Jodie Whittaker has started reading through the script for her first series of 'Doctor Who'.
Jodie Whittaker
The 35-year-old actress - who will make a brief appearance in the sci-fi show over the festive season when she takes over the reins from Peter Capaldi - won't be seen on screen properly as the iconic Time Lord until the end of 2018, but bosses are wasting no time getting to work on her first instalment as they've gathered the cast for a read-through.
According to Digital Spy, pre-production kicked off this week as new showrunner Chris Chibnall was joined by his executive producers Sam Hoyle and Matt Stevens.
Details of the new series are being kept tightly under wraps for the time being, but it has been announced that Jodie's Doctor will have three companions this time around.
The brunette beauty will be joined by Bradley Walsh, who will play Graham, Tosin Cole as Ryan and Mandip Gill as Yasmin when the new series hits in the autumn next year.
The 'Chase' presenter, 57, is "thrilled" to have landed the role in the sci-fi programme as he's been a fan of 'Doctor Who' for over 50 years and can't wait to get stuck in.
Bradley said: "I remember watching William Hartnell as the first Doctor. Black and white made it very scary for a youngster like myself. I was petrified, but even though I'd watch most of it from behind the sofa through my fingers, I became a fan... Am I thrilled to be part of this whole ground breaking new dawn for the Doctor? Oh yes!"
Mandip, who has appeared in 'Hollyoaks' and 'Casualty' in the past, can't believe she's secured a companion part and has admitted it took a few weeks for it to sink in.
She explained: "Certain roles seem unattainable and this is one of those, so much so I didn't believe it to be true for the first few weeks."
Chibnall has teased that the time-travelling alien will "need those new friends" and is glad he's managed to bag "three of Britain's brightest talents" for his forthcoming series.
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