Samuel Anderson as new Doctor Who companion Danny Pink.
The BBC announced today that actor Samuel Anderson will be joining the cast of Doctor Who as new companion Danny Pink. He previously co-starred on Emmerdale with Jenna Coleman. Anderson played Ross Kirk in the ITV soap between 2007 and 2009, crossing over with Coleman’s stint as Jasmine Thomas. Anderson’s new Doctor Who character is a teacher working alongside Coleman’s Clara Oswald at Coal Hill School, where original Who companions Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton taught back in 1963 before heading off in the Tardis for adventures in space and time.
“I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels,” said Anderson of his new role. “But I was scared I might not come down before filming started! It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honour to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can’t wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!”
Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat said he was looking forward to introducing Anderson’s character to viewers but, as is his usual approach, remained coy about exactly what part Danny would play in the Doctor and Clara’s adventures.
“For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the Tardis,” said Moffat. “In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the first Doctor. These days it’s the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi’s first series of Doctor Who!”
By coincidence, Samuel Anderson is named very similarly to Sam Anderson, who played an evil lawyer in the Joss Whedon Series Angel.
Filming recently began on episode 4 of the new series, which will co-star Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode 5, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise).
– 30-
SCIFI.radio is listener supported sci-fi geek culture radio, and operates almost exclusively via the generous contributions of our fans via our Patreon campaign. If you like, you can also use our tip jar and send us a little something to help support the many fine creatives that make this station possible.
