Rumours: Rakhee Thakrar as Companion? Capaldi in Class?
They state:
The hunt is still on for a new companion to join Peter Capaldi in the Tardis for the next series of Doctor Who – and one name who could be in the frame for the part is Rakhee Thakrar, known to EastEnders fans as Shabnam Masood.
It is understood that Thakrar, who left EastEnders in February, is on a list of actresses in the frame to replace Jenna Coleman in the coveted role.
According to a source, auditions are poised to begin for the part with Thakrar – who won plaudits from the soap’s producers and fans – in line for an audience with the producers.
Neither the BBC nor Thakrar’s agents would comment on the speculation, but if – and it’s a big if – she gets the gig, she would be the first non-white main companion since Freema Agyeman’s medic Martha Jones left David Tennant’s side back in 2008.
One possibly conflicting thing to note is that Peter Capaldi himself reportedly told fans last week at the Handel concert that the companion had now been cast, where as this reports suggests the search is still on…
Class Filming in April & Capaldi Guesting
The other rumour is that Doctor Who spin-off Class will start filming in April. The Radio Times also claim “it is understood that Peter Capaldi’s Doctor is in line for an appearance.”
Adding:
“According to top level sources, the finishing touches are being put to the cast list for the series which is set in Coal Hill, the iconic Doctor Who school that we’ve seen various times throughout the show’s history and at which, more recently, Clara Oswald taught.
The cameras will start rolling in just over a month.
“It will have a close connection with Doctor Who so don’t be surprised if Peter pops up,” said one source close to the production.
Eight episodes, each lasting 45 minutes, have been commissioned but so far the BBC is undecided about how to show them.
They have been commissioned for BBC3 so will air online first. But the BBC is still to decide whether they will be posted on a week-by-week basis or whether the whole series will be ‘dropped’ at once to allow fans to binge watch the entire first run. Like all original BBC3 content, Class will eventually find a home on a linear channel, almost certain to be BBC1.
This is really nothing new, and more than likely just the usual press recycling stories with miraculous new insider “sources”. Capaldi has been rumoured to appear since the spin-off was announced last year, and the filming was always expected to start around Spring time.
Doctor Who Series 10 Filming
The site further asserts that Doctor Who will follow with Series 10 filming in May. Once again this seems to date back to the Michael Pickwoad interview last year where he indicated as such. More recent rumours however indicate Doctor Who could in fact now begin shooting sometime in June.
As ever with any of these rumours, take them how you will. None of them have been confirmed by the BBC despite some press outlets making it appear as such in the headlines.
