This week, Doctor Who fans got some welcome news: the show has added a new companion to accompany Peter Capaldi's Doctor and Clara Oswald throughout Series 8. Back when The Day of the Doctor aired, it was rumored that Tom, a character who made a brief appearance at the beginning of the episode, might be added to the cast of Series 8. As it turns out, that rumor wasn't too far off the mark. While the character of Tom won't be reappearing, someone new will indeed be joining the Who-niverse for the foreseeable future...or past, or whatever. It's all very vague and timey-wimey. In any case: Samuel Anderson (The History Boys) has been cast as Danny Pink, a fellow teacher at the Coal Hill School alongside Clara Oswald. Unlike some other members of the cast, Anderson has never before appeared on Doctor Who or any of its various spinoffs, so he's an entirely fresh face. When Series 8 comes around, we'll be seeing a lot more of Anderson, as he's now listed as a recurring character for the show. In a press release, Anderson noted, "I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started!" Here's hoping we feel the same way when his character hits the screen. At this point, not only is the casting announcement a welcome one for the series as a whole, it's also one that presents several important opportunities for growth and development. Hit the jump for the first of them!
Matt is a freelance writer and aspiring TV and film scriptwriter. He has a bizarrely eclectic skillset, and the interests to match. Find more of his work and ramblings over at the Breakwater Industries page on Facebook. He is a regular contributor to WhatCulture.com, and his work has also appeared in the essay collection "Joss Whedon: The Complete Companion", published by Titan Books.
