Ruth Madeley will play an important role in an upcoming story for Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary — and potentially beyond, in Series 14.

The actor was announced to be playing Shirley Anne Bingham in at least one episode of the series, and was briefly seen in the teaser trailer for the 60th anniversary, shown at the conclusion of Jodie Whittaker’s swansong tale, The Power of the Doctor.

Executive producer, Phil Collinson, confirmed in Doctor Who Magazine:

“It’s our great delight to show an all-too-brief moment of Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham. There’s lots more of Shirley to come, as she plays an integral role in the new Whoniverse.”

Madeley is perhaps best known for starring in Years and Years, the drama written by new/old Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T Davies, so it’s no great surprise that she’s going to be in Doctor Who proper.

And we say “proper” because she’s been in Doctor Who before, albeit for audio company, Big Finish. Ruth plays marine biologist, Hebe Harrison, a companion to Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor, alongside Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush.

Collinson’s comments do seem to imply that Madeley will be seen a few times in Doctor Who, so might she meet Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor in Series 14, in addition to David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor? Or maybe he just means she plays a big part in the 60th anniversary special(s), far more than hinted at by the teaser trailer. Let’s wait and see…