Doctor Who: Millie Gibson's Rumored Exit Finally Addressed By Showrunner RTD

Summary Doctor Who showrunner confirms Millie Gibson is staying on as Ruby Sunday for two years, ending exit rumors for season 14.

Confusing rumors of Gibson's departure and replacement by Varada Sethu get cleared up by Davies' recent statement.

Davies reassures fans of a vibrant role for Ruby Sunday with magnificent scenes in the two-year span of Doctor Who season 14.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies finally addresses whether Millie Gibson will be leaving the series. Gibson is stepping in to play Fifteenth Doctor companion Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who season 14. For the upcoming season, she joins an upcoming cast including Varada Sethu, Ncuti Gatwa, and Bonnie Langford. Doctor Who season 14 is set to premiere on May 11.

As per SFX Magazine (via Collider), Davies addresses Gibson’s rumored exit after Doctor Who season 14. Davies definitely said that Gibson is “not leaving.” He felt it “very unfortunate that these things make the papers.” The showrunner explained that Ruby Sunday’s role is vibrant throughout season 1 and 2, teasing particularly “magnificent scenes” in the finale of the second season. Davies seemed confident that he and his team are “making such a good show,” which will include ample great moments from Ruby Sunday. Check out the full quote from Davies below:

Not leaving. 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. We are planning [to] shoot the [season 2] finale in which Ruby has the most magnificent scenes, and Millie, it's some of your most challenging material yet, isn't it? It will all make sense once you see it play out. It's very unfortunate that these things make the papers. We're in a very difficult position, because you can't answer rumour, you can't speak to rumour, we can't try and pin it down because the internet will just run away and will either misinterpret or will decide that the Princess of Wales has been replaced by four cats in a wig. 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. That is a problem with shooting the second series while you're still doing the first series. All sorts of problems can happen that way that we saw coming, but what do we do? Stop shooting? No. We're making such a good show.

Millie Gibson’s Exit Rumors Explained

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Davies’ statement serves as a final bit of confirmation that Gibson is here to stay on Doctor Who. The comments come after the showrunner was recently quoted saying “Ruby Sunday is important” to the arc of the second upcoming season, but did not address her appearance as directly as in the recent quote. In February, Gibson also referred to “Ruby’s second season look,” implying that she would stay on beyond season 14. Now, all these confusing hints are cleared up, as Davies confirms Gibson’s appearance.

This confusing arc follows rumors in January that Gibson would be leaving after Doctor Who season 14. Shortly after this announcement, it was said that Gibson would be replaced by Sethu. Following Sethu’s casting news, photos were posted with Sethu in her role alongside Gatwa, in what appeared to be photos from the second season. This seemed to confirm that Sethu would replace Gibson, before the waters were further muddied by the aforementioned commentary.

Even the narrative surrounding Sethu’s role has gotten muddled. When the now-disproven rumors of Gibson’s departure from Doctor Who began, it was assumed that Sethu would take over in the second Gatwa season upon Gibson’s exit, but that she would not appear in season 14. However, it was recently confirmed that Sethu would actually join the show for Doctor Who season 14, giving the Fifteenth Doctor two companions. Now, it seems that Gatwa will get two seasons of double companionship, and based on Davies’ story teases, it sounds like these two companions will be a welcome surprise.

Source: SFX Magazine (via Collider)