Oldham-trained actress Millie Gibson is set to make her debut appearance as Doctor Who's new sidekick today in the Christmas Day special of the new series.

The 19-year-old, who was trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop, stars as the Time Lord's new companion Ruby Sunday in the first Christmas Day special for the sci-fi staple since 2017, The Church On Ruby Road.

Gibson is best know for her role as Kelley Neelan in Coronation Street, but this will be her biggest role yet as she is introduced to an international audience while still being a teenager.

She said: “It’s a part I grew up watching, so it was crazy to take on.

“It’s a dream. I’m not gonna lie, when I left Corrie, I thought it’d be nice to get something, but [showrunner] Russell (T Davies) is a fan, so he actually got me an audition for this.

“I couldn’t be happier, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Gibson was announced as Doctor Who's new companion last year, saying at the time she was in "total disbelief" but was "honoured" to be chosen for the role.

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Gibson's Ruby Sunday is a foundling who was abandoned as a baby on Christmas and little is known about her past.

Ruby and The Doctor, played by Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, get their first taste of adventure together on Christmas Day, taking on creepy goblins.

Read more: First look at Oldham-trained Millie Gibson in new Doctor Who

Gibson said “the pressure’s there for sure” when it comes to entering the Whoniverse, however she has felt the support of the dedicated fan base already.

She said: “The fan base alone are so supportive – like, they’d defend me if their lives depended on it, even though they’ve never met me.

“They’re just an amazing fan base, and we’re very lucky to have them, or else there’s no show.”

Showrunner Davies praised the chemistry between Gibson and Gatwa, saying: “Listening to these two, watching these two – the energy on screen is very much what you bring to it.”

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road is on BBC One at 5.55pm today.