Doctor Who 13 reveal

Well it's made my morning to see so many sensible people here. Donna is OF COURSE the best companion we've had to far. DoctorDonna is a team that shall probably never be beaten. Having said that, I am SO here for Bradley Walsh in a companion position. Huge fan. Can't wait!!

Brave heart, theatremonkey!

I love the pictorial evidence above

But also I think CC is going for a 'shake it up' approach (rightly so, it frankly needs a bit of a kick up the arse) so I'd imagine he wants to deliberately shy away from the 1 companion, season long story-line right now. There's also been talk it'll be shorter seasons, so a dipping in and out approach with companions might work better.

I honestly don't think it shows a lack of faith in Jodie, or a 'Female Doctor' (when can we just start calling her 'The Doctor' I wonder?) I think it's a fairly sensible decision that's actually rooted in the show's history.

Affirmative, Monkey! 

Nyssa brings back happy younger memories.

Not sure of the need for two additional assistants alongside Bradley unless he may be a Matt Lucas type character who remains behind. Jodie and Bradley will likely get best lines if all 4 are in Tardis. But we don't know the dynamic of the younger two characters and how they will be brought in.

The Dr has had 3 assistants before many times but storylines then were a slower reveal so they could be given dialog in Tardis and on arrival in new location etc.

Not overly fond of the new line-up, I know Who has had 3 companions several times in the past but more often than not one is left without anything to do for an episode, or they start inventing stupid threats to keep everyone busy for a bit (what exactly did Susan contribute in The Aztecs, or Rory in The Impossible Astronaut?)

I'm unsure about Bradley Walsh. If he's going to be the comedic relief, I just hope they do it better than they did with Matt Lucas last series. He veered from "not very funny" at his most harmless through to "really irritating" at his least.

I would have preferred if they'd just given Jodie one female companion for her first series and then built up the ensemble later. She's a great actress and overloading her with people isn't going to do her any favours.

My personal view would have been to have gone with just Bradley or Mandip and Tosin. With Bradley and Jodie you could have had a nice dynamic although having an older male companion who is a well known personality with the first female Dr might have slightly overshadowed her. But Jodie's Dr would have the knowledge if we assume Bradley's character will have some humour.

Or you go with Jodie and Mandip and Tosin, Jodie is the eldest of those 3 and the other two will be her foils and without Bradley there, it gives them a bigger part and enables their characters to become established.

Good to see a first Asian assistant in Mandip or first one in a long time, I cannot think of one but please correct me if I have missed one.

It could almost be seen as they are trying to please everyone - female Dr, Asian and Black Assistants and a well known comedy type assistant in Bradley to please traditionalists.

I just hope the dynamic does work and that Mandip and Tosin get the chance to shine in what is their biggest roles to date.

I'm sure she could easily outperform Bradley, I'm just worried the show will be swamped and she'll get half as much screen time as the previous doctors because they have to laboriously go round all of the companions to hear what they think about everything / see their domestic issues.

Well. Here she is in a rather delightful costume choice. Not sure about the breeze on her legs when she goes to some of the colder planets.

..... on the back of one costume, the showrunner's entire work is judged to be subpar? Have you ever heard the idea "don't knock it until you've tried it"?

Well I like it.
It's quirky, it has nods to previous incarnations, the colours are good and it will be quite simple for the cosplayers to reproduce.
Plus I think the shapes work well for Jodie's frame.