Dr Who and the teenage pop star
- Publication: Daily Express
- Date: 2004-05-25
- Author: Mark Jagasia
- Page: 7
- Language: English
SHE was a shooting star in her teens, now Billie Piper is to travel the galaxy as Doctor Who's new companion.
The former pop singer, 21, will appear alongside the new Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston, when the sci-fi classic returns to television early next year.
Billie, who is married to media mogul Chris Evans, was unveiled yesterday as the Time Lord's new sidekick, Rose Tyler.
She beat off stiff competition from Anna Friel, Keeley Hawes and Loo Brealey to land the chance to follow a line of companions begun in 1963 by Carole Ann Ford. Other assistants have included Lalla Ward, Bonnie Langford, Louise Jameson and Mary Tamm.
"Doctor Who is an iconic show and I am absolutely thrilled to be playing the part of Rose Tyler," said Billie.
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"
Billie turned to acting only last year having had little previous experience.
She received critical praise for her acting debut in the BBC1 drama serial Canterbury Tales, a modern re-imagining of Chaucer's stories, and for her role in Bella and the Boys, a one-off drama for BBC2. Reviewers have been less kind about her latest role, starring opposite Orlando Bloom in the film The Calcium Kid. Doctor Who's new scriptwriter Russell T Davies said: "It was a long thorough search.
"Billie is absolutely perfect and very close to the description of Rose on the page. The companion is as pivotal to these adventures as the Doctor himself - Rose can be our eyes, discovering spaceships and alien creatures with awe and wonder, and a vital sense of humour.
"Over the course of 13 episodes, Rose will change and grow, and hopefully, we can keep that story going in the years to come."
Billie was propelled to stardom in 1997. With her single Because We Want To she became the youngest solo artist to debut at number one in the UK charts.
She took a break from singing when she married Evans in 2001.
Her new role gives a huge boost to her career at the moment when things are looking professionally bleak for her hugely wealthy husband.
Evans has suffered the indignity of seeing all the television projects he has fostered over the past couple of years ignominiously dumped from the nation's screens.
The former media golden boy has also downsized his main UK home, selling eight-bedroomed Hascombe Court in Surrey for a more modest cottage nearby. But he is hardly short of cash - at a last estimate he was believed to be worth £30million.
Caption: GROWN UP: Billie at this year's Baftas and, below, at school In 1993. Inset, the new Doctor, Christopher Eccleston
THE TIME LORD'S ASSISTANTS...
1963: Carole Ann Ford with first Doctor William Hartnell
1977: Louise Jameson as Leela, Tom Baker's sidekick
1979: Lalla Ward as Romana and Tom Baker as the Doctor
1986: Bonnie Langford is paired with Sylvester McCoy
THE REINVENTING OF BILLIE PIPER
1998: Pop star, as she enjoys the spotlight after her No 1 hit single Because We Want To but finds It hard to cope with fame
2001: Newlywed party girl, with Chris Evans
2004: Actress, starring In The Calcium Kid
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- APA 6th ed.: Jagasia, Mark (2004-05-25). Dr Who and the teenage pop star. Daily Express p. 7.
- MLA 7th ed.: Jagasia, Mark. "Dr Who and the teenage pop star." Daily Express [add city] 2004-05-25, 7. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Jagasia, Mark. "Dr Who and the teenage pop star." Daily Express, edition, sec., 2004-05-25
- Turabian: Jagasia, Mark. "Dr Who and the teenage pop star." Daily Express, 2004-05-25, section, 7 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dr Who and the teenage pop star | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_and_the_teenage_pop_star | work=Daily Express | pages=7 | date=2004-05-25 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dr Who and the teenage pop star | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr_Who_and_the_teenage_pop_star | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=30 March 2025}}</ref>
