Emmy-winner Archie Panjabi cast as key villain in Doctor Who!

The new season of Doctor Who has already cast plenty of new faces, from Varada Sethu to Nicola Coughlan — but these are both companions of Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor. The latest casting sees Under the Bridge and The Good Wife star Archie Panjabi enter the Whoniverse as a villain!

After a mixed debut season on Disney+, Doctor Who will return for its second season on the platform in 2025, although its future beyond that remains uncertain. Season 1 (or season 14, if we're continuing the original run) ranged from fantastic episodes, like 73 Yards and Boom, to more disappointing entries like Space Babies and The Devil's Chord. In terms of viewership, it wasn't a resounding success, but it exceeded in its target demographic. What's more, 2025 will also see an all-new spinoff premiere, titled The War Between the Land and the Sea.

The casting of Archie Panjabi has been widely celebrated across the fandom. The Emmy-winning British actress first made waves on the big screen in Bend it Like Beckham (2002), going on to land several impressive roles, including her standout performance as Kalinda Sharma in The Good Wife, which won her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe nomination.

As reported by Deadline, Panjabi's role in Doctor Who is currently under wraps. We know that she'll portray a key villain in the upcoming season, but beyond that, it's anyone's guess. It's unclear whether she'll play the main villain, especially with previous episodes teasing Mrs. Flood, played by Anita Dobson. The enigmatic neighbour of Ruby Sunday, Mrs. Flood is a fourth wall-breaking old lady who seemingly knows the fate of the Doctor.

Doctor Who will return on Christmas Day for its traditional Christmas Special, Joy to the World, starring Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan as Joy. The rest of the season will air later in 2025, on of course both BBC One in the UK and Disney+ for international fans.

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