We won’t see Doctor Who again until the 2016 Christmas Special, even then without perhaps meeting the next companion to follow Jenna Coleman’s Clara, though he or she has apparently already been cast. Peter Capaldi says he’s already begun working with the franchise’s newest actor, perhaps precipitating a formal announcement soon.

Speaking to Omelete (via Radio Times), Capaldi indicated that official confirmation of the new companion would likely happen in the near future, as well that the new character would differ from past companions in one key regard:

There will be a new companion, along any minute. Which I’m very excited about, ‘cause obviously I know who that is and we’ve been doing a bit of work together already and it’s very exciting. Because it’s a very different sort of take on it. […]

Clara had prior knowledge of the Doctor. It was conceived as a human connected to your timeline, and so had access to the cosmic nature of the Doctor. She understood a little about how he was. And as she was already with [Eleventh Doctor] Matt [Smith], she knew the Daleks and the TARDIS. Now we have someone who knows very little about the Doctor.

Most recently, EastEnders star Rakhee Thakrar was rumored to meet with producers for the role, while Capaldi has previously stated his predilection for a female companion, given the potential for male co-stars to usurp his action scenes. Capaldi himself has only officially signed through the coming tenth season, despite having been asked to return after Steven Moffat’s last season in spring 2017.

It sounds as if an official announcement will be forthcoming, but what should we hope for from Peter Capaldi’s next Doctor Who companion?

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