Doctor Who
Warning : spoilers onwards for Doctor Who ’s " Joy to the populace "
Traditionally , Doctor Whowill put in a impermanent familiar for these lonesome Christmas specials - Catherine Tate ’s Donna in " The Runaway Bride " and Kylie Minogue ’s Astrid in " Voyage of the Damned " being two such characters . WithBridgertonstar Nicola Coughlan announced as the big new addition to feature alongside Ncuti Gatwa in 2024 Christmas special " Joy to the World , " it was assumed her reference would engage that temporary - fellow traveler role before Varada Sethu becomes the next proper companion inDoctor Whoseason 15 . Instead , the line goes to someone who flew mostly under the microwave radar .
Doctor Who Made Anita The Fifteenth Doctor’s New Companion In “Joy To The World”
Anita Is A Joy In Doctor Who’s 2024 Christmas Special
Quite by chance , it ’s Stephanie de Whalley ’s Anita who truly becomes the Fifteenth Doctor ’s new companionin 2024 ’s Christmas special . The Doctor and Anita spend a class together , during which time she comes to instruct all about his mystifying nature and see story of fantastical monsters such as the Weeping Angels . More significantly , the Doctor and Anita each have a positive impact upon the other ’s life , which is arguably the stylemark of anygoodDoctor Whocompanion . Anita encourages the Doctor to obtain a new friend , while the Doctor give Anita an opportunity for a more exciting spirit .
It ’s heavily rumored that Varada Sethu will exchange Millie Gibson opposite Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who and here ’s where viewers will recognize her from .
The Doctor is visibly upset when leaving the Sandringham ’s concierge / clean / manager / behind , so while the distich may not have traveled beyond the confines of the hotel , their bond is evidently secure than some Doctor - companion friendships from years past . Indeed , it ’s a wonder Ncuti Gatwa ’s Doctor does n’t invite Anita to travel alongside him in the TARDIS forDoctor Whoseason 15.“Joy to the World " impliesFifteen is not yet ready to move on after Ruby Sunday , but pass sentence with Anita at least help him become open to the possibility of a raw companion down the road .
Joy Never Really Becomes A Companion Replacement In “Joy To The World”
Joy Is Great, But Not A Companion
By contrast , Nicola Coughlan ’s Joy never takes the shape of aDoctor Whocompanionduring her scant clash with the Time Lord . Joy is afforded more screen time equate to Anita , albeit not by a huge margin , but barely drop an hour of in - universe of discourse prison term in the doc ’s front . The duo ’s most meaningful here and now comes when Fifteen verbally eviscerates Joy in rescript to actuate enough anger to break Villengard ’s conditioning , but they never share the kinship necessary for aDoctor Whocompanion . Anita , on the other hand , becomes the Doctor ’s close confidante across a deep touching and emotional montage .
The only associate vibes in " Joy to the World " are get along from behind the Sandringham Hotel ’s front desk .
Joy is less of a fellow traveler figure and more someone the Doctor tries and go to rescue . Coughlan ’s sentence heroine at long last saves the cosmos , but she does n’t assist the Doctor in any obvious way . Understandably , Joy is more interested about being vaporized by Villengard ’s briefcase , and is trust on the Doctor to hear and spare her life .
Villengard has an interesting place among the gallery of Doctor Who villains , as the nefarious organization has dipped in and out of the floor .
The rest of the meter , Joy is brainwash by Villengard ’s psychical programming , which further bound her ability to interact with the Doctor . Even in the very final moments of " Joy to the World,“the Doctor hold out alone and leaves Joy standing awkwardlyin a crypt while he taste to keep get to the twenty-four hours using a rope , meaning there ’s never a sentiency of the teamwork demand for a Doctor and companion dynamic .
Past Modern Companions
The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by new companion Ruby Sunday.
Doctor
Rose ( Billie Piper )
Nine / Ten
Martha ( Freema Agyeman )
Ten
Donna ( Catherine Tate )
Amy Pond ( Karen Gillan )
Eleven
Clara Oswald ( Jenna Coleman )
Eleven / Twelve
Bill Potts ( Pearl Mackie )
Twelve
Nardole ( Matt Lucas )
Yasmin Khan ( Mandip Gill )
Thirteen
Ryan Sinclair ( Tosin Cole )
Graham O’Brien ( Bradley Walsh )
Dan Lewis ( John Bishop )
Granted , Anita never help the Doctor write the world . Their rapport and ability to bounce ideas off each other , however , is exactly what aDoctor and companiondouble routine should be , and this is peculiarly apparent when the two chair crony invade a couple ’s honeymoon suite to investigate another door to the Time Hotel . Joy is a fine character and a desirable addition to the pantheon of one - offDoctor Whoguest stars , but the only companion vibes in " Joy to the World " are coming from behind the Sandringham Hotel ’s front desk .
Doctor Who Must Reunite Fifteen & Anita, Right?
Please, Doctor Who, Bring Back Anita!
So compelling and heartwarming is the camaraderie between the Fifteenth Doctor and Anita , Doctor Whowould be neglectful not to convey Stephanie de Whalley back in a succeeding episode . Anita ’s raw caper at the Time Hotel make a return straightforward enough , and de Whalley ’s chemistry with Gatwa could well prolong an entire adventure , should the Doctor ever find himself in a one - mug - in - the - TARDIS position again .
Doctor Who is the longest - running sci - fi show on TV , which has lead to some top stars appearing on the show before and after their biggest success ' .
Alternatively , Anita could follow the same path as Catherine Tate ’s Donna , who begin as a one - off Christmas comrade but savor such an enthusiastic response she was afterwards hired on a full - time ground . After a hugely positive first outing , it would be no surprisal whatsoever ifNcuti Gatwa ’s Fifteenth DoctorbeganDoctor Whoseason 16 with a trip to the Time Hotel to peck up his old booster - for auld lang syne .
The latest Doctor Who series introduces the Fifteenth Doctor , joined by new companion Ruby Sunday .
