Former Doctor Who companion 'returning for guest appearance'

A former Doctor Who companion from the 1980s is returning to the time-travelling BBC adventure show for a guest appearance planned for 2024, it has been reported. Bonnie Langford played Mel Bush alongside the sixth and seventh Doctors Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy from 1986 to 1987.

The actress, who also starred in EastEnders, was last seen featured in a Children in Need Doctor Who/EastEnders special called Dimensions in Time in 1993. And the 58-year-old is due to star with incoming Doctor Ncuti Gatwa as showrunner Russell T Davies returns to the long-running programme, the Mirror reports.

Langford, who found fame in Just William, has appeared in several audio versions of Doctor Who for Big Finish. And Russell T Davies, who was the original reboot producer in 2005, is known to be a fan of Langford.

Last year it emerged that, as a 14-year-old, he wrote a script for Baker and assistant Mel which he discovered in his loft during lockdown, and had hoped to resurrect.

Speaking on a podcast, Langford said: “I don't know what it's like or what it's about but he's emailed me and said, 'Would you do it?' I said, 'Yes, absolutely'. It's just so fascinating.”

Since then Russell has re-signed as show-runner, taking over from departing boss Chris Chibnall. It is not clear whether Langford’s return will be linked to this particular story or not.

Mel bowed out of her TV role with the 1987 story Dragonfire. Nearly thirty years on, Langford won awards for her portrayal of Carmel Kazemi in EastEnders for three years from 2015. Current Doctor Jodie Whittaker will make her exit following her five-year stint in the TARDIS later this month, with a regeneration scene expected at the end.

Previous companions from the 'classic era' of Doctor Who Sophie Aldred (who played Ace from 1987 to 1989) and Janet Fielding (who played Tegan from 1981 to 1984 ) are due to appear in this month's special.

Sex Education star Ncuti has been unveiled by the BBC as the next Doctor, but it is not yet clear who Whittaker will regenerate into as David Tennant and Catherine Tate are returning for a set of specials to run next year.

They will be joined by other retro favourites including Bernard Cribbins, who returned to film scenes as Wilfred Mott before his death earlier this year.