Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick
- Publication: Western Mail
- Date: 2004-05-25
- Author:
- Page:
- Language: English
Billie piper will play Doctor Who's assistant in the new BBC series, it was confirmed yesterday.
The 21-year-old actress, pictured, said she was 'thrilled' to have landed the role of Rose Taylor alongside Christopher Eccleston's timelord.
The cult sci-fi series, being made by BBC Wales, will be back on television next year.
A BBC spokeswoman said, 'Billie is beautiful, funny and intelligent. We needed to find a unique, dynamic partner for Christopher Eccleston, and Billie fits the bill perfectly. She will make an extraordinary Rose Tyler.'
Piper, married to Chris Evans, has long been linked to the role.
She said, 'Doctor Who is an iconic show and I am absolutely thrilled to be playing the part of Rose Tyler.'
Piper follows in the footsteps of actresses such as Bonnie Langford who have played the Doctor's female sidekick over the years.
Eccleston has said Rose will be feistier than her predecessors - and may even provide a love interest.
'He's got two hearts, Doctor Who, and they can both be broken,' he said recently.
Former pop star Piper has been carving out an acting career and made her debut last year in The Miller's Tale, part of the BBC's Canterbury Tales series.
She won critical acclaim in the BBC2 drama Bella and the Boys, about a young girl growing up in care.
Besides her TV work, Piper is also finding success in films.
She appeared opposite Orlando Bloom in The Calcium Kid and her new movie, Things To Do Before You're 30, is due for release.
In the next few weeks she begins filming her first starring role, in British movie Spirit Trap, the tale of a group of students living in a haunted house.
The new Doctor Who series is being written by Swansea-born Russell T Davies, whose previous credits include Channel 4 hit Queer As Folk.
Davies said, 'I'm delighted that someone of Billie's talent is coming on board the Tardis.'
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- APA 6th ed.: (2004-05-25). Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick. Western Mail .
- MLA 7th ed.: "Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick." Western Mail [add city] 2004-05-25. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick." Western Mail, edition, sec., 2004-05-25
- Turabian: "Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick." Western Mail, 2004-05-25, section, edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Billie%27s_on_board_Tardis_as_Doctor%27s_sidekick | work=Western Mail | pages= | date=2004-05-25 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Billie's on board Tardis as Doctor's sidekick | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Billie%27s_on_board_Tardis_as_Doctor%27s_sidekick | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=21 March 2025}}</ref>
