Fans of Doctor Who were left stunned as the latest episode, "The Interstellar Song Contest," finally revealed who Mrs Flood really is — and it’s a twist decades in the making! 🌌
👀 Mrs Flood Isn’t Who You Thought
Mrs Flood was first seen in the 2023 Christmas episode “The Church on Ruby Road.” At that time, she appeared to be just an ordinary neighbor living beside Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson). But things started feeling strange when she showed unexpected knowledge about the TARDIS and seemed oddly connected to the Doctor’s enemies.
Throughout the new season, she has appeared in different forms across time, keeping a close watch on the Doctor’s journey.
🚨 Now, we know the truth — Mrs Flood is actually the Rani, a powerful and dangerous Time Lord from the Doctor’s past.
💥 The Big Reveal – A Double Transformation
In a shocking twist at the end of the episode, Mrs Flood is hurt and begins to bi-generate — something never seen before in the series.
Instead of a regular regeneration, she splits into two versions.
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One version is still played by Anita Dobson, and the new version is played by Archie Panjabi.
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Panjabi’s Rani introduces herself by saying:
“I’m the Rani — the real one.”
This new twist sets up a dangerous future for the Doctor, as this villain clearly has big plans.
🧪 Who Is the Rani?
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The Rani is a Time Lord like the Doctor and the Master, but she follows her own rules.
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She’s a brilliant but cold scientist who uses people for experiments.
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First played by Kate O’Mara in the 1980s, she appeared in The Mark of the Rani and Time and the Rani.
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Her old stories showed her trying to control time using the minds of history’s greatest thinkers.
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After more than 30 years away from our screens, the Rani has returned — stronger and more dangerous than ever. 🧬
🌟 Meet the New Rani – Archie Panjabi
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Emmy-winning actress Archie Panjabi is now playing the new Rani.
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She’s known for roles in The Good Wife, Departure, and Hijack.
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This version of the Rani is powerful and confident, already promising to bring “absolute terror” to the Doctor.
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Her entrance marks a huge moment in Doctor Who history. 🎭
🧠 What Makes This Version Different?
In a surprising twist, this version of the Rani can break the fourth wall, meaning she can talk directly to viewers. Fans are wondering: how can she do that? And what’s her end goal?
We might find out more in the next episode, “Wish World,” airing May 24, 2025 — a date in the show’s timeline known as the day the Earth is destroyed. 😨
📚 A Look Back at the Rani’s History
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In 1985’s The Mark of the Rani, she was harvesting brain fluid in a Victorian mining town.
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She teamed up with the Master but eventually turned against him.
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In 1987, she returned in Time and the Rani to try to manipulate time using the minds of geniuses.
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She also made a short return in a 1993 special that featured a crossover with EastEnders.
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She hasn’t been seen on TV since — until now. Fans have waited three decades to see her again.
