A new leading man will be joining Doctor Who later this year. Samuel Anderson will play a teacher who may fulfill a role that hasn’t been filled in 50 years.
Way back in 1963, two teachers from Coal Hill School found themselves traveling through time and space with a mysterious man called The Doctor, and his granddaughter Susan, who was their pupil.

When Doctor Who returns later this year, that arrangement may be revived. The BBC announced that Samuel Anderson will be a recurring character named Danny Pink, who, just like Clara Oswin (Jenna Coleman), is a teacher at Coal Hill School.
“I was so excited to join Doctor Who I wanted to jump and click my heels, but I was scared I might not come down before filming started!”, Anderson told the BBC. “It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honor to be able to work alongside Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and I can’t wait to show people how my character becomes involved with such a fantastic duo!”
Anderson has been seen in The History Boys and the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey.

However, executive producer and lead writer Stephen Moffat hasn’t revealed how Pink will be joining Clara and the Doctor. Moffat is currently producing the fourth episode, which will feature Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones) and episode five, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch), and Pippa Bennett-Warner.

If Danny and Clara do become the new “Ian and Barbara”, why not have William Russell, who played Ian, make a cameo, or tell them his experiences with the Doctor. That would be quite a connection.

Coal Hill has been featured before in “Remembrance of the Daleks” and “Day of the Doctor” (where it was revealed Clara had joined the faculty).

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