John Bishop to join Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who series 13

‘Just when I needed a doctor,’ says comedian, who recently tested positive for coronavirus

John Bishop will join the cast of Doctor Who for the programme’s 13th series. (Twitter/BBC)

John Bishop will join the cast of Doctor Who for the programme’s 13th series.

The BBC shared the news on Friday, after the airing of the New Year’s Day special “Revolution of the Daleks”.

On Twitter, Bishop shared a photo of an action figure of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor, writing: “Yep ... just when I needed a doctor. Looking forward to 2021”. The comedian announced two days prior, on 30 December, that he and his wife Melanie Bishop have tested positive for Covid-19.

On Friday, he also shared a video posted by the BBC in which his Doctor Who character, Dan, is briefly introduced.

“I have loved the last few months on set and I am looking forward to working with the brilliant team in 2021,” Bishop wrote. “Honour to join such a legendary show.”

Not much is known at this stage about Dan. According to the BBC, he “becomes embroiled in the Doctor's adventures” and – as is customary on the science fiction series – encounters “evil alien races beyond his wildest nightmares”.

On New Year’s Eve, Bishop thanked people who have shared messages of support regarding his and his wife’s coronavirus diagnoses.

“Thank you for all the messages of support regarding my recent positive Covid test,” he wrote. “I have been overwhelmed and moved by the amount of messages privately and publicly. Every day we are getting a little stronger and I will be back at work in Jan. Keep safe and Happy New Year.”

In his first message about the diagnosis, Bishop called Covid-19 “the worst illness I have ever had” and said he had suffered “debilitating headaches, muscle joint and even skin pain, dizziness, nausea, no appetite, incredibly chronic fatigue”.

“My wife and I are fit non smokers and it’s flattened us,” he added. “I don't wish this on anyone.”

Doctor Who’s 13th series is set to air in 2021.