'Doctor Who' returns — now with Alan Cumming!

"The Traitors" star is coming to wreak havoc on Ncuti Gatwa.
By
Kristy Puchko
 on 
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Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor in "Doctor Who."
Ncuti Gatwa is the Doctor in "Doctor Who." Credit: Disney+ / BBC

Following the heartbreaking/heartwarming holiday special, Doctor Who is coming back with a fresh season of sci-fi thrills and time-wimey goodness. Disney+ and the BBC have officially announced Ncuti Gatwa's second season as the Doctor will premiere April 12. And joining in on this season's shenanigans will be The Traitors' host with the most, Alan Cumming.

As revealed earlier, the Fifteenth Doctor will find a new companion called Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, who previously appeared in the explosive episode "Boom." For his part, Cumming has previously played King James I in the 2018 episode "The Witchfinders." This time around, he'll be lending his voice to Mr. Ring-a-Ding, described in Disney+'s press release as "a happy, funny, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally." However, in episode two of this new season. Mr. Ring-a-Ding — as teased in the official still below — escapes his show and makes it into the real world. And he's not a fan of what he sees.

Mr. Ring-a-Ding enters the Whoniverse.
Mr. Ring-a-Ding enters the Whoniverse. Credit: Disney+ / BBC

In a statement, Doctor Who showrunner, executive producer, and writer Russell T Davies said, "Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun. He makes the whole universe of Doctor Who wilder and madder than ever, and it's an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS."

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We can't wait. And yet we must.

Doctor Who Season 2 debuts on Disney+ and BBC on April 12.

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Kristy Puchko

Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable. Based in New York City, she's an established film critic and entertainment reporter, who has traveled the world on assignment, covered a variety of film festivals, co-hosted movie-focused podcasts, interviewed a wide array of performers and filmmakers, and had her work published on RogerEbert.com, Vanity Fair, and The Guardian. A member of the Critics Choice Association and GALECA as well as a Top Critic on Rotten Tomatoes, Kristy's primary focus is movies. However, she's also been known to gush over television, podcasts, and board games. You can follow her on Instagram, Letterboxd, or Bluesky.


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