Game of Thrones star Indira Varma announced for Doctor Who (original) (raw)

Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma is joining the new series of Doctor Who.

The actress will appear as the Duchess in the next season of the hit BBC One show, which sees Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa taking over as the Fifteenth Doctor.

“I’m thrilled to be in Doctor Who and particularly excited to be crossing cosmic paths with Ncuti, as the Doctor, and look forward to creating interplanetary mischief with him,” Varma said.

Related: Doctor Who season 14 adds The Split and Taboo stars

Varma is no stranger to Doctor Who fans, having appeared as Suzie Costello in Russell T Davies’ spin-off series Torchwood.

Right now, there are little details made public about what her new role as the Duchess will entail in Doctor Who season 14, but show creator Davies has teased a potential villainous storyline for the star.

“I’m overjoyed to be reunited with Indira after our Torchwood days, and this part is truly spectacular!” Davies said. “A whole new audience will be hiding behind the settee when the Duchess unleashes her terror.”

Varma most recently appeared in the Netflix thriller series Obsession alongside Richard Armitage and Charlie Murphy, starring as Armitage’s on-screen wife Ingrid Farrow. She’s also known for her role as double agent Tala in Disney+’s record-breaking Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi and for appearing as Ellaria Sand in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Eamonn M. McCormack//Getty Images

Related: Doctor Who director confirms return of another classic monster for 60th anniversary

Anticipation has been building for the next season of Doctor Who, with its release this November coinciding with the show’s 60th anniversary. David Tennant will return as the Fourteenth Doctor in three episodes, before passing the torch on to Ncuti Gatwa, who’s first episode will air over the festive period.

The BBC recently confirmed the titles of the three special Doctor Who episodes. The first is titled 'The Star Beast', which will be followed by 'Wild Blue Yonder' and a third special titled 'The Giggle'.

Doctor Who returns later in 2023 on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Meanwhile, in the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on HBO Max. Classic Doctor Who streams on Britbox in the UK.

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