By Lacy Baugher for Sci-Fi on April 23rd, 2016

Pearl Mackie Cast As New 'Doctor Who' Companion

Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie and the TARDIS. (Photo: BBC)
Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie and the TARDIS. (Photo: BBC)
Peter Capaldi, Pearl Mackie and the TARDIS. (Photo: BBC)

Big news for Doctor Who fans - there's officially a new companion in the TARDIS! 

Actress Pearl Mackie will be stepping on board as the Twelfth Doctor's latest companion, replacing Jenna Coleman, who departed the show at the close of Season 9 last year in order to go off and play Queen Victoria. 

Mackie will join current Doctor Peter Capaldi for Season 10, playing a new character named "Bill". The new season of Who is expected to start filming this year, but will not air until 2017. 

This is the first major television role for the actress, who is currently performing in the West End production of The Curious Indident of the Dog in the Night Time.  She also previously had a small role on the British medical soap opera Doctors. 

"I'm incredibly excited to be joining the Doctor Who family," Mackie said in a statement. "It's such an extraordinary British institution, I couldn't be prouder to call the Tardis my home."

"Peter Capaldi is such a brilliant actor, and his Doctor is such a wacky and wonderful character, I can't wait to see what adventures are in store for him and Bill throughout time and space," she said. "Reading the script at the audition I thought Bill was wicked. Fantastically written, cool, strong, sharp, a little bit vulnerable with a bit of geekiness thrown in - I can't wait to bring her to life, and to see how she develops through the series."

The BBC also released a clip introducing Mackie as the show's new companion: 

Introducing Pearl Mackie as Bill, the #NewCompanion! Welcome to Team #DoctorWho, Pearl!https://t.co/jQpVqxU4tX

— Doctor Who BBCA (@DoctorWho_BBCA) April 23, 2016

Does anyone else think it sort of looks like Bill might actually turn out to be from the past? Intriguing. 

Mackie's first season in the TARDIS will also be the last for Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, who has announced in January that he will be stepping down from his role following Season 10's conclusion. He'll be passing the franchise reigns to Chris Chibnall, the current head honcho of Broadchurch who has written several Who episodes and also served as showrunner on the first two seasons of Who spinoff Torchwood. 

Thoughts on the new companion? Excited for a new era on Doctor Who to begin? Let's discuss. 

By Lacy Baugher for Sci-Fi on April 23rd, 2016
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

Explore More

More to Love from Telly Visions