Nicola Coughlan explains how the dynamic between her companion Joy and Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor leads to challenges inDoctor Who’s 2024 Christmas special “Joy to the World.” The upcoming seasonal adventure sees theBridgertonandDerry Girlsstar’s newcompanion unknowingly step into a time travel hotel, bringing her into contact with the Time Lord. “Joy to the World” continues the story whereDoctor Whoseason 14 left things for The Doctor, as Gatwa’s Time Lord has parted ways with his debut season companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson)
While speaking with theIrish Post,Coughlan opened up about how Joy compares herself to the Time Lord in her first entanglement with monsters and time travel. She stated thatJoy is stalwart in the face of the unexpected and fantasticalsurrounding her despite her typically polite nature. This includes her relationship with the Doctor himself, despite him needing her to come out of her shelf to survive:
I think the dynamic between them is very, sort of, he pushes her and she tries to remain a brick wall. A very polite and sweet brick wall, but he knows that in order to get to where needs to be with Joy, he needs to push her to uncomfortable places.
With Coughlan emphasizing how Joy wishes to keep things low-key and within her comfort zone, the star hinted that theTime Lord will be a major catalyst in pushing her to change. Check out Coughlan’s response below:
It’s a very interesting dynamic because she wants to remain polite and unaffected but the Doctor is not going to let her do that.
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Joy & The Doctor Share A Common Struggle
Though Coughlan’s response teases some tension inDoctor Who’s 2024 Christmas special, this could likely be beneficial for both the Time Lord and his companion. Clips for “Joy to the World” have teased thatJoy is lonely before the episode’s events, leading to a particularly downbeat holiday season despite her best efforts to put on a brave face. This parallels with the Doctor’s own state of mind following season 14, as he grapples with guilt inthe absence of Ruby.
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As seen through his potential angst towards a future revealed in the episode’s trailer, theTime Lord is annoyed at his habit of distancing himselffrom others, leading to him yelling at his future self. As such, the Doctor may see some of himself in Joy’s own resistance to opening up. Through this, the pair may be able to help one another through their worst habits.
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It Is Unknown If Joy Will Return
While Coughlan is open to returning beyond “Joy to the World,” it is currently unknown what the companion’s future will be. Currently,Doctor Who’s current agreement between Disney and the BBC covers the productions of seasons 14, 15, and the spin-offThe War Between The Land and Sea. As such, until its future is decided beyond season 15, it is unknown whether Coughlan will return.
Nevertheless, there is clearly a fulfilling dynamic between the two characters. As such, many viewers may wonder ifDoctor Who’s 2024 Christmas special can provide the Time Lord with a companion who can bring out his best in his darker moments.
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Doctor Who: Released on July 24, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
