BBC Offers First Look At Doctor Who's New "Companions" in World Cup Halftime Teaser

Incoming time lord Jodie Whittaker was seen with her new trio of friends in the 50-second teaser.

Doctor Who fans across the world got their first glimpse of the Time Lord’s new companions in a specially-filmed preview of the new series, due to air this Fall on BBC America.

The 50 second teaser debuted during the halftime time break of the World Cup Final between France and Croatia, being shown in the U.K. on BBC One. 

Last summer, the BBC used another major sporting event, Wimbledon, to announce the first ever woman to play Doctor Who’s leading role, Jodie Whittaker. The actress was already familiar to U.K. audiences for her role in ITV’s Broadchurch, coincidentally written by new Doctor Who showrunner, Chris Chibnall.

Whovians, as fans love to call themselves, were treated to seeing the new Doctor’s new “friends” (a term the new production team seem to be favouring over the more well-established “companions”) in action during the World Cup Final preview.

Seemingly now adopting Flash-like super-powers, the Doctor (Whittaker) swooshed in and around Bradley Walsh (Law & Order U.K.), Tosin Cole (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Mandip Gill as new characters Graham, Ryan and Yasmin respectively. With no dialogue present, Whittaker’s Time Lord stole a sausage from Ryan’s breakfast, swapped Graham’s newspaper for The Beano (a children’s comic and another U.K. institution) and replaced a missing pizza for Yasmin – all oblivious to the Doctor's presence and actions. The brief preview ended with Whittaker smiling to camera.

Sadly, for Whovians, there was no first look at the Doctor’s iconic time-traveling ship, the TARDIS, which is also expected to undergo a regeneration with its leading lady.

For more footage from the forthcoming series itself, all eyes now turn to San Diego Comic Con where a special Doctor Who panel, featuring Whittaker and Chibnall, will take place later this week.

Series 11 of the show will open with a feature-length episode followed by nine 50 min eps in the fall on BBC America. Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) is head writer and executive producer whilst Matt Strevens (Tin Star) and Sam Hoyle (Broadchurch) are the executive producers for BBC Studios, and Ben Irving (Paddington, Paddington 2) is the executive producer for BBC One. BBC Studios are the international distributors.

Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC America co-production.