Coronation Street star Millie Gibson has been announced as Doctor Who's latest companion.

The 18-year-old actress, who was trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop and is best known for her role as Kelley Neelan in the soap, will be taking on the role in the new Doctor Who series next year.

The announcement was made during the Children in Need broadcast on Friday evening when she stepped out of a Tardis.

She will star as Ruby Sunday opposite Ncuti Gatwa who will play the famous Doctor.

In a statement, Gibson said: "While still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honoured to be cast as the Doctor’s companion.

"It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have travelled in before me.

"What better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started."

Gatwa, 30, is best known for his role as Eric Effiong in the Nextflix series Sex Education and said expressed his delight to be working with Gibson.

He said: "Millie just is the companion. She is full of talent, strength, she has a cheeky sparkle in her eye and is sharp as a razor.

"From the moment she walked into the room she captured all of our attention with her effervescence and then solidified that attention with the sheer torque of her talent.

"This adventure is going to be so wild and so fun, I cannot wait to sail the universe with Millie."

Gibson will be the Doctor's 15th companion.

Russell T Davis, the writer who is returning as showrunner for the series, said: "It’s the great honour of my job to find the next generation of talent and Millie shines like a star already.

"She’s brilliant, dynamic, clever and a wonderful actor.

"As a Coronation Street fan, I’ve seen Millie survive chases, guns and sieges, but that’s nothing compared to what lies ahead for Ruby Sunday."

The young actress was announced as the winner of the Best Young Performer award at The British Soap Awards back in June for her work on Corrie.