All signs seem to indicate that returning showrunner Russell T. Davies is taking Doctor Who into another golden age by modernizing the long-running sci-fi series in all the ways that matter to today’s entertainment landscape. But fortunately for classic Who fans, the effort hasn’t made the acclaimed director forget about all the things that came before.
We’re talking about a time that precedes even Christopher Eccleston’s 9th incarnation. This is when Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy piloted the TARDIS across time and space, alongside companions who fought side-by-side with the Doctor for the sake of Earth and the universe at large.
Per an official press release, Davies is bringing back Bonnie Langford to portray Mel Bush, the companion to the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. The actress previously returned for a cameo in “The Power of the Doctor,” in a scene where older companions came together to talk about their adventures and cope with being left behind.
Well, at least one of them is leaving that group therapy behind by making an epic comeback in season 14, and we couldn’t be more excited to learn that it’s the spirited Melanie Bush.
Davies himself commented on Mel’s return by saying: “Open those TARDIS doors wide, because Bonnie’s back! What an honor, delight, and hoot to welcome back the character of Melanie, after too long away. And this isn’t just a cameo, Bonnie is right in the thick of the action, battling monsters and chaos and cliffhangers, right at the Doctor’s side, just like the old days.”
Except, of course, she won’t immediately recognize her Doctor in Ncuti Gatwa’s incarnation, which, as Whovians have come to realize, is a trope as ancient as the show itself, and one to be cherished for all the brilliantly comic moments it helps create.
Langford is the latest actress to join the burgeoning Doctor Who cast for season 14. The show has already tapped such great names as Jonathan Groff (Frozen, Hamilton) and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones, Obi-Wan Kenobi), and we have no doubt the list is only going to swell in proportional talent as we inch closer to the premiere in 2024.