Doctor Who's casting director Andy Pryor is already praising the "fresh" chemistry between Peter Capaldi and new companion Pearl Mackie.

The actress was unveiled as The Doctor's latest time-travelling companion Bill last week in a short film that had the two dodging Daleks.

Chatting with RTS, Andy Pryor revealed that stage veteran Mackie won the coveted job over 50 other actors.

"There was a chemistry that felt fresh and new and different to Peter's relationship with Jenna [Coleman]," Pryor said.

"You could see Peter [Capaldi] fizzing with ideas in that audition reading and in the clip that was ultimately produced with the announcement."

Pryor continued: "What people saw in the announcement [short film] was one of the audition scenes originally.

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"I think Pearl grabbed those scenes and did something really exciting with them."

While Pearl is a veteran stage performer, Doctor Who will actually be her first major television role.

"She's a great example of somebody who proves that you don't always have to have experience to be good," Andy explained. "She's a very experienced theatre actor and has done quite a variety of theatre work. She's not naïve and she's not a pushover.

"She's one of those people that has a natural ability on camera."

doctor who pearl mackie and peter capaldipinterest
BBC America//BBC

Following BBC One's reveal, Pearl vowed to bring "a bit of attitude into the TARDIS".

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Doctor Who series ten debuts next year following a standalone Christmas special and will also be the last with Steven Moffat as showrunner - he hands over the controls of the TARDIS to Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall in 2018.

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