Millie Gibson joins the cast of Doctor Who as the Fifteenth Doctor's companion and will debut alongside Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation of the Time Lord in a special episode set to air during the 2023 festive season. Gatwa is set to take on the role following the departure of David Tennant after his tenure as the Fourteenth Doctor during the show's 60th-anniversary celebrations. The long-running British sci-fi series focuses on the time-traveling being from Gallifrey as they travel across time and space, battling terrifying foes, with Gatwa becoming the latest actor to take on the role for season 14 of the show.

Gibson's casting was first revealed during the BBC's live telethon event Children in Need, before the official Doctor Who website released a statement following the live broadcast. Gibson will join Gatwa for Doctor Who season 14's upcoming production, and will make her debut as Ruby Sunday during a special episode released during the 2023 holiday season. Check out Gibson's written statement below:

"Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have traveled in before me. And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started."

Related: Who Is Millie Gibson? Doctor Who's New Companion Explained

How Ncuti Gatwa and Russell T Davies' New Era of Doctor Who Will Change The Show

Doctor Who Millie Gibson Companion Casting Reveal

Gatwa and returning showrunner Russell T Davies' new era of Doctor Who is already promising for the long-running show. While Davies reintroduced the show to modern audiences in 2004, and will reunite with former Doctor and companion actors Tennant and Catherine Tate for three specials that will air across November 2023 to celebrate the show's anniversary, the showrunner's return to the show has already promised to give audiences a fresh take on the mythos. This revamp includes a new logo and a redesign of the fearsome Daleks that will replace the bronze Time War design that debuted during season 1 of the revived series.

Furthermore, Doctor Who's production under Davies will also undertake massive changes, as the show will now be handled by both the BBC and Disney as part of an agreement that is set to go into effect with the 60th-anniversary specials in 2023. As part of the agreement, the 2023 special episodes and future seasons will now be distributed internationally on Disney+, while the BBC will retain the rights to broadcast the show in the UK. Not only will Disney handle the international distribution of Doctor Who, but it is reported that the corporation will also help co-finance the show, reportedly tripling Doctor Who's production budget to £10 million ($11.5 million) per episode.

As Doctor Who prepares to enter a new era, Gibson's casting is a welcome addition to the long-running series. Throughout her tenure in Coronation Street, Gibson took part in many hard-hitting storylines that showcased her range as an actress, proving her more than capable of tackling a role that will see her facing the wonders and horrors the universe has to offer alongside Gatwa's Doctor. And while dedicated fans look forward to the adventures of Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor, Gibson's casting is sure to have audiences speculating on what her and Gatwa's era will have in store as production on Doctor Who season 14 begins in the coming weeks.

Next: Doctor Who’s Bigger Budget Can Revive Old RTD Story IdeasSource: Doctor Who