From comedian to Coro Street role to being the companion of Doctor Who
BRITAIN: When they upended the Doctor Who universe with the casting of the first female ‘‘incarnation’’ of the iconic TV time traveller, it was a given the rulebook had been tossed out the window.
Now, the role of The Doctor’s dutiful female companion – the one who historically screamed a lot, particularly when the Daleks were approaching – is to be filled by a 57-year-old man.
Comedian-turned-actor Bradley Walsh is to become the companion to Jodie Whittaker’s female Doctor Who ... and his character’s name is Graham.
The 57-year-old actor’s credits include Coronation Street and Law & Order: UK; he has also hosted game shows such as The Chase and Cash Trapped. filled with companions of all genders, as well as a couple of robots: K-9 the dog and Kamelion.
Walsh said he remembered watching Hartnell’s Doctor as a child.
‘‘Black and white made it very scary for a youngster,’’ he said. ‘‘I was petrified but even though I’d watch most of it from behind the sofa through my fingers, I became a fan.’’
Walsh said he then queued as a boy to watch Peter Cushing’s Doctor in the standalone colour Doctor Who features produced in the
1960s. (Those films have no narrative connection to the TV series.)
The change of Doctor and companion comes as executive producer and showrunner Steven Moffat is bowing out, to be replaced by Chris Chibnall.
Capaldi announced his plan to step down in January, 2017; the upcoming Christmas episode, The Doctors, will be his last.
He made his debut in the series, briefly, in the programme’s 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, which was broadcast in
2013; he later made his formal debut in the Christmas special, The Time of the Doctor.