Strax?! Maybe not. Okay, DEFINITELY not. Seriously, how about:

Ophelia Lovibond (Elementary, W1A, Noel Clarke's 4.3.2.1. to name a few)?
Clare Bowen (Nashville - adorable Australian playing American)
Ashley Jensen (Extras)
Lacey Turner
Kelly Adams (Hustle)
Gemma Arteton (in some ways too big, but needs a bit of a career boost around now)
Sheridan Smith (sort of actress who, like Tate, might do a year just for the hell of it. Especially with her existing Who pedigree)
Haley Attwell (maybe for Christmas special?)
Mel and Sue (amazing Bake-off cross promotion opportunities)

Well since I actually suggested that Jenna was up for the companion role years before she was cast let's see if I can do it again.

So the next companion will be Archie Panjabi.

Ophelia Lovibond would be an awesome choice, she was terrific in Elementary.

Oh dear god imagine Mel and Sue in the TARDIS. They could be the very first companions the Doctor killed deliberately!

Alexandra Roach

Romola Garai

Florence Pugh

Alexa Davies

I always thought that at least some of Bernice Summerfield's character (and arguably a bit of Iris Wildthyme too) ended up as River Song on TV.

However, I'd like to see Bernice in the show too. Paul Cornell originally wrote her as if she was played by Emma Thompson, but for some reason I can't imagine her in Who at all, though she is really quite bonkers, which usually helps...

But how about Tuppence Middleton as Benny, or anyone else for that matter?

Why not Lisa bowerman?

I'd like someone either entirely new altogether or a previous character like Psi, Saibra, Osgood or Shona.

I like the idea of a companion from the past (like Jamie or Victoria in the Troughton era) or the future (like Vicki or Steven in the Hartnell era), or a humanoid alien (like Turlough or Nyssa in the Davison era).

Alternatively, how about the descendants of previous companions? For instance, on the assumption that Ian and Barbara became Mr. and Mrs. Chesteron, how about their grandchildren (a brother and sister perhaps - I have always preferred the Doctor having more than one companion in the Tardis) joining our favourite Timelord on his travels?

Professor Bernice Summerfield is my favourite companion from spin-off media, but unfortunately since River came to our screen I don't think that she (Benny) would work on TV. Another female archaeologist?

In all seriousness, I would love to see Mel back in the TARDIS, just for one episode. Just to see what a real writer and producer could do with her. It would be interesting to see.

On that note, it would be cool to bring back one or two reviled monsters, but with decent stories and competant special effects. I bet you could even make the Nimon look good if you did that.

Yeah, that was kind of my point...

Bit surprised no one has mentioned Masie Williams yet.
Photo like this screams "I'm the next companion."
https://matthewburtonfilmandtv.files...015/09/621.jpg

Maisie won't be the next companion. I like her but it's not likely she'll appear beyond the two episodes she's already doing.

Was just about to say the same, not sure if the GOT and Dr Who filming schedules clash though.

Whilst I don't think she'll be the next companion, where Game of Thrones is concerned I don't quite know how much of her time it'll eat up. The end scene of Season 4 suggested her character would have a big role to play in the following season, and then she only appeared in a handful of scenes in every other episode of Season 5 - almost all of which were filmed in the same place.

If her schedule is like that for Season 6, I could see her cropping up in other things besides Game of Thrones and managing both.

You do know Sheridan was Lucie Miller on Big Finish, right? And another one from Blackpool to boot.

And Shawn's right, unless Arya is getting killed off soon in Game of Thrones, Maisie Williams can be ruled out. Two episodes? Fine. Twelve? That would certainly be a schedule clash.

I was impressed by Gemma Chan's performance in the recent Channel 4 drama, Humans. She's got all the makings of a DW companion.

why would she give up GOT and a movie career for DW?

Don't know, why don't we ask Catherine Tate or Peter Capaldi.
Now admittedly I've not seen a single second of Game of Thrones but I do get the impression that people can be written out very quickly.

They just used her in a 12th doctor novel so I see no reason why they can't use her on screen

She was so precise in her character, would be great to see a somewhat differentiation of expression.

Romola Garai - VERY good idea. But now you've annoyed me by reminding me that the Hour was cruelly cancelled! Loved that show.

Roach, for me, having seen Utopia on C4.

I don't think it will happen though.

She was the name I kept suggesting for the role of Barbara Wright when news broke that Gatiss was writing the origins story. I thought she looked similar beforehand but The Hour swayed me even more. I was happy with who we ended up with though (Jenna Powell).