Here’s a shocker: the BBC and Bad Wolf have reportedly recast Millie Gibson as Doctor Who‘s assistant after she filmed just one season as Ncuti Gatwa‘s sidekick.
The Daily Mirror’s Nicola Methven, who is well-sourced on Doctor Who, said Gibson would be replaced by Andor star Varada Sethu in Gatwa’s second season as the Time Lord.
The recasting is highly unusual, with Who companions tending to remain loyal to the doctor until their time ends in the Tardis.
The BBC and Bad Wolf did not respond to a request for comment. The story has not been denied and appeared to be confirmed by Gatwa on Instagram (see below).
The actor posted an Instagram story with a picture of himself and Gibson. It was captioned with “My lil” and the Gemini astrological sign for twins and and a heart emoji.
The Mirror said the decision was made by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Gibson will not appear in the 2024 Christmas special after her first full season, which premieres in May.
“Millie Gibson has all but left now and there’s a brand new companion, which is really exciting,” a source told the Mirror. “Russell is keeping things moving and isn’t letting the grass grow, that’s for sure.”
On Sethu, a BBC source added: “Varada is a real gem, Russell was just blown away by her talent. The cast and crew have really warmed to her and he’s sure the fans will too.”
Before joining Doctor Who, Gibson was best known for playing Kelly Neelan in ITV soap Coronation Street. Doctor Who airs on the BBC in the UK and Disney+ internationally.
