Since returning showrunner Russell T. Davies went ahead and brought back old pals David Tennant and Catherine Tate immediately upon his grand comeback to Doctor Who, fans have long held out hope that he might be planning to resurrect beloved spinoff Torchwood in some form as well. To these folks, then, the news that a Torchwood star is confirmed to appear in season 14 might just cause their heads to explode. But, before things get messy, you should maybe find out the full situation.
As broken by Deadline, Indira Varma will be dropping by Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Time Lord. Although this is the Game of Thrones veteran’s debut appearance in the show itself, Varma is already familiar to Whovians thanks to her role as team-member-turned-villain Suzie Costello in the aforementioned Torchwood, which ran from 2006 to 2011. Sadly for those banking on a crossover, Varma will play a new character in season 14, known only as The Duchess.
Varma gushed over her intriguing new role — which Davies himself told the press is “truly spectacular” — in the following statement:
“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. I loved playing Suzie Costello for Russell T Davies in Torchwood so am thrilled to be entering this world again.”
Also seen recently in Disney Plus’ Obi-Wan Kenobi and due to star in Max’s spinoff series Dune: The Sisterhood, Varma is the latest exciting addition to Doctor Who season 14, following drag queen Jinxx Monsoon and Hamilton icon Jonathan Groff. Gatwa’s first run will premiere in 2024, but before then we have three Tennant-led specials arriving in the fall to mark the Whoniverse’s 60th anniversary.
