• Quinn, Jason, ed. (Spring 2024c). "Issue 602". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 602. Panini Comics.
• Quinn, Jason, ed. (November 2024d). "Issue 609". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 609. Panini Comics.

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