Meet Danny Pink. As played by new Doctor Who cast member, Samuel Anderson, Danny is a recurring character who teaches at Coal Hill School – where Clara Oswald also teaches. As always, whenever a new cast member comes aboard the TARDIS, the big question is why – and showrunner Steven Moffat promises answers in Peter Capaldi’s first season as the Twelfth Doctor.
Fans with keen memories will recall that the Doctor’s first terrestrial companions, teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright also taught at Coal Hill School and it’s the same school that appeared in 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks and in the 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor. It makes you wonder what trouble is brewing within those hallowed halls this time?
HISTORY BOYS ACTOR SAMUEL ANDERSON JOINS THE CAST OF DOCTOR WHO
Samuel Anderson (The History Boys, Gavin & Stacey) is set to join the cast of Doctor Who as a recurring character in the new season, which will also introduce Peter Capaldi as the Doctor to millions of viewers. Anderson will play Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) also teaches when the series returns to BBC AMERICA later this year.
On joining the show Samuel Anderson said: “I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started! It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honor to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can’t wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!”
While Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added: “For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the first Doctor. These days it’s the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi’s first season of Doctor Who!”
Filming recently began on episode four of the new series, which will co-star Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode five, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch, Groove High), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke, Death in Paradise).
Photo courtesy of BBC Worldwide