Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Dr Who is to get a Buffy-style female sidekick when he makes his TV return.

The time-travelling Doctor has had a succession of glamorous female companions over the years.

But his new sidekick will be a modern action heroine, according to writer Russell T Davies.

Davies has been tasked by the BBC with reviving the sci-fi classic and the new series is due in 2005.

And he says shows like Buffy, featuring a butt-kicking Sarah Michelle Gellar, have raised viewers’ expectations of female characters.

"A screaming girly companion is unacceptable now," he told TV Times. "I don’t mean in terms of women’s rights - dramatically, we’ve got Buffy the Vampire Slayer now, so a screaming girly companion would be laughed out of the room."

Davies also plans to make other changes to bring the new Dr Who up to date. The Tardis will stay - but the Daleks may be under threat.

"I love the Daleks, but I wouldn’t load the series with lots of old monsters. We want to make brand new ones," Davies said.

The search is still on for an actor to play the new Dr Who. Alan Davies, Eddie Izzard, Stephen Fry and Richard E Grant have all been linked to the role.