TIME TEAM

Varada Sethu journeys to the stars as the Doctor's fiery new companion Belinda

- STEVEN PERKINS

A plucky new companion joins the Doctor in the TARDIS as Doctor Who returns for a new series this week - but unlike a lot of her predecessors, she's not there by choice. Belinda Chandra (Andor and Annika star Varada Sethu) is an overworked nurse who's at home sleeping after a long shift when she's suddenly abducted by robots and taken to outer space – where Belinda meets the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) for the first time.

The pair are soon caught up in a fight for their lives as they attempt to discover what the robots are up to - but while the Doctor assumes Belinda will become his new partner in adventures through space and time, she just wants to go home. Here, 32-year-old Sethu tells TV&Satellite Week what it's like being the newest companion...

What can you tell us about Belinda?

She's a nurse on modern-day Earth, and I think my favourite thing about her is that she's just so confident in herself; she's very much the main character in her own plot. She's got her own values system, and she isn't afraid to stand up to the Doctor. She's very independent, and super-selfless.