Ncuti Gatwa will be returning for his second season of Doctor Who. The series’ showrunner shared that he would be joined by “phenomenal” guest stars and one of them was the lead of the “scariest” episode.
Gatwa is the Fifteenth Doctor in the Doctor Who franchise. He made his debut in the 2023 Christmas Special “The Church on Ruby Road.” His first season, dubbed as “Season 1” due to a numbering reset, premiered on May 11, 2024, with a double-bill release of two episodes. Gatwa’s first season of Doctor Who was well-received and he had already started filming for Season 2. Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies teased about the upcoming season and shared that he just wrapped up filming the most terrifying episode in the season.
According to Davies, they had just finished working on an episode, and he shared it with his sister, who loved it. “We finished an episode on Friday, I showed it to my sister and she sat there, she was literally on the edge of her seat,” Davies told Games Radar. Davies teased that the horror-stricken episode starred Rose Ayling-Ellis, an English actress who has been deaf since birth and best known for her role as Frankie Lewis on EastEnders. The filmmaker refused to name more guest actors in Season 2 aside from Ayling-Ellis but shared a significant detail about the episode she was part of. “We’ve got a story with Rose Ayling-Ellis in the lead,” Davies said. “She’s the lead in one episode which is stunning, I think it’s our scariest episode, it’s absolutely terrifying, she’s magnificent in it… to see Ncuti with her. And other guest names in that cast are phenomenal. There are great episodes to come, a whole range – mad ones, scary ones, completely mad ones.”
Davies didn’t share more about the anticipated episode and instead talked about the mysterious character Mrs. Flood, played by Anita Dobbs. Mrs. Flood raised eyebrows due to her knowledge about the TARDIS. She’s one of Ruby’s neighbors and previously shared that the Doctor’s “story ends in absolute terror.” She also spoke about the Sutekh’s impending return. Davies confirmed that Mrs. Flood is an important character with a major twist, somewhat teasing fans to focus on the character. “And more Anita Dobbs… a lot more Anita Dobbs. She’s got a big surprise,” the director shared.
Davies was wise to cast Ayling-Ellis for the “scariest” episode in Doctor Who because horror movies featuring mute protagonists heighten the tension and fear factor probably because they can’t scream for help. They appear defenseless, which intensifies the audience’s concern for them. The lack of dialogue also enhances the atmosphere because filmmakers will usually rely on sound design, visuals and subtle cues to deliver an unsettling environment. Silence will also draw the audience to focus more on the character’s actions and emotions, which creates an emotional connection and amplifies the danger. At the same time, silence allows the audience to project their fears onto the character.
Ayling-Ellis is a distinguished actress with a lot of acting experience. Her career began with a short film, The End, directed by Ted Evans, a deaf filmmaker. She has contributed to TV and theater and was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2023 Laurence Olivier Awards for playing Celia in As You Like It. She made history as the first deaf talent to secure a full-time role on the BBC’s EastEnders. Her compelling performance was widely praised, and she was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2021 National Television Awards. The deaf and hearing audience loved the way she portrayed the challenges faced by deaf individuals as it resonated with them. There’s no doubt that Ayling-Ellis will put on the same intense performance in Doctor Who. Ayling-Ellis will make her debut in the franchise in the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special “Joy to the World.”
