Doctor Who, Orphan 55: the actor who plays the monster

In an interview posted on the BBC Media Centre, Jodie Whittaker spoke of the imposing actor playing one of the “terrifying monsters” in Episode 3 of Doctor Who Series 12 titled Orphan 55.

“I was actually really scared when I saw one of them, I bricked it. I proper bricked it. In rehearsal, he’s like six foot seven, in a suit and he’s running at you down a corridor and I was screaming. He’s called Spencer, he’s one of the Darth Vaders, and he’s a bit of a legend on set.”

Whittaker was speaking of Spencer Wilding, one of the two actors who embodied Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Wilding has also played Doctor Who creatures including Ice Warrior Skaldak.

Wilding was spotted out on the town with actress Gia Ré in Los Gigantes, Tenerife during Block 2 Doctor Who filming the first week of April 2019. Orphan 55 and Spyfall, Part 2 were filmed in Block 2, directed by Lee Haven Jones.

Mandip Gill spoke of Wilding as amazing:

“…there’s one particular monster I think is really scary, and the guy playing him is amazing. He doesn’t even need to act, you’re in the dark, it’s wet, it’s cold and it’s really scary!”

Tosin Cole also spoke of the monster:

“There’s a monster that shall not be named, you’re going to see my reaction, it breaks through the wall and you’re going to see me jump and that jump is the most honest jump. I was actually scared – I knew it was going to happen but when it happened I didn’t know it was going to happen like that. I was genuinely scared.”

There was a large, scary monster which briefly turned up in the Series 12 and Orphan 55 trailer. The trailer seems to show the “ionic membrane” protecting Tranquility Spa.

The episode takes place at a luxury resort called Tranquility Spa. The exterior of the Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz, Tenerife was used represent Tranquility Spa.