In July, BBC announced that Catherine Tate, who served as a temporary companion to David Tennant when Billie Piper left Doctor Who, would be returning to the show as a regular come the fourth season.   At the time, the 39-year-old actress expressed her delight for having been asked to return, but she now admits that she was actually stunned by the invitation.

"When I was asked to do it, I genuinely couldn't believe they'd asked me,” Tate told the official Doctor Who magazine.  “I was having lunch with [executive producer] Julie Gardner and it was the last thing I thought we were going to have a conversation about.  She said it, and I nearly ... well, I ... even now, I just can't believe it.  I'm speechless."

Tate also confessed to the magazine that she has yet to fully comprehend the mythology of the show.

"This is how un-into-it I was before: I didn't know that there was more than one kind of alien; I just thought it was always the Daleks.” Tate said.

Nevertheless, Tate reiterated her joy for being given another chance to appear in the show.

"I love the show ... and I love working with David, so I just thought it was a fantastic opportunity.  It was a bit of a no-brainer for me, really," Tate said.

Catherine Tate first appeared in Doctor Who at the end of the show's second season finale.  She resurfaced as the doctor's companion in the 2006 Christmas special as runaway bride Donna. 

With the addition of Tate, the tenth doctor will have two companions in the upcoming season.  Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha Jones on the show, has, however, signed on for a limited run as she is also starring in the show's spin-off, Torchwood.

Although Tate is expected to become the primary companion of the doctor next season, viewers should not close the door on Piper just yet.  In an interview with British talk show host, Michael Parkinson, the 25-year-old singer-actress, who played Rose Tyler for the first two seasons, spoke of the possibility of her return.

"I don't think it will happen any time soon but the door is slightly ajar," Piper said.  "It's such a lovely part but I tried to do it the other day and I couldn't do it - I can't do Rose any more!"

She added, "I was having a go the other day, I saw David the other day in fact, and we were just having a laugh - and yes, Rose wasn't so good!"

Doctor Who airs Friday nights at 8/7c on the SCI-FI Channel.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Doctor Who Magazine, Digital Spy
(Image Courtesy of BBC)