A new companion may be in store for the Doctor in series 8. Samuel Anderson has joined the cast of Doctor Who as recurring character, Danny Pink, in the new season.

Like the Doctor’s (Peter Capaldi) current companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), Pink is a teacher at Coal Hill School. Other character details have yet to be released but perhaps he will be following in the footsteps of Rory Williams and Mickey Smith as the companion’s guy back home who eventually joins the Doctor’s traveling team.

Doctor Who’s lead writer and executive producer, Steven Moffat, points out Pink’s connection with a bit of the show’s history. “For the fourth time in Doctor Who history, Coal Hill School is coming to the aid of the TARDIS,” he said. “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.”

New Doctor means new clothes. The Twelfth Doctor is getting into the Whovian swing of things by choosing an outfit all his own. BBC America has released the first image of Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi in what will likely be his signature costume.

At first glance, Calpaldi’s look is old school with a bit of modern flair. While there is no bowtie or extra long scarf or Converse shoes to stand out, the clothes do fit the man. As Capaldi said, “He’s woven the future from the cloth of the past. Simple, stark, and back to basics. No frills, no scarf, no messing, just 100 per cent Rebel Time Lord.”

Of course all Whovians know that the Doctor’s outfit usually has a story behind it but fans will have to wait until later this year to learn how and why the Twelfth Doctor picked his costume. The specifics of the outfit, according to BBC America, are: a dark blue Crombie coat with red lining, dark blue trousers, a white shirt and black Doc Marten shoes.