Wish World/ The Reality War

The Doctor's granddaughter,
Susan. Remember Susan?

Two episodes (Wish World, The Reality War)

First broadcast: May 24-31 2025
Audience for story: 3.15m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) Born Jun 19 2004 Click here for Millie Gibson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

GUEST CAST

Nila Aalia (Lakshmi Chandra)

Doctor Who credits

Played: Flying instructor in Torchwood: Out of Time (2006, uncredited)

Played: Lakshmi Chandra in Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

After debuting in Spooks (2004), African-born Nila appeared in If... (2005), Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee (2005), EastEnders (2005), Taggart (2006), Five Days (2007), Outnumbered (2008), Whitechapel (2010), Scott & Bailey (2012), The Rebel (2016), Wolfblood (2016-17), A Discovery of Witches (2018), I Hate Suzie (2020), Black Narcissus (2020), Professor T (2021), Halo (2022) and The Wheel of Time (2023-25). She regularly played Bel Roy in soap Hollyoaks (2008-09).

Leni Adams (Violett Zufall) Born Jun 16 1985

Career highlights

Debuted in Halbe Hundert (2012), followed by Voyage (2013), Manhunt: Escape to the Carpathians (2016), Forget About Nick (2017), Professor T (2019), Im Schatten das Licht (2020), Divertimento (2020), The Three Detectives (2023) and Die Bergretter (2023). Between 2012-21, German Leni was credited as Leni Speidel.

Atilla Akinci (Otto Zufall) Born 1987

Career highlights

German Atilla debuted in the 2017 short film Audiophile, followed by Killing Eve (2018), Nazi Megastructures (2019), Sex Education (2021), No Return (2022), Ghosts (2022), The Famous Five (2024) and Paddington in Peru (2024). He also provides voicework for many videogames, such as Glam Pursuit (2023), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (2024) and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (2024).

Hermon Berhane (Val Balham) Born 1983

Career highlights

Hermon, who is deaf, runs a lifestyle blog with her deaf twin sister Heroda called Being Her. Both siblings (as well as their brother) became deaf in what they call "strange circumstances" while playing outside at the age of seven in their home in Eritrea: "One moment we could hear, the next we couldn't."

Nicholas Briggs (Voice of Omega) Born Sep 29 1961 Click here for Nicholas Briggs' entry on Rose

Aidan Cook (The Vlinx) Click here for Aidan Cook's entry on The Rings of Akhaten

Alexander Devrient (Colonel Ibrahim)

Played: Colonel Christopher Ibrahim in The Giggle (2023), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024), Lucky Day (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

German/ French actor Alexander made his screen debut in the 2010 short Detente, followed by We are What We Drink (2010), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Voodoo Magic (2013), Emmerdale (2014), The Danish Girl (2015), SS-GB (2017), Genius (2018), The Bureau (2018), Industry (2020), Motherland (2021), Ted Lasso (2021), All the Old Knives (2022) and The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself (2022).

Steph de Whalley (Anita Benn) Born 1988

Doctor Who credits

Played: Anita Benn in Joy to the World (2024), The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

Steph debuted in The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael (2005), then Cyber Bride (2019) and Midnight Taxi (2024).

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Yasmin Finney (Rose Noble) Born Aug 30 2003

Doctor Who credits

Played: Rose Noble in The Star Beast (2023), The Giggle (2023), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

Yasmin rose to prominence playing Elle Argent in the series Heartstopper (2022), and has also appeared in the short film Mars (2022).

Facts

Yasmin is a trans woman.

Carole Ann Ford (Susan) Born Jun 16 1940 For a full career biography for Carole Ann Ford, click here.

Michelle Greenidge (Carla) Born Jun 15 1970 Click here for Michelle Greenidge's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Jonathan Groff (Rogue) Born Mar 26 1985

Doctor Who credits

Played: Rogue in Rogue (2024), Wish World (2025)

Career highlights

Making his screen debut playing Henry Mackler in US soap One Life to Live (2007), Jonathan's CV includes roles in Pretty/ Handsome (2008), Taking Woodstock (2009), The Conspirator (2010), The Good Wife (2012), Boss (2012), Frozen (2013, as the voice of Kristoff), The Normal Heart (2014), American Sniper (2014), The Simpsons (2018), Frozen 2 (2019), Hamilton (2020), Invincible (2021), The Matrix Resurrections (2021), And Just Like That (2022), Lost Ollie (2022), Knock at the Cabin (2023) and A Nice Indian Boy (2024). Further recurring roles include Jesse St James in Glee (2010-15), Patrick Murray in Looking (2014-16) and Holden Ford in Mindhunter (2017-19).

Awards

2014: Behind the Voice Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film (Frozen) - shared with cast

2016: Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album (Hamilton) - shared with cast

2018: Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series, Drama/ Genre (Mindhunter)

Facts

While filming the dance routine to Bohemian Rhapsody in Glee, Jonathan sustained a 5-inch scar on his bicep after being wounded by his dance partner's stiletto! Jonathan has been romantically linked to actor Zachary Quinto, actor Gavin Creel and choreographer Corey Baker. When he was in his early 20s, Jonathan was diagnosed with melanoma and underwent surgery to remove it. He is an advocate of transcendental meditation.

Jonah Hauer-King (Conrad Clark) Born May 30 1995

Doctor Who credits

Played: Conrad Clark in Lucky Day (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

Jonah's TV debut came in 2017's The Last Photograph, followed by roles in Howards End (2017), Little Women (2017), Postcards from London (2018), Old Boys (2018), Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (2019), The Flatshare (2022), The Little Mermaid (2023), World on Fire (2019-23), The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2024), William Tell (2024) and The Threesome (2025).

Facts

Jonah's mother is producer Debra Hauer. Jonah also wrote and performed the song Lover (Muse) for the BFI's Postcards from London soundtrack.

Bonnie Langford (Melanie Bush) Born Jul 22 1964 Click here for Bonnie Langford's entry on The Trial of a Time Lord Parts 9-12

Sam Lawton (Winnie Petheridge)

Career highlights

Other work includes Silent Witness (2012) and You Don't Know Me (2021).

Josephine Lloyd-Welcome (Devika Babu) Born Apr 1949

Career highlights

Josephine made her first screen appearance in Couples (1976), followed by roles in Doctor on the Go (1977), Angels (1979), Agony (1980), Tenko (1982), The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Brookside (1984), CATS Eyes (1986), Only Fools and Horses (1989), Love Hurts (1994), Dangerfield (1995), EastEnders (1996), Ideal (2007-10), Not Going Out (2012), Goldie's Oldies (2021) and The Cleaner (2024).

Facts

Josephine is married to Rick Lloyd, an original member of the Flying Pickets which had a UK number 1 hit with Only You (alongside Delta and the Bannermen actor Brian Hibbard).

Ruth Madeley (Shirley Anne Bingham) Born Aug 4 1987 Click here for Ruth Madeley's entry on The Star Beast

Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps (Poppy)

Played: Poppy in Space Babies (2024), The Story & the Engine (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Archie Panjabi (The Rani) Born May 31 1972

Doctor Who credits

Played: The Rani in The Interstellar Song Contest, Wish World/ The Reality War (all 2025)

Career highlights

Debuting in London's Burning (1993), Archie (full name Archana) went on to appear in Siren Spirits (1994), The Thin Blue Line (1996), Dad (1997), East is East (1999), Murder in Mind (2001), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), My Family (2002), White Teeth (2002), Canterbury Tales (2003), Sea of Souls (2004), Chromophobia (2005), Life on Mars (2006-07), Silent Witness (2007), Personal Affairs (2009), The Fall (2013-14), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2015), Shetland (2016), Bull (2017), Next of Kin (2018), Still Open All Hours (2019), Blindspot (2016-20), Snowpiercer (2022), Departure (2019-22), Hijack (2023) and Under the Bridge (2024). She appeared regularly as Rita Dhillon in Grease Monkeys (2003-04) and provided various voices (including Nisha and Meera) for Postman Pat between 2003-13. However, her biggest role to date is as Kalinda Sharma in more than 130 episodes of The Good Wife (2009-15).

Awards

2010: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (The Good Wife)

Joshua J Parker (Brian Dale)

Career highlights

Joshua's other work includes Grace (2022), Vera (2023), Unforgotten (2023) and Ridley (2024). He also played Adam Thurman in Django (2022-23).

Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart) Born Jan 14 1965 Click here for Jemma Redgrave's entry on The Power of Three

Susan Twist (Susan Triad) Born c.1957 Click here for Susan Twist's entry on Wild Blue Yonder

Jodie Whittaker (The Doctor) Born Jun 17 1982 Click here for Jodie Whittaker's entry on Twice Upon a Time

Angela Wynter (Cherry) Born Jul 14 1957 Click here for Angela Wynter's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

and introducing...

Billie Piper Born Sep 22 1982 Click here for Billie Piper's entry on Rose

CREW

Russell T Davies (writer) Born Apr 27 1963 Click here for Russell T Davies' entry on Rose

Alex Sanjiv Pillai (director)

Doctor Who credits

Directed: Joy to the World (2024), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

Alex, who is of South Indian Tamil heritage, began directing with 1996's Thief Takers, followed by Flight (1997), Touching Evil (1998), The Last Train (1999), The Wyvern Mystery (2000), Blue Murder (2004), Wire in the Blood (2005), Silent Witness (1998-2008), Being Human (2009), Robin Hood (2009), Merlin (2011), Da Vinci's Demons (2015), Harry Price: Ghost Hunter (2015), Midsomer Murders (2012-17), Bull (2017-20), Bridgerton (2022), DI Ray (2022), Riverdale (2018-23) and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022-24).

The Interstellar Song Contest

Rylan Clark's teeth survived
the deep freeze

One episode (The Interstellar Song Contest)

First broadcast: May 17 2025
Audience for story: 3.75m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

GUEST CAST

Iona Anderson (Wynn Aura-Kin)

Career highlights

Iona's debut came in The Long Call (2021), followed by Six Four (2023) and Grace (2025).

Rylan Clark (Rylan Clark) Born Oct 25 1988

Career highlights

Born Ross Richard Clark, 6ft 4in Rylan is one of the UK's most popular TV and radio presenters, but he started out as a performer at the age of 12, when he auditioned unsuccessfully for the teen pop band S Club Juniors. In 2005 he became a part-time model, adopting the stage name Rylan after seeing it in a book of baby names in W H Smith. He also tried to audition for Big Brother, formed part of various Take That and Westlife tribute bands, and was also in a Spanish boy band called 4bidden until 2010. It was The X Factor which proved to be Rylan's breakthrough in 2012, where he made it through boot camp to the live shows alongside James Arthur, but was finally eliminated in the quarter-finals. Rylan then became a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother (2013), going on to win the contest. A presenting career then followed, with work on Big Brother's Bit on the Side (2013-18), Celebrity Ghost Hunt (2017-18), Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (2019-22), Supermarket Sweep (2019-20), Ready Steady Cook (2020-21) and various connections to the Eurovision Song Contest since 2018. Rylan has worked for BBC Radio 2 since 2018, first of all covering for absent presenters, and finally getting his own show in 2019. He has also appeared as himself in Stella (2014), Celebrity Gogglebox (2019- ) and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016).

Facts

In 2015, Rylan married Big Brother 14 housemate Dan Neal, but they divorced six years later, with Rylan admitting to having had extra-marital affairs, and suicide attempts following the split.

Charlie Condou (Gary Gabbastone) Born Jan 8 1973

Career highlights

Charlie's earliest screen credit was at the age of 12 in the TV movie The Key to Rebecca (1985), followed by roles in Robin of Sherwood (1986), The Storyteller (1988), A Sense of Guilt (1990), The Wolvis Family (1991), Eldorado (1992), Frank Stubbs (1993-94), Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), Pie in the Sky (1995), Gimme Gimme Gimme (1999), Urban Gothic (2000), Charlotte Gray (2001), Nathan Barley (2005), Secret Smile (2005), Fred Claus (2007), You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015), Unforgotten (2017) and The Madame Blanc Mysteries (2025). His best known role is Marcus Dent in over 300 episodes of soap Coronation Street (2007-14).

Facts

Charlie's best friend is actor Paul Bettany, and Charlie is godfather to Bettany and wife Jennifer Connelly's son Stellan.

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Julie Dray (Sabine) Born Oct 6 1980

Career highlights

French Julie debuted in Whatever (1999), followed by A Wonderful Family (2002), Nestor Burma (2003), Navarro (2004), Commissariat Bastille (2006), Vive les Vacances! (2009), Doctors (2008/10), Land Girls (2011), Breaking the Bank (2014), Cradle to Grave (2015), Riviera (2017), Year of the Rabbit (2019), War of the Worlds (2019), King Gary (2020), A Bird Flew In (2021), The Traveller (2023), Ludwig (2024) and Les Mysteres du Clos des Lilas (2024).

Facts

Julie is trilingual, able to speak French, English and Spanish (she also knows some Norwegian and Hebrew). When she was 13 years old Julie won a competition to interview a pop star for a magazine, and from this became a columnist, using the profit from this to put herself through drama training.

Carole Ann Ford (Susan) Born Jun 16 1940 For a full career biography for Carole Ann Ford, click here.

Freddie Fox (Kid) Born Apr 5 1989

Career highlights

Freddie made his screen acting debut in 2009 in the TV series Marple, followed by work in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009), Worried About the Boy (2010), Any Human Heart (2010), The Shadow Line (2011), The Three Musketeers (2011), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012), Lewis (2012), Parade's End (2012), Pride (2014), The Riot Club (2014), Banana (2015), Cucumber (2015), Victor Frankenstein (2015), An Ideal Husband (2018), Year of the Rabbit (2019), White House Farm (2020), The Crown (2020), The Pursuit of Love (2021), The Gentlemen (2024), House of the Dragon (2024) and The Sandman (2025). Regular roles include providing the voice of Dennis the Menace in Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! (2017-20), King Hugo in The Great (2020-23) and Spider Webb in Slow Horses (2022-23).

Facts

Freddie is a member of the famous Fox acting dynasty: his parents are Edward Fox and Joanna David, his cousins are Jack Fox and Laurence Fox (once married to Billie Piper), his uncles are James Fox and producer Robert Fox, and his sister is Silent Witness star Emilia Fox. Freddie is named after the film director Fred Zinnemann, who directed his father in the film The Day of the Jackal (1973).

Miriam-Teak Lee (Cora Saint Bavier) Born Nov 1 1994

Career highlights

Debuted in My Blood Galentine (2024), then Moominvalley (2020-24). She has also provided voices for videogames such as Dying Light 2: Stay Human (2022), The Inquisitor (2024) and Elroy and the Aliens (2025). Her main work has been on the stage, in musicals such as On the Town (2017), Hamilton (2017) and & Juliet (2019).

Awards

2017: The Stage Debut Award for Best Actress in a Musical (On the Town)

2020: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (& Juliet)

Facts

Her brother is actor Dex Lee, best known for playing Bear Sylvester in daytime soap Doctors (2019-24).

Imogen Kingsley Smith (Runner) Born Jul 3 2002

Career highlights

Imogen's other work includes Curse of the Witching Tree (2015), as well as various stage roles, such as Billy Elliot: The Musical (2014) and singing for Robbie Williams Live at the London Palladium (2013).

Kadiff Kirwan (Mike Gabbastone) Born Feb 3 1989

Career highlights

Kadiff's debut came in 2015 in Call the Midwife, followed by parts in Crims (2015), Black Mirror (2016), Drifters (2016), Chewing Gum (2015-17), Queers (2017), Strike (2017), Zapped (2018), Flack (2019), Fleabag (2019), Timewasters (2017-19), The Stranger (2020), Death in Paradise (2020), Time (2021), This Way Up (2019-21), This is Going to Hurt (2022) and My Policeman (2022). He also had regular roles in Slow Horses (2022-24) as Marcus Longridge and Everyone Else Burns (2023-24) as Andrew. He was also a script editor on This Way Up (2021).

Facts

Kadiff was born in Plymouth, the capital of Montserrat. In 1995, when Kadiff was six, the island's dormant volcano erupted, burying Plymouth and destroying the airport and dock. Part of the island became uninhabitable, leading to Kadiff's parents moving his family first to Antigua, then to the UK.

Akemnji Ndifornyen (Len Kazah) Born Nov 18 1989

Career highlights

Akemnji made his acting debut on screen in Out of Control (2002), followed by The Crouches (2003), Incubus (2006), Casualty (2007), Law and Order UK (2010), WPC 56 (2013), Sunny D (2016), Tango One (2018), Berlin Station (2018), Shrill (2019-20), Breeders (2020), Famalam (2018-20), The Queen's Gambit (2020), Black Ops (2023, which he also created and wrote for) and The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025). Recurring roles include Nathan Bailey in soap Doctors (2004-05) and Machiavelli in Leonardo (2011-12). He has also written for series such as Famalam (2018-20) and Horrible Histories (2021).

Awards

2019: BAFTA TV Craft Award for Breakthrough Talent (Famalam)

Graham Norton (Graham Norton) Born Apr 4 1963

Doctor Who appearances

Appeared: Feedback voice during debut transmission of Rose (2005)

Appeared: Animated form during debut transmission of The Time of Angels (2010)

Played: Graham Norton in Dermot and the Doctor (aka The Doctor Saves the Day) (National Television Awards, 2011)

Played: Graham Norton in Looking for Pudsey (aka Fantastic Beasts Special) (Children in Need, 2016)

Played: Graham Norton in 2023: The Eurovision Audition Tapes (Comic Relief, 2023)

Played: Graham Norton in The Interstellar Song Contest (2025)

Career highlights

Irishman Graham is Britain's biggest and most popular chat show host, having hosted his own show firstly on Channel 4, and then the BBC, since 1998. He started out as an actor and comedian, appearing in productions such as Growing Rich (1992), Absolutely Fabulous (2002), Another Gay Movie (2006), Holding (2022) and Mandy (2024). His breakthrough acting role was as Father Noel Furlong in sitcom Father Ted (1996-98). Graham has also been the British commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest since 2008.

Awards

2000: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (So Graham Norton)

2000: British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality (So Graham Norton)

2001: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (So Graham Norton)

2001: Royal Television Society Award for Best Presenter (So Graham Norton)

2002: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (So Graham Norton)

2002: British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality (V Graham Norton)

2011: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (The Graham Norton Show)

2011: British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality (The Graham Norton Show)

2012: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (The Graham Norton Show)

2013: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Programme (The Graham Norton Show)

2015: BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme (The Graham Norton Show)

2017: National Television Special Recognition Award

2018: BAFTA TV Award for Best Entertainment Performance (The Graham Norton Show)

Facts

Graham is married to TV director Jono McLeod. In 1989, aged 26, Graham was stabbed in the chest by muggers and left for dead. Graham (real surname Walker) was the model for the first ever talking waxwork as Madame Tussaud's in London (2001). He auditioned for the role of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Graham's turn as his holographic self is actually the third time he has made an appearance in Doctor Who, although The Interstellar Song Contest was the first intended appearance. Feedback of his voice from his live show Strictly Dance Fever was heard during the opening moments of the debut transmission of Rose on BBC1 in 2005, while an animated rendition of Graham was seen overlaid rather obtrusively during the cliffhanger of The Time of Angels in 2010, advertising his show Over the Rainbow.

Archie Panjabi (The Rani) Born May 31 1972

Doctor Who credits

Played: The Rani in The Interstellar Song Contest, Wish World/ The Reality War (all 2025)

Career highlights

Debuting in London's Burning (1993), Archie (full name Archana) went on to appear in Siren Spirits (1994), The Thin Blue Line (1996), Dad (1997), East is East (1999), Murder in Mind (2001), Bend It Like Beckham (2002), My Family (2002), White Teeth (2002), Canterbury Tales (2003), Sea of Souls (2004), Chromophobia (2005), Life on Mars (2006-07), Silent Witness (2007), Personal Affairs (2009), The Fall (2013-14), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2015), Shetland (2016), Bull (2017), Next of Kin (2018), Still Open All Hours (2019), Blindspot (2016-20), Snowpiercer (2022), Departure (2019-22), Hijack (2023) and Under the Bridge (2024). She appeared regularly as Rita Dhillon in Grease Monkeys (2003-04) and provided various voices (including Nisha and Meera) for Postman Pat between 2003-13. However, her biggest role to date is as Kalinda Sharma in more than 130 episodes of The Good Wife (2009-15).

Awards

2010: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (The Good Wife)

Christina Rotondo (Liz Lizardine) Born 1992

Doctor Who credits

Sang: The Goblin Song in The Church on Ruby Road (2023)

Played: Voice of Janis Goblin in The Church on Ruby Road (2023)

Played: Liz Lizardine in The Interstellar Song Contest (2025)

Career highlights

Christina is a singer songwriter and session musician who has provided work for the BBC, Roblox and Technikore.

Abdul Sessay (Jeddy Kine)

To be added...

Kiruna Stamell (Nina Maxwell) Born Mar 13 1981

Career highlights

Australian Kiruna, who is 3ft 6in tall, debuted as La Petite Princesse in Moulin Rouge! (2001), followed by roles in All the Small Things (2009), EastEnders (2008-09), Holby City (2014), Father Brown (2015), The New Pope (2019-20), Wuthering Heights (2020), Brassic (2021), The Serpent Queen (2022), Piglets (2024) and The Listeners (2024). Her most high profile role was as Kirsty Millar in 153 episodes of soap Doctors (2023-24). She also presented the Australian version of children's series Play School between (2018-20).

Facts

Kiruna, named after the Swedish city where her parents witnessed the Northern Lights, has a form of dwarfism caused by the genetic disorder Acromesomelic dysplasia. Her sister also has the same condition. In 1995 Kiruna won the South Pacific Silver Star Tap Dancing Championships, and in 2000 tap danced at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. She is married to stand-up comedian and actor Gareth Berliner, who appeared in The Woman Who Lived.

CREW

Juno Dawson (writer) Born Jul 10 1981

Doctor Who credits

Wrote: Doctor Who: Redacted (2022-23, podcast)

Wrote: The Interstellar Song Contest (2025)

Career highlights

Transgender Juno is best known for her novels, such as Hollow Pike (2012), Under My Skin (2015) and Stay Another Day (2021), as well as the Doctor Who book The Good Doctor (2018), the London trilogy (2018-20) and Her Majesty's Royal Coven series (2022-25). Non-fiction work includes Being a Boy (2013), This Book is Gay (2014) and What's the T? (2021). She has also written for Big Finish, including two Torchwood audios (2016/17), and would have written for the second series of Doctor Who spin-off Class if it had been recommissioned.

Awards

2020: Young Adult Book Prize (Meat Market)

Ben A Williams (director)

Career highlights

Ben's directorial debut was The Pass (2016), followed by Humans (2018), Baghdad Central (2020), War of the Worlds (2021), Sherwood (2022) and Six Four (2023). Ben also created the web series TubeTube (2012-14).

The Story and the Engine

An arachnid monster that is
neither a Giant Spider of Metebelis III
or a Racnoss

One episode (The Story and the Engine)

First broadcast: May 10 2025
Audience for story: 2.70m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

GUEST CAST

Stefan Adegbola (Rashid Abubakar)

Doctor Who credits

Played: Newsreader in The Magician's Apprentice (2015)

Played: Rashid Abubakar in The Story & the Engine (2025)

Career highlights
Stefan's other work includes The Merchant of Venice (2016), Blitz Spirit with Lucy Worsley (2021), Abraham Lincoln (2022), The Lazarus Project (2022) and EastEnders (2023).

Jordan Adene (Tunde Adebayo)

Career highlights

Jordan debuted in Cucumber (2015), followed by Wanderlust (2018), Young Wallander (2020) and Catherine Called Birdy (2022). He has also had recurring roles as Malcolm of Vyrad in 26 episodes of Heirs of the Night (2019-20) and Finn in 14 episodes of Silverpoint (2022-23).

Michelle Asante (Abena) Born 1990

Doctor Who credits

Played: Neighbour in In the Forest of the Night (2014)

Played: Abena in The Story & the Engine (2025)

Career highlights

Michelle debuted in Holby Blue (2007), followed by roles in Midnight Man (2008), Harley Street (2008), Law and Order UK (2009), The Bill (2009), Monroe (2011-12), Father Brown (2016), Lucky Man (2016), Our Girl (2016), The Essex Serpent (2022), This England (2022), Top Boy (2022-23) and Death in Paradise (2025).

Simon Bailey (Paramedic) Born Oct 12 1981

Career highlights

Simon's other work includes stage productions such as Moulin Rouge The Musical, Jersey Boys and Trevor Nunn's production of The Third Man.

Facts

He once appeared on Britain's Got Talent dressed as Elphaba and singing Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked in the guise of Simon Cowell!

Ariyon Bakare (The Barber) Born Jun 2 1971

Doctor Who credits

Played: Leandro in The Woman Who Lived (2015)

Played: The Barber in The Story & the Engine (2025)
Career highlights
Ariyon made his screen debut in Thief Takers (1996), followed by roles in The Secret Laughter of Women (1999), Family Affairs (2000-01), Shoot the Messenger (2006), A Touch of Frost (2008), The Dark Knight (2008), Silk (2011), Full Firearms (2012), Dancing on the Edge (2013), Jupiter Ascending (2015), Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015), Tyrant (2015), Thirteen (2016), New Blood (2016), Death in Paradise (2016), Star Wars: Rogue One (2016), Frankie (2019), Good Omens (2019), His Dark Materials (2019-20), The Mosquito Coast (2022-23), Carnival Row (2019-23) and Mr Loverman (2024). He also played Dr Ben Kwarme in more than 600 episodes of BBC daytime soap Doctors (2001-05), and wrote and directed several episodes of Doctors between 2004-07.
Awards
2025: BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor  (Mr Loverman)

Michael Balogun (Obioma Okoli) Born 1984

Career highlights

Michael debuted in Casualty (2018), followed by War of the Worlds (2021), You Don't Know Me (2021), Vera (2022) and Sherwood (2024).

Facts

When Michael was aged around seven, his mother was sent to prison for dealing drugs, but the authorities overlooked the fact he and his sisters were left home alone to look after themselves. They managed this for around a year before his school realised their parent was in prison, and alerted social services. Michael was placed into care, then lived for a time with his aunt, before falling into crime. He stole from supermarkets, robbed people on the street, sold cannabis at school, and by the age of 17 was dealing heroin and cocaine. Michael was jailed for three years for possession of heroin with intent to supply. He was jailed a second time soon after release. Michael then decided to go straight and got a job in a bank, but when they discovered he'd been in jail, he was sacked. This led to Michael returning to crime, and being jailed a third time, this time for nine years, for his part in a firearms incident in a nightclub. It was in HMP Blantyre that he decided to turn his life around and become an actor.

Tessa Bell-Briggs (Patient) Born 1952

Career highlights

Tessa made her screen debut in the Play for Today The Network (1979), before securing roles in You're Only Young Twice (1981), Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), The Brittas Empire (1996), Gina's Laughing Gear (2007), Skins (2007), Poirot (2008), The Christmas Candle (2013) and This Way Up (2021).

Facts

Tessa's mother was Irish actor Carmel McSharry, best remembered as Beryl Humphries in the 1970s sitcom Beryl's Lot, and Mrs Hollingbery in sitcom In Sickness and in Health.

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Inua Ellams (Market seller) Born Oct 23 1984

Doctor Who credits

Played: Market seller in The Story & the Engine (2025)

Wrote: The Story & the Engine (2025)

Career highlights

Nigerian Inua moved to the UK in 1996, then to Ireland in 1999. He is an established and celebrated playwright and poet, having written stage productions such as The 14th Tale (2009), An Evening with an Immigrant (2017), Three Sisters (2019), as well as The Barbershop Chronicles (2017), upon which this Doctor Who story is based. Poetry collections include Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales (2004) and The Wire-Headed Heathen (2015).

Awards

2008: Edinburgh Fringe First Award (The 14th Tale)

2023: Member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the arts

Facts

Inua is the first black man to write for Doctor Who (the fourth writer of colour, after three females).

Funmi James (Security guard)

Career highlights

Nigerian-born Funmi has also appeared in Ruination (2012) and The Listing Agent (2014).

Jo Martin (The Doctor) Born Apr 29 197? Click here for Jo Martin's entry on Fugitive of the Judoon

Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps (Poppy)

Played: Poppy in Space Babies (2024), The Story & the Engine (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Adrian Pang (Consultant) Born Jan 8 1966

Career highlights

Born in Malaysia, Adrian debuted in Lovejoy (1993), followed by roles in The Knock (1994), The Fragile Heart (1996), The Bill (1998), Taggart (1999), Bugs (1999), Happiness (2001), Polo Boys (2009-10), Bait (2012), Blackhat (2015), Boi (2019), The Bridge (2018-20), Code of Law (2012-20), Alienated (2023) and Elevator (2024). Recurring roles include Johnny Tan in Maggi & Me (2006-07), James Seto in Parental Guidance (2007-08), Alex Sung in Red Thread (2009) and Dennis Tang in The Pupil (2010-11).

Awards

2009: Asian Television Award for Best Drama Performance by an Actor (Red Thread)

Facts

In 2014 Adrian wrote a children's book called Hansel and Girl Girl. In 2022 he was creative director of the Singapore National Day Parade.

Sule Rimi (Omo Esosa)

Doctor Who credits

Played: Soldier in Aliens of London (uncredited, 2005)

Played: Omo Esosa in The Story & the Engine (2025)

Career highlights

Prolific Sule debuted in Outside the Rules (2002), followed by roles in The Story of Tracy Beaker (2003), Starter for 10 (2006), Y Pris (2007-08), Caerdydd (2009), Mr Nice (2010), The Proxy (2012), Stella (2014), Unforgotten (2015), Birds of a Feather (2017), Strike Back (2018), Black Earth Rising (2018), Manhunt (2021), The Nan Movie (2022), Andor (2022), The English (2022), Classified (2023-24) and The Day of the Jackal (2024).

CREW

Inua Ellams (writer) Born Oct 23 1984

Doctor Who credits

Played: Market seller in The Story & the Engine (2025)

Wrote: The Story & the Engine (2025)

Career highlights

Nigerian Inua moved to the UK in 1996, then to Ireland in 1999. He is an established and celebrated playwright and poet, having written stage productions such as The 14th Tale (2009), An Evening with an Immigrant (2017), Three Sisters (2019), as well as The Barbershop Chronicles (2017), upon which this Doctor Who story is based. Poetry collections include Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales (2004) and The Wire-Headed Heathen (2015).

Awards

2008: Edinburgh Fringe First Award (The 14th Tale)

2023: Member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the arts

Makalla McPherson (director) Born 1983

Career highlights

Makalla started out directing short films such as Tight Rope (2011) and Tiny Steps (2012) before making it to TV shows such as The Dumping Ground (2016), Doctors (2013-19), Apple Tree House (2018-19), EastEnders (2021), Waterloo Road (2023) and Queenie (2024). She's also worked as a second unit director on Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023), and a script consultant on 2023's Van der Valk.

Lucky Day

Shriek! It's the Shreek!

One episode (Lucky Day)

First broadcast: May 3 2025
Audience for story: 2.80m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) Born Jun 19 2004 Click here for Millie Gibson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

GUEST CAST

Selorm Adonu (Influencer 1) Born 2003

Career highlights

Selorm's other acting work includes PRU (2022), Casualty (2023), Queen of Diamonds (2023) and Curfew (2024). He also wrote and appeared in the short film Man to Man (2022), which won three Bucharest Film Awards.

Gethin Alderman (The Shreek)

Career highlights

Movement artist and creature performer Gethin debuted in the 2009 short film Caught Short, followed by roles in Friends of Money (2013), Casualty (2020), The Outlaws (2021), Doctors (2022), Somewhere Boy (2022), Andor (2022), The Great (2021-23), Wolf (2023), The Winter King (2023) and EastEnders (2024).

Facts

Gethin is multilingual, speaking Welsh, English, Spanish and French.

Kareem Alexander (Jordan Lang) Born 1993

Career highlights

Anglo-Egyptian Kareem debuted in the 2015 short My Firing Squad, followed by The Litch (2018), Marriage (2022), Vampire Academy (2022), Litvinenko (2022) and Silent Witness (2025). Until 2021 he was credited as Alexander Yousri.

Blake Anderson (Jack)

Career highlights

Blake debuted in Aids: The Unheard Tapes (2022), followed by Vampire Academy (2022), Halo (2024), The Gray House (2024) and The Six Triple Eight (2024). He is usually credited as Blake Patrick Anderson.

Facts

As well as being an actor, bisexual Blake is also a singer and hairdresser.

Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Vlinx) Born Sep 29 1961 Click here for Nicholas Briggs' entry on Rose

Lachele Carl (Reporter [Trinity Wells]) Born Apr 29 1960 Click here for Lachele Carl's entry on Aliens of London

Reeta Chakrabarti (Reeta Chakrabarti) Born Dec 12 1964

Career highlights

BBC journalist Reeta began her career as a producer on Radio 4's The World at One, Today and PM before moving on to become a reporter on Radio 5 Live, and then Radio 1's Newsbeat. In 1997 she became a BBC community affairs correspondent, then a political reporter in 1999 across BBC TV and radio. From 2010 Reeta became an education correspondent, and has since become on the BBC's foremost news reporters and presenters.

Facts

Reeta published her first novel, Finding Belle, in 2025. Her sister is actor Lolita Chakrabarti, who was once married to actor Adrian Lester.

Benjamin Chivers (Young Conrad) Born 2014

Career highlights

Benjamin's other work includes Lockwood and Co (2023), Napoleon (2023) and The Devil's Hour (2022-24).

Aidan Cook (The Vlinx) Click here for Aidan Cook's entry on The Rings of Akhaten

Calypso Cragg (Influencer 2) Born 2004

Career highlights

Calypso's other work includes several short films plus An American in Austen (2024).

James Craven (Influencer 3)

Career highlights

James debuted in How to Be a Person (2022), then Geek Girl (2024), House of the Dragon (2024), The Salt Path (2024), Curfew (2024) and Alchemy of the Word (2025). He is best known for playing Aaron Sandford in 85 episodes of soap Coronation Street (2022-23).

Alexander Devrient (Colonel Ibrahim)

Played: Colonel Christopher Ibrahim in The Giggle (2023), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024), Lucky Day (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

German/ French actor Alexander made his screen debut in the 2010 short Detente, followed by We are What We Drink (2010), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Voodoo Magic (2013), Emmerdale (2014), The Danish Girl (2015), SS-GB (2017), Genius (2018), The Bureau (2018), Industry (2020), Motherland (2021), Ted Lasso (2021), All the Old Knives (2022) and The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself (2022).

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Joel Dommett (Joel Dommett) Born Jun 8 1985

Career highlights

Joel started out as an actor in minor roles in series such as Casualty (2004), The Golden Hour (2005) and Teenage Kicks (2008), then moved into stand-up comedy, making his breakthrough in 2011's Russell Howard's Good News (2011). Acting roles continued, such as in The Edge of Love (2008), Skins (2010) and White Island (2016). However, he is best known as a comedian and TV presenter, having fronted programmes such as Reality Bites (2015), I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp (2017-19) and, since 2019, The Masked Singer. He also competed in the 2016 series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, finishing second.

Aoife Gaston (Michelle)

Career highlights

Other work includes A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story (2022) and Reawakening (2024).

Tina Gray (Audrey) Born 1940

Career highlights

Further work includes In Suspicious Circumstances (1996), Heartbeat (2001), The Decoy Bride (2011), Scott & Bailey (2013), Angels in Notting Hill (2016), The Last Kingdom (2017), Crooked House (2017), Scarborough (2019), A Castle for Christmas (2021), Emmerdale (2024) and Apartment 7A (2024).

Michelle Greenidge (Carla) Born Jun 15 1970 Click here for Michelle Greenidge's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Jonah Hauer-King (Conrad Clark) Born May 30 1995

Doctor Who credits

Played: Conrad Clark in Lucky Day (2025), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)

Career highlights

Jonah's TV debut came in 2017's The Last Photograph, followed by roles in Howards End (2017), Little Women (2017), Postcards from London (2018), Old Boys (2018), Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar (2019), The Flatshare (2022), The Little Mermaid (2023), World on Fire (2019-23), The Tattooist of Auschwitz (2024), William Tell (2024) and The Threesome (2025).

Facts

Jonah's mother is producer Debra Hauer. Jonah also wrote and performed the song Lover (Muse) for the BFI's Postcards from London soundtrack.

Kirsty Hoiles (Moira Clark) Born 1976

Career highlights

Kirsty's other work includes Confetti (2006), Call the Midwife (2014), Remember Me (2014), The Scandalous Lady W (2015), The Undeclared War (2022), Silent Witness (2023), Passenger (2024) and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2024). She has also performed in many stage plays and musicals.

Paul Jerricho (Alfie) Born Nov 18 1948
Doctor Who credits
Played: Castellan in Arc of Infinity, The Five Doctors (both 1983)

Played: Alfie in Lucky Day (2025)
Career highlights
Paul, who was brought up in the Caribbean, debuted in Clayhanger in 1976, followed by roles in Space: 1999 (1977), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Grange Hill (1981), The Biko Inquest (1984), Knights of God (1987), Cry Freedom (1987), Howards' Way (1990), Love Hurts (1993), The Ice House (1997), Mosley (1998), A Likeness in Stone (2000), Footballers' Wives (2004), Look Around You (2005), Jericho (2005), EastEnders (2009), The Whistleblower (2010), Lewis (2012) and Casualty (2014). He also had a regular role as Charles Woodhouse in 78 episodes of the soap Triangle (1981-83).
Facts
Until 1984, Paul was married to actress Barbara Kinghorn, the only guest star to survive the Doctor Who story The Caves of Androzani (1984). His current partner is actress Helena Little.

Alex Jones (Alex Jones) Born Mar 18 1977

Career highlights

Alex is one of the BBC's foremost TV presenters, having started out as a contestant on Sky's reality show Prickly Heat (1998) before becoming a researcher. She then moved into TV presentation, working on BBC Choice, Channel 4 and S4C. She became the main female host of the BBC's The One Show in 2010, and has remained on the weekday evening magazine programme's sofa ever since. She competed in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing fifth.

Facts

Alex became a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards at the 2015 National Eisteddfod of Wales in recognition of her contribution to Welsh culture. In 2016 Alex was granted a restraining order against a homeless man who sent her vulgar tweets and stalked her at her workplace, claiming to be in love with her.

Faye McKeever (Louise Miller) Born Jan 18 1985

Doctor Who credits

Played: Louise Miller in The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024), Lucky Day (2025)

Career highlights

Faye debuted in Hollyoaks: In the City (2006), followed by Massive (2008), Unforgiven (2009), The Street (2009), Shameless (2010), No Offence (2015), Little Boy Blue (2017), Moving On (2019), Plebs (2019), The Salisbury Poisonings (2020), Des (2020), Death in Paradise (2021), The Reckoning (2023), Time (2023) and Adolescence (2025). She might be best known as Linda in more than 60 episodes of Trollied (2011-18) or Jodie Sweeney in The Responder (2022-24).

Facts

Faye was in a relationship with singer Shayne Ward between 2003-14, having got engaged in 2012 but since split up.

Ruth Madeley (Shirley Anne Bingham) Born Aug 4 1987 Click here for Ruth Madeley's entry on The Star Beast

Jemma Redgrave (Kate Stewart) Born Jan 14 1965 Click here for Jemma Redgrave's entry on The Power of Three

Paddy Stafford (Sparky)

Career highlights

Paddy's other credits include Doctors (2022) and the short films Kiddo (2022) and Half Way (2023).

Madison Stock (Elsa)

Career highlights

Further work includes Holby City (2021) and Code of Silence (2025).

Michael Woodford (Derek)

Career highlights

Michael debuted in Touching Evil (1999), followed by parts in Peak Practice (2001), Eleventh Hour (2006) and Black Economy (2010).

Angela Wynter (Cherry) Born Jul 14 1957 Click here for Angela Wynter's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

CREW

Pete McTighe (writer) Born 1972
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: Kerblam! (2018), Praxeus (2020), Lucky Day (2025)
Career highlights
Pete began his writing career as a story editor on Australian soap Neighbours in 2008, after which he graduated to writing almost 100 episodes between 2008-2014 (including its 6,000th episode). He has also written scripts for Crownies (2011), Tricky Business (2012), EastEnders (2011-13), Nowhere Boys (2014), Love Me (2014), Tatau (2015), Winners and Losers (2012-15), The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2014-16), Wentworth (2013-20, which he also devised), A Discovery of Witches (2021), The Pact (2021, which he also created) and The Rising (2022). He's also worked as a producer on A Discovery of Witches, The Pact and The Rising.
Facts
Pete wrote several of the sleeve notes for the Doctor Who classic series DVD range, and in 2018 became content consultant for the BBC's Doctor Who blu-ray range. Here he is on Twitter.

Peter Hoar (director)

Doctor Who credits

Directed: A Good Man Goes to War (2011), The Robot Revolution (2025), Lucky Day (2025)
Career highlights
Peter's first directorial work was on Hollyoaks in 2002, after which he worked on Grange Hill (2004-05), Dream Team (2006), Wire in the Blood (2006-08), Spooks (2008), Mistresses (2008-09), Breaking the Mould (2009), Vera (2011-12), Shetland (2013), The Last Kingdom (2015-17), Da Vinci's Demons (2014-15), Daredevil (2016), Iron Fist (2017), The Defenders (2017), Altered Carbon (2018), The Umbrella Academy (2019), It's a Sin (2021), Cipher (2022), Nolly (2023) and The Last of Us (2023-25). He has also been producer on series such as Da Vinci's Demons, The Last Kingdom, The Umbrella Academy and It's a Sin. However, he started out as a location manager on Dressing for Breakfast (1998), The Wedding Tackle (2000) and Heartlands (2002).

Awards

2021: Royal Television Society Craft and Design Award for Best Director - Drama (It's a Sin)

2022: BAFTA TV Award for Best Director, Fiction (It's a Sin)

2024: BAFTA TV Award for Best Director, Fiction (The Last of Us)

2024: Directors' Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series (The Last of Us)

2024: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form (The Last of Us)

The Well

The Doctor and Belinda try to
comfort Aliss

One episode (The Well)

First broadcast: Apr 26 2025
Audience for story: 3.23m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

GUEST CAST

Bethany Antonia (Mo Gilliben) Born Dec 25 1997

Career highlights

Bethany's first credit was Doctors (2017), followed by Pin Cushion (2017), Stath Lets Flats (2018), Get Even (2020), Stay Close (2021), Nolly (2023), Sense & Sensibility (2024) and House of the Dragon (2022-24, as Baela Targaryen).

Rose Ayling-Ellis (Aliss Fenly) Born Nov 17 1994

Career highlights

Debuted in The End (2011), then Casualty (2017), Summer of Rockets (2019), Murder, They Hope (2023), Ludwig (2024) and Reunion (2025). Rose is best known for playing Frankie Lewis in more than 130 episodes of soap EastEnders (2020-22), as well as being the inspirational winner of the 2021 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Awards

2022: BAFTA TV Award for Must-See Moment (Strictly Come Dancing)

2023: Stage Debut Award for Best West End Debut (As You Like It)

2024: Member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the deaf community

Facts

Rose can be seen in the 2017 music video for the Vamps' Middle of the Night. In 2022, she unveiled the first Barbie doll to have hearing aids, and that same year became the first presenter to sign a bedtime story on Children's BBC.

Annabel Brook (Hanno Yeft)

Career highlights

4ft 10in Annabel's stuntwork includes The Bay (2019), Game of Thrones (2019), His Dark Materials (2019), Get Even (2020), Artemis Fowl (2020), Eternals (2021), The Larkins (2021), Shetland (2022), The Flash (2023), The Veil (2024) and Nightsleeper (2024). Doctor Who is her first major acting credit.

Gaz Choudhry (Kai Sabba) Born Jun 23 1985

Career highlights

Gaz became an actor following retirement from a successful sporting career as a Paralympian. Born in Pakistan, Gaz had to have his right leg amputated when he was 10 years old due to bone cancer. After moving to the UK Gaz began to play wheelchair basketball, and became so successful that he formed part of the Great Britain wheelchair basketball squad at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paralympics, winning Bronze medals in the latter two. Gaz's other acting work includes 2023's Extrapolations.

Awards

2013: Gold medal as part of Team GB at European Wheelchair Basketball Championships

2015: Gold medal as part of Team GB at European Wheelchair Basketball Championships

2016: Bronze Paralympics medal as part of Team GB (wheelchair basketball)

2020: Bronze Paralympics medal as part of Team GB (wheelchair basketball)

2022: Member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to wheelchair basketball

Christopher Chung (Cassio Palin-Paleen) Born Jul 13 1988

Career highlights

Australian Christopher, who is of Chinese/ Irish descent, made his acting debut in Neighbours (2011), followed by Night Bus (2014), Doctors (2014), Gods of Their Own Religion (2023) and Blitz (2024). Christopher's most high profile roles include Archie Wong in Waterloo Road (2013-14) and Roddy Ho in Slow Horses (2022-24), but he is also prolific as a voice actor in computer games such as Foamstars (2024) and Brazen Blaze (2024).

Facts

Christopher is married to actor Frances Mayli McCann. He auditioned for Australian Idol in 2006, reaching the competition's top 100 finalists.

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Jermaine Dominique (Ulric Dazen)

Career highlights

Jermaine's other work includes The Pugilist (2017), Yellow Jacket (2017), Hard Sun (2018) and Crongton (2025).

Caoilfhionn Dunne (Shaya Costallion) Born 1984

Career highlights

Debuted in Little White Lie (2008), followed by Vexed (2012), Traders (2015), The Bisexual (2018), Ghosts (2019), Chernobyl (2019), A Thousand Blows (2024-25) and Andor (2025). Regular roles include Lizzie in Love/ Hate (2012-14), Brearn in Britannia (2019) and Jackie Walsh in Industry (2020-24).

Facts

Her Irish first name is pronounced "kee-lin".

Paul Kasey (It Has No Name aka Midnight entity) Born Aug 5 1973 Click here for Paul Kasey's entry on Rose

Frankie Lipman (Sal Van Hyten)

Career highlights

Frankie's only other screen work to date is Domino Day (2024).

Gary Pillai (Albie Bethick) Born Nov 11 1968

Doctor Who credits

Played: Mark Brisco in Torchwood: They Keep Killing Suzie (2006)

Played: Albie Bethick in The Well (2025)

Career highlights

Gary debuted in the 1997 TV movie Choices, followed by parts in Men Only (2001), Green-Eyed Monster (2001), Footballers' Wives (2003), Dalziel and Pascoe (2006), Far North (2007), The Passion (2008), Franklyn (2008), Survivors (2010), Dirk Gently (2010), Silent Witness (2014), Remember Me (2014), Game of Thrones (2015), Citizen Khan (2015), Hard Sun (2018), Bodyguard (2018), Doctors (2021), Breeders (2022), The Crown (2022) and Strike (2024). He also regularly played DC MacLean in more than 30 episodes of soap Family Affairs (1997-99).

Luke Rhodri (Callo Rence)

Career highlights

Luke's other credits include Ruthless (2020) and Wolf (2023).

Amy Tyger (Val Vivo) Born 1993

Career highlights

Amy's debut came in 2015's Legacy, followed by Doctors (2015), Intruders (2017), The Droving (2020), The Alienist (2020) and Forever Young (2023). She also played Azura in Foundation (2021).

CREW

Russell T Davies (writer) Born Apr 27 1963 Click here for Russell T Davies' entry on Rose

Sharma Angel-Walfall (writer)

Career highlights

After starting out as an actor with bit-parts in Lol (2010) and Coronation Street (2018), Sharma moved behind the camera to write episodes of soap Hollyoaks (2017), Sparks (2020) and Dreamland (2023), as well as act as a script consultant on Wolfe (2021).

Facts

When Sharma was around 12 years old in Manchester, she attended a week-long drama workshop at the Contact Theatre led by none other than Russell T Davies.

Amanda Brotchie (director)

Doctor Who credits

Directed: Lux (2025), The Well (2025)

Career highlights

Amanda's first directorial credit was the short film Headlock (1996), after which she worked on Neighbours (2000), Lowdown (2010-12), This is Littleton (2014), Girlboss (2017), Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018), Mr Black (2019), Squinters (2018-19), How to Stay Married (2020) and Renegade Nell (2024). She has also written for many of these productions, and acted as producer on Lowdown, This is Littleton and Total Agony (2012-15).

Facts

Amanda is married to Australian actor and writer Adam Zwar.

Lux

Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu
give very animated performances
in Lux

One episode (Lux)

First broadcast: Apr 19 2025
Audience for story: 1.58m (overnight)

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

GUEST CAST

Samir Arrian (Hassan Chowdry)

Career highlights

Other credits include Brassic (2022) and Unforgotten (2025).

Bronte Barbe (Lizzie Abel) Born 1991

Career highlights

Bronte debuted in the 2014 short film 7.2, followed by roles in Call the Midwife (2018) and Years and Years (2019).

Facts

In 2010, Bronte auditioned for the role of Dorothy in the TV talent show Over the Rainbow, but the fact she didn't win didn't hold her back, and in 2017 she took on the role of singer-songwriter Carole King in the stage musical Beautiful.

Lewis Cornay (Logan Cheever) Born 1996

Career highlights

Lewis's other work includes John & Jen (2021) and A Bear Remembers (2025).

Alan Cumming (Voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding) Born Jan 27 1965

Doctor Who credits

Played: King James I in The Witchfinders (2018)

Played: Voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding in Lux (2025)
Career highlights
Hugely prolific Scotsman Alan made his screen debut in Travelling Man (1984), followed by roles in Taggart (1986), Shadow of the Stone (1987), High Road (1988), Bernard and the Genie (1991), Micky Love (1993), Cabaret (1993), The High Life (1994-95), Circle of Friends (1995), GoldenEye (1995), Emma (1996), Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Spice World (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), 3rd Rock from the Sun (2000), Get Carter (2000), Spy Kids (2001), Sex and the City (2001), Spy Kids 2 (2002), Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Frasier (2003), X-Men 2 (2003), Spy Kids 3 (2003), Son of the Mask (2005), The L Word (2006), Tin Man (2007), Boogie Woogie (2009), Burlesque (2010), Maladies (2012), After Louie (2017), Queers (2017), Instinct (2018-19), Helpsters (2019), Briarpatch (2020), Prodigal Son (2021), Solar (2022) and The Good Fight (2022). Alan also played Eli Gold in 121 episodes of The Good Wife (2010-16). He is a prolific voice actor too, having given his vocal talents to Black Beauty (1994), God, the Devil and Bob (2000), Courage the Cowardly Dog (2002), Shoebox Zoo (2004), Robot Chicken (2006/08), Rick & Steve, the Happiest Gay Couple in All the World (2007-09), The Smurfs (2011-13), Dora the Explorer (2014), Michael Jackson's Halloween (2017), Show Dogs (2018) and The Prince (2021). Alan also appeared in the 1993 drama The Airzone Solution, a video production co-starring Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy.
Awards
1991: Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance of the Year (Accidental Death of an Anarchist)
1992: British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Newcomer (Bernard and the Genie)
1998: Tony Award for Best Leading Actor (Musical) (Cabaret)
2009: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the arts and civil rights
2018: BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television

Facts
Between 1985-93, Alan was married to fellow actor Hilary Lyon; in 2007 he married Hollywood storyboard artist Grant Shaffer. Alan has said in interview that he was approached about the role of the Ninth Doctor (but not offered it) in 2004. He became a US citizen in 2008. Alan has launched two of his own fragrances, called Cumming and Second Cumming. He can also be seen in the music video for 30 Seconds to Mars' City of Angels (2013). Alan has also written a book (Tommy's Tale, 2002), an autobiography (Not My Father's Son, 2014) and two albums (I Bought a Blue Car Today, 2009, and Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs, 2016). Here's his Twitter feed.

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Cassius Hackforth (Tommy Lee) Born Aug 16 2001

Career highlights

Cassius has also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) and Casualty (2025).

Facts

Cassius was born in Massachusetts, USA, when his father was working in the States, but moved to North Wales when he was three years old, so holds dual citizenship.

Jane Hancock (Helen Pye) Born Apr 27 1988

Career highlights

Canadian Jane's earliest role was playing six-year-old Mary Jean in The War Between Us in 1995, after which she won roles in Mile Zero (2005-06), Fringe (2012), The True Heroines (2013), Mythos (2015), The Flash (2015), Motive (2016), Van Helsing (2016), Beaches (2017), Altered Carbon (2018) and The Age of Adulting (2018).

Steph Lacey (Robyn Gossage)

Career highlights

Steph's other credits include Hollyoaks (2019), Stay Close (2021), Bridgerton (2022), Doctors (2022), Maryland (2023) and Red Eye (2024). She also wrote the 2022 short film We Care and an episode of TV series Phoenix Rise (2023).

Career

Steph's CV states she is a disabled neuro-diverse woman who spent some time homeless.

William Meredith (Policeman) Born Nov 21 1973

Doctor Who credits

Played: Kevin in Arachnids in the UK (2018)

Played: Policeman in Lux (2025)
Career highlights
American William made his screen debut in 2001's Band of Brothers, followed by roles in Ultimate Force (2006), 28 Weeks Later (2007), True Heroes (2008), Mirrors (2008), Green Zone (2010), Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014), 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover (2016), SS-GB (2017), Outlander (2017), A Killer Next Door (2020), Kingdom of the Dinosaurs (2022), India a Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) and The Mitchin Murders (2024).

Facts

William spent four years in the US Army before becoming an actor.

Millie O'Connell (Voice of Sunshine Sally) Born Jan 18 1997

Career highlights

Millie started out on the stage, performing in musical theatre productions such as 42nd Street (2016) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (2018) before securing the role that got her noticed, that of Anne Boleyn in the West End production of SIX (2018-19). Millie also performs as part of the pop group SVN alongside other former stars of the musical SIX.

Linus Roache (Reginald Pye) Born Feb 1 1964

Career highlights

Linus's earliest credit was as a boy in The Onedin Line (1976), after which he was cast in No Surrender (1985), A Sort of Innocence (1987), Saracen (1989), Priest (1994), Seaforth (1994), The Wings of the Dove (1997), Siam Sunset (1999), Best (2000), Hart's War (2002), The Gathering Storm (2002), RFK (2002), The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), Batman Begins (2005, as Thomas Wayne), The Ten Commandments (2006), Kidnapped (2006-07), The Miraculous Year (2011), Titanic (2012), The Blacklist (2014), Bancroft (2017), Summer of Rockets (2019), The Recruit (2022), Fellow Travelers (2023) and Billy the Kid (2022-24). Between 2008-10 he appeared in 63 episodes of Law & Order as Michael Cutter, briefly moving over to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2011-12). He also played young Peter Barlow, the son of his father William's character Ken Barlow, in soap Coronation Street between 1973-75, and between 2014-17 played King Ecbert in 33 episodes of Vikings. Another high profile role was as David Wellington in Homeland (2017-20).

Facts

Linus is the son of Coronation Street acting legend William Roache (aka Ken Barlow) and actor Anna Cropper. His wife is actor Rosalind Bennett, while he also has an acting half-brother, James Roache. Linus can be seen in the music video for the 1992 single Set Your Loving Free by Lisa Stansfield.

Ian Shaw (Newsreader) Born Dec 18 1969

Career highlights

Debuted in Casualty (1993), followed by Century (1993), Soldier Soldier (1994), Moondance (1994), Ghosts (1995), Sharpe (1995), Medics (1995), Silent Witness (1996), Wuthering Heights (1998), Ultimate Force (2002), EastEnders (2002), Cambridge Spies (2003), The Queen (2009), Johnny English Reborn (2011) and Wynonna Earp (2018).

Facts

Ian's parents are actors Robert Shaw and Mary Ure, while his nephew is Ferdia Shaw (aka Artemis Fowl). His cousin is the children's author Tanya Landman.

Ryan Speakman (Husband)

Career highlights

Ryan's other credits include The Six (2011), Bull (2016) and The Detour (2017).

Lucy Thackeray (Renee Lowenstein) Born 1992

Career highlights

Lucy debuted in How TV Ruined Your Life (2011), followed by Doctors (2015), New Tricks (2015), The Five (2016), Hatton Garden (2019), Surge (2020), Moon Knight (2022), Black Ops (2023), Top Boy (2023) and Call the Midwife (2024).

CREW

Russell T Davies (writer) Born Apr 27 1963 Click here for Russell T Davies' entry on Rose

Amanda Brotchie (director)

Doctor Who credits

Directed: Lux (2025), The Well (2025)

Career highlights

Amanda's first directorial credit was the short film Headlock (1996), after which she worked on Neighbours (2000), Lowdown (2010-12), This is Littleton (2014), Girlboss (2017), Picnic at Hanging Rock (2018), Mr Black (2019), Squinters (2018-19), How to Stay Married (2020) and Renegade Nell (2024). She has also written for many of these productions, and acted as producer on Lowdown, This is Littleton and Total Agony (2012-15).

Facts

Amanda is married to Australian actor and writer Adam Zwar.

The Robot Revolution

Miss Belinda Chandra is taken
to Missbelindachandra by a 
revolutionary robot

One episode (The Robot Revolution)

First broadcast: Apr 12 2025
Audience for story: 3.57m

REGULAR CAST

Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor) Born Oct 15 1992 Click here for Ncuti Gatwa's entry on The Giggle

Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra) Born May 12 1992 Click here for Varada Sethu's entry on Boom

GUEST CAST

Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Robots) Born Sep 29 1961 Click here for Nicholas Briggs' entry on Rose

Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood) Born Apr 29 1949 Click here for Anita Dobson's entry on The Church on Ruby Road

Thalia Dudek (Kirby Blake)

Career highlights

Thalia's screen debut came in 2016's The Remnant, followed by the short I Wish I Had a River (2021) and Better Man (2024).

Facts

Thalia is one of the founders of the Three Fates Theatre Company. They identify as Assigned Female At Birth non-binary, and straight.

Lucas Edwards (Robot 4)

Career highlights

Lucas's other work includes 2022 short The Youth, It's My Shout (2024) and Rob1n (2025).

William Ellis (Prime Minister)

Career highlights

William's CV began with The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006), followed by roles in Hotel Babylon (2009), Parade's End (2012), Great Expectations (2012), Queen of the Desert (2015), Father Brown (2016), The Crown (2019) and, most significantly, he played villainous teacher Theo Hawthorne in 48 episodes of soap EastEnders (2023).

Facts

William is a keen open water swimmer, representing Great Britain at Masters level, and also produces a podcast on the subject.

Jonny Green (Alan Budd) Born May 9 1996

Career highlights

Jonny's screen debut came in It's My Shout: Short Films for Wales (2016), followed by Doctors (2018), White Lines (2020), It's a Sin (2021), Strike (2022), Count Abdulla (2023) and Riot Women (2025).

Nadine Higgin (Shago) Born 1986

Career highlights

Nadine's other work includes Military Wives (2019), Doctors (2022) and Delivery Run (2024).

Caleb Hughes (Scoley)

Career highlights

Caleb's earliest screen credit was on Outlander (2020), followed by Living Proof (2021, a short film he also wrote and directed) and Nightsleeper (2024).

Jeffin Kunjumon (Stefan Haines) Born Dec 13 1994

Career highlights

Indian-born Jeffin debuted in Liverpool Narcos (2021), then The Family Man (2021), The Little Mermaid (2023) and Doghouse (2023).

Facts

In 2021 Jeffin said his life's dream was to become the first South Indian actor to win an Oscar.

Stephen Love (Robot 1)

Doctor Who credits

Played: Wrarth Warrior in The Star Beast (2023)

Played: Robot 1 in The Robot Revolution (2025)

Career highlights

Creature performer Stephen's other work includes The Great (2020), Behind Her Eyes (2021), The Crown (2022), The Peripheral (2022) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).

Facts

Stephen is also a website and brand designer.

Evelyn Miller (Sasha 55)

Career highlights

Evelyn's other work includes Holby City (2013), Post Coital (2016), Doctors (2020), Flowers in the Attic: The Origin (2022), Foundation (2023), The Lovers (2023) and Gangs of London (2025).

Belinda Owusu (Receptionist) Born Apr 19 1989

Career highlights

Belinda's breakthrough role was playing Libby Fox in more than 340 episodes of soap EastEnders between 2006-17, after which she won the role of Nicky McKendrick in more than 130 episodes of Holby City between 2017-22. Other credits include Father Brown (2024), Only Child (2024) and Trigger Point (2024).

Facts

In 2016, Belinda's younger brother Ziggy was stabbed to death in Redbridge, London, hours after celebrating his 19th birthday.

Max Parker (Manny) Born Feb 7 1992

Career highlights

Debuted in My BFF (2016), then Casualty (2018-19), World on Fire (2019), COBRA (2020), Vampire Academy (2022), Blood, Sex & Royalty (2022) and Strictly Confidential (2024), but he will be best recognised as Luke Posner in more than 70 episodes of soap Emmerdale (2019-21).

Facts

Max came out in an interview with Attitude magazine in 2020, revealing he was dating his Emmerdale co-star Kris Mochrie, who he got engaged to in 2022.

Charles Sandford (Robot 3)

Career highlights

Charles's other work includes The Hippopotamus (2017), The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign (2018) and Terror (2023).

Tom Storey (Tombo)

Career highlights

Tom's only other credit to date is the 2022 short Indigo, but he has also appeared on the stage, including the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play in 2022-23, in which he played Yann Fredericks.

Robert Strange (Robot 2) Born 1989

Doctor Who credits

Played: Wrarth Warrior [Sergeant Zogroth] in The Star Beast (2023, uncredited)

Played: Bogeyman in Space Babies (2024)

Played: Robot 2 in The Robot Revolution (2025)

Career highlights

6f5 5in tall Robert (who also performs under his birth surname of Nairne (Strange is his mother's maiden name)) is a busy creature performer and puppeteer whose earliest credit was in 2014's The Nightmare of Nevermoor, followed by Penny Dreadful (2014), Howl (2015), Londongrad (2015), Red Dwarf (2016), The Crown (2016), Zapped (2017), Survive the Night (2019), Boys from County Hell (2020), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), The Winter King (2023) and The Wheel of Time (2025). He has performed in each of the five Star Wars films released between 2015-19, including Professor Allium in The Force Awakens and Kullbee Sperado in Rogue One.

CREW

Russell T Davies (writer) Born Apr 27 1963 Click here for Russell T Davies' entry on Rose

Peter Hoar (director)

Doctor Who credits

Directed: A Good Man Goes to War (2011), The Robot Revolution (2025), Lucky Day (2025)
Career highlights
Peter's first directorial work was on Hollyoaks in 2002, after which he worked on Grange Hill (2004-05), Dream Team (2006), Wire in the Blood (2006-08), Spooks (2008), Mistresses (2008-09), Breaking the Mould (2009), Vera (2011-12), Shetland (2013), The Last Kingdom (2015-17), Da Vinci's Demons (2014-15), Daredevil (2016), Iron Fist (2017), The Defenders (2017), Altered Carbon (2018), The Umbrella Academy (2019), It's a Sin (2021), Cipher (2022), Nolly (2023) and The Last of Us (2023-25). He has also been producer on series such as Da Vinci's Demons, The Last Kingdom, The Umbrella Academy and It's a Sin. However, he started out as a location manager on Dressing for Breakfast (1998), The Wedding Tackle (2000) and Heartlands (2002).

Awards

2021: Royal Television Society Craft and Design Award for Best Director - Drama (It's a Sin)

2022: BAFTA TV Award for Best Director, Fiction (It's a Sin)

2024: BAFTA TV Award for Best Director, Fiction (The Last of Us)

2024: Directors' Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series (The Last of Us)

2024: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form (The Last of Us)