Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan is to swap period drama for science fiction after the Doctor Who boss confirms that the Bridgerton star will be in the 2024 Christmas special.
According to Variety, Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies revealed the news during a Q&A 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 specials bring back David Tennant as the Doctor and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the reins as the fifteenth Doctor on Christmas Day.
Davies was asked if audiences can expect any special guests in the coming season. He said: "Nicola Coughlan at Christmas — not this Christmas, next Christmas. We're shooting Christmas 2024 now."
The Galway native, who is known for her roles in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, starred alongside Gatwa in the hugely successful Barbie movie earlier this year. She has also just finished filming Big Mood with Lydia West, a six-part series for Channel 4 about a female friendship amid the backdrop of mental illness.
Coughlan will next feature as the Playroom Fairy in the animated version of The Velveteen Rabbit which is sure to land on Apple TV+ on 22 November.
