SOAP star Rakhee Thakrar could be taking on the role of the next Doctor Who companion?

The 32-year-old actress, who is best known as Shabnam Masood on EastEnders, is believed to be one of the names on the list of possible assistants.

Auditions are believed to be getting underway soon and Rakhee is said to be one of the stars trying to impress the producers, sources told the Radio Times.

Last month the Leicester-born star left EastEnders and it looks like she could be in line as Jenna Coleman’s replacement.

Rakhee retweeted a news story back in February listing actresses who could take on the part, which included herself.

If she did join the TARDIS, Rakhee would become the second non-white main companion on Doctor Who.

Freema Agyeman played Martha Jones in the long-running sci-fi series alongside David Tennant’s Time Lord from 2005 to 2010.

Rakhee has won praise for her portrayal of Shabnam and particularly her recent stillbirth storyline.Speaking about the plot last year, she said: “It was one of those rare times when you see a day play out as it would in real life. And I had a lot of feedback from parents saying that what they saw Shabnam and Kush experience was exactly how they themselves felt.”

There are a number of actresses who could take on the coveted role but Fresh Meat star Faye Marsay is said to be at the top of the list, having already starred as Shona in the 2014 Christmas special.

Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, who appeared as the mysterious Ashildr in series nine, was also thought to be taking up a role on Doctor Who but she has ruled herself out now.

Filming on series 10 of Doctor Who is set to begin later this year.

A BBC spokeswoman declined to comment when approached.

Doctor Who series 10 will air on BBC One in spring 2017.