{"id":52705,"date":"2024-06-05T14:57:32","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T12:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2051920"},"modified":"2024-06-05T16:49:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T14:49:33","slug":"doctor-who-icon-carole-ann-ford-shares-moving-tribute-to-william-russell-i-cherished-working-with-him","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-icon-carole-ann-ford-shares-moving-tribute-to-william-russell-i-cherished-working-with-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who icon Carole Ann Ford shares moving tribute to William Russell: \u201cI cherished working with him\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ian Chesterton actor died aged 99. <\/p>

By Louise Griffin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 05 June 2024 at 12:57 PM<\/p>

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Following the death of Doctor Who<\/a> legend William Russell<\/a>, his co-star and fellow Who icon Carole Ann Ford<\/a> has shared a moving tribute.<\/p>\n

Russell, who starred as schoolteacher Ian Chesterton, died on 3rd June 2024 at the age of 99, with tributes pouring in<\/a> from his co-stars, friends and fans.<\/p>\n

Ford starred alongside Russell as Susan Foreman<\/a>, the Doctor\u2019s granddaughter and the first ever Doctor Who companion.<\/p>\n

Following the news of his death, she told RadioTimes.com<\/a>: \u201cRuss was such a dear, lovely man, an outstanding actor who was dedicated to his craft, but with a wonderful sense of humour and a permanent twinkle in his eye.<\/p>\n

\"Carole\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cHe was always looking out for me when I played Susan \u2013 I wanted to leap over things, fight the villains and do more action, and he got so worried that I would get hurt! I cherished working with him, and the many reunions we had over the years.<\/p>\n

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\u201cRuss had such a rich and full life \u2013 television, films, theatre, the lot \u2013 and quite rightly received such warmth and affection from everyone who knew him. He will be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ford and Russell made their Doctor Who debuts in An Unearthly Child<\/a>, the first ever story, alongside William Hartnell<\/a>, who famously played the First Doctor, and Jacqueline Hill, who played Barbara Wright.<\/p>\n

\"William\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
William Russell as Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Both later reprised their roles, with Russell appearing as Ian in Jodie Whittaker\u2019s final episode, The Power of the Doctor. His return earned him a Guinness World Record for the longest gap between TV appearances.<\/p>\n

Current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies is also among those to have paid tribute to Russell following his death.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWhat a sad loss, William played the Doctor\u2019s very first companion, Ian Chesterton, back in 1963.<\/p>\n

\u201cA schoolteacher, trapped on the TARDIS by a wily old Doctor, unable to get home, whisked off to the Stone Age, Skaro, the Crusades, planet of the Zarbi\u2026 Wonderful!<\/p>\n

\"William\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
William Russell as Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cA fine, nimble, witty, heartfelt actor who absolutely sold the truth of those early years. Before that, he\u2019d been Sir Lancelot on the BBC; it\u2019s often undersold what a star booking he was for Doctor Who. He later went on to marry Rita Fairclough as Ted Sullivan on Coronation Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the photo, I bumped into him on a train in 2018! I was star-struck! He spoke with so much pride and joy about his son, Alfred Enoch, who I\u2019d seen in King Lear at the Royal Exchange. Absolutely lovely man. A fine, long life. Well done, sir, well played.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Others paying tribute included Seventh Doctor star Sylvester McCoy, who\u00a0posted on Twitter<\/a>, which has been rebranded as X: \u201cRIP William Russell. We lived near each other and I\u2019d bump into him. He always gave me a beautiful generous smile of welcome. Sadly no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile,\u00a0Katy Manning<\/a>, who played Jo Grant in the series, added in her own post: \u201cThis beautiful funny gentle man\u2026 So grateful to have known him my heartfelt thoughts to his wife Etheline & dear family.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n

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