Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) is back in the Fourth episode of Doctor Who Season Two, Lucky Day. She’s got a loving family and a handsome new man in her life but she misses her best friend the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa). When a savage alien creature from Ruby’s past brings terror to a remote English village, Ruby and UNIT must save her new boyfriend, Conrad (Jonah Hauer-King), from the terrifying Shreek in a deadly battle that will push Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave) to her limits.
In a BBC press release, Jonah Hauer-King describes his character Conrad’s obsession with the Doctor.
“Conrad meets the Doctor when he is a young boy. From that point, he’s obsessed with him. He’s desperate to meet him and idolises him on some level. He’s dedicated a lot of his life to finding out about him and trying to meet him. When we meet Conrad, he’s running a podcast which at least in part, focusses on sightings of the Doctor. He’s a superfan.”
Millie Gibson described how his makes the dynamic with her character Ruby Sunday, who plays Conrad’s love interest, both endearing and awkward.
“I think he gives off the energy that he wants to match to the Doctor. It’s one of them where your new boyfriend wants to be better than your ex, however he is just so sweet and so clumsy. He has these really cute characteristics and attributes where he’s just a little bit of a clown, and it’s a lovable energy.”
“Ruby loves being able to talk about her adventures with someone that is genuinely interested. She doesn’t feel like a strange outsider in her own world anymore, which is a really beautiful thing.”
“There’s a scene where Ruby talks about all her experiences in season one, and I love a specific line that Pete McTighe wrote for Ruby. She’s opening up to Conrad about her PTSD from her travels with the Doctor. It was a really strong speech that was also kind of humorous, because it’s so bonkers what she’s experienced.”
Writer Pete McTighe described the downside of a smitten boyfriend trying to prove himself.
“He’s someone who adores Ruby and wants to be as brave and heroic as the Doctor, but in doing so he puts himself and Ruby in terrible danger.”
“We’ve got a great new monster in this episode as well, it’s savage and terrifying and cannot be reasoned with. It was also a massive treat to be able to write for UNIT; for Kate, Shirley and Colonel Ibrahim, who swoop in to help Ruby and Conrad from the horrors that have been unleashed.”
Director Peter Hoar describes Conrad’s efforts to impress Ruby.
“Ruby needs a new hero and Conrad thinks he’s all that, but we discover quickly that it’s Ruby who’s better in a dangerous situation.”
Written by Pete McTighe and directed by Peter Hoar, the 46-minute Lucky Day transmits on Saturday 3 May at 8am on BBC iPlayer and 7:10pm on BBC One in the UK. Those outside of the UK can stream Lucky Day on Disney+ where available simultaneously starting at 3am ET/12am PT. The remaining five episodes of Doctor Who Season Two will transmit on subsequent Saturdays.
Directly after the BBC One broadcast, Steffan Powell goes behind the scenes of Lucky Day with Peter Hoar and Jonah Hauer-King in Doctor Who: Unleashed on BBC Three and on the official YouTube channel where available at 7:55pm.