Catherine Tate travels back in time to appear as Timelord's assistant
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
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The comedian Catherine Tate has been confirmed as Doctor Who's new companion and will star alongside David Tennant in the next series of the hit drama.
Tate, best known for her comic character Lauren, the apathetic teenager who coined the catchphrase "am I bovvered?", said she was delighted to have landed the part. Also lined up for an appearance in the new series is singer Kylie Minogue, who will feature in the Christmas special.
Tate appeared in last year's Christmas special as Donna the runaway bride, and will reprise that role as the Doctor's assistant.
In that episode her character vanished as she was about to get married, only to reappear in the Tardis. Dashing through the space and time to get back to the church on time, Donna was revealed as the key to an ancient alien plan to destroy the earth. The episode ended with Doctor Who inviting Donna to travel with him - an invitation she declined.
Asked at the press screening of The Runaway Bride whether she would like to become the Doctor's companion, Tate replied: "I would love to, but no one has asked." Today, as the Doctor's 35th sidekick, she said: "I am delighted to be returning to Doctor Who. I had a blast last Christmas and look forward to travelling again through time and space with that nice man from Gallifrey."
The executive producer and writer, Russell T Davies, said: "Catherine was an absolute star in The Runaway Bride and we are delighted that one of Britain's greatest talents has agreed to join us for the fourth series."
The fourth series goes into production this month and will start a 13-week run in spring 2008. The episode featuring Kylie Minogue will be broadcast on Christmas Day. Doctor Who returned to the BBC in 2005 after an absence of 16 years, to critical acclaim and massive audiences. The first episode of series three drew 8.2 million viewers.
The new series have already featured several actors in the lead roles. Christopher Eccleston quit as the Doctor after the first series to be replaced by David Tennant, and Billie Piper, who cemented her burgeoning reputation as a actress in the role of his sidekick, Rose, left after two series. Piper was replaced for the third series by Freema Agyeman, a newcomer to acting who had appeared in an earlier episode as a minor character getting rough treatment from the Cybermen.
Although Tate is the new Doctor's assistant, Agyeman will return to join the Doctor and Donna mid-series, the BBC said.
Work on the first-ever series of Doctor Who began in March 1963. BBC producers wanted to fill the Saturday evening slot between Grandstand and Juke Box Jury and thought a science fiction series could appeal to all age groups. The first episode was broadcast on 23 November and, thanks to powercuts and blanket coverage of the assassination of John F Kennedy, went largely unnoticed. Doctor Who did not make its mark until the appearance of the Daleks in the second series.
William Hartnell was the first Doctor, accompanied by his granddaughter Susan Foreman, played by Carole Ann Ford, and two of her teachers who had been sucked into the Tardis, Barbara Ford, played by Jacqueline Hill, and Ian Chesterton, played by William Russell. For the writers, the introduction of new companions was a useful device for explaining concepts to viewers by having the rookie assistant ask questions, or to further the plot by having them get into trouble.
Other trusty sidekicks
Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman)
The current companion is set to return for the fourth series in the current run and take a starring role in the BBC3 sister show, 'Torchwood'.
Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)
Sidekick to Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's doctors. Piper has said she wants to play the first female Dr Who.
Mel (Bonnie Langford)
The former child star played a keep fit fanatic who failed to convert Colin Baker's Doctor to exercise and carrot juice.
Susan Foreman (Carole Anne Ford)
The producers made the character Dr Who's granddaughter to avoid inappropriate suggestions as to the nature of their relationship.
