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Lily Allen 'in talks' to become Doctor Who's assistant
With Rhys Ifans as new Time Lord?
Popstress Lily Allen is 'in talks to be Doctor Who's next assistant' according to the Sun.
A show insider told the paper: "Lily is multi-talented. She comes from more of a TV background than a musical one. After the chat show we hope she'll take over from Catherine [Tate] as Dr Who's assistant. We've talked to her and she was excited by the idea."
The source added: "Billie [Piper] used Dr Who for her transition from music to acting. We think Lily can emulate that. The great thing about the show is it's good fun but still a cool thing to be involved with. It would be perfect for Lily and she would be perfect for the show."
The Sun suggests, as has been widely rumoured, that 2008's series four will be Tennant's last outing as the good Doctor. He's off to play Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company from July to November next year, and the BBC has confirmed there will be no series five until 2010.
Regarding his possible replacement, the source said: "John Simm and Rhys Ifans have both been linked with the role. Lily would make a very cool couple with either of them."
The insider concluded: "With Lily and someone younger and edgier in the lead role it could open up the show to a new, trendier crowd."
Back in the near future, meanwhile, Tennant will meet Peter Davison's fifth incarnation of the Time Lord for a Children in Need special on Friday, 16 November. Agreeably for Who fans, Steven Moffat wrote the one-off, entitled Time Crash.
And as an Xmas treat, Kylie Minogue will play Astrid the Titanic waitress in Voyage of the Damned, an "ambitious" yule special which "follows on directly from the end of series three". ®