Doctor Who adds Samuel Anderson to cast

Big news for Doctor Who fans, it looks like Series 8 will have more than one new face. Along with Peter Capaldi, who will be playing the twelfth and newest incarnation of the Doctor, Samuel Anderson will also be joining the cast. While show runner Steven Moffat is predictably tight lipped about details of Anderson’s character and his relationship to the Doctor, the BBC did divulge some information. We know that his character is named Danny Pink and he is a teacher at Coal Hill School alongside Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) who is the Doctor’s current companion.

Anderson is best known for his role in the 2006 film The History Boys, but has made several film and television appearances. When interviewed about getting the job on Doctor Who he 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!” He went on to speak about the legend of the show and his new co-stars, saying, “It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m a part of it. It’s an honour 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!”

Of course, Moffat was quick to remind fans that Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, the companions of the first Doctor in 1963, were also teachers at Coal Hill School. He teased that Coal Hill has helped the TARDIS several times in the past, but would not reveal any farther information about Anderson’s character. In an interview he said, “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 series of Doctor Who!”