Nicola Coughlan joining Doctor Who

Nicola Coughlan is joining 'Doctor Who'.

Show boss Russell T Davies has confirmed the 'Bridgerton' star is the latest famous face to join the cast revealing she will be onboard for episodes set to air over Christmas 2024.

He told The Sun newspaper: "Nicola Coughlan [is joining]at Christmas, next year. We are shooting Christmas 2024 now."

Another big name joining the cast is 'How I Met Your Mother' star Neil Patrick Harris and Russell admitted the actor had no idea what he was signing up for.

He added: "Neil had never heard of it. In fact, he read the script and he phoned me up and said, ‘So, the doctor is an alien?’"

He really was from scratch.

"I was lucky enough to know him because I’d already worked with him on 'It’s A Sin', he was in the first episode and so glorious in that, and so we knew him.

"He was perfect for this because Neil loves magic and magic tricks, and the Toymaker does play with cards and he does magic tricks and sleight of hands and all of that, and Neil already does that.”

Russell added: “He is phenomenal. That is a great villain who will scare you, he’s got so much range and had so much fun with it."

The showrunner, 60, returned to the beloved BBC show in 2022 after 14 years once Chris Chibnall, 53, departed. Now, Russell is gearing up for the release of the 60th Anniversary specials, which will see fan favourite Time Lord David Tennant, 52, board the T.A.R.D.I.S. once more with accomplice Donna Noble, played by Catherine Tate, 53. After the special, the showrunner is due to introduce Ncuti Gatwa, 31, as the Fifteenth Doctor, and he will be sticking around once the 'Sex Education' star's adventures begin. In an interview with SFX Magazine, Russell revealed his plans for the future of the sci-fi programme. He said: "I'm planning season 3 now, there’s plans for season 4. "Absolutely. Who knows? Who knows. I'm not getting any younger."