From Script to Screen: Traveling through the Doctor Who Universe

Donna Enayati with Millie Gibson.

The new season of “Doctor Who”  produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC, premiered on Disney+ on May 10, 2024.

The first episode of “Doctor Who” was premiered in 1963, and has been running for over sixty years. The show follows the Doctor and his associate, Ruby Sunday, as they explore the universe in their time-traveling ship, TARDIS. Throughout their drama-filled quests, they encounter both friends and enemies, such as the iconic Boogeyman. 

The new season brings even more excitement. Millie Gibson, who stars as Ruby Sunday in the new season, said “Every day, I literally went home and was and was like how is this my job? We had the craziest day, one day I was running from the Boogeyman, and another day rapping with Nicky Minaj. There was just so much magic.” She described the magic on set and the element of fun throughout production. 

This was echoed by Ncuti Gatwa, who played the fifteenth doctor in the Doctor Who series, and most enjoyed the various stunts throughout filming; in one moment, he was lifted over the set from an extensive height. 

Behind the excitement, there are several key messages that youth should take away from the show, such as friendship, fun, joy, hope and curiosity. “The Doctor is so fascinated by other people and loves other people and loves new people that are different, “ Gatwa said. The show ultimately reminds viewers to appreciate our differences. 

Russel T. Davies, showrunner, executive producer and writer, said “The most exciting part is always the actors. You get to work with Ncuti, you get to work with Millie, you get to work with guest stars. […] Just getting to be in the same room as these people is exciting.”

Some of the guest stars include Jinkx Monsoon, Michelle Greenidge, Angela Wynter, Anita Dobson, Aneurin Barnard, Yasmin Finney, Jonathan Groff, Gwïon Morris Jones, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush and Indira Varma.

Gatwa and Gibson had a strong friendship on and off-set. “Russel does such a great job of writing how we talk to each other. It’s dynamic and it definitely feeds into how Ruby and the doctor communicate” Gibson said. 

This must-see is so much more than a show. “Its a proper drama, there are scary bits, and emotional bits, but more than any part of the show, it has a laugh, it has fun” Davies said.

Donna Enayati interviews Ncuti Gatwa.