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Series 15for other, similarly-named pages.
Series 15, also known as (Season 2 on BBC iPlayer and Disney+) was a series of Doctor Who produced by BBC in collaboration with Sony's Bad Wolf and Disney Branded Television for streaming on Disney+.
Overview
Early announcements
In May 2017, it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China, the company has first right of refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of past and future series and spin-offs of the programme.[2][3]
On 5 October 2022, it was mentioned by Russell T Davies during a Climate Creatives conference with Charlotte Moore.[4][5][6]
Promotion
During a conference run by BBC Academy on 5 October 2022 called Climate Creatives, showrunner Russell T Davies spoke to the BBC's Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore about how they would tackle the issue of climate change on the show in what he labelled his "season 2" at the helm of the show, also talking about how to present the issues on-screen.[4][5][6]
On 8 December, Davies announced in Doctor Who Magazine issue 585 that he was already writing the special for this series.[7]
On 22 June 2023, Davies announced in Doctor Who Magazine issue 592 that the first four scripts of this series were already being written at the same time, saying "And there isn't time to pause, as we leap on to the 2025 season. Right now, four scripts are being written simultaneously…" as well as teasing with the words "garden", "firmament" and "diploma".[8]
On 13 July, Ncuti Gatwa was interviewed by Rolling Stone UK in which, while he spoke about what the Doctor meant to him and how he related to the Doctor, also said "I’m planning on getting back to [the theatre] next year, after I finish season two of Doctor Who.", confirming that Gatwa would return for at least this series in addition to Series 14.[9]
On 17 August, in Doctor Who Magazine issue 594, it was revealed that this series would have at least one guest writer and Scott Handcock noted in his Production Diary that "Scripts are still coming in, crew are getting booked, and meetings are filling the diaries.", with formal preparation for the series would begin soon.[10]
On 12 October, in Doctor Who Magazine issue 596, it was revealed that this series would consist of 9 episodes, the same amount as the previous season. Two new directors were also unveiled.[11][12]
TARDIS at the ready! 🎬 Filming starts today on Ncuti Gatwa’s second series as the Doctor -DoctorWho
"Filming Starts Today".
On 23 October, the Doctor Who social medias released a short video in the Doctor Who Property Store of the TARDIS being unveiled from under a curtain and dematerialising, huge letters appearing on screen saying "Filming Starts Today".[13]
On 6 November following the Press Screening of the first of the 2023 specials, The Star Beast, Davies revealed exclusively to during a Q&A that Nicola Coughlan would be appearing in the 2024 special.[14]
On 9 November Doctor Who Magazine issue 597 was released, which contained the Production Diary from Scott Handcock, noting the latest news.[15]
On 13 November, it was officially revealed by on the Doctor Who website that Nicola Coughlan would be appearing alongside Gatwa in the series' special.[16][17]
On 22 November, Davies revealed in an interview with The Big Issue that he had just handed in a script that would go on air in May 2025, saying "If I sound a bit hyper, it’s because I just this morning delivered a Doctor Who script that will be on air in May 2025.".[18][19]
Broadcast
To be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Ncuti Gatwa
- Belinda Chandra - Varada Sethu[20][21]
- Ruby Sunday - Millie Gibson[22]
- Joy Almondo - Nicola Coughlan[23][16][17]
Recurring
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave[24]
- Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford[25]
- Shirley Anne Bingham - Ruth Madeley[26]
- Colonel Ibrahim - Alexander Devrient[27]
- Mrs Flood - Anita Dobson
- Cherry Sunday - Angela Wynter[28]
- Conrad Clark[29] - Jonah Hauer-King[20][30]
- Poppy - Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps
- Susan Triad - Susan Twist[31]
- The Rani - Archie Panjabi
Guest
- Silurian Manager Melnak - Jonathan Aris[32]
- Trev Simpkins - Joel Fry[33]
- Anita Benn - Steph de Whalley
- Basil Flockhart - Peter Benedict
- Hilda Flockhart - Julia Watson
- Sylvia Trench - Niamh Marie Smith
- Edmund Hillary - Phil Baxter
- Tenzing Norgay - Samuel Sherpa-Moore
- Receptionist - Ruchi Rai
- Mr Single - Joshua Leese
- Server - Ell Potter
- Barman - Liam Prince-Donnelly
- Angela Grace - Fiona Marr
- Missbelindachandrabots - Nicholas Briggs
- Reginald Pye - Linus Roache
- TBA - Blake Patrick Anderson[30]
- Elsa - Madison Stock[34]
- TBA - Archie Panjabi[35]
- Lux Imperator/Mr Ring-A-Ding - Alan Cumming
- Cassio Palin-Paleen Trooper 1 - Christopher Chung
- Aliss Fenly - Rose Ayling-Ellis
- Shaya - Caoilfhionn Dunne
- Rylan Clark-Neal - Himself
- Kid - Freddie Fox
- Gary Gabbastone - Charlie Condou
- Alan Daniel Budd - Jonny Green
- Fugitive Doctor - Jo Martin
- Susan Foreman - Carole Ann Ford
Production
On 3 May 2023, Bad Wolf had filed for a new subsidiary company run by Julie Gardner, called Whoniverse2 LTD.[36]
Crew
Producers
Alison Sterling is producer on the series.[37]
Jessica Gardner is producer on this series.[38]
Director
Alex Pillai directs Block 1,[11][12] consisting of the festive special.[39]
Peter Hoar directs Block 2,[11][12] consisting of episodes 1 and 4.[30][40]
Amanda Brotchie directs Block 3, consisting of episodes 2 and 3.[40][41]
Ben A. Williams directs episode 6.[42][43]
Writers
Steven Moffat wrote the festive special.[44]
Pre-production
To be added
Filming
Filming for the series began on 23 October 2023, announced via a short video on social media.[45]
On 30 October filming took place at Mansion House, Cardiff and the main building of Cardiff University.[39]
On 31 October filming took place at the Dirty Martini and on the street at St Mary Street, Cardiff and at Penarth Conservative Club, Penarth.[23]
On 15 November filming went to Frederick Place, Berkeley Square and Clifton in Bristol.[30]
On 16 November filming took place at The Cocktail Club in St Mary Street and later at the Sir Martin Evans Building between Park Place and Museum Avenue and at Stadium Plaza in Cardiff.[46][47][48]
On 20 November filming went to Cliff Hill, Penarth, then One Central Square, Cardiff and in Newton, Porthcawl.[49][50][51][52]
On 22 November filming took place in Swansea and London.[53][54]
On 24 November filming took place in the former Howells department store on St Mary Street in Cardiff.[55]
On 27, 28 and 29 November filming took place at the Jolly Sailor pub, a churchyard area and a private residence around Beach Road in Newton, Porthcawl.[56][57][58][59]
On 30 November filming went to Newminster Road, Cardiff.[60][61]
On 1 December filming took to Newport City Council/Newport Civic Centre in Newport, Porthcawl.[62][63][64][65]
On 12 December filming occurred in Romilly's Coffee Shop in Barry.[66][67]
On 19 January 2024 filming took place inside a house at Fennel Close in Penarth.[68]
On 22 and 23 January filming went to the Pavillion and Esplanade at Penarth Pier in Penarth.[69][70][71][72][73][74]
On 24 and 25 January filming took place in and around the OK Diner, in Leominster, Herefordshire.[75][76][77][78]
On 26 May filming for this series was concluded.
Television stories
Christmas special[7]
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Joy to the World[79] | Steven Moffat[80] | Alex Pillai[39] | Return of the Silurians and Villengard. Introductions of Joy Almondo and Anita Benn. Ruby Sunday makes a guest appearance at the end of the episode. |
Mini-episodes
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | The TARDIS is landing just in time for Christmas! [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW. | TBA | TBA | The main focus is Doctor Who's in-universe counterpart |
| N/A | Untitled | TBA | TBA | No Individuals appear in this only the debris from Earth |
| N/A | The Doctor’s TARDIS lands in iconic BBC shows | TBA | TBA | Technical first appearance of Belinda Chandra |
| N/A | Untitled 2 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Regular series
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Robot Revolution | Russell T. Davies | Peter Hoar[40] | Television debut of Belinda Chandra. |
| 2 | Lux | Russell T. Davies | Amanda Brotchie[40][41] | Television debut of Lux Imperator; the God of Light, another member of the Pantheon of Discord. |
| 3 | The Well | Russell T. Davies and Sharma Angel Walfall | Amanda Brotchie[40][41] | Return of the planet Midnight and the Midnight Entity. The story is a sequel to the original 2008 story, set over 400,000 years later. |
| 4 | Lucky Day | Pete McTighe | Peter Hoar[30][40] | Doctor-lite episode. Return of Ruby Sunday, Kate Stewart, Shirley Bingham, the Vlinx and UNIT. |
| 5 | The Story & the Engine | Inua Ellams | Makalla McPherson | Cameo appearances of the Fugitive Doctor and Poppy. |
| 6 | The Interstellar Song Contest | Juno Dawson | Ben A. Williams[42][43] | Return of The Rani. Cameo appearance of Susan Foreman. |
| 7 & 8 | Wish World / The Reality War | Russell T. Davies | Alex Sanjiv Pillai[81] |
Episode notes
To be added
Aliens and enemies
- The Rani
- Villengard Algorithm
- Silurians
- Alan Budd
- Missbelindachandrabots
- Scoot
- Missbelindachandrakind
- Lux Imperator
- Midnight entity
- Conrad Clark
- The Shreek
- The Barber
- Abena
- Story Engine
- Hellions
- Kid
- Wynn Aura-Kinn
- Unnamed Cat Lady
- Unnamed Reptilian Lady
- Unnamed Masked Guards
Adaptations and merchandising
To be added
Rumours
- According to Russell T Davies, the decision to renew Doctor Who for a 16th series / third "season" depends upon the performance of this series[82], with one yet-to-be-named source theorising that the finale may be left open-ended to accomodate for Ncuti Gatwa's schedule, with the possibility that the series would end with Gatwa's incarnation regenerating into the Sixteenth Doctor.[83]
- Belinda Chandra might be related to Rani Chandra. [84]
- The Well might be a sequel to Midnight which turned out to be true.
- Mrs Flood might be revealed to be an incarnation of The Rani. This was proven to be true.
- Omega might return as the main villain of the series. This was proven to be false.
- Episode 5 might be the God of Stories. This was proven to be false.
Stories set during the season
To be added
