(Image credit: BBC)
From the moment Anita Dobson appeared as the enigmatic Mrs. Flood in ‘The Church on Ruby Road‘, fans have been buzzing with curiosity about the true identity of Ruby Sunday’s inquisitive neighbor. Her cryptic knowledge that Sutekh would make a comeback, her understanding of the Doctor’s essence, and her foreboding warning of a tale that will “end in absolute terror” have set the stage for a gripping mystery.
Speculation runs wild in the fandom community, with theories suggesting Mrs. Flood might be anyone from the Doctor’s past Time Lord friend Romana to the legendary God of Stories. Fortunately, showrunner Russell T Davies has reassured fans in a revealing chat with SFX magazine, promising that “spectacular answers” will unfold in the upcoming Doctor Who season 2, with Mrs. Flood making an appearance in each episode.
This revelation delighted Ncuti Gatwa, portraying the Fifteenth Doctor, who admitted he has been “desperate to find out” since Mrs. Flood’s mysterious debut. In a candid GamesRadar+ interview, Gatwa confessed, “We found out on the day of getting the script, I won’t tell you what script number but it was so exciting. I couldn’t have expected it!”
It appears both Dobson and Davies are adept at embracing the art of suspense. However, Davies revealed that the character’s identity hadn’t always been set in stone. “I was always in two minds,” he noted, and shared that the persona of Mrs. Flood developed extensively with Dobson’s involvement: “From the moment we cast Anita though, I knew we would do a lot with her. She came in initially to just do one episode, but she was lovely and completely up for it.”
By the finale of last season’s ‘Empire of Death‘, as the conclusion drew near with Mrs. Flood’s chilling rooftop proclamation of impending doom for the Doctor, her role was firmly established.
Davies elaborated, “Once it reaches the end of season 1, where she clearly states her intentions on a rooftop, declaring that she will bring the Doctor absolute terror, you properly lock her into place. She does crop up this year in every single episode and every time she does it to absolute delight.” The evolution of her character from a few episodes to a constant presence this season promises “genuine, fantastic reveals.”
The new season of Doctor Who is set to premiere on April 12, available internationally on Disney Plus and in the UK on BBC iPlayer. For more enticing watchlist options, explore our guide to upcoming TV shows.
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