Doctor Who's companion has been revealed as Coronation Street's Millie Gibson.
The actress, 18, best known as Kelly Neelan on the cobbles, will make her debut over the festive season in 2023 when the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, takes control of the TARDIS.
The exciting announcement was made on Children In Need on Friday night, with fans reacting on social media in their droves.
Of her new role, Millie said: "It's insane. I was so honoured to even be considered for an audition. I just hope I can make you all happy and fill the boots of the other companions.
"I will be playing a character called Ruby Sunday."
As Children in Need host Mel Giedroyc quizzed the new Doctor Who star about how her character's name is spelled, Millie said: "That I can't tell you."
Jason Manford went on to joke how he loved that of all the questions Mel could have asked, she quizzed "How you spelling that?"
Speaking of her new role, Millie said in a statement: "Whilst 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.
"And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started."
Ncuti added: "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!"
Fans soon took to social media to comment on Millie's signing after it was announced.
One viewer wrote: "Wow, what needed positive vibes this news is giving us Ruby Sunday is giving Amelia Pond competition for the most fairy tale companion name ever and I love it I can feel that chemical passion in one picture."
Another fan chimed: "Kelly Neelan from Coronation Street as the new Doctor Who Companion is an absolute yes", a third added: "I'm so happy for Millie! She was brilliant as Kelly in Corrie, and I know she'll give her all to Ruby Sunday! Awesome".
Back in September, Millie explained the reason she quit Coronation Street after four years.
The talented soap star revealed that choosing to leave Corrie was one of the most difficult decisions of her life, but insisted that she had to "trust her instinct".
And before she leaves, it looks as though there's quite a shocking twist in store for the character's final scenes.
Lifting the lid on her departure from the show, Millie explained: "I have no responsibilities – I don’t have kids, I don’t have a mortgage to pay or anything like that, I’m still grateful to be living at home.
"So I thought I’m just going to see what else the world has. If it does, it does - that would be quite good, wouldn’t it?
"I just thought I might as well see what happens while I’m still young," Millie told The Mirror.
The actress went on: "Because I’m so young I thought I’ve got to leave. It was a decision where it would always be in the back of my mind if I didn’t make it, so I had to just go with it and see what happens.
It was announced back in May Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa was set to take charge of the TARDIS and in an episode last month, Jodie Whittaker, who has been playing the 13th Doctor, waved goodbye to the role as she regenerated.
Jodie faced her final battles as the Time Lord in October in a special episode of Doctor Who to mark the BBC ’s centenary.
The actress, 40, became the first woman to portray the Doctor when she took over the role from Peter Capaldi in 2017.
Mandip Gill played the Doctor Who's companion Yasmin Khan throughout Jodie's stint as the Doctor from 2018 to 2022.
Gill starred in the series alongside a number of other companions, played by The Chase host Bradley Walsh, comedian John Bishop and actor Tosin Cole.
Fans were shocked by a huge twist when it wasn't Ncuti she regenerated into, but David Tennant.
Tennant played the 10th Doctor in the long-running series but has now made a surprising return as the 14th Doctor.
As the actor appeared on screens after the regeneration, he echoed his first line from 2005: "I know these teeth", before incredulously checking out his new body.
He will reprise his role for just three special episodes to mark the show's 60th anniversary in November 2023 and Catherine Tate will also be returning for them as his former companion Donna Noble.
Ncuti Gatwa's first episode as the Doctor is expected to air over the festive period in 2023 as he's not set to take over as the 15th Doctor until the end of Tennant's special episodes.
Doctor Who returns in 2023.
