Anita Benn

Played by Steph de Whalley

“Think of me sometimes. For Auld Lang Syne.”

First Regular Appearance

As the manager of a small yet busy London hotel, Anita makes very little time for herself outside of work, focusing primarily on her duties to her guests. However, her experience at the hotel means she has seen a lot of comings and goings and has learned not to question anything that seems too out of the ordinary – even unexplained Silurians!

Her year with the Doctor helps Anita find a newfound appreciation for the little things in life; and she learns from his example that old friends never have to be forgotten.

Character Bio

On Christmas Eve 2024, Sandringham Hotel manager Anita shows Joy Almondo to her single room for the week. Upon returning with towels, she finds that Joy has been joined in her room by the Doctor and a well-dressed Silurian! As the trio squabble over a mysterious briefcase, Anita maintains her professionalism and stows away the towels before excusing herself.

Shortly after, the Doctor finds Anita at the reception, where he asks to book Joy’s hotel room for one year and offers to help out around the hotel. Anita assigns the Doctor a variety of odd jobs, which he completes with strange yet effective results. As the year passes, Anita and the Doctor bond over sharing food, playing games, and opening-up to each other during “Chair Night” - a weekly event which takes place in the Doctor’s room. As Christmas 2025 approaches, and the time comes for the Doctor to complete his mission in the Time Hotel, he admits to Anita that she made the year amazing. As they part ways, she reminds him to visit or at least think of her sometimes, “for Auld Lang Syne”.

Of course, the Doctor remembers all his friends. Shortly after Joy took Villengard's star seed into space, Anita is visited by a member of staff from the Time Hotel with a very exciting job offer...

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