Coal Hill School provides another new regular for The Doctor.

Samuel Anderson (The History Boys, Gavin & Stacey, Emmerdale) is set to join the cast of Doctor Who series 8 as a recurring character.

The BBC One sci-fi series, will introduce Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor, and see Anderson play Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School where companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) also teaches. 

On joining the show Samuel Anderson said: ‘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! It’s a quintessential part of British culture and I can’t believe I’m part of it. It’s an honour 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!’

Steven Moffat, lead writer and executive producer, added: ‘For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS. In 1963 teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright accompanied the First Doctor. These days it’s the turn of Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. And very soon now, Sam Anderson as Danny Pink will be entering the world of the Doctor. But how and why? Answers are coming later this year in Peter Capaldi’s first series of Doctor Who!’ 

Episode 4 of the new series is currently filming and will co-star Robert Goodman (Gangs of New York, Game of Thrones). Episode 5 will co-star Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch), and Pippa Bennett-Warner (The Smoke).

Doctor Who returns to BBC One later in the year.