Doctor Who favourite Mandip Gill teases “furthering” relationship between Thirteen and Yaz in new adventures

by

What’s the view from your sofa?

I’ve got a big, comfortable pouf for resting my feet and a great TV. But what I truly enjoy looking at are keepsakes from past performances – they remind me of the wonderful people I worked with on those shows.

What kind of memorabilia?

I’ve got a little corner of my place dedicated to a show I did this year called Can You Keep a Secret? – it’s a sitcom with Dawn French and Mark Heap, and it’s coming to BBC One sometime in early 2026. I’m genuinely really proud of it! I’ve watched parts of it five or six times now, and it still makes me chuckle. As a wrap gift, Dawn was so sweet and got us all these beautiful plates with the show’s title around the edge, so I’ve got one of those on display too.

Any other notable pieces?

Jodie Whittaker gave me a beautiful lamp with a large, round bulb while we were working on Doctor Who – I played Yasmin Khan, the Doctor’s companion. The bulb has since burned out and I can’t replace it right now, but the lamp means more than just being a light source. Whenever I look at it, I’m reminded of the show and of Jodie herself.

I have a really lovely piece of fan art in my kitchen. It’s an engraving of Jodie and me from the final scene of Doctor Who, done on cork.

You reunited with Jodie to do Doctor Who audio dramas. How was that?

Honestly, it’s just been fantastic revisiting characters I absolutely love and working with such a brilliant, fun team. The best part is, because it doesn’t rely on big location shoots, the stories can really go anywhere! Plus, it’s audio, so no memorizing lines – amazing! And the cherry on top? I got to spend three days recording with one of my closest friends. We really built on the connection between the Doctor and Yas, which I know a lot of fans – including me – really loved and appreciated.

The TV show you’re currently working on, Cooper & Fry, is based on Stephen Booth’s detective novels set in the Peak District. It features a unique pair of detectives. Do you enjoy reading yourself?

I began reading self-help books as an adult, and people seemed concerned, asking if I was alright. Now I prefer what I call ‘comforting books’ – still self-help, but with a more positive and gentle approach. I especially love ‘The Comfort Book’ by Matt Haig, and I enjoy reading a small section each day. I also really get absorbed in novels where the characters feel authentic, like ‘Death at the White Hart’ by Chris Chibnall, which I’m close to finishing, and ‘The Girl on the Train’ by Paula Hawkins.

We’ve turned the first four books into films, each around two hours long. I play the character Diane Fry, and Rob James-Collier plays Ben Cooper. While they investigate cases in different ways, both characters are private people dealing with personal struggles. Despite this, they’re dedicated to their jobs and genuinely care about others.

What makes it more than just another detective show?

Do you like the countryside?

I grew up in Leeds and stayed there until I was around twelve or thirteen, then my family moved to the suburbs. For the last ten years, I’ve been living in London, though I’ve also spent some time in Cardiff. I definitely consider myself a city person – I love being around people, I’m curious about what everyone’s up to, and I thrive on the energy of a busy, lively environment.

You’ve never played a villain. Why is that?

People don’t usually think of me as someone who could play a villain, but I’d really enjoy the chance. I definitely feel like I have the ability to portray an evil character.

Doctor Who is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Read More

2025-11-28 20:06