Doctor Who showrunner explains John Bishop casting

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 8d

Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall talks up new recruit John Bishop, promising that he will "bring a different flavour" to the show.

Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has promised that John Bishop will bring "a different flavour" to the show in the next series.

Following the departures of Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole in the festive special, comedian Bishop was announced as The Doctor's new companion Dan for the next series.

Bishop has already been filming alongside Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill for several months now, and Chibnall has revealed that he is impressed with what he has seen so far.

"I've always got my eye out for performers who are loved, and wondering how good they might be as actors," he told the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine.

"There's such a great history of performers who start out as comedians transitioning into becoming terrific actors - the best example being Robbie Coltrane in Cracker.

"John's somebody I've been keeping a beady eye on for years. He's quietly built up a body of work, through working with people like Jimmy McGovern and Ken Loach, while also doing a dozen other things like stand-up, autobiography, interview shows, podcasts and travel documentaries.

"As ever on Doctor Who, we put him through a rigorous multi-session audition process, which he engaged with brilliantly and humbly.

"John and his character bring a different flavour and a different humour to the show. We're loving him in the rushes, and having him as part of the production."

The new series, which runs to eight episodes, will begin later this year on BBC One.