Doctor Who has always trafficked in scares, but showrunner Russell T. Davies is already hyping Rose Ayling-Ellis’ 2025 guest spot as something genuinely unsettling. “Terror, anger, and bravery,” he teases, describing the EastEnders and Strictly star’s turn in the TARDIS alongside Ncuti Gatwa. Now, Davies is prone to a bit of the dramatic, but let’s just say I’m cautiously optimistic.
Ayling-Ellis, a lifelong Whovian, is calling the experience a “dream come true,” which, fine, standard PR fare. But the casting itself is intriguing. Ayling-Ellis, you’ll recall, made history on EastEnders as the first Deaf actress to play a Deaf character, and her advocacy work off-screen has been equally impressive.
Let’s be clear: Doctor Who doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to nuanced representation. But this could be different. Ayling-Ellis brings a gravitas and visibility that could elevate the typical guest star role into something more meaningful. If Davies can deliver on his promise of genuine fright, and weave in Ayling-Ellis’ talents thoughtfully, this could be more than just another monster-of-the-week romp.
And hey, for those keeping score, it’s nice to see Doctor Who continue its post-BBC America resurgence. The Disney+ partnership clearly isn’t hurting, and snagging talent like Ayling-Ellis is a good look.
Doctor Who will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and stream on Disney+ internationally in 2025.
