Doctor Who New Companion
Bill (Pearl Mackie) will join the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in “Doctor Who” Season 10. BBC

UPDATE: 12:50 p.m. EDT — Noel Clarke has sent Pearl Mackie a direct tweet with his congratulations.

Original story: The Doctor can’t be alone for long. “Doctor Who” has already cast the Season 10 companion. BBC America announced Pearl Mackie as the new assistant, Bill, Saturday. The official Twitter account for the sci-fi series posted the first interview with the actress Sunday, and it seems she is just as excited as fans are.

“It’s been amazing. Absoluely mad,” she said during her first day of filming. “I don’t think I’ve taken it all in. But yeah, it’s been incredible. I think maybe when I get home, finally, the reality of it will sink in, and I’ll probably explode or something.”

Watch the video below:

Mackie, who is a theater actress on London’s West End, went on Twitter quickly after the announcement was made to share her enthusiasm. “I’m so excited to be the next companion on ‘Doctor Who’!” the 28-year-old wrote. “Can’t wait to join the family! Thank you for all the lovely messages!”

However, it wasn’t just fans sending her messages. Plenty of former “Doctor Who” companions welcomed her into the mix, including Season 3 assistant Freema Agyeman. The Martha Jones actress sent he best wishes to Mackie on Twitter.

Karen Gillan, who played Amy, and Noel Clarke, who played Mickey, didn’t send messages directly to Mackie, but they posted supportive tweets as well.

It sounds like Bill will be just as delightful as the previous companions. “Reading the script at the audition I thought Bill was wicked,” the actress said in a press release. “Fantastically written, cool, strong, sharp, a little bit vulnerable with a bit of geekiness thrown in — I can’t wait to bring her to life, and to see how she develops through the series.”

Unfortunately, Whovians will have to wait a while to see exactly how Bill works with the Doctor. Her first trip in the TARDIS won’t air until 2017, along with the rest of Season 10 on BBC America.

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