Mandip Gill (born 5 January 1988) is an English actress and narrator. Her first television role came in 2012 when she was cast as Phoebe McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. After departing the series in 2015, Gill went on to have guest roles in Cuckoo, Doctors, The Good Karma Hospital and Casualty. In October 2017, the BBC announced that Gill had been cast as companion Yasmin Khan in the 2018 series of Doctor Who. She appeared in every episode of Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the Thirteenth Doctor, in series 11, 12 and 13 as well as a series of specials in 2022.
Early life and education Mandip Gill was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on 5 January 1988. She is of Indian Punjabi descent and is a Sikh.
Growing up on a council estate in the suburb of Middleton, where her parents owned a newsagents, she attended a primary school in the area before enrolling in Cockburn School. At fourteen, her family moved to Allerton Bywater, where she attended Brigshaw High School.
She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2009 with a BA (Hons) degree in acting.
Career Gill appeared in several theatre productions, before landing her first television role as Phoebe Jackson (later McQueen) in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Gill had attended a number of auditions for the soap in the past and she was unsure if the character of Phoebe was right for her, but after a number of callbacks, Gill was given the role. Phoebe was introduced as a homeless teenager and a friend for established character George Smith (Steven Roberts). Gill chose to leave the show in 2015 and Phoebe was killed off as part of the long-running "Gloved Hand Killer" storyline. The following year, Gill had a guest role in the BBC sitcom series Cuckoo, before appearing in Doctors for a five episode arc. Gill played Shazia Amin, a pregnant homeless woman. In 2017, Gill appeared in The Good Karma Hospital and an episode of Casualty. She also appeared in Kay Mellor's BBC drama Love, Lies and Records as Talia, a junior registrar.
In October 2017, the BBC announced that Gill had been cast in the eleventh series of Doctor Who, as a companion to the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, starting in 2018. Gill was joined by her former Hollyoaks colleague Tosin Cole, who plays Ryan Sinclair, another of the Doctor's companions. Gill continued to appear in the twelfth and thirteenth series, as well as a series of specials airing in 2022.
In May 2022, Gill made her West End theatre debut in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story.
In September 2023, Gill starred in the BBC Radio 4 afternoon drama Janey Takes Off.
In July 2024, it was announced that Gill would reprise her role as Yaz in a new series of Doctor Who audio dramas featuring the Thirteenth Doctor from Big Finish Productions alongside Jodie Whittaker, with the series set to release from 2025.
In 2026 Gill stars in Can You Keep a Secret?, a BBC sitcom starring Dawn French.
Filmography
+KeyDenotes productions that have not yet been released
Film Year Title Role Notes 2016 Rwd/Fwd Charlie Short film 2019 The Flood Reema 2020 Five Dates Shaina Interactive film with over 7 hours of filmed footage and 10 possible outcomes 2021 On Air Megan Short film 2022 Welcome to the Club Therapist Short film 2024 This Time Next Year Leila Hush Little One Maya Short film
Television Year Title Role Notes 2012–2015 Hollyoaks Phoebe McQueen Series regular; 242 episodes 2016 Cuckoo Lauren Episode: "The Holiday" Doctors Shazia Amin Recurring role; 5 episodes 2017 The Good Karma Hospital Padma Kholi 2 episodes Casualty Nasreen Mahsud Episode: "Swift Vengeance Waits" Love, Lies and Records Talia All 6 episodes 2018 Doctor Who Access All Areas Herself Guest; 10 episodes 2018–2022 Doctor Who PC Yasmin Khan Main role (series 11–13, 2022 specials); 31 episodes 2020 Alton Towers: A Rollercoaster Year Narrator Television film 2021 Comic Relief 2021 Hospital Doctor Charity sketch: "2020: The Movie" 2021–2022 A Lake District Farm Shop Narrator 11 episodes 2022 Suspicion Sonia Chopra Recurring role; 3 episodes The Snowman: The Film That Changed Christmas Narrator One-off special 2023 A Cotswolds Farm Shop 6 episodes 2024 Curfew Sarah 6 episodes 2024–2025 Big Lizard D.O.R.I.S. 50 episodes 2025 Badjelly Dinglemouse 5 episodes Cooper and Fry DC Diane Fry 4 episodes 2026 Can You Keep a Secret? PC Neha Fendon 6 episodes
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2022 Desta: The Memories Between Nila (voice)
Theatre YearTitleRole Notes 2009The Secret Life of John Cooper ClarkeJoolsNaloxone Theatre Ensemble2010Not In My NameA'ishah / HanaTheatre VeritaeRemember MeJessicaContact Theatre2010–2011Crystal KissesAlly2015Britannia Waves the RulesGoldie / Carl's MumRoyal Exchange Theatre and UK tour2016Deepa the SaintTejDark Horse Festival20222:22 A Ghost StoryJennyCriterion Theatre
Audio Year Title Role Production Notes 2023Janey Takes OffKayleighBBC Radio 42025–presentDoctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor AdventuresPC Yasmin KhanBig Finish Productions6 stories
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2018International Achievement Recognition AwardsBest Emerging ActressLove, Lies and RecordsI Talk Telly AwardsBest NewcomerDoctor WhoRadio Times's Reader AwardsBreakout Talent2019Eastern Eye's Arts Culture & Theatre AwardsPeople's Choice Award2021TweetFest Film Festival's Panel AwardsBest Actress On Air
References
External links