Little-known actress Karen Gillan has been unveiled as the next assistant in Doctor Who.
The 21-year-old will star alongside new Time Lord Matt Smith in the new series, to be broadcast next year.
Gillan has already appeared in the drama, having played a Soothsayer in The Fires Of Pompeii in the last run.
"I am absolutely over the moon at being chosen to play the Doctor's new companion. - I just can't wait to get started," she said.
'Incredible actor'
"The show is such a massive phenomenon that I can't quite believe I am going to be a part of it.
"Matt Smith is an incredible actor and it is going to be so much fun to act alongside him," she added.
Head of Drama, BBC Wales, Piers Wenger said she brings "energy and excitement" to the role.
"When she auditioned alongside Matt we knew we had something special," he said.
Writer and executive producer Steven Moffat said they saw some "amazing actresses" but Gillan "walked through the door the game was up".
He described her as "funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it".
"A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too," he added.
Gillan, from Inverness, developed a love for acting after attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in various school productions.
At the age of 16, she decided to pursue her career further and left school to study acting at Edinburgh's Telford College.
She went on to secure a place at the Italia Conti drama school in London and landed her first role in the Scottish drama Rebus.
Parts in Channel 4's Stacked, The Kevin Bishop Show and James Nesbitt's forthcoming film Outcast followed, but the role in Doctor Who is her first high profile to date.
Welcome to Episode 74 of "Don't Quit Your Day Job: The Podcast!" where Patrick is getting all tingly about Gay Days (or is that just the onset of shingles?) Melanie buys $600 worth of couture clothing, Jerry has moved yet again, and Stacy spots a festive puddle of blood in the French Quarter on Mother's Day.
So, my town now has a baseball team. Not sure how I feel about the name. How long before they're known as the Cornholers?
CornBelters picked as Normal baseball nickname
NORMAL -- In a marriage of baseball and the area’s rich agricultural history, the Normal CornBelters were born Monday. | Man who came up with CornBelters name shares prize
Normal Professional Baseball President Steve Malliet announced the team’s nickname and revealed the logos for a baseball team that will begin Frontier League play in May 2010 at a stadium on the Heartland Community College campus.
“It fits and it’s fun,” Malliet said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
After an ill-fated and controversial online team-naming contest brought suspicion of vote fraud, votes were cleared April 23 and a new contest with additional restrictions was launched.
“It’s been an interesting process,” said Malliet, who said CornBelters was the top choice of approximately 3,000 online votes with a tally of 1,244. “We like it for its promotional, retail and marketing potential.”
The logo was designed by Chris Henwood, who also had a hand in popular logos of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Durham Bulls.
“He believes it’s going to be a top 10 selling logo,” Malliet said. “He believes it’s going to be a winner.”
Other nickname finalists were Nutz, Coal Bears, Fellers and Camelbacks.
Malliet envisions corn-related items available at the stadium concession stands, including corn dogs, corn chips and sweet corn. The team is considering growing its own sweet corn on the stadium grounds.
He also sees Corn Stalk Races in the spirit of the Sausage Race at Miller Park in Milwaukee. And as for mascot names, Malliet mentioned Kernel, Niblet and Shucks as possibilities.
“Entertainment and family fun has always been the core for us,” said Malliet.
After gaining the final nod of approval from the Normal City Council on Monday, Malliet plans to begin construction on the stadium soon.
“It’s a little wet on the site right now,” he said. “But very soon you will start to see dirt work out there.”
Welcome to Episode 73 of "Don't Quit Your Day Job: The Podcast!" where Stacy singlehandedly enrages the Japanese-American community, Patrick marvels over the Rabbit Pearl, Melanie frantically edits together two separate recording sessions, and Jerry explains why hay fever is a bitch.
Rob Marshall is giving what looks to be a very similar treatment as he used in "Chicago" to the 1982 musical "Nine." I hear they've scrapped a lot of the score, but what a cast! And Fergie sounds great on the trailer singing the show's anthem "Be Italian."
As of Episode 73, I will be converting everyone's tracks to AIFF before I start editing together episodes, because I really, REALLY need to run everyone's tracks through Levelator. I apologize for the wide-ranging sound levels; these will be resolved in the near future.
Welcome to Episode 72 of "Don't Quit Your Day Job: The Podcast!" where Jerry samples Smurf Piss, Stacy recounts heartwarming memories of childhood abuse, Patrick comes up with a saint in charge of shaved balls, and Melanie explains why swine flu isn't an STD, no matter how many pigs you have sex with.
This crew has the timing of a fine Swiss timepiece, and the sharp wit of a wheel of aged cheddar -- loriwin
Melanie Fletcher and Jerry J. Davis are increasingly infamous speculative fiction writers; Patrick Gaik is an actor and leading light in Illinois dinner theater. Together with their roving newsgirl Stacy T, they discuss everything from philosophical subtleties to porn, with amusing side trips into day jobs, night jobs, writing, reading, performing, SF, fantasy, sex, anime, movies, TV, beer, coffee, Diet Coke with Lime, and anything else that wanders through their tiny minds.
And please, don't listen to Episode 26. Just...trust us on this.
Debbie from NJ
