It has been announced by the BBC that Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson will be the next companion in Doctor Who and will star alongside the Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa once he makes his debut in late 2023. It's unclear how Gibson will become the Doctor's companion, but we do know the character's name will be Ruby Sunday.As previously mentioned, Gibson is most well-known for her role as Kellie Neelan in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. Gibson left the show back in August 2022, presumably because she was offered a role in Doctor Who. Gibson has also appeared in an episode of the BBC drama Love, Lies, and Records and was the main character of the ITV drama Butterfly.In a short interview, Gibson says that she is "honored" to be taking on the role of the Doctor's companion, which she also describes as "a gift of a role" and "a dream come true." Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa also commented on the announcement in a separate interview, stating that Gibson is "full of talent" and that he "cannot WAIT to sail the universe" with her.
As for when we'll get to see Gatwa and Gibson hit our television screens, it was previously revealed that David Tennant is set to reprise his role as the Doctor for three specials in November 2023 - alongside previous companion Catherine Tate - to celebrate the show's 60th anniversary. Gatwa and Gibson will then be introduced and take the show into the festive season that same year.
It was also announced that the next season of Doctor Who will premiere on BBC as well as Disney Plus for Doctor Who fans outside of the United Kingdom, making the show more accessible than it has ever been before. Next year can't come soon enough.