Mandip Gill: Biography, Career, Current Projects & Personal Life

If you have watched Doctor Who in the past few years, you will know Mandip Gill as Yasmin Khan, the loyal companion of the Thirteenth Doctor. But her career stretches far beyond time travel: from a long-running soap role to current crime dramas and audio adventures. Here is a fact-based map of her work, backed by verified sources.

Born: 5 January 1988 · First major role: Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks (2012) · Notable recent role: Yasmin Khan on Doctor Who (2018–2022) · Current series: Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry (Channel 5) · Agency: Independent Talent Group

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Born 5 January 1988 in Leeds, England (IMDb (film database))
Played Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks (2012–2015) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
Played Yasmin Khan on Doctor Who (2018–2022) (IMDb (film database))
Currently plays Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry (Independent Talent Group (official agency))

2What’s unclear

Whether she is married or has a partner – no public records found
Whether Hardeep Gill is any relation – appears to be no connection
Future projects beyond 2025 – yet to be announced

3Timeline signal

2012: First TV role as Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks
2018: Debuts as Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who series 11
2022: Leaves Doctor Who; West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story
2025: Stars as Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry; voices D.O.R.I.S. in Big Lizard

4What’s next

Can You Keep a Secret? – BBC One, starting 7 January 2026 (RadioTimes (UK TV news))
Reprises Yaz in Doctor Who audio dramas from Big Finish (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))

The pattern shows a career that moves from soap to sci-fi and then into crime drama and voice work.

Attribute	Value
Full name	Mandip Kaur Gill
Date of birth	5 January 1988
Place of birth	Leeds, England
Nationality	British
Education	BA Hons Acting, University of Central Lancashire
Notable role (soap)	Phoebe McQueen, Hollyoaks
Notable role (sci-fi)	Yasmin Khan, Doctor Who
Current TV series	Cooper and Fry (Diane Fry)
Agency	Independent Talent Group

What is Mandip Gill doing now?

Mandip Gill’s current role on Cooper and Fry

Gill plays Detective Constable Diane Fry in the Channel 5 crime drama Cooper and Fry (Independent Talent Group (official agency)).
The series pairs her with co-star Mark Benton (RadioTimes (UK TV news)).

Recent TV appearances: Can You Keep a Secret?

Gill will appear in the BBC One comedy-drama Can You Keep a Secret? alongside Dawn French, beginning 7 January 2026 (RadioTimes (UK TV news)).
She also starred in the Paramount+ thriller Curfew in 2024 (Independent Talent Group (official agency)).

The upshot

Gill’s move from Doctor Who to a lead in a grounded crime drama signals a deliberate pivot toward meatier, real-world roles after years of sci-fi.

What this means: Gill now juggles crime drama, voice work, and audio adventures, keeping her options open.

What else has Mandip Gill been in?

Hollyoaks: Phoebe McQueen

Her first television role was Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks in 2012; she remained on the soap until 2015 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Doctor Who: Yasmin Khan

Gill played Yasmin Khan (Yaz), companion to the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), from 2018 to 2022 (IMDb (film database)).
She reprised the role in a 2025 full-cast audio drama series from Big Finish (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Other TV and film credits

Guest appearances: Cuckoo, Doctors, The Good Karma Hospital, Casualty (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Film: This Time Next Year (2024) as Leila (IMDb (film database)).
Voice work: D.O.R.I.S. in Big Lizard (2024–2025) and Dinglemouse in Badjelly (2025) (IMDb (film database)).
West End: Made her stage debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story in May 2022 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

What this means: Gill built her career on a mix of long-running series and one-off guest spots, giving her a broad footprint across British TV.

What is Mandip Gill’s ethnicity and religion?

Ethnicity: British Asian of Indian Punjabi heritage

Mandip Gill is of Indian Punjabi descent (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Religion: Sikhism

She follows the Sikh faith, and her full middle name “Kaur” reflects that (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
On Instagram she clarified pronunciation: “Dip not Deep • Gill not Jill• NEVER Mandi” (Instagram (personal account)).

The implication: identity and representation have been part of her public image, especially as one of the first Sikh companions in Doctor Who.

Timeline

1988 – Born in Leeds on 5 January.
2010–2012 – Studied acting at the University of Central Lancashire (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
2012 – Cast as Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks.
2018 – Debuts as Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who series 11.
2022 – Leaves Doctor Who; West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story.
2023–2025 – Stars as Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry; appears in Can You Keep a Secret? and voice projects.

The catch

Most timeline events are drawn from Wikipedia. Cross‑check with primary sources for exact dates, especially for stage and radio work.

Confirmed vs. unclear facts

Confirmed facts

Born 5 January 1988 in Leeds.
Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks (2012–2015).
Yasmin Khan on Doctor Who (2018–2022).
Currently plays Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry.
Reprises Yaz in Big Finish audio dramas from 2025.
Appears in Can You Keep a Secret? (BBC One, Jan 2026).

What’s unclear

Marital status – no public confirmation of partner or husband.
Relation to Hardeep Gill – appears to be no connection.
Future projects beyond 2025 – only the BBC One series and audio dramas are confirmed.
Exact details of her 2022 radio drama Janey Takes Off – listed as medium confidence.

Dip not Deep • Gill not Jill• NEVER Mandi

Mandip Gill (Instagram bio)

Gill can now be seen as Diane Fry in Cooper and Fry and soon in BBC One’s Can You Keep a Secret?

Independent Talent Group (official agency profile)

For a British actor who started on a daytime soap and rose to a flagship sci‑fi series, the path ahead is not a straight line. For aspiring actors, the lesson is clear: build a varied portfolio and stay ready for the next call.

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, instagram.com, facebook.com, shannonsullivan.com, youtube.com, instagram.com, podcasts.apple.com, notiziedirette.it

Her career journey, detailed in Mandip Gills career journey, spans from Hollyoaks to Doctor Who.

Frequently asked questions

What was Mandip Gill’s first TV role?

Her first television role was Phoebe McQueen on Hollyoaks, which she played from 2012 to 2015.

How long was Mandip Gill on Doctor Who?

She played Yasmin Khan from 2018 to 2022, appearing in three series plus specials.

What is Mandip Gill’s character in Cooper and Fry?

She plays Detective Constable Diane Fry.

Does Mandip Gill have any siblings?

There is no public information about siblings.

What is Mandip Gill’s Instagram username?

Her Instagram handle is @mandipgill.

Did Mandip Gill appear in any movies?

Yes, she appeared in the 2024 film This Time Next Year as Leila.

What is Mandip Gill’s educational background?

She holds a BA Hons in Acting from the University of Central Lancashire.