Irish actress Nicola Coughlan is set to make an appearance in the Doctor Who universe, as part of a future Christmas special, showrunner Russell T Davies revealed this week.

His comments were made at a press screening of 'The Star Beast', the first of the series' three 2023 specials - set to be broadcast from November 25 to December 9, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.

He revealed the reason Coughlan was photographed filming around South Wales recently was because she's appearing in a Christmas special episode of the show - though it won't air for another year.

“[We’ve got] Nicola Coughlan at Christmas," he commented. "Not this Christmas, next Christmas. We’re shooting Christmas 2024 now."

Nicola Coughlan. Photographer: Emma Summerton for Netflix
Styling: Leith Clark for Netflix

Davies, who revived and ran Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010, after its sixteen-year hiatus, returned as showrunner last year.

Following the 60th anniversary specials, he's also set to helm Series 14, in which Sex Education actor Ncuti Gatwa will star as the Fifteenth Doctor. The series will also introduce Coronation Street's Millie Gibson as the Doctor's companion, Ruby Sunday. Series 15 premieres on Christmas Day this year, with an episode entitled 'The Church on Ruby Road'.

Nicola Coughlan originally rose to international attention for her role in Derry Girls. Her other notable acting credits include Bridgerton and Greta Gerwig's Barbie.