Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan to appear in hit BBC Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special

The Bridgerton actress has been cast in the hit series for 2024’s episode

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Sandra Mallon

05:00, 11 NOV 2023

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Nicola Coughlan attends the Emilia Wickstead show during London Fashion Week September 2023 at the Royal Academy of Arts on September 18, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) — Nicola Coughlan attends the Emilia Wickstead show during London Fashion Week September 2023 at the Royal Academy of Arts on September 18, 2023 (Image: Getty)

Former Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan is set to star in the Doctor Who Christmas special – just not this year.

The Bridgerton actress has been cast in the hit series for 2024’s episode. Showrunner Russell T Davies revealed the news during a Q&A on Monday night following a press screening of “The Star Beast,” the first of the BBC series’ annual specials.

Celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary, this year’s edition brings back David Tennant as the Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the reins as the 15th Doctor on Christmas Day. When asked if he could reveal anyone who will be making a guest appearance in the next series, Davies teased an appearance by the Irish star.

Read more: Netflix release stunning first look at new Bridgerton season starring Irish actress Nicola Coughlan

Read more: 'I watched Barbie and Oppenheimer and was surprised by the similarities between both movies'

“Nicola Coughlan at Christmas – not this Christmas, next Christmas,” Davies said. “We’re shooting Christmas 2024 now.”

Coughlan also starred alongside Gatwa in the mega-successful Barbie movie earlier this year.

Davies discussed the three specials starring Tennant and Tate, the first of which premieres on November 25, as well as hinting at Gatwa’s introductory episode on December 25. He said: “That Christmas Day episode is gorgeous, it’s absolutely gorgeous. When you cast great actors, the pressure is to live up to them, is to give them stuff that they love. And also stuff that will push them every day.”

Teasing the next series, Davies called the process of working with Gatwa and Millie Gibson, who plays companion Ruby Sunday, “thrilling”.

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