Doctor Who fans are still reeling from the departure of companions Tosin Cole (Ryan) and Bradley Walsh (Graham) in this year’s holiday special, “Revolution of the Daleks.” We’d gotten used to the idea of three companions roaming the endless expanse of space and time alongside the Doctor. However, the emotional episode did give us something to look forward to whenever the next season comes: a new companion named Dan, played by Skins’ John Bishop.
Not much is known about Dan yet, but showrunner Chris Chibnall can’t stop ranting and raving about him. Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine, Chibnall talks about Bishop joining the cast and what fans can look forward to with his character:
"As ever on Doctor Who, we put him through a rigorous multi-session audition process, which he engaged with brilliantly and humbly. John and his character bring a different flavor and a different humor to the show. We’re loving him in the rushes, and having him as part of the production."
It’s completely unknown how Dan will cross paths with the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and Yaz (Mandip Gill), but when it comes to Doctor Who, it will likely happen in the strangest of ways.
How will Doctor Who’s latest companion become part of the story?
As far as we know, Dan has not yet met the Doctor or Yaz, but in the world of Doctor Who, there’s always the possibility that they’ve crossed paths at some point but don’t realize it.
At the end of season 12, the Doctor learned she’s not actually from Gallifrey, and that she may have many more regenerations in her past than she thought. It’d be interesting if Bishop’s character somehow played a role in the Doctor’s path to learning more about her past, although I’m not sure how that would happen.
One thing is for sure though: Chibnall couldn’t be more excited to have Bishop be a part of the team.
"I’ve always got my eye out for performers who are loved, and wondering how good they might be as actors. There’s such a great history of performers who start out as comedians transitioning into becoming terrific actors – the best example being Robbie Coltrane in Cracker. John’s somebody I’ve been keeping a beady eye on for years. He’s quietly built up a body of work, through working with people like Jimmy McGovern and Ken Loach, while also doing a dozen other things like stand-up, autobiography, interview shows, podcasts and travel documentaries."
We certainly hope that Bishop can fill the hole that both Cole and Walsh have left behind. It’s a big undertaking, but given Chibnall’s vote of confidence in him, I think Whovians will be pleasantly surprised.
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h/t Cinemablend, RadioTimes