Bridgerton star is worlds away from Netflix hit as they bag role on Doctor Who
RUSSELL T Davies has revealed a very exciting addition to the Doctor Who Family – and fans of Bridgerton and Derry Girls will be thrilled.
Speaking after the premiere of The Star Beast, the first new episode of the cult series, he was asked to reveal if there were any new names joining the show.
Russell replied: “Nicola Coughlan at Christmas, next year.
“We are shooting Christmas 2024 now.”
The first new episodes of the new instalment reunite David Tennant and Catherine Tate.
Asked about the new series, Russell said: “I didn’t find myself writing it massively differently, but there is an increase in budget and that has allowed later episodes to be more experimental.
“You look at something I wrote in 1999 like Queer as Folk having an almost entirely white cast, the three leads were white, that’s simply inconceivable now.”
Russell also discussed signing up Neil Patrick Harris and admitted he had to try and explain what the series was about.
He said: “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.”