Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bradley: I’m outta space
Walsh to bow out of Doctor Who in Xmas special with co-star Cole
BRADLEY Walsh has decided to call time on his Doctor Who adventure after two years in the Tardis.
The 59-year-old will depart along with co-star Tosin Cole, 27, in this year’s festive special as Jodie Whittaker’s Time Lord battles the Daleks.
Policewoman Yaz, played by Mandip Gill, 32, will remain and Whittaker, 37, is confirmed for a third season.
The festive special has been filmed but the exit storyline for Bradley and Tosin’s characters, Graham and step-grandson Ryan, remains a closely guarded secret.
A show source said: “Two years is a long time in the world of Doctor Who. Yaz will be back but Christmas will be the last outing for Ryan and Graham.”
Walsh previously admitted he finds the BBC sci-fi hit’s long filming schedule gruelling. He said ahead of the latest series: “We have great fun doing it. But you must sleep and look after yourself, because if you don’t, you will come unstuck. This is 10 months of ramming speed. That’s what it is. I’m in my 60th year. It’s tough. It’s hard. It’s relentless. It really is. This ain’t an easy gig.”
Walsh fronts an ITV travel show with son Barney called Breaking Dad and will continue to host popular quiz The Chase.
And he is already working on a new entertainment series for the BBC with Holly Willoughby. Co-star Tosin has landed a leading role in courtroom drama 61st Street for US channel AMC.
While their exit plot remains a mystery, the Doctor’s companions rarely have happy endings.
In recent years, Bill (Pearl Mackie) died and was converted into a Cyberman, then a water creature.
Donna (Catherine Tate) lived but had her memory wiped, while Amy (Karen Gillan) died alongside hubby Rory.
Clara (Jenna Coleman) suffered a painful death in 2015 episode Face the Raven and the first companion in the show’s reboot era, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), was trapped in a parallel universe.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall is already writing the 13th series of Doctor Who, expected to air in autumn 2021.
Last week, BBC drama chief Piers Wenger defended the show after ratings fell to 5.5 million from 8 million for the previous series in 2018.
He said it remained popular with younger viewers, adding: “It will always be an important show for us and we’re a very long way from wanting to rest it.”
The BBC declined to comment on Bradley and Tosin’s exits.