Doctor Who’s Gillan saves time to drop in to best friend’s wedding

The marriage venue – a non-religious temple located at the Belladrum Estate near Beauly, ten miles from Inverness – must have made her feel at home, as it bore an uncanny resemblance to the Tardis.

The 24-year-old flame-haired star was playing a supporting role for her lifelong schoolmate, Donna Milligan of Beauly who married her boyfriend of four years, RAF Lossiemouth serviceman Matthew Henderson.

She told the groom: “I wouldn’t have missed this wedding for the world.”

About 40 guests packed into the tiny chapel. Ms Gillan turned up accompanying her fellow former Charleston Academy school friend in a converted Sixties white VW caravanette with white leather seats.

Ms Gillan sported a mini-length violet-coloured dress and ankle-high black velour boots, a brown handbag accessory and a posy of yellow, whiter and violet flowers.

The two were laughing and joking all the way up the wooded lane to the temple on a hillock, to tunes played by pipe major John MacDonald of the Queens Own Highlanders Association in Inverness.

But he wasn’t tempted to drift into an excerpt from the Doctor Who theme tune: “It’s not that suited to the pipes. Anyway it’s Donna’s day,” said Ms Gillan.

The 25-minute ceremony was a humanist one with celebrant Penelope Hamilton officiating.

She said afterwards: “Karen was a star as she kept Donna relaxed as they laughed and joked all the time until the serious bit.”