6:03pm UK, Monday May 24, 2004

Billie Piper will play Doctor Who's assistant in the new BBC series.

The 21-year-old actress said she was "thrilled" to have landed the role of Rose Taylor alongside Christopher Eccleston's timelord.

180 Billie Piper watches boyd london fashion week

Billie Piper

The cult sci-fi series will be back on television next year.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "Billie is beautiful, funny and intelligent.

"We needed to find a unique, dynamic partner for Christopher Eccleston, and Billie fits the bill perfectly.

"She will make an extraordinary Rose Tyler."

Piper, married to Chris Evans, has long been linked to the role.

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

Piper follows in the footsteps of actresses such as Bonnie Langford who have played the Doctor's female sidekick over the years.

Eccleston has said Rose will be feistier than her predecessors - and may even provide a love interest.

"He's got two hearts, Doctor Who, and they can both be broken," he said recently.

Former pop star Piper has been carving out an acting career and made her debut last year in The Miller's Tale, part of the BBC's Canterbury Tales series.

She won critical acclaim in the BBC2 drama Bella and the Boys, about a young girl growing up in care.