'Who' Are You? Has 'Doctor Who' Already Cast A Familiar Name As The Next Companion?

Ushering in a new era of the BBC's popular show, Doctor Who dealt the world of sexism a much-needed blow by finally casting a woman as the 13th incarnation of the time-travelling hero. Since first gracing our screens in 1963 with William Hartnell, the Doctor has been stuck with the XY chromosome, but it now looks like we are getting a woman's touch.

With the keys to the TARDIS officially handed over to Broadchurch's #JodieWhittaker, fans of the sci-fi fantasy are now looking toward Peter Capaldi's swansong during the Christmas special. However, as Doctor Who prepares for Season 11 next year, we are also excitedly speculating about who will be joining the Doc as her next companion.

Kris-mas special?

We saw the story of Pearl Mackie's Bill come to an end in the Season 10 finale with "The Doctor Falls," so some new blood is expected to step inside the big blue box alongside Whittaker. Despite the BBC denying the rumors, there are major hints that #KrisMarshall could be just the person.

Marshall was a longtime frontrunner to actually play the Doctor, but with him clearly not filling that role, it could make sense for him to play the companion instead. UK tabloid The Sun is placing its bets on Marshall still having a part to play for the Beeb's show:

"After missing out on the top role to Jodie Whittaker, Kris is the main contender to succeed companion Pearl Mackie [...] who is leaving after just one series. If successful," the report continues, "he may join up with Matt Lucas [...] who plays the other assistant Nardole."

The main evidence that Marshall was playing the Time Lord was the fact that he recently left his leading role on Death in Paradise. Although he didn't win the race to nab the elusive role of the Doctor, he is now emerging as a favorite to play the 13th Doctor's first companion. Sure, he may not be the lead, but the Doctor's companion is just as important as the woman from Gallifrey.

That being said, we should take the report with a pinch of salt, and even The Sun's article says:

"A BBC spokeswoman said there had been no decisions yet on companion casting."

The road to a female Doctor has been a long one, but the introduction of a new male companion would be the perfect balance between old and the new for the show. We already know that Lucas will be returning as Nardole, but always expected another new face to journey with the Doctor across the cosmos.

The Doctor has always had a companion (or companions), while notable assistants since the show rebooted in 2005 have included Billie Piper, Karen Gillan, and Jenna Coleman. Capaldi's era of the Doctor is best remembered for having Coleman as his second-in-command, and it is thought that his farewell could also include her return. With details for Season 11 thin on the ground, we still don't know whether Whittaker's arrival will be alongside her new companion or if we will have to wait until 2018 to see the duo in action. Either way, expect the casting news to be hot on the heels of the latest Doctor's announcement.

(Source: The Sun)