The problem with Twitter and the like is that there is weird compulsion to keep posting... Anything.... Just to fill up the space, regardless of whether or not it's interesting or news or funny or necessary. We have a long gap between seasons, so there is no news as nothing is being done. Why can't the Who Twitter just say that and then only tweet when there is actually something worthwhile to say? But people expect...something to be posted, all the time!

That has been done before; Nyssa and Tegan, both young women, were with The Doctor by themselves for quite a few episodes after Adric died and before Turlough came on board.

In Dragonfire we had both Mel and Ace with the Doctor.

In the Modern Series, we had both Martha Jones and Donna Noble in the Tardis with The Doctor during The Doctor's Daughter.

And in a few Novels, notably The Seventh Doctor story Blood Harvest, The Doctor had both Ace and Bernice Summerfield travelling with him.

Not to mention Barbara with both Susan and Vicki. Polly was also very briefly with Dodo.

Really wish the BBC would confirm and announce who the new companion is soon. Really think we're going to have to wait until mid May or even June!

The last I heard, filming is due to start sometime in May. So, they won’t start announcing who has taken over from Jenna for another two, maybe three weeks at least.

I still think it might be Zawe Ashton.

She is currently in a play at the Trafalgar Studios which concludes on 21 May so that (I think) ties in with the start of filming for season 10.

There is also something about Peter Capaldi's comment about having worked with the new companion previously. What he actually said was: “Obviously I know who that is and we’ve been doing a bit of work together already.”

For me, it is a strangely worded comment. It sounds like he was about to say "we’ve been doing a bit of work together recently " and caught himself just as he reached the end of the sentence.

So for me, it just felt like he was suggesting the 'working together' is current (i.e. at the time of the interview, in March).

And it was round about that time that both he and Zawe were filming sections of the Shakespeare’s Globe "The Complete Walks" film.

Interestingly, Meera Syal (who played tDr Nasreen Chaudhry in The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood) was also in "The Complete Walks" film which would also tie in with suggestions that Capaldi wanted an older companion this time.

Just a few thoughts. I have no doubt I'm wrong.

At this rate, by the time they start filming S10, Jenna will have finished filming Victoria and will be free to continue on Doctor Who again

I would genuinely skip season 10 entirely if it was another year of the 12th Doctor and Clara. Just unbearable! Season nine was bad enough.

I agree.

Conspiracy theorists might like to know that Zawe Ashton took 2 days off from her current theatre at end of March - publicity shots?

When other companions have been announced, has it been this close to filming?

If it is her, I hope she plays the new character as Vod. I cannot think of anything funnier.

Jenna was officially announced as the companion on the 21st March 2012 and was first spotted filming in May 2012 though she had I believe already filmed her scenes for Asylum before that (Series 7a episodes had started filming in Feb 2012).


Karen was announced on the 29th May 2009 and started filming 20th July 2009.


So 1 - 2 months between announcement and filming for those two at least.

They seem to be leaving this one to the last minute.

And was overheard having the following secret conversation in a broom cupboard

"Steven, that's brilliant, I'm so looking forward to returning to the show......of course I'll keep it secret, not even my mum knows what I've been auditioning for....confirmed 3rd May is the reveal date, photo shoot for the press then One Show...Orpehlia Dannings, I'll get used to that name! Give my love to Peter, ciao!"

Didn't Zawe Ashton play the character of Journey Blue in (Series 8) 'Into The Dalek' ?

Can't see her returning tbh.

Zawe would be a great choice but I'd still love there to be some truth to the rumours of Rakhee Thakrar though.

Both Freema and Karen played another part before becoming the regular companion.
Adeola and Martha were cousins, hence the similarity in looks.
And Karen could be cast as Amy because she was so heavily made-up and unrecognizable as the Soothsayer.

As you know, folks.

And why couldn't Journey Blue come back as the regular companion? Like Donna Noble did after her one-off appearance.

You have to admit, they would look pretty cool together.

Perhaps Rusty the Dalek can return as well

The way Journey Blue was rejected by the Doctor does make it seem a bit unlikely though. Maybe she could become the Companion after earning his approval by doing something amazing (especially as he doesn't seem so bothered about soldiers now)

I think we get official confirmation of the new companion within the next 2-3 weeks, just before the filming process begins. Once filming starts, people are going to see who the companion is anyway.

Series 9 is one of my favorites from new who., and finished Clara's time on the show wonderfully.
It was series 8 which was absolutely appalling!

Just to throw another name in that seems to have been left out, would Massie Williams be at all possible? I know that the Doctor and Ashildr had a lot of background together, and there were rumours last year that she would be the new companion but not sure how it would fit in with filming of Game of Thrones.

She'd be a terrible character to travel with the Doctor now though.