Who is new Doctor Who companion Varada Sethu?

Doctor Who is set to shake up its casting for season 15, which is currently filming, as Varada Sethu will portray a new companion to Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor alongside Millie Gibson.

The BBC has confirmed that Sethu will portray a second companion to Gatwa's Doctor, this comes after reports emerged that she had replaced Gibson — who plays Ruby Sunday — in the BBC show. Instead, the actor is playing an as-yet-unnamed companion who will go on adventures across time and space with the Doctor and Ruby.

Read more: When does Doctor Who series 14 start on TV?

In a statement, the actor shared: “I feel like the luckiest person in the world. It is such an honour to be a part of the Whoniverse, and I'm so grateful to the whole Doctor Who family — because that is what they are — for welcoming me with open arms and making me feel so at home. I couldn't ask for a better team than Ncuti and Millie to be on this adventure with, this is so much fun!”

Showrunner Russell T Davies said of Sethu joining the programme: “I first worked with Varada on a BBC production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and it's a joy to welcome her on board the TARDIS. Right now in the studio, shooting for 2025, we've got Ncuti, Millie and Varada fighting side by side — we need all three, because the stakes are higher than ever!”

The actor was first pictured on set with Gatwa in January. Longtime fans may be wondering who the actor is and where they've seen her before. Here is everything you need to know.

Who is Varada Sethu?

Varada Sethu is an up-and-coming actor who has already made her mark on the sci-fi genre with her roles in Andor and Jurassic World Dominion.

The 31-year-old actor made her debut in the 2010 short film Impressions, going on to appear in BBC soap Doctors and a TV movie adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2016. Her Hollywood debut came the same year when she starred in Now You See Me 2 as an assistant to Michael Caine's Arthur Tressler.

Sethu went on to appear in shows like Doctor Foster and Hard Sun, in the BBC apocalyptical drama the actor took on the supporting role of DS Mishal Ali. As well as working in TV, the actor went on to star in movies like Netflix thriller I Came By and Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.

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The actor's most notable role is in Star Wars Disney+ series Andor, in which she portrays Rebel spy Cinta Kaz as part of Luthen Rael's (Stellan Skarsgård) network operating across the galaxy in secret to tear down the Empire.

During the show, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is recruited into the group in order to help them steal money from an Imperial base that would have a huge impact on the dictatorship. Though the heist was successful the group suffered huge casualties, and Kaz was one of the few to survive.

Since Andor, Sethu has gone on to star in shows like police dramas Annika and Mrs. Sidhu Investigates. Doctor Who is expected to be the actor's next project.

Doctor Who series 14 returns on Saturday 11 May on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+.

Watch the trailer: