Jodie Whittaker‘s thirteenth Doctor won’t be alone on board her newly renovated TARDIS. Back in August, we learned that British TV personality Bradley Walsh had been cast as Whittaker’s Companion, who has been revealed to be named Graham. Now comes news that three more regular cast members have joined the upcoming eleventh season, Mandip Gill, Tosin Cole and Sharon D. Clarke.
Gill and Cole are veterans of venerable British soap opera ‘Hollyoaks’. While the BBC hasn’t revealed much about the new characters, we do know that Gill’s (above, far left) character will be named Yasmin.
Said Gill:
“I am over the moon to be joining the Doctor Who family. This is an iconic show with an amazing fanbase and I look forward to everything that brings. Certain roles seem unattainable and this is one of those, so much so I didn’t believe it to be true for the first few weeks. To be working alongside the likes of Jodie, Bradley and my old friend Tosin is thrilling. This show is worlds away from the work I’ve done previously and that’s the part that excites me the most.”
Cole (above, f-r) made an appearance in an extremely high-profile film, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ as Lt. Bastian. On ‘Doctor Who’, his character will be named Ryan.
He expressed:
“I’m grateful and excited to be a part of this journey with the team. I’m looking forward to jumping in this Doctor Who universe.”
The third new series regular is Sharon D. Clarke, best known in Great Britain for playing Lola Griffin on the ’00s medical drama ‘Holby City’. She is also a singer and stage actor. Intriguingly, Clarke will be playing a new version of an existing character, but no more was revealed. (She may be a villain, judging by the fact that showrunner, Chris Chibnall and the rest of the cast don’t mention her as part of their “gang.”)
Chibnall stated:
“The new Doctor is going to need new friends. We’re thrilled to welcome Mandip, Tosin and Bradley to the Doctor Who family. They’re three of Britain’s brightest talents and we can’t wait to see them dive into brand new adventures with Jodie’s Doctor. Alongside them, we’re delighted that Sharon D Clarke is also joining the show.”
Walsh, a longtime fan, shared a recollection and reacted to his involvement in the series:
“I remember watching William Hartnell as the first Doctor. Black and white made it very scary for a youngster like myself. I was petrified but even though I’d watch most of it from behind the sofa through my fingers, I became a fan. I then queued up for ages to get into the Carlton picture house in Watford to watch the great Peter Cushing appear as the Doctor in a full length feature film made in glorious colour. Am I thrilled to be part of this whole ground breaking new dawn for the Doctor?? Oh yes!”
Finally, Whittaker added:
“I am so excited to share this huge adventure with Mandip, Tosin and Bradley. It’s a dream team!”
Though an exact date hasn’t been set, ‘Doctor Who’ will return in autumn of 2018 with ten new episodes. The new episodes will be expanded to 50 minutes in length, but the first will be a full two hours.
How do you feel the cast is coming together?
Source: Radio Times
