When Samuel Anderson got the call that he had been hired for “Doctor Who,” he was expecting to appear in just a few episodes.
Then Jenna Coleman, who plays The Doctor’s companion Clara Oswald in the BBC America series, texted her 32-year-old friend and former “Emmerdale” co-star: “A-A-A-A-A-A-ARGH! I’m going to call you in a minute. This is big news.”
“I was still like, ‘What the hell is she on about?'” Anderson said during a recent phone chat. “She was the first one who told me it was bigger than a one-off; ‘No, no, no, it’s a lot more than that and be prepared.'”
Anderson plays Danny Pink, a former Army soldier and “everyman” who now works as a math teacher. In the Aug. 30 episode, “Into the Dalek,” Clara and Danny met (See video at bottom of page). In “Listen,” airing at 8 p.m. Sept. 13, they go on their first date that, despite its awkwardness, leads to others.
“To quote Jenna, he’s the perfect boyfriend,” Anderson said, laughing. “I didn’t say that, I just acted it.”
But there’s much more to Danny than being the “companion’s companion.” Coleman wasn’t exaggerating when she told Anderson how important the role was. In “Listen,” Danny, Clara and a man called Orson Pink change The Doctor’s future in an unexpected way. As River Song would say, “Spoilers!” I shall reveal no more about the episode.
But as fans already know, the “Listen” storyline isn’t the only instance in which Anderson’s character ties into the mythos of “Doctor Who.” Coal Hill School, where Danny and Clara teach, was the setting for the very first episode of “Doctor Who” in 1963 and has popped up throughout the series’ history.
Danny’s military past also could drop him into the mix of the greater “Who” mythology. Was he a member of the classic Doctor who allies U.N.I.T. that was set up to combat threats to Earth?
Anderson didn’t want to provide too many details on the subject, but said “it would be a bit of a waste” for the writers to make Danny an ex-soldier and not use that military background in some way.
“Man, I’m getting good at this keeping secrets thing,” he joked, adding more seriously. “But it’s a really tough and risky subject the guys [writers] chose to address with ‘Who,’ actually. [Danny’s] is a difficult past; anyone who has been to war will tell you how hard it is.”
According to Anderson, Danny’s past gives him the tools to help The Doctor, played by newcomer Peter Capaldi, who is questioning whether he is a good man.
“He’s the guy who puts the questions forth, throws them at The Doctor,” Anderson said of Danny. “They definitely get to shine a mirror on each other. They get to question each other, especially when it comes to what is good and what is bad.”
Anderson talked more about Danny, how he became a Whovian, and his burgeoning talent playing the trumpet.
EXTRA: Watch a preview for “Listen”
How does it feel to be joining the smaller list of male companions?
It’s great. A male companion, I am not sure that is the correct description—I’m the companion’s companion! But I’m joining—I don’t know, can we even argue with it being one of the baddest TV shows at the moment? It’s incredible.
Were you a fan when you were growing up?
I caught it during the ’80s. I was a fan. My dad is a massive sci-fi fan so it was on. I think that was probably what sparked his fascination with science fiction.
But really and truly I’ve become a fan since becoming part of the show. It’s solely for the fact that I’d caught it now-and-again as an adult because the majority of the time life gets in your way. You’ve got to be at work, you’ve got to be doing to this, that or the other. Since the very first read-through, I was a Whovian instantly.
Did working with Jenna on “Emmerdale” make your introduction to “Doctor Who” easier?
Yeah. I had to actually audition with her. I was told I needed to go and do a chemistry read and that it would be with Jenna Louise Coleman. It took a hell of a lot of the pressure off the thought of going in for an audition. It was like, “OK, that’s someone I had a beer with before.” It makes it a lot easier.
Did they let her tell you that you got the job?
No. But she was the person who told me that it was a big deal. It was kept under wraps if you like; all I was told before auditioning is that it may become a recurring role. That’s kind of all I knew. …
Her reaction was almost scary. It’s like, “Oh wow, what have I just become a part of?” Because it’s really such a competitive industry. You’re thankful for any job you get, anything. But when someone else who is in it and you know is a big deal in it makes that much of a deal of it, you kind of go, “Hang on a minute, I haven’t been told enough about this.” I was even more stoked when I spoke to her.
Tell me about Danny. What do you think of him?
Danny’s your everyman, your every day kind of man. He’s an ex soldier who went in with the best intentions and has decided it’s not for him. He’s decided becoming a math teacher is the way forward for him. I think we learn throughout the series why that would be the case. We see him as a guy who stops to smell the roses if you like, and who appreciates the smaller things in life rather than the finer things or the more extravagant things.
I understand he has a dark past. Does that have to do with him leaving the service?
I think it’s more of a difficult past than a dark one. The audience is going to perceive it how they will, but … he definitely has a past with military experience. And we’re going to find out along the way exactly what happened.
Will his past help him out in his new adventures?
I think like anyone’s experiences in life, of course they help. As long as you learn from them they help you out.
No specifics though, huh?
We’d be insulting the writers a bit if they didn’t bring in [his] little tools and use them. I don’t think they’d use an ex soldier…
And not have him be able to do anything soldiery?
Yeah. But the funny thing is actually more on a moral level … It’s more than just him being a guy that has been to war and that tough guy image that normally comes as a soldier in TV things. It brings a lot to think about.
What does The Doctor think of Danny?
At first their introduction is so kind of quick and so unexpected. They kind of get tangled up a little bit. They’re unsure of each other. That just boils down to the situations that they’re thrown in together.
Obviously I don’t want to spoil any of it, but by the end you’ll see what they really think of each other. It becomes two guys with common interests who kind of go, “OK, we might have taken different routes to get here but you’re not so bad.”
Is that common interest taking care of Clara?
The common interest is far bigger than that. Obviously Clara is his sidekick, but this series really goes deep into like the human condition and to the struggles that we all deal with day-to-day and the bigger picture—mankind’s bigger picture—which yes is definitely Clara and yes most of the characters in there. But it’s a much bigger picture.
Would you, Sam, hang out with Danny?
That’s a good question. Ultimately it’s me so, you know, I can’t help it, I’m with him right now. But he’s probably a bit more perfect than I am. And he tends to be more consistent with his perfections. …
You know how sometimes you get that guy who just makes you look like an idiot because he is so on top of things? You just think, “Man, he never makes mistakes.” Danny can be a bit like that, but you would definitely not turn down a beer with him because of that. And you could learn some things. He’s got some very interesting stories.
He’s a math teacher. Were you good at math?
I was good at everything in math apart from fractions, converting fractions into decimal points and things like that. That did throw me in school.
The Doctor asks Clara if he is a good man and I’m going to ask you that question: Is The Doctor a good man?
Oh man, I don’t think there’s much of an argument to it. … It’s a brilliant bit of writing on Steven Moffat’s part because I don’t think you can be a good man without asking that question. I’m going to put it like that. I’ve only just thought of that one. … I think we all question these things. You get to a certain age when it matters. So it’s imperative for him to question it.
And do I think he’s a good man?
Well, he’s got millions and millions of fans, he must be doing something OK. His intentions are admirable. I like him. Me, personally, I can’t say yes or no is he good or is he bad, but personally, for me, yeah he’s an absolute hero. He’s an absolute hero. You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but this guy has done a good job of pleasing most of them most of the time, every Saturday.
He also says he’s made many mistakes and it’s about time he does something about that. Are we going to see that happen this season?
We’re going to see the effort and we’re going to see him pushed to make extra effort. And I think with him being such a heroic figure and this Danny Pink character coming in and being such an everyday man who has done things out on the battlefield and has seen things, I think we’re going to see him question himself quite a bit more throughout this year.
Is Danny going to be a moral compass for The Doctor?
They get to question each other. … It’s a very deep thing that [the writers] get in here. It’s beyond a good and evil thing. It’s like, “OK, which is the direction we should be taking? Is there a greater good?” [long pause] It’s a tough one. These interviews have puzzled me. They get me thinking.
It’s hard probably for you because you can’t reveal too much stuff.
I can’t, no. And then you want to start waxing lyrical and I know once I start saying things and then the BBC will never talk to me. No, I’m joking. It’s not even that, I don’t want to say anything. These things are all there for the audience to discover. That’s why we put them together. It’s a big old magic trick, isn’t it?
Did you have any favorite foes you faced this season?
The funny thing is a lot of this season is about battling with yourself. A lot of it is about that. Like it’s very internal. But in terms of what’s on the surface, Episode 6 is a good one. It’s a very, very good one. [The Skovox Blitzer is introduced and Danny and The Doctor may finally meet in “The Caretaker,” airing Sept. 27.]
To be honest, they all bring something that is very internal. This is a very clever series when it comes to that.
I enter with the Daleks. I don’t think it gets bigger than that. Everyone knows the Daleks are the bad guys. They might not be able to go up and down stairs but, you know…
Well, they float.
They’re bad.
Did you expect it to be so like internal and so much heavy stuff?
No, but when you sit back and look at the people who are writing and the guys involved, it has to be. For a show to be this good it’s more of an onion than a pancake. It’s got to be layered. There’s a reason it stood the test of time. There’s a reason it’s shown all over the world.
It’s good on so many levels. It appeals to kids four/five years old just like this hero figure and aliens and explosions and things, the brilliant music that adds intensity to scenes and stuff. But then it appeals to adults who have gone through certain stressors and struggles in their lives and you kind of go, “Wow, I’ve dealt with this” or “I’m dealing with this at the moment” or “I’m debating this in my head at the moment.”
So yeah, when you know the show’s that big you kind of understand there must be something going on underneath.
What’s the deal with Coal Hill School and it being a recurring thing in The Doctor’s history?
I think it’s something everybody likes a bit of nostalgia and I think it’s a bit of a high-five to the past—two of the original companions taught at Coal Hill School. And it helps place something or someone that really has no place. The guy can be anywhere in time and space whenever and I suppose it helps, it’s a useful tool to say this is where we are, we’re back in London and this school is here; we’re back in this specific area of London. And I mean The Doctor … is a hero of high intellect so maybe it has something to do with it being in the school and whatnot.
You said your dad was a sci-fi fan. Was he excited about your new job?
Of course. My folks are into most things that I do. They’re very supportive. They’d have a party whatever I was doing. They do their best to try and make out like it’s not a big deal; like it would be cool if you did anything. But yeah I know my dad, he loves his sci-fi.
Did you take him on set?
He’s been to set, he’s been to the Doctor Who Experience. That was one of the best moments for me with him giving me his whole history on it and what he likes and why he likes it and just thinking, “Wow, my story ties in with so many of the things that you’re saying and so many of the things that got you into sci-fi and I can’t even tell you and I cannot wait for you to see it.” He’s been on the TARDIS; he was like a smitten kid.
How is your trumpet playing?
[Laughs.] It’s improving. But there’s a long ways to go before I’m the next Louis Armstrong. [Attempts to sing “What A Wonderful World” like Armstrong.] I can’t really do the impression. I’ve got a couple of his solos down. Look out for me. That’s for sure. Keep an eye open. I can hold a tune.
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