Karen Gillan, the actress chosen to play Doctor Who’s new assistant has revealed that she didn’t even tell her mum she’d got the part at first because she was sworn to secrecy by the BBC.

It was announced just last month that the relatively unknown Scottish actress would play the coveted role but she had to keep her exciting news under wraps until the official announcement was made.

She told the BBC, “I found out a couple of weeks before and I had to keep it a secret from everyone, especially my mum. I didn’t want to lumber her with the news and tell her to keep it a secret.”

And it seems Karen’s mum is a huge fan of the show; “She absolutely loves it.” Karen said, adding, “She even has a Tardis money box!”

Karen’s been in the show once already when she had a role in the Fire of Pompeii episode and it appears it was this that persuaded Doctor Who bosses that she’d be right for the role. Head writer and Executive Producer Steven Moffat said, “We saw some amazing actresses for this part, but when Karen came through the door the game was up.

“Funny, and clever, and gorgeous, and sexy. Or Scottish, which is the quick way of saying it.

“A generation of little girls will want to be her. And a generation of little boys will want them to be her too.”

Bless.