Doctor Who’s Breaking the TARDIS Mold: Series 11 Companions Cast

On Sunday the BBC announced via its Social Media channels that the Thirteenth Doctor has her companions for Series 11. For the first time since the series revival, three companions were announced simultaneously.

Yasmin (Mandip Gill), Graham (Bradley Walsh), The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and Ryan (Tosin Cole).

There are still very few details known about Series 11, other than a new show-runner, Chris Chibnall and the first female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, who will make her first appearance in this year’s Christmas Special.

Mandip Gill graduated from university in 2009 with an acting degree. She’s a year or two younger than Jenna Coleman. She is best known for a three-year stint on the soap Hollyoaks, which she left in 2015. Interestingly, she’s guest starred on three separate medical dramas before being cast on Doctor Who. 

Bradley Walsh is a former footballer turned actor who had roles in soap Coronation Street and Law & Order: UK. He has also presented for ITV game shows. He is currently 57, which makes him one of the older actors cast for companion roles.

Tosin Cole also starred on Hollyoaks, from 2010 to 2012, meaning his time on the show overlapped with Mandip Gill’s. Before that he was on an internet spin-off of the soap EastEnders. He also had a small role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as an X-Wing pilot.

In the BBC announcement the network also revealed that Doctor Who Series 11 will be a 10-week run of 50-minute episodes premiering in the Fall of 2018. Whether that means the end of August or 10 weeks before Christmas is unknown, but at least we have a general idea of an air date. With such a diverse TARDIS it’s hard not to get excited for Series 11!

In Memoriam: Tanith Lee.

Beloved and award-winning British writer Tanith Lee, whose literary talent graced numerous genres from science fiction to fantasy and horror,  passed-away on Sunday, May 24th. Lee was 67 years old.

Tanith Lee. Source.

You’re More Than a Match for Him: An Appreciation and Ranking of the Companions of Doctor Who

When your show only has two or three regulars for the duration of a season, those characters had better be among the best on all of television. Fortunately for Doctor Who, they typically are. Who follows the adventures of a time-traveling humanoid alien (played by different actors over the years) and a person of his choice to travel with him, who is usually a human woman from the 20th or 21st century. This person, referred to as the Doctor’s Companion, is often someone who balances the Doctor and is able to keep his (usually large) ego in check. The Companion brings humanity to the show, but also helps demonstrate one of the show’s core themes: That everyone, no matter how insignificant they may seem, can be extraordinary. As a way of celebrating the show’s recent return to the airwaves, I’ve decided to take some time to appreciate each of the five female Companions of the modern era and rank them in my order of preference.

The five Companions I’ll be talking about compared with other famous women from fantasy. (source)

Disclaimer: This is MY order of preference. Mine. I love all of the Companions very much, so choosing this order was very difficult. I’m also sure many people will disagree with the order I’ve chosen, so if you do, please sound off in the comments! As usual, all spoilers for the show are below the cut!

Apocalypse for Christmas: Good Omens coming to BBC Radio

Merry Christmas, we’ve misplaced the anti-christ!

Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs, Terry Pratchett

I know it’s only September but it was announced that BBC Radio 4 has planned an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens. Adapted and directed by Dirk Maggs (the same mind behind last year’s Neverwhere adaptation), the six part series about the end of the world will air in December.

Neil Gaiman is assisting Heather Larmour in producing the project, and while roles have yet to be announced, we already know the names of several actors involved. By far the most exciting name (for me, at least) in the cast is Louise Brealey.

Anime Boston Cosplay!

Hey everyone! A bunch of our team here at the Daily Geekette were loud and proud at Anime Boston this year. Running around the con, going to panels, buying merchandise, hanging out with friends. We also took lots of pictures! And below, are some of our favorites. Comment below if you see yourself! 😀

But to begin: the rules of the con:

Guest Contributor: Ushering the Doctor Who Capaldi Era in with Style

Each actor brings his own unique style choices to his work as The Doctor. For Matt Smith, it was, of course, the bow tie. For David Tennant, it was the converse (who knew they were called sandshoes?). For Peter Capaldi, the newest actor to take on the highly coveted roll, it looks like we’re getting a Capaldi-approved pop of color. When appearing on the Craig Ferguson show in 2011 to promote his then upcoming movie In the Loop, our newest doctor seemed stylishly, yet conservatively dressed in a black suit. However, as he sat down with long-time friend Ferguson, he flashed the audience the inside of his jacket – Bright. Hot. PINK.