Doctor Who Reveals Mrs Flood’s True Identity as the Rani in Major Twist

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Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Doctor Who episode The Interstellar Song Contest

It’s no longer a secret – the formidable Mrs. Flood, the menacing foe of Doctor Who, portrayed by Anita Dobson, has been unveiled at last… and it’s a face from the series’ past that I recognize.

In the 2023 Christmas special titled “The Church on Ruby Road,” Flood was initially portrayed as a typical human neighbor to Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson). However, it soon became evident that she had unusual knowledge about the TARDIS, and in later episodes, she displayed familiarity with the villain Sutekh.

In the most recent series of Doctor Who, Flood has been spotted in various disguises within each new installment, surfacing throughout all of time and the universe at large. It appears that this entity is relentlessly chasing after the Doctor (played by Ncuti Gatwa) during his journeys.

The upcoming 2025 season of the BBC sci-fi series, as confirmed by Dobson, will unveil both Flood’s identity and her character.)

By the finale of this series, you’ll have a clear understanding of who she is, as she becomes quite transparent about her identity in the final episodes.

Indeed, the surprising climax in the latest installment of The Interstellar Song Contest unveiled Mrs. Flood’s hidden past… it turns out she is an old adversary of the Doctor and another Time Lord – the Rani.

During the mid-credits scene, an injured Flood is shown starting to regrow, or more accurately, to produce two sets of growths – a process we might call dual regeneration.

She splits into two figures – the second played by Archie Panjabi.

In simpler terms, the original statement is saying that “Rani” is their name, and in Panjabi’s form, they have taken on this new identity. Dobson explains that they are now subordinate to the newcomer, who also bears the title of Rani. The latest version clarifies this by stating that while the newcomer is called “Rani”, the original one still exists and retains the title, acting as the definitive or original Rani.

Who is the Rani in Doctor Who?

The Rani – like the Doctor and the Master – is a renegade Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.

In earlier roles, she was depicted as a hardcore biochemist who disregarded moral limitations, conducting tests on humans and various species in her unyielding quest for scientific advancements. This reckless behavior, fueled by obsession rather than morality, led to her exile from her home planet due to her groundbreaking yet controversial experiments.

Significantly, in 1985, the Rani initially concealed herself in an English mining town during the Industrial Era, masquerading as an elderly woman who managed the public baths. Later, she assumed the identity of Melanie Bush to mislead the Seventh Doctor (played by Sylvester McCoy) after his regeneration. This pattern of blending seamlessly into her surroundings has been a recurring trait for her.

Initially, the character was acted by Kate O’Mara in not one but two narratives: “The Mark of the Rani” (1985) and “Time and the Rani” (1987). Both tales were penned by the writing duo Pip and Jane Baker.

In her initial appearance, she experiences an encounter with the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker) as he visits the mining town of Killingworth. Upon arrival, he uncovers a string of violent incidents involving local workers. These occurrences are orchestrated by the Master (Anthony Ainley), who seeks to interfere with Earth’s historical timeline, and the Rani (who is not specified in your original text), who is collecting human brain fluid for her experiments.

In the story’s conclusion, the mischievous Time Lords found themselves confined within the TARDIS of the Rani, along with a Tyrannosaurus(!). However, two years later in “Time and the Rani”, the cunning Rani devises a scheme to seize control over time itself by tapping into the brains of history’s brightest minds. The Doctor must now race against time to thwart her plans before she alters the entire universe.

In the grips of the peculiar Tetrap aliens, I, the Rani, vanished from Doctor Who’s original broadcast until the series concluded in 1989. However, I had the chance to reprise my role on-screen one final time, stepping into the shoes of an adversary in the 1993 Children in Need special titled Dimensions in Time. This unique encounter saw the TARDIS materialize in Albert Square, blending Doctor Who with EastEnders for a memorable crossover event.

In 2013, O’Mara expressed her wish to play the character again in the revived Doctor Who series. She jokingly commented to Digital Spy, “I may have white hair now, but there’s a lot of it, and I’m still quite glamorous. So, I shouldn’t let you down, I hope!

Regardless of my age, I’ll keep donning those snug leather pants and towering heels. That’s what my fans desire, so it’s my job to deliver just that!

Sadly, O’Mara passed away less than a year later, aged 74.

Besides her appearance on screen, the character of Rani has been featured in various spin-off books and radio plays as well. Notably, she was portrayed by Siobhan Redmond in two tales – “The Rani Elite” from 2014 and “Planet of the Rani” from 2015.

In the Space Babies episode of Doctor Who set for 2024, the Fifteenth Doctor casually brought up the Rani during a chat with Ruby. Coincidentally, this happened shortly after Ruby had spoken to her neighbor, Mrs. Flood, on the street. From Ruby’s point of view, it was only a few minutes later that she heard the name mentioned by the Doctor.

Now, at long last, Queen Rani makes a strong comeback, as the grand unveiling in The Intergalactic Music Competition unequivocally signals her reemergence in Doctor Who following a 32-year hiatus. Yet, we’re left wondering: what is her ultimate goal? And will we discover the reason behind her newfound talent to shatter the fourth wall and address us, the viewers, directly?

In the upcoming episode titled “Wish World,” scheduled for next week, we can expect to uncover some answers. However, one might ponder if it’s concerning that this broadcast falls on 24th May 2025, which coincides with the predicted day of Earth’s destruction…?

Who plays the new Rani?

Archie Panjabi, a well-recognized British actress, gained fame primarily due to her Emmy Award-winning character, Kalinda Sharma, in the American television series, The Good Wife (airing from 2009 to 2015).

Punjabi started making an impact in British movies like East is East and Bend It Like Beckham, eventually gaining international fame through her compelling performances on both television and film. She became the first actor of Asian descent to win a Primetime Emmy for acting, receiving widespread praise for her portrayal of the mysterious character Kalinda.

In addition to her role on The Good Wife, Panjabi has also been featured in various television series such as The Fall, Blindspot, Departure, and Hijack. Her acting credits extend to films too, including A Mighty Heart from 2007.

2024 saw her being introduced as a featured actor in Doctor Who’s fifteenth season, portraying an antagonistic character – now known to be the two-dimensional version of The Rani.

The long-running British TV series “Doctor Who” resumes on Saturday, May 24th. In the United Kingdom, fresh episodes will be accessible from 8am every Saturday on BBC iPlayer, with rebroadcasts following later in the day on BBC One. For those outside of the UK, the series can be found on Disney+.

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2025-05-17 11:06