Russell T Davies says Millie Gibson is not leaving Doctor Who: "Not at all"

Despite reports that new Doctor Who companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) is being written out of the show early, boss Russell T Davies clarifies that her story is fully told, and no rewrites to shorten her story have been made. Phew!

Earlier this year, it was announced that Varada Sethu was entering the TARDIS as the second companion to Ncuti Gatwa's Fourteenth Doctor, and that Gibson's character would be written out of the show. However, we now have more clarity on the situation. Turns out, Gibson and Sethu will share screen time; Sethu is not replacing Gibson in any way.

Speaking to SFX Magazine, showrunner Russell T Davies provided some explanation on the rumor that has gotten somewhat out of hand. "[Gibson is] not leaving," he clarified. "Not at all. We were ordered for two years of a series off Disney, and we're delivering two years, and the Ruby Sunday story literally spans those two years."

In fact, the Whoniverse team is in the process of making Gibson's second season finale right now, set to air in 2025. In the finale, Gibson's really got her work cut out for her. "We are planning [to] shoot the [season 2] finale in which Ruby has the most magnificent scenes, and Millie, it's some of [her] most challenging material yet, isn't it? It will all make sense once you see it play out."

Davies went on to discuss the "unfortunate" way rumors get twisted up and how things get misinterpreted. Millie Gibson's character was never being written out; she always had a full character arc. "We're in a very difficult position, because you can't answer rumor, you can't speak to rumor," he said, continuing to tease Ruby's magnificent story: "So, it's that you cannot begin to answer this sort of stuff. But you will see the love that we have for Millie and the extraordinary stories that Ruby's about to go on over the next two years. I guarantee you that."

Millie Gibson teases Ruby Sunday's future on Doctor Who

We were introduced to Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who's 2023 Christmas special. In the episode, we learned that she'd been orphaned as a baby, left on the steps of a church one Christmas Eve, growing up never learning her true parentage. Her arc will last two seasons, and Gibson is delighted with the story she gets to play out.

“Russell’s given me the gift of a really beautiful story arc, not only in season 1 but in season 2 also,” Gibson told Entertainment Weekly. “Her family definitely structures her beliefs and her positivity. I think because I’m playing my age as well, it was so easy to express that sort of giddiness and young energy that Doctor Who’s not seen before.”

She further explains that her and Gatwa's friendship, and the energy of youth, is something rarely seen in the Whoniverse. “There’s never been a younger sort of relationship, where it’s more like two girls in school, giggling and gossiping,” she added. “Me and Ncuti have a similar relationship to the Doctor and Ruby, which really helps. It’s just constant laughter and platonic best friends.”

We can't wait to see how Ruby's story develops! Doctor Who returns May 11 on Disney+ and BBC One.

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