Doctor Who: BAFTA winner Lenny Rush joins the cast for series 14

BAFTA Award-winner Lenny Rush has been announced as the latest addition to the Doctor Who cast for its upcoming 14th series.

The actor, 14, is set to board the TARDIS alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s incarnation of the titular Time Lord.

Lenny has starred in numerous shows including Dodger and A Christmas Carol but it was his role in Daisy May Cooper’s Am I Being Unreasonable that won him the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme this year.

Speaking after his casting, Lenny said: ‘It’s an absolute honour to be part of Doctor Who, one of the most iconic shows on television and wow what a dream come true!’

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said: ‘This is what Doctor Who’s all about, brand new talent from the next generation, and no one’s more talented than Lenny! He joins the TARDIS team just in time for the Doctor’s greatest nightmare, so hold on tight!’

Lenny is just the latest addition to the vast cast set to star in series 14, which already includes Jonathan Groff, Anita Dobson, Jack Forsyth-Noble, Michelle Greenidge and Indira Varma.

It comes after it was announced that Bonnie Langford will be returning to Doctor Who as her character Mel Bush, 37 years after first starring in the show.

Bonnie made her debut on Who back in 1986 as Melanie alongside the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker, and went onto be the companion for the Seventh Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

It also comes after the West End star briefly reprised her role in the BBC’s Centenery Special The Power Of The Doctor, last year.

Ncuti will make his debut as the new Doctor in a Christmas Special later this year, after David Tennant reprises the role for a trio of specials to mark the show’s 60th Anniversary in November. 

Of her return, Bonnie said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back. 

‘To be part of the exceptional cast, crew and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T Davies is a career highlight. 

‘I’m so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.’

Coming soon! The actor is set to board the TARDIS alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s incarnation of the titular Time Lord

Lauded: It comes week after Lenny won a BAFTA for Male Performance In A Comedy Programme for his role in Daisy May Cooper’s Am I Being Unreasonable

Showrunner, Russell T Davies said: ‘Open those TARDIS doors wide, because Bonnie’s back! What an honour, delight and hoot to welcome back the character of Melanie, after too long away. 

‘And this isn’t just a cameo, Bonnie is right in the thick of the action, battling monsters and chaos and cliffhangers, right at the Doctor’s side, just like the old days.’

Joining Ncuti’s Doctor in the TARDIS will be his companion Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street star Millie Gibson.

The new series marks a brand new era for the show under returning showrunner Russell T Davies, after the departure of Chris Chibnall, and the last Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, last year.