Who is new Doctor Who companion Mandip Gill?
Doctor Who fans across the world have been celebrating the news that the 13th Doctor, as played by Jodie Whittaker, will be joined by three new companions, including Hollyoaks star Mandip Gill.
She will play Yasmin during series 11's ten-week run in Autumn 2018, kicking off with a 60 minute episode for the opening launch introducing the new Team TARDIS of Whittaker, Gill, Bradley Walsh, and Tosin Cole.
Mandip commented: "I am over the moon to be joining the Doctor Who family. This is an iconic show with an amazing fanbase and I look forward to everything that brings."
But what do you need to know about this up and coming actress?
1. Team TARDIS age is almost 150
Like her co-star and Who newcomer Tosin Cole, Gill is on the older side for a companion. Born on January 5, 1988, the actress is 29 (and will be 30 when Doctor Who Series 11 airs next year).
2. Her big break was Hollyoaks
Gill's debut television role was Phoebe McQueen in Channel 4's Hollyoaks. Her first appearance was in 2012 but, and again like her new Who co-star Cole, her character was killed off – first she was shot, then went into a coma, only to return from it to be poisoned by potassium chloride in her medical drip.
Poor thing.
3. She thought her Doctor Who role was "unattainable"
Gill told the BBC that certain roles, like Doctor Who companion, seem "unattainable," adding, "so much so I didn't believe it to be true for the first few weeks."
4. You can catch her soon on BBC One
Mandip will be seen very soon as junior registrar Talia in BBC One's Love, Lies and Records from the brilliant Kay Mellor (The Syndicate, In The Club).
The series also features Extras' Ashley Jensen and The Thick Of It's Rebecca Front.
[Above: Mandip in BBC One's Doctors]
5. Her fellow new companion is an "old friend"
Tosin Cole, who plays new companion Ryan, is decribed by Mandip as an "old friend". The two both starred in the aforementioned Hollyoaks with their time on the show overlapping for just under a year.
6. She's a familiar face on primetime TV
Fans of The Good Karma Hospital and Casualty will recognise Gill, as will fans of daytime show Doctors, where she regularly played Shazia Amin in 2016.
7. Mandip LOVES telly...
And she loves tweeting about it too! Gill's current favourite shows include Netflix's How To Get Away With Murder, ITV's Liar, and BBC Three comedies People Just Do Nothing and Fleabag.
An eclectic mix!
