Bonnie Langford, star of "Peter Pan," is to be Dr Who's new girl in the next BBC TV series.
Television executives are hoping that some of Peter Pan's immortality will rub off on the programme, which has the threat of BBC-1 controller Michael Grade's axe hanging over it
The bubbly 21-year-old, who was not even born when the first "Dr Who" episode went out, will be assistant number 20 for the Time Lord — currently Colin Baker.
It is hoped her appearance in the series will influence the decision on whether the autumn series will mark the famous Tardis's last journey.
Mr Grade delayed the series because he thought the previous one had grown "tired and unimaginative" and featured too much violence. He said it would be watched closely this time to decide whether it should continue.
Bonnie was chosen for her "sparkling" personality.
The former child star, who made her big-time debut in television's "Opportunity Knocks," has never had an image linked to violence.
At the age of 12 she played in "Just William," as Violet Elizabeth "I'll Thqueam." She went on to star in the West End and kicked off part of her goody-goody image with some raunchy performances in Wayne Sleep's "Hot Shoe Show" on BBC-TV. She's currently playing "Peter Pan" at London's Aldwich Theatre.
In "Dr Who," she will help to develop the humour of the programme. She thinks the doctor is overweight. He gets irritated at her singing in the Tardis.
The 22-year-old series has seen six Dr Who characters and 19 previous assistants. The corporation is reported to have years of early episodes worth a potential fortune to a world market.
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