{"id":24378,"date":"2022-10-23T22:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-10-23T20:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1726488"},"modified":"2022-10-23T22:38:46","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T20:38:46","slug":"doctor-whos-classic-companions-on-their-return-it-was-a-total-joy","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-whos-classic-companions-on-their-return-it-was-a-total-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who\u2019s classic companions on their return: \u201cIt was a total joy\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Patrick Mulkern\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 23 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The Power of the Doctor has finally revealed its secrets and, for some of us, it\u2019s been a challenge to keep the lid on them during the past year. As well as the returning Doctors, fans are treated to a delightful meeting of what could be called \u201cCompanions Anonymous\u201d.<\/p>\n

Alongside the Time Lord\u2019s many friends already seen in the BBC centenary special, suddenly we\u2019re in the presence of three other luminaries from Doctor Who<\/a>\u2019s distant past as William Russell, Katy Manning and Bonnie Langford<\/a> return for a very special but fleeting cameo, filmed in Cardiff in autumn 2021.<\/p>\n

Katy Manning loved the experience: \u201cI was bundled into a car and driven to Wales,\u201d she tells RadioTimes.com<\/a> in October 2022. \u201cIt was a total joy for me, such a very special, heart-warming feeling being around the Who family from all eras!\u201d<\/p>

Having broken hearts as Jo Grant in the 1970s with Jon Pertwee\u2019s Doctor, she returned as the married Jo Jones in The Sarah Jane Adventures<\/a> in 2010. \u201cI know from that how daunting it can be, but also how exciting it is returning years later and maturing your character.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was thrilled to meet the current stars Mandip Gill, Bradley Walsh<\/a> and John Bishop<\/a>, as well as Jodie Whittaker, who came on set to watch the filming. \u201cJodie was very smiley and hug-y. New members of the Who family love meeting us older ones, as we do the younger ones. I really am Great-Granny Jo now,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n

As this scene reflects, the former stars of Doctor Who belong to a select club. Even if they didn\u2019t appear on screen together back in the day, they\u2019ve forged strong bonds across decades on the fan-convention circuit and making audio dramas for Big Finish. \u201cSeeing Bonnie and William again was such a delight,\u201d says Katy. And she\u2019s pleased to see her dear friends Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred earning a proper comeback as Tegan and Ace<\/a>. \u201cJanet and Sophie are marvellous \u2013 making me and many Who fans everywhere very happy,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n

Bonnie Langford last appeared as Mel alongside Sylvester McCoy\u2019s Doctor in 1987 and, if rumours are true, she could well resurface for a bigger role in forthcoming episodes<\/a> under returning showrunner Russell T Davies.<\/p>\n

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Anneke Wills as Polly and Michael Craze as Ben in the TARDIS. Photographed by Don Smith. Radio Times Archive, 1966.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Many of the Doctor\u2019s other early companions were flung off into time and space, but a few should still be alive and well in England and in need of Companions Anonymous. Anneke Wills, who played Polly in the 1960s, tells\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/strong> that she was invited to join this happy reunion but was unavailable that day. \u201cI heard it was quite brief so I\u2019m glad I stayed and did my brambles instead.\u201d Anneke has a beautiful garden to maintain at her home in irresistible rural surroundings on the edge of Dartmoor.<\/p>\n

William Russell starred as Ian Chesterton in the original Doctor Who cast of 1963, and left in 1965. Now a venerable 97, he was able to speak briefly from his home in London. \u201cHello, Radio Times!\u201d he calls joyfully down the telephone line. He relished being driven to Cardiff, \u201cdashing about, then going into the room and enjoying pleasurable conversations with the others\u201d. He\u2019s chuffed to be back in Doctor Who after 57 years and is looking forward to seeing the centenary special. As for the future of Doctor Who\u2026? \u201cI think it will grow.\u201d So says the man who was right there at the beginning nearly 60 years ago\u2026<\/p>\n

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Read more about Doctor Who:<\/strong><\/p>\n