“Can you just tell Russell?”

By Morgan Jeffery

Published: Thursday, 08 February 2024 at 09:00 AM


Doctor Who legend Louise Jameson has insisted she’s game for a return appearance as classic character Leela.

Jameson recently reprised the role in live-action for Leela vs the Time War, a short film made to promote the Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15 Blu-ray set.

Speaking at a BFI Southbank screening of 1977 story Horror of Fang Rock held to mark the release, Jameson suggested she wouldn’t hesitate if asked to return to the BBC sci-fi series.

“Let’s see… I’d absolutely love to do one,” she said. “I’d be back in a nanosecond.

“Can you just tell Russell [T Davies, Doctor Who showrunner]? Can somebody ask him to watch it [Leela vs the Time War]?”

Leela vs the Time War was written and executive produced by Pete McTighe, who revealed that Davies has, in fact, seen the short – and “loves it”.

Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15 showing the box art and other items contained in the collection
Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15.
BBC Studios

The film sees an older Leela escaping Gallifrey – where viewers last saw her in 1978 – during the dying days of the Time War.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the story, McTighe explained that he wanted to do something that “not only saw Leela back in action but also moved the character on a bit”.

“She can pop up anywhere [now]… who knows what she’ll do next?” he teased.

A warrior of the savage Sevateem tribe, Leela travelled in the TARDIS alongside the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) in nine stories – 40 episodes – between January 1977 and March 1978.

The next season of Doctor Who – starring Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as his latest companion Ruby Sunday – will begin airing on BBC One in May in the UK and Ireland, with Disney Plus streaming the show internationally.

Order The Collection – Tom Baker’s series on Amazon now:

Season 12

Season 14

Season 15 (pre-order now)

Season 17

Season 18

 

Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who staring into camera
BBC One

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Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 15 is available for pre-order on Amazon now. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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