Doctor Who Season 14: Release date, cast, plot & more
BBCNcuti Gatwa’s Time Lord is ready to make the TARDIS his own very soon. Here’s what we know about the Doctor Who Season 14 release date, cast details, and plot rumors.
Yes, Doctor Who has a new star, and the latest Doctor is bringing all the flair and energy you could want from an intergalactic, time-traveling hero.
Gatwa first appeared as part of a unique and exciting Bigeneration, as part of the 60th anniversary of the show back in December 2023. Then, Gatwa reprised his role for the 2023 Christmas special, ‘The Church on Ruby Road,’ which also introduced the Doctor’s new companion, Ruby Sunday (Mille Gibson).
It’s sure to be one of the biggest and best TV shows to drop this year, so let’s learn all about Doctor Who Season 14.
Contents
- Doctor Who Season 14 release date
- How to watch Doctor Who Season 14
- Doctor Who Season 14 cast
- Doctor Who Season 14 plot details
- Doctor Who Season 14 trailer
- Doctor Who Season 14 soundtrack
When is the Doctor Who Season 14 release date?
Doctor Who Season 14 will premiere with two episodes on Saturday May 11, 2024.
BBCThe new season will run for eight episodes in total. After the double bill premiere, new episodes will drop one at a time weekly, up until June 22.
Here are all the Doctor Who Season 14 episodes and when they’ll air:
- Space Babies – May 11
- The Devil’s Chord – May 11
- Boom – May 18
- 73 Yards – May 25
- Dot and Bubble – June 1
- Rogue – June 8
- The Legend of Ruby Sunday – June 15
- Empire of Death – June 22
Filming on Doctor Who Season 14 kicked off on December 5, 2022, and wrapped on July 14, 2023.
Russell T Davies, the showrunner, and his team aren’t resting on their laurels, though. Not only has Doctor Who Season 15 started filming, but Davies recently confirmed he’s already mapping out new Doctor Who episodes for Seasons 16 and 17, too.
Given Davies’ promise of “annual Doctor Who, no gap years,” we should therefore expect Seasons 15, 16, and 17 to drop in 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.
How to watch Doctor Who Season 14
You can watch Doctor Who Season 14 on Disney+ if you’re in the US, while UK audiences will be able to catch the show on the BBC as usual.
If you’re outside the UK, you’ll need to be signed up to Disney+ and you can do that by clicking the link below.
Who’s in the Doctor Who Season 14 cast?
Ncuti Gatwa will lead the Doctor Who Season 14 cast as the Doctor, with support from Millie Gibson as his new companion, Ruby Sunday.
BBCDoctor Who Season 14’s confirmed cast members include:
- Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor
- Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday
- Varada Sethu as a new unnamed companion
- Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart
- Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble
- Aneurin Barnard as Roger ap Gwilliam
- Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday
- Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood
- Hemi Yeroham as Abdul
- Jack Forsyth-Noble as Will
- Indira Varma as the Duchess
- Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush
- Lenny Rush as Morris
- Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christopher Ibrahim
- Jinkx Monsoon as an unnamed villain
- Jonathan Groff as an unnamed Regency era character
- Bhav Joshi in an unknown role
- Eilidh Loan in an unknown role
- Pete MacHale in an unknown role
- Miles Yekinni in an unknown role
- Jonah Hauer-King in an unknown role
Gatwa is best known for his role as Eric Effiong in Sex Education. Meanwhile, Gibson has won considerable acclaim for her performance as Kelly Neelan in Coronation Street. Unfortunately, Gibson will only be around for one season before moving on, when she will be replaced by Varada Sethu. Still, we think the show will be fine without her, as it’s all part of the normal life cycle for any companion.
In response to his casting, Gatwa said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honored, beyond excited, and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself,” he continued. “And each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavor my utmost to do the same.”
The BBC announced both Gatwa and Gibson’s casting on social media – and later did the same for returning cast member Jemma Redgrave. Redgrave has played Kate Lethbridge-Stewart since 2012.
Looking wider afield, RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon is set to play a “major role” in Season 14, as one of the Doctor’s enemies. The BBC revealed Monsoon’s involvement in an April 2023 press release, in which Russell T Davies teased that Doctor Who “will never be the same again” after the performer’s debut.
A month later, the BBC announced Jonathan Groff would play “a mysterious key character” in Season 14. An award-winning stage performer, Groff was famously part of Broadway smash Hamilton’s original cast. His recent screen credits include Frozen, The Matrix Resurrections, Lost Ollie, and Mindhunter.
Russell T Davies is back as showrunner, having previously masterminded the franchise’s 2005 revival. Davies also oversaw the 60th anniversary specials and Christmas specials, as well. Season 14’s directors are Dylan Holmes Williams, Mark Tonderai, Julie Anne Robinson, Ben Chessell, and Jamie Donoughue. Confirmed writers, aside from Davies himself, include Kate Herron and Briony Redman.
What will happen in Doctor Who Season 14?
There is currently no official Doctor Who Season 14 plot synopsis, but we do have some clues thanks to the episode titles, particularly the finale, Empire of Death. This harks back to a Doctor Who novel of the same name, which includes a seance, ghosts, and a mysterious drowned village.
BBCWhether the big finale follows the same narrative, is inspired by the narrative at all, or is merely using the same title, remains to be seen.
We can also glean other major narrative details from interviews Russell T Davies has given since taking over as Doctor Who showrunner. For example, the Welsh scribe recently confirmed that the Doctor and Ruby will meet The Beatles in Season 14’s second episode, titled The Devil’s Chord.
Davies also made it clear that fans haven’t seen the last of Yasmin Finney’s Rose Noble, following her introduction in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials. Exactly how big a part Rose will play in Season 14 isn’t clear, although the teaser trailer shows her and the Doctor embracing.
Regardless of whether Rose joins the Doctor on the frontlines, one thing is clear: our Time Lord hero won’t be fighting two of his most iconic enemies. Davies stated in a November 2023 interview that neither the Daleks nor the Cybermen would appear in Season 14. Apparently, he wants to prioritize new baddies, instead.
And don’t forget the secret identity of Ruby Sunday’s mother – a mystery set up in “The Church on Ruby Road.” Davies recently warned fans that this question will hang over Season 14’s wide narrative, culminating in “the most magnificent finale ever shot on planet Earth.” With the penultimate episode titled The Legend of Ruby Sunday, we’re expecting a big cliffhanger heading into the season finale.
Whatever happens, the new season should look pretty epic. There were rumors of the show receiving a budget of £10m per episode, thanks to the new deal with Disney Plus. Davies debunked this speculation, though, saying: “That is not the budget, and I worry that misinformation like that creates false expectation. Nonetheless, we have a lovely, handsome budget, and we’re very happy with how we’re proceeding with it.”
Doctor Who Season 14 trailer
A brand new trailer for Doctor Who Season 14 was released in April, 2024, and you can watch it below.
The trailer offers us a great insight into how the new Doctor will be spending his time, with a mix of footage from Earth, outer space, and within the TARDIS. We also see lots of Ruby, and a few other notable faces that the Doctor will encounter through the season.
Doctor Who Season 14 soundtrack: Who is the composer?
Composer Murray Gold and the National Orchestra of Wales will supply Doctor Who Season 14’s soundtrack.
Gold previously collaborated with Davies on the 2005 Doctor Who revival, remaining in post until Davies’ immediate successor, Steven Moffat, exited the franchise in 2017. He also scored all three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials and The Church on Ruby Road, as well.
Commenting on his return, Gold said: “I’m so happy to be invited back for another joyful ride in the TARDIS. I didn’t think twice. Working with Russell and his team is just a pleasure.”
That’s all we know about the Doctor Who Season 14 release date for now. If you need more from the TARDIS, check out how to dress like the new Doctor, why fans are already unhappy with Doctor Who Season 14, and find out how many episodes of Doctor Who there actually are. We’ve also got a list of all the upcoming releases on Disney Plus if you want more from the House of Mouse.
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