Actress Jenna Coleman announced months ago that she wouldn’t be returning to Doctor Who for the tenth series, meaning the search for the newest assistant must be underway.
And it’s been rumoured that one EastEnders favourite may be set to fill her boots.
According to Radio Times’ sources, Rakhee Thakrar – who played Shabnam Massod in the BBC One soap – is in the lined up to take on the iconic role, and the auditions are just about to start.
The 32-year-old actress left EastEnders in February this year after two years on the show. During this time, she captivated audiences with her moving performances as her character suffered a stillborn.
Not only did this portrayal earn her an outpour of approval from touched fancs, but a nomination for Best Serial Performance at the National Television Awards for this earlier this year.
Former Doctor Who actress Jenna is also taking a career turn, as she’s set to play Queen Victoria in an ITV period drama for her next role. She announced she would be leaving the sci-fi show back in September 2015, telling Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 1:
“I have left the Tardis - it's happened. I've filmed my last scenes.”
Neither the BBC nor Thakrar’s agents have commented.