Again in 2018, Alan Cumming visitor starred within the Physician Who episode “The Witchfinders” as King James I, with whom the Thirteenth Physician and her companions crossed paths. Seven years later, Cumming has been commonly getting consideration for internet hosting the favored actuality TV collection The Traitors, which could be streamed with a Peacock subscription. In the present day, nevertheless, brings phrase he’s being introduced again for Physician Who’s upcoming season, although it’s uncertain anybody might have predicted the brand new character he’ll be enjoying.
The announcement of Cumming’s return accompanied the reveal that Physician Who Season 2, a.ok.a. the fifteenth season of the fashionable period, will debut on the 2025 TV schedule Saturday, April 12 at 12 am PT/3 am ET. Identical to with the sixtieth anniversary specials and this final season, it will likely be solely streamable with a Disney+ subscription the place out there exterior of the UK. Cumming’s voice can be heard aching Mr. Ring-a-Ding within the season’s second episode.
Formally described as a “glad, humorous, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny City along with his buddy Sunshine Sally,” Mr. Ring-a-Ding will come into the Fifteenth Physician’s orbit in 1952, after years of his animated appearances being offered in theaters. When he “all of a sudden appears to be like past the display screen and sees the true world exterior,” the results of this choice can be “terrifying.” Physician Who showunner Russell T. Davies mentioned this about Cumming lending his abilities to the collection once more:
Solely Alan Cumming might give a runaway cartoon a lot wit, malice, hazard and enjoyable. He makes the entire universe of ‘Physician Who’ wilder and madder than ever, and it’s an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS.
I’m all for Alan Cumming enjoying a chaotic cartoon who’s giving the form of vibes Miss Minutes did over on Loki. The Physician, performed these days by Ncuti Gatwa, has seen and handled plenty of unusual issues over the millennia he’s been touring throughout time and house within the TARDIS, however I’ve to think about a dwelling cartoon will rank as one of many strangest. Right here’s the query on my thoughts now: will Mr. Ring-a-Ding acquire sentience on his personal or will a member of the Pantheon be accountable?
Regardless of the motive, The Physician must cope with Mr. Ring-a-Ding alongside his new companion Belinda Chandra, performed by Varada Sethu, who additionally appeared as Mundy Flynn within the episode “Increase” final season. Upon The Physician and Belinda assembly, it’ll be as much as the Time Lord to get her again to Earth. Sadly, this journey can be difficult by “a mysterious drive is stopping their return,” leading to them working into “nice risks, greater enemies and wider terrors than ever earlier than.” We are able to now depend Alan Cumming’s troublemaking cartoon character as a part of that lineup.
As soon as once more, Physician Who Season 2 premieres on April 12, with episodes being launched weekly. Millie Gibson can even reprise Ruby Sunday, though it stays to be seen how a lot she and The Physician will work together throughout the brand new season. Different visitor stars becoming a member of Alan Cumming this season embrace Jonah Hauer-King, Archie Panjabi, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Christopher Chung.