Billie gets Dr Who role

Billie Piper has won the race to be Dr Who's latest assistant.

12:07 25 May 2004

Billie Piper has won the race to be Dr Who's latest assistant.

The ex-pop star will play Rose Tyler in the new version of the BBC's sci-fi classic.

"Doctor Who is an iconic show and I am absolutely thrilled to be playing the part of Rose Tyler," said the actress.

Billie shot to fame when she became the youngest solo artist in history to enter the charts at number one. In 2001 she married TV presenter Chris Evans.

But a new-look Billie has been in evidence in the last couple of years.

Making her screen debut in the "Canterbury Tales" she impressed critics. She then went on to star in the BBC2 drama "Bella and the Boys" and is currently working alongside Orlando Bloom in the film "The Calcium Kid" about a milkman turned boxer.

"It was a long, thorough search to find Billie - despite the fact that the tabloids have been touting her name for months now," said executive producer of the new series of "Dr Who" Russell Davies.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Billie is beautiful, funny and intelligent. We needed to find a unique, dynamic partner for [The Doctor] Christopher Eccleston, and Billie fits the bill perfectly. She will make an extraordinary Rose Tyler."

Filming is due to start later in the year, and producers are rumoured to have pencilled in a Christmas debut for their latest project.