Doctor Who casts Drag Race star Jinkx Monsoon in ‘major role’ for upcoming series

Virgin Radio

4 Apr 2023, 07:32

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon will be joining the Doctor Who cast for the upcoming fourteenth series. 

Jinkx won the fifth series of Drag Race in 2013, and was also crowned the winner of the All Stars spin-off in 2022. 

In a statement announcing the news, Doctor Who’s showrunner Russell T Davies said: “In a galaxy of comets and supernovas, here comes the biggest star of all. Jinkx Monsoon is on a collision course with the TARDIS, and Doctor Who will never be the same again!”

Jinkx added: “I’m honoured, thrilled, and utterly excited to join Doctor Who! Russell T Davies is a visionary and a brilliant writer - I can’t wait to get into the weeds with him and the crew! I hope there’s room in the TARDIS for my luggage.”

The Broadway star has recently completed a sell-out run of her debut as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton in Chicago, and was the first drag queen to play the role. 

She has also appeared in shows like Blue Bloods, AJ and the Queen, and has toured around the world with her cabaret shows. 

The casting for Doctor Who’s upcoming fourteenth series is shaping up nicely, with Millie Gibson announced as new companion to Ncuti’s Time Lord. 

Heartstopper star Yasmin Finney will also star alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate in Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary episode as Rose.

With the excitement for Doctor Who is running at a fever pitch, showrunner Davies has also confirmed that not only can fans expect the new series later this year, but new spin-offs are also in the works.

Speaking about his return to the show, Davies told GQ: “So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC's measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who.

"I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off."

Davies and his spin-offs aren’t the only thing returning to Doctor Who either, as David Tennant (who will be playing the 14th Doctor) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) will be back for the 60th anniversary.

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary. Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will then air over the festive period.