Huge BBC show announces major schedule shake-up as broadcaster teams up with Disney+ in landmark deal

A BELOVED science fiction programme will soon be making an explosive return to TV screens.

Doctor Who will make its global premiere around the Whoniverse and for those in the UK on May 11.

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For the very first time, the show will land with two episodes on BBC iPlayer at midnight before arriving on BBC One later that day.

The episodes will be followed by the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final.

Those outside the U.K. can also catch up on the Doctor and Ruby Sunday’s adventures as the show will drop on Disney+.

The new season features the return of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday after making their debuts on Christmas Day.

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Audiences will see the pair travel through time and space on adventures to unknown lands, the Regency era in England, outer space worlds and the 1960s.

Michelle Greenidge, Angela Wynter and Anita Dobson will return as Carla Sunday, Cherry Sunday and Mrs Flood, respectively.

However, guest stars crossing paths with the Doctor include Jinkx Monsoon, Aneurin Barnard, Yasmin Finney, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush and Indira Varma with more to be announced.

Showrunner Russell T. Davies said: “At last, it’s my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together. 

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“Monsters!  Chases!  Villains!  Mysteries!  And a terrifying secret that’s been spanning time and space for decades.  Don’t miss a second!”

This update on the new season follows reports that Millie Gibson has already been axed from the show after one series as Ruby Sunday. 

Former Coronation Street actress Millie, 19, who played Kelly Neelan, had been expected to stay by the Doctor’s side for at least two full series.

However, show bosses had other ideas and Millie will be replaced by Varada Sethu in Ncuti’s second run as the Doctor.

Previous companions, such as Bill (Pearl Mackie) have stayed for one series while others, like Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) enjoyed multi-year arcs.

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Doctor Who episodes will continue to drop on BBC iPlayer at midnight on Saturdays, followed by a weekly primetime slot on BBC One.