As any fan of Doctor Who will tell you, change is a massive part of the show's enduring success and is why it has lasted more than 60 years. Returning showrunner Russell T Davies was always a fan of keeping things fresh with companions, and it appears as though he'll be repeating this for his second run as freshly introduced Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson) will be leaving Doctor Who at the end of her first series which is due to land in May.

Some less reputable publications have used lured headlines with adjectives like 'axed', but as production on the new series has already started, it would be difficult to hide that The Doctor has a new companion. Joining Ncuti Gatwa for his second season will be Andor star Varada Sethu, who is already filming scenes for this year's Christmas special and next year's new series. 

While some fans were quick to panic, it is worth noting that Russell T Davies' first era was largely comprised of companions who would join the Doctor for a series before their exit. Rose was the exception as she stayed aboard the TARDIS with two different Doctors. While Davies might like to keep things fresh, he loves bringing things back even more; Rose, Martha, and Donna all returned for multiple episodes after their respective exits. Gibson has already been confirmed as making a few guest appearances in next year's series, so we'll see Ruby again, which is odd to say after such an impressive introduction in the recent Christmas special. 

While we're on the subject of seeing characters again, the internet has been brimming with ideas about when we'll see David Tennant's now-retired Doctor again; I mean, you didn't think they went through the trouble of a Bi-generation only never to see him again, did you? Could we see him on the rumoured UNIT spin-off? Is he The Doctor who eventually becomes The Curator (as played by Tom Baker in the 50th Anniversary episode)? What became of the half-human Doctor living in a parallel universe with Rose? Did Donna take that job at UNIT? While we ponder those questions and more, the countdown to a new era of Doctor Who has begun and if the Christmas special is anything to go by, we are in for a wild ride.