Rumors on Potential New Companion Actresses

Having been first to break the news yesterday of Billie Piper's confirmed departure from Doctor Who, today's issue ofThe Sun states that "Former Crossroads stunner Freema Agyeman was last night revealed to be the front-runner to replace Billie Piper in Doctor Who. Freema, 26, will appear in the final two episodes of the BBC1 sci-fi's current series playing the character Adeola. She joins the Timelord - played by David Tennant - and his sidekick Rose Tyler in battle against the dreaded Cybermen. Insiders say Freema, will join the Doctor in the Tardis full-time in the third series after her appearance in the episodes called Army Of Ghosts and Doomsday. ... The highlight of Freema's career so far has been playing seductress Lola Wise in doomed ITV soap Crossroads in 2001. She said: 'I loved playing Lola. She was an 18-year-old girl with a lot of angst. She wanted to sleep with all the boys and have fun.' The Londoner, who left Middlesex University with a BA Honours degree in Performing Arts and Design, also appeared in Casualty, The Bill and Silent Witness. Last night a BBC source said: 'Freema is a fantastic actress. She is great in the final episode. And she is more than capable of stepping into Billie's shoes to play the Doctor's new cohort. No one knew Billie could act before we gave her the job — and she has proved to be a sensation.' Freema, who also studied at Radford University in Virginia in America, could join the Timelord in new adventures that will see them meeting Shakespeare in the third series. Filming starts in just five weeks. ... Last night a BBC spokeswoman refused to confirm Freema was taking over from Billie as Dr Who's sidekick. Other names linked to the role include former EastEnder Michelle Ryan (Zoe Slater). She is believed to have auditioned with show bosses for the part."

The Daily Express has the next rumour - the paper reports that Nikki Sanderson, who has appeared in Coronation Street, is in the running for the part. The Mirror, which has been running "Billie Quits" stories for 15 months, today takes her to task for telling "lies" about staying in the show ("Who's been a Silly Billie", link here): "Looks like Billie's been giving Pinocchio a run for his money in the longnose stakes. Tut, tut." The paper also says that Piper has "stunned TV bosses" who "begged her to stay" but she "did not want to become typecast". (The Daily Star is also claiming an "exclusive" today that Billie Piper will leave Doctor Who at the end of Series Two, reported widely yesterday)

There is no word on whether any of these are in the show's plans for future episodes; however, several sources have told Outpost Gallifrey that, as noted yesterday, the departure of Billie Piper has been in the planning stages since last fall (so there would have been ample time for the show to replace Piper, if such an event is happening in the final episodes... though no word as yet on whether a new companion would be introduced this year or next.) Also reported at Sky News, Ananova.