Doctor Who's Mandip Gill thought co-star Bradley Walsh "was a twat" while filming

"But he was doing it to look after us."

By George Lewis

20 Dec 2022

jodie whittaker, mandip gill, tosin cole, bradley walsh, sharon d clarke, doctor who

BBC

Doctor Who's Mandip Gill has said she thought co-star Bradley Walsh was a "twat" during filming for the show.

The actress, who played companion Yasmin Khan, starred alongside Walsh's Graham O'Brien as they travelled the galaxy with the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), and the pair have discussed his on-set antics in Channel 5's documentary, Bradley Walsh: The Laugh's Are On Me.

"There were so many times where he knew I'd be really struggling with my lines so he'd do something like he'd go make himself a cup of tea," recalled Whittaker. "So he'd walk off set. So everyone would go: 'Oh we've lost Brad! Where's Brad?' Only I knew he did it on purpose, but he was doing it to look after us."

Gill, who appeared in 31 episodes in total, quipped in response: "I didn't know that. I just thought he was a twat! He always used to bite his nails and be on his phone. I just thought he's gonna have another meeting about The Chase."

Whittaker, who departed from the role in the centenary special, 'The Power of the Doctor', added: "There was no line with him and it was so funny; you could pick on him, he can take a joke but he's also there for you if you need him."

The BBC sci-fi show is undergoing a revamp of sorts, with Russell T Davies returning as showrunner before Ncuti Gatwa begins his stint as the Time Lord next year.

doctor who stars ncuti gatwa and millie gibson in costume on set, posing on the steps of a trailer for a first look photo

BBC

The actor, who has also starred in Netflix's Sex Education, recently unveiled the first images of him in character, with his outfit certainly being a change from the norm. As he offered a glimpse of the TARDIS, Ncuti wrote: "Yesterday. Was. EXHILARATING!

"I genuinely feel I have an adrenaline hangover. But boy oh BOY what we have in store for you. P.S. that video is just an excuse to show off the fit of my trousers, tell me you wouldn't do the same."

Doctor Who returns in 2023 on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Meanwhile, in the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on HBO Max. Classic Doctor Who streams on BritBox in the UK.