Doctor Who: Danny Pink Confirmed As New Male Companion, Introduced In Clip From Into The Dalek

The BBC has released a new clip from this week’s episode of Doctor Who, “Into the Dalek.”

The clip is our introduction to Danny Pink, played by Samuel Anderson. The actor has also confirmed in an interview in TV Guide (via Nerdist) that Pink will indeed by a new male companion, travelling with the Doctor.

Doctor Who fans have expected Pink to follow in the footsteps Mickey Smith and Rory Williams in becoming a new male companion since he was announced as a recurring Series 8 character in February, but Anderson’s interview is the first confirmation of that rumor.

“I thought, ‘That’s great; that’s easy money for me,’” Anderson says. “I’m the specialist at one-off roles. I texted Jenna when I got the job, and she texted back, ‘A-A-A-A-A-ugh, this is big.’ And I didn’t really know what she meant. Then she wrote, ‘I’ll call you in five minutes.’ And when she called, I heard just a big scream and ‘You’re in the whole story!’”

As seen in the clip below, Pink will meet Clara as a new co-worker at her school, where his supervisor introduces him as a “ladies man.” He’ll remain a co-worker and friend at first, but soon learns of her adventures with the Doctor and decides to join in them.

Pink’s character is described as having a dark past that leads him into conflict with the Doctor at times.

“[The Doctor] wants to make sure Clara is always taken care of,” star Peter Capaldi says. “And he’s not really sure that Danny’s the right person to be doing that because of his past.”

“Danny’s so lovable,” says Jenna Coleman. “He’s so laid-back. He’s a good counterpart to her uptight, control-freak nature. He brings her back to earth, literally and theoretically.”

Samuel Anderson will make his debut as Danny Pink in this week’s episode of Doctor Who, “Into the Dalek,” airing Saturday, August 30 on BBC America.