• April 13, 2024

UK Malayalee and British actress Varada Sethu joins BBC One TV series Doctor Who

UK Malayalee and British actress Varada Sethu joins BBC One TV series Doctor Who

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON April 13: UK Malayalee Varada Sethu has joined the sets of Doctor Who TV series telecast on BBC One.

What is Doctor Who?

Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television series that was first broadcast by the BBC in 1963. The show revolves around the adventures of a time-traveling humanoid alien called “The Doctor,” who explores the universe in a TARDIS (a spaceship disguised as a blue British police box). Throughout the series, the Doctor battles various villains and helps people in different points in history and across the galaxy. A key aspect of the show is the concept of regeneration, which allows the Doctor to transform into a new incarnation with a different personality and appearance when they are mortally wounded. This has allowed multiple actors to portray the Doctor over the years.

Who is Varada Sethu?

Varada Sethu and her twin sister, Abhaya, were born in Kerala, India and are of Malayali descent. Sethu’s parents are both doctors Dr Sethu Warrier and Anitha Sethu. Having moved to the North East of England at a young age, she grew up in Benton, Tyne and Wear, near Newcastle upon Tyne. Varada attended Dame Allan’s Schools and was a member of the National Youth Theatre. During her final year of sixth form, Varada won the 2010 Miss Newcastle competition. She went on to study veterinary medicine at University of Bristol, later switching to physiology. Varada has been performing both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam from a young age. Varada continued her acting education at the Identity School of Acting in London.

Varada’s role in Doctor Who

Varada Sethu will join the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday in the second season of Doctor Who which will air in 2025. Like many Doctors who have come before him, one is not enough for the Fifteenth Doctor and in season two, he will have two companions by his side as Varada Sethu steps aboard the TARDIS, says reports. Varada joins the Whoniverse from a galaxy far, far away after starring in the Disney+ Star Wars series ANDOR. Now she straps in for another journey through time and space alongside Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday.

Varada says: “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, executive producer and writer Russell T Davies says: “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!”

When will it be aired on BBC One?

Currently in production, the second season of Doctor Who is set to debut in May 2025 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and Disney+ in the U.S. and around the world (where available).