Doctor Who companion awarded honorary fellowship

One of Doctor Who's companions has returned to her former university to receive an honorary fellowship.

Mandip Gill, who studied at the University of Central Lancashire between 2006 and 2009, has been recognised for her significant contribution to acting.

She played Yasmin Khan for three series of the long-running BBC show alongside the 13th Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, and fellow companion Bradley Walsh.

"It’s an absolute honour to be recognised for my career," she said.

Gill added: "Everyone does their degree and you go off and hope that you get work after, so it just feels like an honour to celebrate something I absolutely love and have worked so hard towards."

During her time on the show, she won several awards, including the Breakout Talent prize in the 2018 Radio Times Readers' Awards.

Gill's professional career started with several theatre productions.

In 2012 she landed her first major television role in Channel 4’s weekday soap opera Hollyoaks, portraying Phoebe McQueen.

A decade later, and following her time in Doctor Who, she returned to the stage and made her West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story at the Criterion Theatre, where she played the lead role of Jenny.

Gill added: "Over the years I have repeatedly talked about the importance of my education on my career.

"I can honestly say without the University of Central Lancashire it would have been a very different journey into the business."

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