Image Credit: Adapted from Meena (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Image Description: Photograph of Millie Gibson

Compiled by James Ashworth

Back on 18 November 2022, Whovians were taking part in a time honoured tradition. As with Jodie Whittaker and Pearl Mackie, fans of Doctor Who were tuning into a piece of event television in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the new companion. Would rumours of Olly Alexander taking to the TARDIS finally be confirmed? Or perhaps his It’s a Sin co-star Lydia West? Once again, Russell T Davies surprised us all by unveiling a choice no one in WhoSoc had predicted as we welcomed Millie Gibson to the TARDIS.

Perhaps one of the first reactions amongst members was a reaction to how young Millie Gibson is. Being born in 2004, she was just one year old when Doctor Who returned on television, and is younger than some WhoSoc freshers. “I feel like I’ve achieved nothing with my life, and I was only born in 2002!” Maddie Moor joked. Even if her youthfulness means some WhoSoc members began to appreciate their age a bit more (“The new companion is younger than me. I feel so old,” remarked Sam Flower), they wished Millie well on her new journey into the TARDIS. 

“I’m sure she’s gonna be great,’ Maddie adds. “Winning best young actor at the British Soap Awards sets her up very well, so all I can hope for is good chemistry between the Fifteenth Doctor and her!”

For those less familiar with Millie’s work on Coronation Street, speculation about how she might play her character abounded. “She gives me Jenna Coleman vibes in her appearance and soap background,” said Vice President Ian Bayley. 

As Society Historian Matthew Kilburn added, however, it’s hard to know what to make of Ruby Sunday until she makes her debut. “She seemed to exude the aura of a Blue Peter presenter on her Children in Need appearance, which is no bad thing, as there are parallels between the role of a companion and the role of Blue Peter presenter.” 

“Her Instagram feed, showing Millie in her Coronation Street years, depicts a young woman confident in herself and with a sense of her physical presence. How these aspects will be reflected in Ruby Sunday remain a mystery for now.”

For others, just as Liverpool and Dan in Series Thirteen had done wonders for scouse representation in Doctor Who, Millie’s Mancunian heritage was a welcome one. “I am so excited to see another northerner aboard, and from the short videos we’ve had of the pairing I am immensely excited,” said IT officer Thomas Barker. 

Multiple members also remarked upon the similarities between her character name and ‘Ruby Tuesday’, a song by the Rolling Stones. “While Ruby’s name is quite fantastical, and somewhat Moffatian in the vein of River Song or Amy Pond, my first thought was the Rolling Stones,” Thomas says. “The opening line of this song says that Ruby Tuesday ‘would never say where she came from’, so is Ruby Sunday something more than she seems?” 

For now, the answer to Thomas’ question, and those of other WhoSoc members, will have to wait. We’re counting down the days until she gets to make her debut on the show, and her backstory starts being revealed.

All opinions stated in this article are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Tides of Time or the Oxford Doctor Who Society.

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