Doctor Who's Bonnie Langford returned to audio dramas on two conditions (original) (raw)

Bonnie Langford gave the green light to reprising her Doctor Who character in the audio dramas only after she was granted a more substantial role than she previously had on the BBC show.

In an interview with iNews – in which the EastEnders actress promoted her new role in the West End stage show Anything Goes – Langford clarified that she only agreed to return to her role as the Doctor's companion Melanie under two conditions.

"No screaming, and please can we build her character a bit," Langford recalled.

Big Finish

Langford appeared in 20 episodes of the sci-fi series between 1986 and 1987 as Melanie, the companion to both the sixth and seventh Doctors played by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy respectively. She returned to the role in 1993 for a Children in Need charity special titled Dimensions in Time, in which Doctor Who and EastEnders crossed over.

Since then, Langford has appeared in several audio drama series alongside both Baker and McCoy, and while her character has more agency now, that wasn't always the case.

"We were at a fan convention, and one of the other companions said to me, 'But you know the companions are two-dimensional, don't you?' I was constantly seeking a more substantial role. [Melanie] just said, 'But Doctor', and screamed," Langford said.

David M. Benett//Getty Images

Langford's last on-screen appearance as Melanie came in 1987's Dragonfire. The show ran for two further seasons before halting in 1989 and subsequently being revived in 2005.

Ncuti Gatwa has been announced as the next Doctor, taking over from Jodie Whittaker. He will be joined by returning showrunner Russell T Davies. The first episodes of this new era will air in 2023, but a special is being released in October 2022 in which Whittaker's Doctor will regenerate into Gatwa's incarnation.

This special marks the show's 60th anniversary, with Davies himself teasing the return of David Tennant, while Neil Patrick Harris will be appearing in a mystery role.

Doctor Who 's next special premieres in October 2022 on BBC One in the UK. In the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on HBO Max.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Jacob is a freelance writer who specialises in narrative TV and film.

He graduated from the University of Roehampton with an MA in Journalism and has written for several publications since, including Gold Derby, Insider, and Screen Daily.

Jacob has covered major events in the world of film and TV, including numerous BAFTA ceremonies and the Cannes Film Festival, while he's also been an awards expert for several publications, including Korea's Arirang. His particular areas of interest include Star Wars, the MCU, the Oscars, and Hugh Grant.

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