In just a few days, the third season of "Doctor Who" will get an unofficial launch with the broadcast of the now annual Christmas special on BBC.

The season itself won't kick off until spring, but "The Runaway Bride" already is getting some high marks from critics for its action and dialogue, as well as its guest star, British comedienne Catherine Tate. But Tate wants more than to be just a guest star on the show ... she wants to stay forever.

"They didn't ask me and I tend not to dwell on my failures," Tate joked to the British newspaper The Sun. "It was just a fantastic job to get. It was like making an action movie. It was great, but they didn't ask me."

David Tennant, the current Doctor, also joked about how sad he was that Tate didn't become his new companion.

"An unconventional pairing, but we'd have made a great team," he said. "I'm very disappointed."

Tate is not exactly a big name in the United States, but American audiences will get a chance to see her Friday night in the second season finale of "Doctor Who," "Doomsday." She currently stars in "The Catherine Tate Show," a sketch comedy show that airs on BBC Two. The show apparently ended after three seasons, but Tate has told entertainment reporters in the past that she would like to continue the show as specials.

The season finale of "Doctor Who" airs Friday at 9 p.m. ET on SciFi Channel. The Christmas special, "Runaway Bride," airs on BBC Christmas day.