‘Being cast in the show is a dream come true,’ the former soap star said. Doctor Who has cast Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis in the forthcoming new series, which is set to air in 2025. Ayling-Ellis, who won the BBC dancing competition as the show’s first ever deaf contestant in 2021, will join Ncuti Gatwa for his second season as the Time Lord.
![[Rose Ayling-Ellis will star in the forthcoming season of ‘Doctor Who’ alongside Ncuti Gatwa]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/20/16/Rose-Ayling.jpg)
Millie Gibson will also return as the Doctor’s companion Ruby Sunday, alongside newcomer Varada Sethu, who will join the series as another co-companion to the Doctor, named Belinda Chandra. Ayling-Ellis previously portrayed Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2020 to 2022 after starting her career in short film and on stage.
![[Millie Gibson, Ncuti Gatwa and Varadu Sethu pictured together ahead of the 2025 series]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/04/13/15/newFile-1.jpg)
Since Strictly, she has completed a string of firsts, including becoming the first celebrity reader to perform a CBeebies bedtime story in sign language in May 2022. She was also the first deaf person to host a live sports show, presenting the Paralympic Games in France for Channel 4 this summer.
![[Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson in ‘Doctor Who']](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/18/10/newFile-11.jpg)
“I loved Doctor Who when I was growing up,” gushed Ayling-Ellis as her casting was announced. “So, being cast in the show was a dream come true. My inner child is ecstatic with excitement!. “Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience. Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have created together.”.
