The new Assistant

[Guest guest]

Doctor's next assistant is named

 

Freema Agyeman appeared in last Saturday's episode in another role

Newcomer Freema Agyeman is to take over from Billie Piper in the

third series of Doctor Who, it has been revealed.

Agyeman, 27, will play Martha Jones in the next run of the drama, due

to start filming in Cardiff this summer.

 

Regular viewers saw her in last week's episode where she played

Adeola, a minor character who suffered at the hands of the Cybermen.

 

The current series of Doctor Who finishes on BBC One this Saturday

and sees Piper leaving the show.

 

" When I first saw Freema Agyeman she had come in to audition for the

part of Adeola in series two, " said executive producer and writer

Russell T Davies.

 

I've been keeping this secret from my friends for months

 

Freema Agyeman

" Watching her during filming confirmed what an exciting new talent

she was, so under cover of darkness we called her back in to audition

with David [Tennant] for the role of the new companion.

 

" It was an immediate and sensational combination. "

 

Previous roles

 

Agyeman has previously been seen as Lola Wise in the soap Crossroads,

and has had small parts in Casualty and The Bill.

 

The London-born actress was one of several names rumoured for the

Doctor Who role, including singer Rachel Stevens and former

Eastenders star Michelle Ryan.

 

" I've been keeping this secret from my friends for months, " said

Agyeman. " It's been driving me mad. "

 

 

Billie Piper has been the Doctor's assistant for two series

" It still hasn't quite sunk in, I'm sure it will slam home first day

on set when I'm stood gazing at David Tennant. "

 

Although she has now officially joined the cast, producers say

Agyeman will not be featured in this year's Christmas edition of

Doctor Who.

 

" We've got another surprise in store for that, " said Davies.

 

Exit

 

Piper, the Doctor's current companion, revealed she was leaving the

programme last month.

 

The BBC had refused to comment on reports that her character, Rose

Tyler, dies in the final episode of the series.

 

However, last week's episode opened with a voice-over from the

character saying: " This is the story of how I died. "

 

Piper, 23, is currently filming a BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman's

Victorian thriller The Ruby in the Smoke.

 

" Billie rightly built up an amazing fan base and she will be missed, "

said Agyeman, " but I hope the fans are willing to go on new

adventures with me. "