Comedian John Bishop Joins DOCTOR WHO Series 13 as The Doctor's New Companion
Comedian and actor John Bishop has been cast in Doctor Who Series 13 and he will be jumping into the TARDIS as The Doctor’s new companion, Dan.
As Dan becomes embroiled in the Doctor’s adventures, he “will quickly learn there’s more to the Universe(s) than he could ever believe. Traveling through space and time alongside the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and (Mandip Gill) Yaz, he’ll face evil alien races beyond his wildest nightmares.” You can get a first look at Bishop in the role of Dan in a promo spot we included below.
Here’s what Bishop had to say about his casting:
“If I could tell my younger self that one day I would be asked to step onboard the TARDIS, I would never have believed it. It’s an absolute dream come true to be joining Doctor Who and I couldn’t wish for better company than Jodie and Mandip.”
Showrunner Chris Chibnall chimed in, saying:
“It’s time for the next chapter of Doctor Who, and it starts with a man called Dan. Oh, we’ve had to keep this one secret for a long, long time. Our conversations started with John even before the pandemic hit. The character of Dan was built for him, and it’s a joy to have him aboard the TARDIS.”
Matt Strevens, Executive Producer BBC Studios, said:
“It’s been a total joy having John join the cast and we’ve been having a lot fun on set already. We can’t wait for you to meet Dan when the show returns later this year.”
Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, said:
“We are beyond thrilled to have John Bishop joining Doctor Who. Alongside Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill, John is a wonderful addition to the show and we have no doubt that season 13 is going to be another thrilling set of adventures for the Doctor.”
Courtney Thomasma, Executive Director of BBC America, added:
“We welcome John Bishop to this iconic and timeless franchise. Dan, Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor are sure to surprise and delight American viewers in 2021.”
When talking about when things are going to return, Chibnall gave an update on that, saying:
"We’re filming as we speak. We’ve got lots of new characters, new monsters, some old ones coming back. We’re only a few weeks in. We’re obviously having to work in a very different way, under COVID protocols. So, it’s not without its challenges but every series of Doctor Who has had its challenges. At the moment, everybody's smiling and what we’ve got so far is really thrilling."
What do you think about John Bishop taking on the role of The Doctor’s new companion in Series 13? Are you looking forward to the future of the Doctor Who franchise?