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Doctor Who star Jo Martin teases "nuanced" Fugitive Doctor story after "one-dimensional" TV depiction
The Fugitive Doctor is back in full force.
BBC Studios
- Louise Griffin
Published: Monday, 15 June 2026 at 8:00 am
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Doctor Who star Jo Martin has teased that we're set to see a more "nuanced" version of her Fugitive Doctor in upcoming multi-platform story Circuit Breaker, after what she describes as a slightly more "one-dimensional" depiction on TV.
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Martin made her debut as the Fugitive Doctor in season 12, and has returned various times since then, including a surprise appearance in the season 15 episode The Story & The Engine.
Now, she's set to star in Doctor Who's new adventure Circuit Breaker, which will play out from June to September across various releases, including comics, magazine issues, books, and audio adventures.
Circuit Breaker will see the Fugitive Doctor team up with returning character Petronella Osgood (Ingrid Oliver) to face various monsters, including the Silence and the Daleks, and ultimately try to save reality.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about what fans can expect, Martin said: "There are so many layers to her, and we're just finding these layers, which has been a real gift and a real joy. She's not one-dimensional, which is what she kind of veers on in her TV appearances, really - you don't see all the other things that make her tick."
Martin added: "I think that in all my TV appearances, she's very decisive, she knows what [she's doing], it's a very hard line, and no nonsense. And I think with Big Finish and with Circuit Breaker, we've got room to breathe and room for more nuance and room for making her a far more multi-dimensional character."
The Fugitive Doctor (Jo Martin) in Doctor Who. BBC
Teasing a slightly more uncertain side to the Fugitive Doctor, she continued: "There's so much more to her than just that, and the fact that she does have a vulnerable side, and she does question herself, and she does have regrets sometimes, and thinks, 'Was that the best way to deal with that?'
"I think that's really nice for Doctor Who fans to see that side of her, because it makes it all the better when she does switch back into this decisive, hard line Doctor.
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"We all have stuff that we do to mask or to hide other bits of ourselves, and I think sometimes she uses her sarcasm and her humour to hide behind, and so to have this opportunity now to flesh her out and to explore more and to lean more into her backstory is just incredible."
We're also going to see the Fugitive Doctor in a very new dynamic, alongside Osgood - and Martin has teased that the pair of them might not always see eye to eye.
"She needs my help, as per usual!" she teased. "And, of course, I'm there for her. She doesn't quite fully understand me, and there's a little battle going on, but we need each other."
Plus, Martin is clearly delighted to continue her work in the Whoniverse.
"It's the job that keeps on giving," she said. "I first got the job, how many years ago, and I'm still doing bits and pieces for Doctor Who. It never ends, and that's not a complaint. I've never had a job like it!"
Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker begins on 25 June on the UNIT website. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
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