Billie Piper says she "wouldn't go back" to Doctor Who

But another popular companion from the mid-'00s, Billie Piper, has now ruled out returning to the beloved sci-fi programme.

The actress, who starred as Rose Tyler, says that she "wouldn't go back" to Doctor Who.

Responding to the suggestion in an interview with The Guardian that she could be the "new star of Doctor Who" when Jodie Whittaker leaves, the actress ruled out a return altogether.

"I wouldn’t go back," she said. "It’s a great role, but you’re away from your kids for so long.

"My experience was that you were in Wales for nine months solid. And as a job it dominates your life. It’s mainstream family viewing so you can’t really escape it. It feels like it makes you very, very famous.”

And Piper, who recently reunited with Secret Diary of a Call Girl writer Lucy Prebble for the critically-acclaimed series I Hate Suzie, added that her children have shown little interest in watching the BBC's flagship sci-fi show.

"They don’t like seeing me in Doctor Who," she explained. "And I have pushed that on them a number of times. My elder son would get very upset that I was being chased or scared or attacked, so I thought, ‘OK, this is a weird mental leap for you.’"

Piper first appeared in Doctor Who in the first episode of the New-Who era in 2005, starring as the Doctor's main companion for the first two series before returning in the final four episodes of series four.

She has since appeared in various specials, most recently to mark the series' 50th anniversary in 2013, and has also reprised her role in several spinoff audio adventures for Big Finish.

Doctor Who returns to BBC One later this year. Want something else to watch? Check out our full TV Guide.