Having a ball
- Publication: TV & Satellite Week
- Date: 2024-06-08
- Author:
- Page: 8
- Language: English
Jonathan Groff joins Doctor Who for a Regency adventure
The latest series of Doctor Who has seen Ncuti Gatwa's Time Lord and Millie Gibson's Ruby embarking on ambitious adventures everywhere from a futuristic space station to the remote Welsh coast - but when it comes to picking their favourite episode of the bunch, both actors are in agreement that this week's Regency-themed caper, Rogue, is light years ahead.
'This is my favourite, for sure: says Gibson, 19. 'There are just so many great things that happen in this episode.
After the TARDIS touches down in 1813, the Doctor and Ruby are excited by the opportunity to live the full Bridgerton-style experience - although the two of them are very quickly taken in different directions.
'Millie and I didn't film together very much on this one, because we were in separate strands, says Gatwa, 31. 'The episode definitely captures the characters' cheekiness, because they both go off and have these separate scandals. It's a lot of fun.
When they learn that the Duchess (The Capture's Indira Varma) is hosting a grand ball at her country manor, the Doctor and Ruby talk their way into attending, and the Doctor encounters a charismatic stranger named Rogue, played by American actor Jonathan Groff.
MAN OF MYSTERY
'Rogue is an alien bounty hunter and a man of mystery: says Groff, 39. 'When we meet him, and he first meets the Doctor, we're in a Regency era - but Rogue is not necessarily who he appears to be.
Groff was approached for the role by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies, and although he hadn't previously watched the show, he was aware of its status as a beloved sci-fi institution. 'I got a very exciting text message from Russell: recalls Groff, who has starred in Frozen and Mindhunter. 'I'm a huge fan of his work, especially It's a Sin. I knew how much of a big deal Doctor Who was in the UK, but I had never seen an episode of it. Russell sent me about five episodes of Doctor Who from throughout the years, including the first episode that ever aired, in black and white. So I had a very quick crash course before I started.
That opportunity to gain a greater understanding of Doctor Who's long and varied history proved invaluable for Groff when he arrived in Cardiff for filming, as he felt the pressure of making sure his character would be someone who seems at home in the Whoniverse.
'I would say the biggest challenge was trying to understand and fit into the tone of the show, when you're coming in as a guest star and jumping into a world, he says.
'Doctor Who is such a specific thing. In the episodes that Russell showed me, and in the experience of playing a role in it, Doctor Who has such a fascinating tone. It's big, and it's larger than life, but it's also quite real. Even though it's fantasy, there is depth to the storytelling and the relationships.
ENTER THE WHONIVERSE
Fortunately, Gatwa and Gibson were both on hand to help Groff feel at home on the set as he took his first steps into the world of Doctor Who.
'They were both so welcoming, he reveals. 'Big smiles, and full of laughs and embraces, they could not have been more warm. As an outsider coming into the Whoniverse for the first time, they were the greatest hosts - they took such good care of me.
'I spent most of my time with Ncuti, and I think he is such a star. He's so unpredictable and thrilling to act with, because you never see the same thing twice he's so spontaneous, and yet deeply connected to what he's doing. He's one of the most exciting actors working today.
Captions:
From left Rogue, Ruby and the Doctor
The Doctor and Ruby take to the dance floor
The enigmatic Rogue is played by Jonathan Groff
Move Over, Bridgerton
Pam Downe reveals how she created the episode's spectacular Regency look...
As Doctor Who's costume designer, Pam Downe is used to inhabiting a different world in every episode, and she was excited by the opportunity to put a distinctly Doctor Who slant on the Regency period.
'I always start with the script, which gives the tone of the episode,' says Downe. 'I had recently done a Regency film, so I had a lot of references to the general silhouette. For this episode, I also looked at contemporary designers who sometimes put a period twist on their garments. I didn't want the feel of the costumes to be overly historical.'
Across the series as a whole. Downe says she's enjoyed the creative freedom that the 15th Doctor's more varied wardrobe has afforded her.
'I think the main difference between this new season of Doctor Who with Ncuti at the helm, compared to previous incarnations, is that our Doctor changes his outfit very often,' she says. 'That's the fun part for me.'
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- APA 6th ed.: (2024-06-08). Having a ball. TV & Satellite Week p. 8.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Having a ball." TV & Satellite Week [add city] 2024-06-08, 8. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Having a ball." TV & Satellite Week, edition, sec., 2024-06-08
- Turabian: "Having a ball." TV & Satellite Week, 2024-06-08, section, 8 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Having a ball | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Having_a_ball | work=TV & Satellite Week | pages=8 | date=2024-06-08 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Having a ball | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Having_a_ball | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref>
