Doctor Who series 11 episode 5: meet the guest cast of The Tsuranga Conundrum
From Casualty's Suzanne Packer to Doc Brown, the Doctor is set to meet several familiar faces in a futuristic hospital
After several adventures set on Earth, Doctor Who series 11 is heading back into space for episode five's futuristic The Tsuranga Conundrum.
And would you believe it, the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Yaz (Mandip Gill), Ryan (Tosin Cole) and Graham (Bradley Walsh) come up against another mysterious alien. They just have the worst luck, don’t they?
Fortunately, the main cast won’t be facing this threat alone. The hospital is packed with patients, a host of characters the show hasn’t revealed a lot about. However, although their backgrounds will remain a mystery until the show airs, we do know who they’ll be played by.
Here’s everything you need to know…
- Everything you need to know about the main cast of Doctor Who series 11
- Are the Daleks back in Doctor Who yet?
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Suzanne Packer plays Eve Cicero
You’ll probably know Packer from her role as Tess Bateman in the BBC’s Casualty, a part she played for 12 years from 2003. Before that, she starred as Josie Johnson on Brookside, 1990-2000.
Outside of soaps, Packer recently appeated in drama Keeping Faith (as Delyth Lloyd), Vera (ranger Sophia in 2017 episode Natural Selection), Stella (Carole) and The Level (Teresa Devlin).
Ben Bailey Smith plays Durkas Cicero
Known better by his stage name Doc Brown, you may have seen the rapper/comedian/actor in Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo and The Office spin-off film David Brent: Life on the Road. He also created and starred in CBBC comedy drama 4 O'Clock Club.
He’s also previously acted alongside Bradley Walsh (who plays Graham) in Law & Order: UK, the two playing a pair of London detectives.
Brett Goldstein plays Astos
Like Bailey Smith, Goldstein has a strong background in comedy, starring in likes of Derek, Drifters and Uncle (where he played Casper). He also wrote The Catherine Tate Live Show with Tate – a former Doctor Who companion of course.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Goldstein has acted with Jodie Whittaker: he starred opposite the new Doctor in 2016 comedy Adult Life Skills. The film saw Goldstein play an awkward estate agent trying to swoon Whittaker’s character, a 30-year-old hermit living in her mum’s garden shed.
Lois Chimimba plays Mabli
Chimimba is another actor who’s also appeared on screen with Jodie Whittaker previously: the pair were both in the cast of the BBC’s Trust Me. While Whittaker played a woman who stole the identity of a doctor, Chimimba took the role of nurse Karen.
Chimimba also starred in the National Theatre's production of Peter Pan, as well as playing Beth Forbes in Holby City.
David Shields plays Ronan
An establish stage actor, Shields has featured in TV shows as Doctors and Netflix’s The Crown. The Tsuranga Conundrum won’t be his first venture into the Whoniverse, however: Shields previously appeared in Torchwood Big Finish audio story The Office of Never Was.
Jack Shalloo plays Yoss Inkl
Shalloo played Constable Duff in several episodes of BBC drama Dickensian. The actor also played a member of Kold FM in BBC mockumentary People Just Do Nothing.
Doctor Who is on 7pm Sundays, BBC1
