Doctor Who confirms Varada Sethu as Ncuti Gatwa’s new companion for series 15 as they smile alongside Millie Gibson in first look photos

Doctor Who has officially confirmed Varada Sethu as Ncuti Gatwa’s new companion for his second installment as the Time Lord.

In the first photos for series 15, the actress and lead actor, both 31, smiled alongside Millie Gibson, 19, who currently stars as Ruby Sunday.

It was previously reported that Varada would replace Millie as Ncuti’s companion, although details about her character are still under wraps.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies told it BBC: ‘Right now in the studio, shooting for 2025, Ncuti, Millie and Varada are fighting side by side – we need all three as the stakes are higher than ever!’

Millie starred as Ruby, the 15th Doctor’s companion, and first appeared on screen for the 2023 Christmas special, returning for an eight-episode series in May.

However, it has been suggested that Millie’s character Ruby will be replaced by Varada for Ncuti’s second series.

It is claimed that the former Coronation Street actress will wrap up the show in the coming weeks to ‘tie up loose ends’ and will not appear in the 2024 Christmas special.

Varda began filming at Cardiff studios in January, where she was seen on set with Ncuti.

On set, Penarth Pier was transported back to the 1950s with American cars, including a 1954 Cadillac that sat outside the Palazzo theatre.

She is best known for her role as DS Mishal Ali in the BBC’s apocalyptic TV series Hard Sun, but that was far from her first role.

The actress made her debut in the short film Impressions in 2010 before starring in Sket in 2011.

She had a small role in Doctor’s in 2015 as PC Kylie Green and appeared in two episodes of Doctor Foster.

In 2016, Varda starred in the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In the first photos for series 15, the actress and lead actor, both 31, smiled alongside Millie Gibson (R), 19, who currently stars as Ruby Sunday

It was previously reported that Varada would replace Millie as Ncuti’s companion, although details about her character are still under wraps.

That same year, she played Michael Caine’s character’s assistant in Now You See Me 2.

In 2019, she played the role of Corporal Manisha Chetri in Strike Back: Revolution and its sequel series Strike Back: Vendetta.

She next starred in the Netflix original film I Came By in 2022 and Jurassic World Dominion as Shira.

Millie could be seen making a 360 turn Doctor who showrunner hinted that the actress will return Kroningsstraat.

There are rumors that she could return to her Corrie role as Kelly Neelan, a role she played from 2019 to 2022.

While sitting next to Millie and the episode’s producer Chris May, Russell joked during a commentary on the Christmas Day 2023 episode about Millie’s name being broadcast in large letters on the screen.

He suggested this was what was missing from her time on Coronation Street.

“I should have had that cat and the cobblestones and Millie Gibson,” he said, before assuring her he would be speaking to the team at the ITV soap.

Millie has so far remained silent on reports that she has quit the show.

Doctor Who is known for its dramatic regenerations, with a new actor taking on the title role every few years – but the hit BBC show also has the power to transform careers.

Millie starred as Ruby, the 15th Doctor’s companion, and first appeared on screen for the 2023 Christmas special, returning for an eight-episode series in May.

However, it has been suggested that Millie’s character Ruby will be replaced by Varada for Ncuti’s second series (pictured in February 2023)

Rumor has it that Millie could return to her Corrie role as Kelly Neelan, a role she played from 2019 to 2022 (Millie pictured in the soap in 2022)

Having already shown her acting chops in a gritty soap, brand and culture expert Nick Ede predicted Millie’s appearance in Doctor Who will make her ‘one to watch in 2024’.

He told The sun: ‘Millie has tackled some very tough storylines in Corrie, which will show Hollywood producers that she is adept at many roles and is a very credible actress.

“Combined with her good looks and great personality, I can see her being cast in a blockbuster faster than you can say Tardis.”

Previously, Jenna Coleman left Emmerdale to become one of Britain’s most sought-after stars after playing Matt Smith’s companion Clara.