This week’s Doctor Who episode takes viewers to a vibrant new location, as the TARDIS materializes in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria, in an episode titled The Story and the Engine.
This chapter, penned by Nigerian-born poet, playwright, and writer Inua Ellams, marks a culturally rich addition to the iconic sci-fi series.
Ellams, who spent his early years in Nigeria and discovered Doctor Who during that time, drew from his personal journey while crafting the episode.
Speaking to RadioTimes.com, he reflected, “I thought about who I was when I was a kid as I fell in love with Doctor Who, what it meant to me then, what it means to me now, and trying to write a story that unites all those things.”
At its core, the episode explores identity, heritage, and connection. Ellams elaborated on its message, “The moral of the story is to give credit where it’s due. I was trying to give credit to the nuance and the racial diversity within Nigeria itself.”
Described as a thematic complement to the earlier episode Dot and Bubble, which tackled racism head-on, The Story and the Engine also touches on race through the Doctor’s experiences.
Ellams noted that, “the colour of the Doctor’s skin is part of how he interacts with people,” while emphasizing, “I just want to see more stories like that, that are deeply nuanced and personable and rich, but don’t get in the way of the Doctor’s primary objectives, which is to save the day, regardless of who’s in front of him.”
Returning to the spotlight are series regulars Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra.
They’re joined by a stellar ensemble cast that brings Lagos to life on screen.
Here’s the full cast of Doctor Who season 15, episode 5, The Story and the Engine:
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor, A time-traveling alien from Gallifrey known as the last of the Time Lords. Gatwa is widely recognized for his role as Eric in Sex Education and recent appearances in Barbie and Masters of the Air.
Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra-.A nurse from London, first seen in The Robot Revolution. Previously portrayed Mundy Flynn in Boom, and featured in Andor, Doctor Foster, and Jurassic World: Dominion.
Ariyon Bakare as the Barber – Once human and now a mystical force in Lagos, he built a nexus to unite cultures and ideas. Previously played Leandro in The Woman Who Lived, and appeared in His Dark Materials, Good Omens, and Rogue One.
Sule Rimi as Omo Esosa – Owner of a local barbershop and an old friend of the Doctor. Seen in Death in Paradise, Unforgotten, and The Nan Movie.
Michelle Asante as Abena – The daughter of Anansi the spider god, formerly betrothed to the Doctor. She featured in Top Boy, Father Brown, and The Essex Serpent.
Stefan Adegbola as Rashid Abubakar – One of Omo’s patrons held hostage. Seen in McDonald & Dodds, EastEnders, and The Magician’s Apprentice.
Jordan Adene as Tunde Adebayo – Another customer caught in the Barber’s grip. Adene has credits in Cucumber, Young Wallander, and Silverpoint.
Michael Balogun as Obioma Okoli – A regular at Omo’s shop and fellow hostage. His past roles include Top Boy, Sherwood, and War of the Worlds.
Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood – A recurring, enigmatic figure tied to the Doctor’s timeline. She played Angie Watts in EastEnders, and has appeared in Call the Midwife and Inside No 9. Showrunner Russell T Davies confirmed she is a villain who “will be popping up every week.”
Additional appearances include:
Simon Bailey as Paramedic
Adrian Pang as Consultant
Tessa Bell-Briggs as Patient
Inua Ellams as Market Seller
Funmi James as Security Guard
Doctor Who continues on Saturday, 10th May. UK viewers can catch new episodes from 8am on BBC iPlayer and later on BBC One. For audiences outside the UK, the series is streaming on Disney+.
Explore more Doctor Who lore, cast insights, and reviews dating back to 1963 via the Radio Times archive.
