Doctor Who Welcomes a Beloved Bridgerton Star for its 2024 Holiday Special!

Article Overview

Doctor Who's 2024 holiday special is already in the works and will feature Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan.

Coughlan's casting aligns with Doctor Who's tradition of selecting young and fresh talent for their upcoming seasons. The highly anticipated holiday special, titled "The Church on Ruby Road," is slated for release on December 25, 2023.

Doctor Who's 2024 holiday special has already secured a major star, as Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan joins the cast. In an interview with Deadline, showrunner Russell T. Davies revealed that they are currently filming the Christmas special for 2024. Here is the full confirmation from Davies:

“[We’ve got] Nicola Coughlan at Christmas. Not this Christmas, next Christmas. We’re shooting Christmas 2024 now.”

Nicola Coughlan Fits a Doctor Who Casting Trend

Coughlan, an Irish actress, is relatively new to the television industry. Her notable role thus far has been as Penelope Featherington in the popular series Bridgerton. Prior to that, she portrayed the character of Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, starting in 2018. In addition to her television work, Coughlan also appeared in the film Barbie, and she is set to star in the upcoming movie adaptation of The Velveteen Rabbit.

Coughlan's casting aligns with that of Ncuti Gatwa, who will play the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who season 14. Gatwa rose to prominence after his role in Sex Education and has also appeared in Barbie. Both actors were chosen from a small pool of roles, reflecting a trend of casting newcomers and younger faces in Doctor Who. This trend continues with Millie Gibson and Yasmin Finney, who will play companions Ruby Sunday and Rose Temple-Noble respectively. These casting choices may serve as a springboard for the future success of Coughlan and these rising stars.

Source: Deadline

Editor's P/S

Nicola Coughlan, an Irish actress best known for her role as Penelope Featherington in the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, is set to join the cast of Doctor Who for its 2024 holiday special. Coughlan's casting was announced by showrunner Russell T. Davies, who revealed that filming for the special has already begun.

Coughlan's role in Doctor Who has not yet been revealed, but fans are speculating that she could play a companion to the Fifteenth Doctor, who will be played by Ncuti Gatwa. Gatwa, who is also known for his role in Sex Education, was previously announced as the next Doctor, taking over from Jodie Whittaker.

Coughlan's casting in Doctor Who is a major coup for the show, as she is one of the most in-demand young actresses in Hollywood. Her role in Bridgerton has made her a household name, and she has also appeared in films such as Barbie and The Velveteen Rabbit. Coughlan's addition to the cast of Doctor Who is sure to excite fans of both shows, and it will be interesting to see what she brings to the role.