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Samuel Anderson Talks Doctor Who: “#BringBackOrsonPink”

By Barry Rice

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The romance between companion Clara Oswald and maths teacher Danny Pink in Doctor Who‘s Series 8 was a decisive story arc, with some applauding it as giving Clara more personality and dimension, while others saw it as a distraction that never really clicked.

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Regardless, it all ended in the Series 8 finale, ‘Dark Water’/’Death in Heaven’, when Danny Pink was killed not once, but twice. And with that depressing conclusion, actor Samuel Anderson found himself out of a job. Not that he’s bitter. Speaking to Radio Times, Anderson explains:

"“They were such a great team, you can do nothing but wish them the best – beautiful, beautiful people. Steven Moffat put me away in style. I’ve lost a few jobs in my time but never gone out in such a blaze of glory.”"

Of course, that hasn’t stopped Anderson from dreaming about a Doctor Who comeback. “I would love to be back on there, of course. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done by far.” He even has a plan as to how to make it work — by not returning as Danny Pink, but as another character he played last series:

"“Maybe in an alternate universe? I wouldn’t mind approaching him in a different way. Or maybe just come back as Orson Pink [a descendent of Danny’s who appeared in series eight episode ‘Listen’] because then it changes the dynamic between him and the Doctor."

"“If it’s Orson Pink I think the relationship would be totally different because instead of a soldier – which is the kind of person the Doctor can’t bear – you’ve got another scientist who could be quite interesting with their relationship. And then instead of it being a love interest with Clara and Danny, it would be a family affair with grandmother and grandson but at the same age.”"

Now, the interesting thing about that quote is Anderson stating plainly that Clara is Orson’s grandmother — something that was never actually stated on the show. In fact, considering Danny is now dead, and Clara was never shown to be pregnant or to have given birth, that theory doesn’t make a lot of sense. Clearly Orson is related to Danny somehow though, as the resemblance is clear, and he possesses the same toy soldier passed down through his family.

Related: No New Love Interest for Clara in Doctor Who Series 9

Anderson says he has shared his wishes with Steven Moffat: “I do remind them that Orson is alive. #BringBackOrsonPink.” Personally, I’d be okay with a return appearance from Orson Pink, but only if they do something with that awful hair. Of course, bringing him back resurrects all the questions about his lineage I mentioned above, so maybe it’s best to just let sleeping dogs lie.

For more from Samuel Anderson, including information on his upcoming projects, check out the full interview at Radio Times.

What do you think? Would you like to see Samuel Anderson return to Doctor Who as Orson Pink? Sound off in the comments below!

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