Television personality Rylan Clark and acclaimed actor Alan Cumming are among the high-profile guest stars announced for the upcoming second season of Doctor Who, as revealed in a new trailer released by the BBC today.
The eagerly anticipated season, which premieres April 12th on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ internationally, will continue the adventures of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside new companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu. Millie Gibson will also return as Ruby Sunday in what appears to be a season focused on getting Belinda back to Earth while battling mysterious cosmic forces.
The trailer provides the first glimpse of Rylan portraying himself as co-host of the intergalactic “Interstellar Song Contest” – a clear nod to the Eurovision Song Contest with which the TV presenter has been previously associated. Meanwhile, Alan Cumming will voice an animated villain named Mr. Ring-a-Ding, though details about the character remain limited.
“As a massive Whovian, getting the call to be in Doctor Who was a call I’ve always dreamed of getting,” Rylan said in a statement. “The episode is all my favourite things about the show with an added song contest set in space. It really is a dream come true.”
The new season also boasts an impressive roster of additional guest stars including Anita Dobson, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Christopher Chung, Evelyn Miller, Ariyon Bakare, Julie Dray, and Jonah Hauer-King.
Ariyon Bakare, returning to the Whoniverse after previous appearances, shared his enthusiasm: “As a kid, I’d run around the house chasing my little sister, arms raised, shouting, I am a Dalek! Back then, I never imagined I’d even meet a Doctor, let alone guest star in the show.”
French actress Julie Dray revealed she’ll be appearing alongside Rylan in the Interstellar Song Contest storyline, noting: “I had such an amazing time working alongside Rylan while wearing some beautiful prosthetics, and can’t wait for audiences to see the spectacular Interstellar Song Contest be brought to life!”
According to the BBC, the season’s overarching plot will involve “The Doctor and Belinda Chandra on an epic quest to get Belinda back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-traveling TARDIS team must face great dangers, ferocious enemies and wilder terrors than ever before.”
The trailer itself showcases a variety of visually striking locations, including what appears to be a futuristic concert venue, mysterious red-armored robots, and characters floating in space. One brief shot shows characters in spacesuits looking concerned, suggesting at least one episode will involve extra-vehicular activity.
This marks the second season with Gatwa as the Doctor following his debut in the 2023 Christmas special and subsequent first season. The show, now co-produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for both the BBC and Disney Branded Television, has seen increased production values since Disney’s involvement began.
Doctor Who’s second season begins April 12th, with episodes expected to air weekly on BBC One while being available for streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ internationally.
