Doctor Who’s casting director Andy Pryor is already praising the “fresh” chemistry between Peter Capaldi and new companion Pearl Mackie.

The actress was unveiled as The Doctor’s latest time-travelling companion Bill last week in a short film that had the two dodging Daleks.

“There was a chemistry that felt fresh and new and different to Peter’s relationship with Jenna [Coleman],” Pryor said.
“You could see Peter [Capaldi] fizzing with ideas in that audition reading and in the clip that was ultimately produced with the announcement.”

Pryor continued: “What people saw in the announcement [short film] was one of the audition scenes originally.
“I think Pearl grabbed those scenes and did something really exciting with them.”

While Pearl is a veteran stage performer, Doctor Who will actually be her first major television role.

“She’s a great example of somebody who proves that you don’t always have to have experience to be good,” Andy explained. “She’s a very experienced theatre actor and has done quite a variety of theatre work. She’s not naïve and she’s not a pushover.

“She’s one of those people that has a natural ability on camera.”

Doctor Who series ten debuts next year following a standalone Christmas special and will also be the last with Steven Moffat as showrunner – he hands over the controls of the TARDIS to Broadchurch’s Chris Chibnall in 2018.