I totally agree that the show shouldn't be 'boys club' and I'm not wanting a 'bloke' as the companion either, but I think if written right you can pull off a show with two male leads (I don't know how well or badly Sherlock pulls this off) - and it's done because it's in service of the characters, not because they happen to be male. Understandably this is a whole big debate of its own (entwined somewhat with the 'female Doctor' arguments) but it could work. The companion shouldn't be cast because of gender tokenism (or racial/orientation/ethnicity etc.), and equally a male companion doesn't inherently mean we're regressing in any way.

To be honest, Doctor Who has definitely proven itself as a decent writer of female characters perhaps more so than male characters. The Doctor gets slapped by River/Amy/Clara because it's funny, sly jokes about men being overly egotistical as soon as we see the first gender-changing Timelord, referring to men as monkeys because it's a room full of women talking, what basically amounted to bullying of Mickey in the second series, Rory basically being second-fiddle Mickey 2.0 in the sixth series. The Doctor can't be the relateable male character of the piece, and somehow it's managed to deny itself well written male characters for so long as a result.

I wouldn't mind two companions again where the male was the instigator and the female was more along-for-the-ride, which would address this issue. But I do worry the writing wouldn't be strong enough to flesh out two new characters and we'll get another Rory/Amy scenario...I didn't like the whole couple dynamic that basically made the Doctor feel like a third wheel in his own show. Maybe a different dynamic, as some have suggested a brother/sister bond. Or just best friends...it worked fantasically to have Donna 'Not-Mating-With-Me-Sunshine' Noble on board and not everyone has to be paired off romantically...again if the writing is good

It certainly seems to be the talk of the internet and with her having just finished with Eastenders it's not impossible.

I can't really say how good she is as I've never seen her in anything (I don't watch Eastenders as I can't stand soap operas) but people seem to hold her acting capabilities in high regard.

Her Eastenders character was apparently a Muslim, and I don't know if she is herself but with people's knee-jerk reactions, generalisations and distrust of Muslims lately with events that have been going on, I don't think it would be a bad thing for a well loved and popular show like Doctor Who to have a Muslim as its heroine.

Whether it's just a rumour or not, she's a fabulous actress, and I would be happy to see her as the new companion.

I've never heard of her but she looks okay. TBH speaking personally I'm not that bothered about female companions being 'strong, feisty women' (yawn). Rose and Donna were fine, and I can see why they won't have just a male companion after this but one of each gender would be far better, Clara was getting way too cloying and important on her own. Amy and Rory together showed differing POVs and the inter relationships between them and the Doctor were great, much better and more balanced than Amy on her own. Ditto Jamie and Victoria, Ian and Barbara, etc etc. The Doctor, Rose and Jack were fantastic for the short time they were together, also the dynamic of them all being from different times and places. It doesn't always work (thinking of Tegan and Turlough, I always felt sorry for Nyssa) but one female companion is at risk of getting boring again. IMO of course.

Besides, as a female I'd much rather watch the men. More Jamie, Ian, Rory, Ben or Jack (or their equivalents) please!

she looks great actually..

If she does get this, can we all agree that it was based on acting ability and fit for the role - not because of any political check boxing - that's just co-incidental and totally denigrates any sense of achievement she would get. I've not watched her on Eastenders but it seems she was quite commended for her acting out a very tough storyline.

p.s. - totally different topic, but I hear there is a spin off based on Coal Hill right?

Far too much importance is placed on physical attractiveness, especially for females, but increasingly so for males too.

BTW, the show is called Class. Not sure when it airs yet.

I watched a few clips of Rakhee in that storyline the other day and she definitely impressed me with the range of emotions that she was putting across. If the rumours are true, I'd look forward to seeing her within the Doctor Who universe because she certainly seems to be a capable actress in my opinion

All I'll say for now is that for all their talk of 'someone different' it'll be a bit of a let down if it does turn out to be another young woman who comes from 21st century earth, whether it be this particular actress or anyone else, and I will struggle to know what was meant by that.

shes 32 I think . she certainily not old, but not reallly young either.

Maybe not exactly young, but as you say not old either, and easy on the eye like the others, which is why, like I said, if it is her, and she is on her own as companion, and she's from 21st century earth, it'll be same old, same old in my opinion and all the suggestion of 'someone different' will have come to nothing.

This.

Hmmm.

On one respect, I seriously, seriously disliked her character on EastEnders. She was unpleasant, judgemental of everyone, and just generally not a very nice person. Hell, in one episode she actually made quite a racist comment when he father dated a non-Muslim woman, which was conveniently forgotten about when we were supposed to be routing for her later on. But I digress.

However, while there's no doubt that whilst Shabnam was annoying as hell, Rakhee is a superb actress. She really did manage to convey a lot of emotion, especially when she lost her baby. She couldn't quite make Shabnam sympathetic for me, but I think it's more to do with the writing for the character than anything else. I do think Rakhee has potential be a brilliant companion if the writing is good for her. In terms of acting talent, this is very good news... if true of course.

But there is another slight niggling doubt here for me. I don't know if Rakhee is Muslim in real life, but even if she's not her casting here, especially coming off her playing of Shabnam, may hint at the new companion being Muslim. Of course, there's no proof of this, and maybe she really has just been casted because of her considerable talent. We've never seen a Muslim companion before, and it's good that the BBC are trying to be more diverse in this regard. However, please don't make her like Shabnam.

Doctor Who is not a show in which to preach religious beliefs. The Doctor has no religion, and seems in general to find the whole prospect of it ridiculous (like his refusal to believe in the Devil). After that Zygon malarcy last year, we know the BBC are about as subtle as a bat to the head with it's PC box ticking. No matter what religion, I don't want to hear about it every episode, and the Doctor certainly won't. It'll seem forced and out of place.

A big yes to the actress. And I'm open to them having a religious person as a companion. It's new, and could open many doors. But I don't want Shabnam in the TARDIS. Please don't just have cast Rakhee for that.

If, of course, they've casted her at all lol.

The thing is that the Zygon story was a clear and obvious allegory for ISIS. When these 'people' commit atrocities I won't bring down the tone of the forum with discussing it's far from subtle or underplayed. I felt that the two-parter similarly didn't need to make it subtle. It was good that it was obvious, good that the point of the whole thing was as accessible as possible. Better still it made no attempt to frame the whole thing through the eyes of religion, and never once contradicted the idea that the Doctor thinks little of religion. It was about terrorists with irrational motives... it took the 'religion' out of the way if anything, to show the atrocities for what they are without the twisted morality that justifies them to the warped instigators.

A show that I felt had a fascinating stance on religion was The X Files. Dana Scully was a fantastic female lead in this regard... a legitimate scientist who was ready and eager to debunk the supernatural and extra-terrestrial. And in spite of all of this she was religious, and had a sincere belief in God. I'm an atheist myself through and through, but this was an approach to religious characterisation I found fascinating. I would never expect Doctor Who to deliver anything as in-depth (though I'll forever campaign for Gillian Anderson to be the companion...or even just a guest role!) especially with its limited number of episodes but it could be superb framework for something different again and I wouldn't mind seeing a slightly more religious companion.

I do agree with you completely, and wouldn't mind seeing the Doctor question his own opinions and beliefs especially when trying to relate to another person in his TARDIS. I guess my issue is that, as series 9 shows, the BBC never do things by halves. I don't want her religion to be the primary focus of her character, just to tick more boxes.

But I digress. We have no idea yet, and will be waiting a long time to find out. Let's see what happens.

Seems like a fair exchange to me, seeing as Rigsby is now in EE.

Surely it's about time for Dimensions in Time part 2?

I definitely would love her as the next companion. I really want this to be true but until the BBC actually confirm something, I'm not going to get too invested yet.

Oh no, please no, couldn't stand her in EE.

Rising Damp in the TARDIS eh?

Don Warrington (Philip in Rising Damp) appeared in Rise of The Cybermen as the President of Britain

I really hope there's something in this, she'd be a great choice

So is Mel.

He also played Rassilon in a few eighth doctor Big Finish audios

If it is her perhaps we could have a character from the future who's more along the Doctors level. Would be interesting than somebody from 21st Century earth again.

I almost felt were getting a Muslim Companion choice when we met Rita in the god Complex or Dr. Nasreen Chaudhry when we met the Silurians with Matt smith

Anyway, I said we shouldn't obsess on the muslim aspect - but I'm biased ..... Being a muslim, personally I just want a Doctor Who Companion, I'd rather they not make a big fuss that the character was Muslim or not if it was Rakhee .....

Personally, I was rather looking forward to Canton Delaware returning too, in some form or other ....