{"id":53759,"date":"2024-06-24T20:00:59","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2060640"},"modified":"2024-06-24T22:56:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T20:56:55","slug":"doctor-who-showrunner-almost-dropped-susan-foreman-reference","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-showrunner-almost-dropped-susan-foreman-reference\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who showrunner almost dropped Susan Foreman reference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Backstories are “the name of the game”, according to Russell T Davies. <\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 24 June 2024 at 18:00 PM<\/p>

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Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has said that he would have \u201cdropped\u201d all mention of original companion Susan Foreman<\/a> from his two-part season 14 finale if executives involved in the show expressed doubts.<\/p>\n

As the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and his allies attempt to identify the mysterious Susan Triad (Susan Twist), they address the possibility that she could be a regenerated Susan Foreman<\/a> \u2013 his granddaughter, first played by Carole Ann Ford.<\/p>\n

It was the second mention of the classic character, following a brief name-drop in The Devil\u2019s Chord<\/a>, where the Doctor concluded that she most likely perished in the genocide of the Time Lords.<\/p>\n

In the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine<\/a> \u2013 out now \u2013 showrunner Davies has discussed his repeated references to the legacy character, revealing that they certainly weren\u2019t a red line when it came to script revisions.<\/p>

\u201cIf my bosses had said, \u2018What the hell are you on about?\u2019 I would have dropped it in a second, but actually they loved it,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey were interested in it, \u2018Ooh, what\u2019s this?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople respond to good backstories \u2013 like they responded to an invented Time War, in 2005. It\u2019s the name of the game these days. So that\u2019s when it really got rich. And this was before we\u2019d cast Susan Twist<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

The identity of Susan Twist, now known to be a herald of powerful villain Sutekh<\/a> (returning from 1975\u2019s Pyramids of Mars<\/a>), was a point of speculation for many weeks, with Davies originally teasing that her repeated appearances were mere coincidence.<\/p>\n

\"Black-and-white\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman and William Hartnell as The Doctor for Doctor Who.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Radio Times<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Now, we know the reverse is true \u2013 as if there was ever any doubt!<\/p>\n

Davies continued: \u201cI was already saying to the production team, \u2018You must cast Susan,\u2019 because she\u2019s a brilliant actress, but also\u2026 that name is fascinating, isn\u2019t it? Susan Twist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d tucked that away in a corner of my mind, thinking, \u2018Imagine if we did a twist around Susan.\u2019 So it just came together. It\u2019s so mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE ONE WHO WAITS\u2026 WAITS NO MORE\ud83d\ude31\u23f3 \u2b50\ufe0fHappy new issue day!\ud83d\udef8 Issue 605 is out NOW as EMPIRE OF DEATH approaches\u2026 \ud83d\udca5 Get issue 605: https:\/\/t.co\/i3HXQHIeUr<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/AfHWOw1y4J<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Doctor Who Magazine (@DWMtweets) June 20, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>