{"id":41097,"date":"2023-12-05T12:46:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T11:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1938907"},"modified":"2023-12-05T14:29:21","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T13:29:21","slug":"doctor-who-unveils-first-look-at-new-characters-in-the-giggle","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-unveils-first-look-at-new-characters-in-the-giggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who unveils first look at new characters in The Giggle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some new and familiar faces are making a comeback for the final 60th anniversary episode. <\/p>

By Lidia Molina-Whyte\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 05 December 2023 at 11:46 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Following Wild Blue Yonder<\/a>\u2018s terrifying foray to the edge of the universe, it looks like the third and final Doctor Who<\/a> 60th anniversary special will treat us to a puppet show.<\/p>\n

Neil Patrick Harris\u2019s much-teased Toymaker<\/a> is set to make his grand entrance this weekend. Returning showrunner Russell T Davies hasn\u2019t been as secretive about this one \u2013 we know who the villain is, for one \u2013 but details have been scarce nonetheless.<\/p>\n

The BBC has released new images of the episode, however, hinting at what\u2019s to come for David Tennant\u2019s Time Lord and Catherine Tate\u2019s Donna Noble.<\/p>\n

The images also give us a glimpse at the episode\u2019s cast, including a puppet who could give the Wild Blue Yonder\u2019s doubles a run for their money.<\/p>\n

\"Charlie\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Charlie De Melo as Charles Banerjee.<\/span><\/figcaption> James Pardon\/Bad Wolf\/BBC Studios<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Coronation Street<\/a>\u2018s Charlie De Melo will star as Charles Banerjee. Not much else is known about the character other than his name, but he doesn\u2019t look too thrilled to be in the Toymaker\u2019s presence above.<\/p>\n

John Mackay (Judy) has also joined The Giggle\u2019s cast as inventor John Logie Baird. Interestingly, it\u2019s not the first time Mackay has played the real-life figure \u2013 he was also Baird in Davies\u2019s ITVX drama Nolly<\/a>, starring Helena Bonham Carter.<\/p>\n

\"John\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
John Mackay as John Logie Baird.<\/span><\/figcaption> James Pardon\/Bad Wolf\/BBC Studios<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The BBC has also released an image of Jemma Redgrave, who is back as Kate Lethbridge Stewart \u2013 and who might even be getting her own spin-off<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kate is one of the founders of UNIT, the Unified Intelligence Taskforce, and a familiar face to Doctor Who fans.<\/p>\n

Not only will she star in The Giggle, but the character is also expected to return during the Fifteenth Doctor\u2019s first season.<\/p>\n

\"Jemma\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge Stewart.<\/span><\/figcaption> James Pardon\/Bad Wolf\/BBC Studios<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

UNIT scientist Shirley (Ruth Madeley)<\/a> will also be back, joined by Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim.<\/p>\n

\"Alexander\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim.<\/span><\/figcaption> James Pardon\/Bad Wolf\/BBC Studios<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The teaser trailer<\/a> released over the weekend did give us a glimpse of the Doctor\u2019s encounter with Harris\u2019s Toymaker (a character first played by Michael Gough in 1966).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe meet again \u2013 the Time Lord and the Toymaker\u2026 one final game!\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n