Doctor Who: Why Rose Ayling-Ellis has the Potential to be the Next Companion

On 8 May, the BBC announced that Ncuti Gatwa had been cast as the next Doctor, replacing Jodie Whittaker as the famous Time Lord on the hit sci-fi drama.

Gatwa, who is well-known as Eric Effiong in Netflix sitcom, Sex Education, will make history as the first male black actor to hold the keys to the TARDIS. The 29-year-old will also become the fourth Scot in the lead role, after Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989), David Tennant (2005-2010) and Peter Capaldi (2014-2017).

There is always anticipation as to who will join the new Doctor on their travels through space and time, and after Sunday’s news that David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning to the show as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations, such an announcement looks to be some time away.

On returning for his second spell as showrunner, Russell T Davies said that he always looks to work with “new talent” and “Doctor Who always has something new to say.”

Having not previously worked with Gatwa, Davies may decide to do the same in regards to the Doctor’s new companion(s) and cast a new talented actor, such as, Rose Ayling-Ellis.

Ayling-Ellis is an actress who, alongside professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, made history as the first deaf competitor and winner of last year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Ayling-Ellis is also well-known as Frankie Lewis in BBC soap opera, EastEnders, who she has portrayed since 2020.

The 27-year-old has been involved in major storylines over the past two years, such as the revelation that she is the daughter of Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) and her sibling rivalry with Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill).

Before her breakthrough role as Frankie in EastEnders, she appeared in Casualty and also starred in a short film, ‘The End’ by deaf filmmaker Ted Evans.

It is testament to Ayling-Ellis’ skills as an actress that she has become a much-loved character to viewers of the BBC drama, as well as her strong performances on Strictly.

Alongside Pernice, Ayling-Ellis won this year’s BAFTA for ‘Must-See Moment’ on Strictly- which is voted by the general public, thus, emphaising the recognition she has received and popularity she has with TV audiences.

With Ayling-Ellis’ range of acting talent, there is no reason at all to suggest she couldn’t captivate an audience just as much on Doctor Who.

Casting Ayling-Ellis as the Doctor’s next companion would continue the positive drive the show has made in equality and inclusivity in recent years, after making Whittaker the first female incarnation of the Doctor in 2017, and Jo Martin the first BAME actor to play the role in 2020.

Davies has proven he can write strong character arcs during his previous tenure in the show, such as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), all companions who have proven and continue to be popular with the fanbase.

Davies said that the show “always has something new to say” and casting Ayling-Ellis as the show’s first deaf companion and an actress whose stock has risen in recent months, would continue to propel the show into the 21st century and bring with it a legion of new fans going into a fresh, exciting new era.

Doctor Who will return to BBC One this October with Jodie Whittaker’s final episode