"DOCTOR WHO" SEASON TWO PREMIERES APRIL 12 ACROSS DISNEY+ AND THE BBC

Alan Cumming Guest Stars as the Voice of Mr Ring-a-Ding in Second Episode

· Today, Disney Branded Television and the BBC jointly announced that season two of "Doctor Who" will premiere Saturday, April 12 (12:00 a.m. PDT / 3:00 a.m. EDT) on Disney+, where available, and exclusively on the BBC and BBC iPlayer in the UK. New episodes from the eight-part season will premiere weekly.

· Emmy(R) Award winner Alan Cumming ("The Traitors") will guest star in the second episode as Mr Ring-a-Ding, a happy, funny, singalong cartoon, who lives in Sunny Town with his friend Sunshine Sally. However, in 1952, after years of repeats in cinemas across the land, Mr Ring-a-Ding suddenly looks beyond the screen and sees the real world outside - and the consequences are terrifying. Cumming is returning to the Whoniverse after previously playing King James I in the 2018 episode "The Witchfinders."

· Showrunner, executive producer and writer Russell T Davies said, "Only Alan Cumming could give a runaway cartoon so much wit, malice, danger and fun. He makes the whole universe of 'Doctor Who' wilder and madder than ever, and it's an absolute honour to welcome him on board the TARDIS."

· Synopsis: The Doctor meets Belinda Chandra and begins an epic quest to get her back to Earth. But a mysterious force is stopping their return and the time-traveling TARDIS team must face great dangers, bigger enemies and wider terrors than ever before.

· Cast: The new season stars Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday. Previously announced guest cast includes Rose Ayling-Ellis, Christopher Chung, Anita Dobson, Michelle Greenidge, Jonah Hauer-King, Ruth Madeley, Jemma Redgrave and Susan Twist.

· Creative Team: In addition to Davies, executive producers are Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.

· Production: "Doctor Who" is produced by Bad Wolf, with BBC Studios for Disney Branded Television and BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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ABOUT "DOCTOR WHO"

Quintessentially British, Doctor Who is one of the longest running action-adventure television series in the world with legions of fans across the globe since it was launched by the BBC in 1963. Ncuti Gatwa took on the role of the Fifteenth Doctor in The Church On Ruby Road. Doctor Who remains one of the most watched programmes on iPlayer and was a top 5 series on Disney+ globally every week it aired, as well as being the BBC's top drama for under 35's this year making it one of the biggest programmes for the demographic across all streamers and broadcasters.

Doctor Who has a variety of licensees and partnerships spanning comics and collectibles, audiobooks, podcasts and magazines. Since 2012, over 17 million Sonic Screwdrivers and action figures, 19 million DVDs and over one million tickets for Doctor Who live events have sold globally. In 2023, BBC iPlayer launched the Whoniverse, a dedicated area where UK viewers can see more than 800 shows within the orbit of Doctor Who. Produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for BBC and Disney Branded Television.

Doctor Who is available now on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney+ in the rest of the world, where available. www.doctorwho.tv

ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star, and in the U.S., eligible bundle subscribers can also access extensive Hulu and ESPN+ content on Disney+, including next day TV, Hulu and ESPN Originals, live sports events and studio programming. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, Disney+ offers an unmatched collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney's long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney+ is available as a standalone streaming service or as part of bundle offerings in the U.S. that give subscribers access to different combinations of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

ABOUT DISNEY BRANDED TELEVISION

Disney Branded Television encompasses the creative storytellers and production and content marketing teams responsible for Disney-branded television series, movies and other programming spanning live-action, animated and unscripted formats. The group fuels the Disney+ streaming platform and Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Jr. linear networks with content geared toward kids, tweens, teens and families, with stories that are imaginative, aspirational and reflective of their world and experiences.

ABOUT BBC

The BBC is the world's leading public service broadcaster which is impartial and independent, and every day we create distinctive, world-class programmes and content which inform, educate and entertain millions of people in the UK and around the world. The BBC includes a portfolio of television services, national and local radio networks, and global digital services.

ABOUT BBC STUDIOS

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group with sales of £2.1 billion (2021/22: £1,630 million). Able to take an idea seamlessly from thought to screen and beyond, the business is built on two operating areas: the global Content Studio, which produces, invests and distributes content globally and Channels & Streaming, with BBC branded channels, services and joint ventures in the UK and internationally. Around 2,500 hours of award-winning British programmes are made by the business every year, with over 80% of total BBC Studios revenues coming from non-BBC customers including Discovery, Apple and Netflix. Its content is internationally recognised across a broad range of genres and specialisms, with brands like Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Top Gear, the Planet series, Bluey and Doctor Who. BBC.com is BBC Studios' global digital news platform, offering up-to-the-minute international news, in-depth analysis and features.

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