Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14: Who Does Jonathan Groff Play?

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14, Episode 6, “Rogue.”

Jonathan Groff is one of several guest stars onboard for Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14 – so who does the celebrated actor and singer play?

Related: All Major Actors & Cast List for Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14

Who Does Jonathan Groff Play in Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14?

Jonathan Groff plays Rogue, an enigmatic humanoid bounty hunter, in Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14, Episode 6, “Rogue.” In the episode, Rogue joins forces with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor against a quartet of Chuldur shapeshifters led by Episode 6’s other guest star, Indira Varma.

The pair prove an effective team – and even strike up a romance! Unfortunately, they’re separated before the credits roll, after Rogue makes a heroic play that leaves him stranded in an alternate dimension.

Related: Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14: Who Does Jinkx Monsoon Play?

Groff unpacked his portrayal of Rogue in the Doctor Who: Unleashed behind-the-scenes companion series, revealing he took inspiration from an iconic sci-fi figure. “Rogue is basically an alien bounty hunter,” he said. “So I’ve been thinking a lot about Han Solo in Star Wars.”

Groff also reflected on filming Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14, Episode 6’s big Doctor/Rogue dance scene, highlighting its deeper significance to the characters’ relationship. “The choreography was very much about the connection forming and vibing between the two characters […] It was really transformational and took me to a completely different place with [Gatwa],” Groff said.

Will Jonathan Groff Return in Future Doctor Who Episodes?

It’s unclear for now whether Jonathan Groff will reprise the Rogue role in future Doctor Who episodes – although the American star seems up for a comeback. Groff expressed interest in returning to the sci-fi series in a Doctor Who: Unleashed interview, noting Rogue’s open-ended fate.

“I hope we’re seeing Rogue again,” Groff said. “Rogue tells the Doctor at the end of the episode to find him, so it’s totally up to the Doctor. So, the ball is in his court, so to speak!”

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Gatwa and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies seem just as eager to get Groff back in the TARDIS, too. In the same Doctor Who: Unleashed episode, Gatwa praised his on-screen love interest as “an incredible actor,” while Davies branded Groff a “superstar of a man.”

Doctor Who Season 1/Series 14 is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes dropping Fridays.

The above article was updated on 6/11/2024 by the original author to add information about Jonathan Groff’s role.