Doctor Who - Series 8: New Companion

Well, you didn't just think it was going to be only the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) travelling by themselves, did you? No, Doctor Who is adding another member to the TARDIS team.

Samuel Anderson, best known for his roles in both The History Boys and Emmerdale has been cast as fellow Coal Hill teacher, Danny Pink. Appearing in the fourth (or possibly the fifth) episode of Series 8 (and for the rest of the series onwards), Danny will join the 12th Doctor and Clara on their travels, though executive producer and current showrunner Steven Moffat hasn't revealed how he does this.

While I was hoping for a while that we would get another male companion along with Capaldi and Coleman, I'm actually surprised that his casting has been announced already (though currently the fourth and fifth episodes are being filmed for Series 8), given that past male companions such as Jack, Mickey and Rory (who lazy fans are comparing Danny to - er, wait and watch first, guys?) weren't given press releases to my knowledge when they were added to the show.

What's more is that we will have two teachers from Coal Hill travelling in the TARDIS once again. Can Clara and Danny be the new Ian and Barbara in that respect? Maybe not but it's nice that we will have a male companion in Capaldi's era though and Danny Pink is such a Moffat type of name for the character.

Appearing in the fourth episode are Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and then with the first episode  co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise).

Press Release:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/articles/Rising-Star-Joins-Doctor-Who-for-Peter-Capaldis-First-Series

Doctor Who's eighth series continues to film and will air on BBC1 during Autumn 2014.