Doctor Who Casts Three New Series Regulars, One ‘Returning Role’
Jodie Whittaker won’t be the only fresh face to the Doctor Who franchise when it returns for Season 11.
BBC America on Sunday revealed three new series regulars that will join Whittaker as she begins her journey as the Thirteenth Doctor: Bradley Walsh (Law & Order: UK, Coronation Street) as Graham, Tosin Cole (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) as Ryan and Mandip Gill (Hollyoaks) as Yasmin. Additionally, Sharon D. Clarke (Holby City) is joining the series in an unspecified “returning role.” Further character details have not yet been divulged.
What’s more, the basic cabler has announced that Season 11 will consist of ten 50-minute episodes debuting in Fall 2018, with a “feature-length” premiere.
“The new Doctor is going to need new friends. We’re thrilled to welcome Mandip, Tosin and Bradley to the Doctor Who family,” new head writer/exec producer Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) said in a statement. “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.”
“I am so excited to share this huge adventure with Mandip, Tosin and Bradley,” Whittaker added. “It’s a dream team!”
Check out the first new Doctor Who cast photo above, then discuss these new additions amongst yourselves below.
Yeah, two soapie actors and a game show host. I’m sure this is going be absolutely amazing.
Hopefully no one ever comes into your workplace Meh and tosses rude comments like that onto you.
TBH a lot of soap actors are underrated…look how many in the US have started on soaps and then hit it big.
Consider the Doctor’s previous companions: a teen pop star, some sketch comedians, a soap player and a handful of almost-complete unknowns. They all worked out pretty well. Credits aren’t everything. Trust the casting process.
The new BBC diversity mandated casting process? The one that requires a certain percentage of on air talent to be of a certain race and/or gender? No, I don’t think I’ll trust that. I think I’ll view it and the decisions that result from it with a healthy and necessary dose of suspicion.
Well, that sounds like an entirely separate gripe from your original one. Be skeptical if you like; my point is that this series has made numerous casting choices in the past that have seemed highly questionable at first glance, but have worked out quite nicely.
I guess this makes it official that Billie will not be returning for the new season of Doctor Who
That was never a possibility.
Aw come on. Where’s Bill? I miss Bill. She was one of the best companions ever
There was a certain finality to the way her character parted ways with the Doctor at the end of the last season. Not that she won’t ever appear again, but her companion days are done.
I was probably the only person in the world that squealed when I say Mandip was cast. Loved her when she was on Hollyoaks (being vastly under used). Glad she is on to better things.
Oh fun!!
Most intrigued by the thought of a returning character played by a new actress. I wonder who it could be.
By “returning role” I believe they mean she won’t be a regular, as in appearing on every episode. Her character will probably come in and out of the story.
Ah, that may be a British-to-American terminology confusion, then. The word “recurring” is standard here.
I actually believe that by returning we are talking more the master, or a previous time lord, or a character from past episodes.
Wait, wait, wait! so the 10x50m eps thing is true? Every other report I read about this said “take it with a grain of salt” because the source was NOT BBC Official, but some tabloid.
BBCA: “…it is confirmed that the new season will be a ten-week run of fifty-minute episodes in Fall 2018, kicking off with a feature-length hour.”
Add an extra 5 minutes and cut out two full episodes. Brexit cutbacks?
My favorite meme about the pic above comes from the season 1 Supergirl crossover where Cat Grant states: “All four of you, standing there doing nothing, you look like the attractive yet non-threatening racially diverse cast of a CW show.”
Nice to read new info on the upcoming season of Doctor Who. The new companions look terrific.. Looking forward to the new season.
I have rarely even watched the show. What I’m curious about is if the companion will be male or female? I bet a lot of the anti-woman jerks will change their tunes if Whittaker is getting hot and heavy with some attractive actress.
Fall of 2018?!?!?!?! That’s like a million days from now.
We still have the Christmas special and didn’t we hear that Bill will at least appear?
I really hope that Auntie Beeb keeps the Xmas special in 2018.
One black, one brown, two females. The doctor now trans. The white dude will probably be gay. Mathematical diversity. But will the characters and stories also work? – THAT’S what’s important in the end.
Sorry, but in general, the world is getting browner. Couple hundred years, you’ll be lucky to see any white people.
In a couple hundred you’ll be lucky to see anybody, considering you would have lived a couple hundred years.
f y I mr walsh appeared as a alien in the brilliant ‘sarah jane adventures’ and was really good in L&O UK which was showrun by mr Chibnall
They look fantastic! And I really wanna know how 13 gets three companions :-)
5 had three– Adric, Tegan, and that other woman ( can’t remember her name off the top of my head).
Nyssa, Turlough, Peri, and Kamelion.
Im sad for Doctor Who. It is getting more and more obvious where they are headed with this. First they change the master from male to female to see how people respond, then they bring on the lesbian companion, now the doctor is female. It isnt too much of a guess to figure they will then claim the doctor still has some type of emotional feelings for bill and now that the doctor is female and bill is a lesbian, hey, what a coincidence. I would have loved to see ramona save the universe or the doctors daughter. Add all of that to the fact that the doctor can now magically (nanobotically) make anyone he/she wants immortal and can turn people into superheros with a glowing rock, there really isnt much point in watching anymore. Its really sad. I spent 40 years watching the doctor and now it is being tanked. There is nothing special anymore about it for me. Even the doctor now appears to be immortal so whats the point of the re generations.
Every who fan i have met except one, and that is about thirty or so, says this is the end of doctor who for them….that the series has become propaganda now and they will not be watching. I at least will watch one episode, but only to see how bad it truly is, and that will be a random mid series episode to judge it fairly.
I just wish Donna would return.