Rylan to guest star in Doctor Who

BBC confirms a raft of special guests for the new season

Rylan play himself in the new season of Doctor Who.

The BBC has announced he’ll appear as the co-host of the Interstellar Song Contest. Also featured is Alan Cumming who voices the villainous cartoon character, Mr Ring-a-Ding.

Additional guest stars who can be spotted in the trailer, adventuring with the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Belinda (Varada Sethu) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), include Anita Dobson, Bonnie Langford, Jemma Redgrave, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Christopher Chung, Evelyn Miller, Ariyon Bakare, Julie Dray and Jonah Hauer-King.

A man wearing a velvet red suit jacket over a white shirt stands on a futuristic stage holding a microphone, against a backdrop of purple and white beams of light

Rylan, says: “As a massive Whovian, getting the call to be in Doctor Who was a call I’ve always dreamed of getting. The episode is all my favourite things about the show with an added song contest set in space. It really is a dream come true. I can’t wait for everyone to see it. It really is going to be out of this world.”

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Evelyn Miller, says: “I’m so delighted to be joining the Doctor Who team. It was such a feature of my childhood, the memory of curling up on the sofa with my brother and watching the Weeping Angels episode from behind a pillow still makes me laugh. We were terrified. The love and passion that’s gone into this series is so clear. I can’t wait for people to see it!”

Two woman stand flanked by red robots, who hold futuristic weapons. One woman wears a mustard yellow coat over a pink t-shirt while the other wears a beige top and trousers. They both look concerned.

Ariyon Bakare says: “As a kid, I’d run around the house chasing my little sister, arms raised, shouting, I am a Dalek! Back then, I never imagined I’d even meet a Doctor, let alone guest star in the show. So, returning to the Whoniverse for Season 2 is an absolute treat. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve created.”

Caoilfhionn Dunne says: “I am so grateful to have been asked to be a part of this exciting second season of Doctor Who. As a longtime fan of the show, it has been a dream come true. And to get to work with such an amazing gang, Ncuti and Varada, such a wonderful duo, this absolutely stellar cast and such a supportive and hardworking crew. I couldn’t have asked for a better gang of folk to have hurtled through the Whoniverse with.”

Julie Dray says: “I am so excited to be joining the cast of Doctor Who, an iconic show with such a rich legacy. I had such an amazing time working alongside Rylan while wearing some beautiful prosthetics, and can’t wait for audiences to see the spectacular Interstellar Song Contest be brought to life! Voilà!”

A woman in a denim jacket stands looking at something over her shoulder at night. She looks shocked and distressed.
A man in an orange v-neck polo shirt and check trousers floats through space reaching towards something just out of shot

Season Two launches on Saturday, 12 April on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK and Disney+ outside of the UK (where available).