‘Things Are Coming to a Head’: Doctor Who Star Teases Villain’s Next Move

Doctor Who star Anita Dobson has promised fans will get long-awaited answers about her mysterious character Mrs. Flood in the new season. Mrs. Flood has been a recurring villain throughout Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor era.

Dobson’s character was initially introduced as companion Ruby Sunday’s flighty nextdoor neighbor, though viewers later learned the character is much more significant. Mrs Flood seemingly knew about Sutekh the Destroyer’s secret plan to infiltrate UNIT HQ in the two-part finale “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” and “Empire of Death”, though the real twist came about after The Doctor had stranded Sutekh for eternity in the time stream.

Mrs Flood Returns in Doctor Who Season 2

A short cliffhanger in “Empire of Death” showed Mrs Flood floating above Ruby’s neighborhood with a white umbrella, promising that The Doctor’s “story ends in absolute terror.” This intriguing scene has spawned numerous theories about Mrs Flood’s true identity, including guesses that she could be a rogue Time Lord or even one of the gods of ancient mythology.

In a recent interview with The Radio Times, Dobson hinted that there would finally be a confrontation between The Doctor and Mrs Flood in the new season.

“I think she realises that things are coming to a head and she really needs to have her wits about her now,” she teased. “And so she’s beetling around doing what she does, but now with purpose because she knows that the future is holding some kind of finale if you like.”

The actress went on: “So yeah, I think she’s really focused even though she’s ditzy, she’s focused. She knows what’s going on.”

“I think she realises that things are coming to a head and she really needs to have her wits about her now.”

Doctor Who Returns in 2025

The 15th Doctor will be Joined By Companions Old and New in Season 2

Showrunner Russell T Davies has confirmed that Doctor Who’s second season will bring back Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, alongside Andor’s Varada Sethu as a brand new companion.

Sethu previously appeared in the season 1 episode “Boom” as Mundy Flynn of the Anglican Army, but she will be playing new character Belinda Chandra when she joins the TARDIS.

“I feel like the luckiest person in the world,” Sethu said when her casting was announced. “It is such an honour to be a part of the Whoniverse, and I’m so grateful to the whole Doctor Who family – because that is what they are – for welcoming me with open arms and making me feel so at home.”

The actress subsequently hinted there may be a connection between Mundy Flynn and new companion Belinda Chandra, though fans would have to “wait and see how that manifests” in upcoming episodes. A recently-released trailer for Doctor Who season 2 confirmed that the Pantheon of old world gods would be revisited, after The Doctor previously faced the Toymaker (aka the God of Games) in one of the 60th anniversary specials and Sutekh, the god of death, in season one. The 15th Doctor warns Belinda about the Pantheon in this new footage, telling her: “It’s all a game to them [and] the games are deadly.”

• Anita Dobson’s most iconic role was playing Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts in the original cast of EastEnders.
• Dobson scored a UK top five single with “Anyone Can Fall in Love” after it was featured in EastEnders in 1986.
• The actress left EastEnders in 1988, and subsequently appeared in 1999 movie Darkness Falls as well as Red Dwarf and Inside No. 9, among scores of other classic British shows.

The second season will feature eight all-new adventures for The Doctor, to be written by showrunner Russell T Davies, author Juno Dawson (This Book Is Gay), poet and playwright Inua Ellams (Three Sisters), screenwriter Pete McTighe (A Discovery of Witches and Glitch) and Renegade Nell writer Sharma Angel-Walfall. Filming commenced in July 20023 before wrapping up in May 2024.

Doctor Who is available to stream on the BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ worldwide. The second season is expected to air later in 2025.