One of the interesting things about the return of Doctor Who that we in North America might not appreciate is that going into the new series, the best known face to be associated isn’t the actor playing the Doctor this time, but the companion. At least in the UK, as in North American Christopher Eccleston is better known. In the UK, Billie Piper is a constant topic of British tabloids - the example shown here being a front page headline of the fact that she did a new photoshoot for a Men’s Magazine (which we mentioned in an earlier blog entry).

That’s not to say that Christoper Eccleston isn’t also a well-known actor in the UK - he is. But its arguable that his profile in the UK is going to increase because of his involvement in the new series of Doctor Who, whereas Billie Piper’s profile is set to continue at the torrid pace it has been at since she first had a #1 single 7 years ago at the tender age of 15.

Indications are that Rose will be more of an equal to the Doctor than any other companion in the show’s history, and rumours have it that for the first time either the name or face of Billie Piper is even in the title sequence for the new series, which, if true would be a first for a companion.