Yahoo News Doctor Who's Russell T Davies says 'this is a pause' as character steps back
Millie Gibson's Doctor Who character Ruby Sunday is set to have only brief appearances in the upcoming series, according to show insiders. In Saturday's finale, audiences witnessed an emotional goodbye as Ruby chose to remain on Earth with her newfound biological mother, portrayed by Faye McKeever.
The Mirror has been informed by sources that Millie's scenes in 2025 will be quite limited. An insider shared: "In next year's series there is a big standalone episode featuring Ruby reminiscing about her time with the Doctor, as a flashback. And then the story about her and her family members is wrapped up in the season finale. But it's more about them than her."
Nevertheless, the source also mentioned that "the door has been left open" for a potential return of Millie as Ruby in future episodes. A teaser clip showing Ruby has been released as a "sneak peak" for the forthcoming series, where she is seen in a bar urging people to stay indoors, followed by a scene of her flipping through a photo album with her mum and mates, reports the Mirror.
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Russell T Davies, the Doctor Who showrunner, has stated that Ruby's storyline is merely on pause but assures fans that she will make a comeback soon. He elaborated: "This is a pause. I genuinely felt Ruby's story paused there. She couldn't get all that information about her family, all that emotional overload, and run off in the TARDIS. It pauses there. She's coming back."
Back in January, The Mirror disclosed that Millie would be succeeded by a new companion, played by 32 year old Varada Sethu. Millie, 20, has been cast in a significant new television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga for an American network.
Russell T Davies has hinted that Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor will form a dynamic time-travelling team with Millie and Varada Sethu in the coming year. "A new companion is coming in, but you'll see the three of them together," he revealed. "Three people in this TARDIS fighting evil. There are really crucial stories for Ruby to come, and her family. We were ordered for two years of a series off Disney and the Ruby Sunday story literally spans those two years."
However, a source close to the production disclosed that out of eight episodes, six feature very little of Ruby. "Millie is barely there as Ruby, she is a fleeting presence. The audience will see for themselves when the series airs next year."
It's believed that Varada Sethu, known for her role in the Disney+ series Andor, secured her new role after impressing showrunners with her performance as Mundy in this year's episode titled Boom. Yet, she will be portraying a fresh character in the upcoming series. The Christmas special, marking the first appearance of Ncuti and Millie, captivated over eight million viewers. Since its premiere in May, the opening episode has attracted an audience exceeding six million.
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