As it nears 60 years since Susan Foreman said farewell to William Hartnell’s First Doctor, Carole Ann Ford has addressed the potential difficulties surrounding a possible return to Doctor Who. Susan was the Time Lord’s first companion, being the Doctor’s granddaughter who had joined him on his journey and hid on Earth until she attracted the attention of teachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill). After almost a year of adventures in the show, Ford left the series in the final chapter of 1966’s “The Dalek Invasion of Earth” to rebuild society.
With December 26 set to mark sixty years since the First Doctor left Susan in 22nd century London, Ford opens up to RadioTimes about whether she would still be open to returning to Doctor Who. The actress admits that she has some hesitation about returning, being unsure whether she would be able to handle not only the excitement but also being the only surviving cast member of the original show’s cast.
I don’t know if I could survive the excitement actually, it would be intense beyond all intensity. It’s not just returning, it would bring back all the memories of William Russell and Jackie and Bill [William Hartnell] and various other people who aren’t with us anymore. I might be a little bit overcome and start blubbing. I keep being reminded I’m the last one standing and it’s not something I’m happy to hear.
Furthermore, Ford understands there may be immense pressure about bringing her back to the main series after so long for the writers behind the series too, as one of the show’s longest lingering plot threads. Despite this, Ford remains open to a return despite the difficulty it may bring.
He said he’d come back and get me and never did. I’d give him a good telling off if I saw him again. I understand their dilemma, how difficult it must be to write for me. It has been 60 years since I was first in it. I’ve met Russell [T Davies] a few times and I absolutely adore him. He is the man that would be the boss man to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – so hopefully it’s going to be ‘yes’.
Is It Too Late For Susan To Return?
With Ford’s response treating a return from Susan as something yet to happen, it seems that longtime Doctor Who fans shouldn’t be expecting any kind of return soon. Susan’s return was heavily teased throughout Doctor Who season 14, with Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor mentioning his granddaughter, bonding with new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) over their long-lost family members, and her return being used to trap the Doctor by Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf). Furthermore, the season concluded with hints that the Doctor would seek Susan out and finally return to her.
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Despite this, Ford’s response seemingly makes her return something yet to be filmed. With Doctor Who season 15 having concluded filming in May, Ford may have not been present during production, and with season 16 having yet to be greenlit, it is uncertain what this may mean for the teases established throughout season 14 being followed up on.
Our Thoughts on Susan’s Doctor Who Future
The Doctor Has Yet To Fulfill His Promise
While Ford made a brief return in Doctor Who‘s 25th Anniversary special “The Five Doctors“, and has made many returns through Doctor Who audio dramas, Susan’s absence in the revival is growing even more noticeable. Each modern incarnation has either made brief allusions or acknowledged the Doctor’s long-lost family, with Gatwa making some of the strongest references to the character.
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Doctor Who: What Happened To Susan, The Doctor’s Granddaughter
The First Doctor left his granddaughter, Susan Foreman, on Earth, but Doctor Who media has provided several updates on her status since then.
As such, viewers have joined Ford in hoping to finally see Susan make her long-awaited return and have the Doctor finally fulfill his long-awaited promise. Though the star may admit that she has some hesitancy about reprising the role after so long, it is clear that she is dedicated to fulfilling one of classic Doctor Who‘s largest mysteries to a close.
Source: RadioTimes
The latest season of Doctor Who introduces the Fifteenth Doctor, joined by new companion Ruby Sunday. Their first adventure begins with “The Church on Ruby Road,” where they face powerful new foes and unravel the mystery surrounding Ruby’s origins. The Doctor grapples with the aftermath of a unique regeneration event and battles enemies more formidable than ever before.
- Cast
- Ncuti Gatwa , Millie Gibson , Susan Twist , Michelle Greenidge , Angela Wynter , Jemma Redgrave , Yasmin Finney , Anita Dobson
- Release Date
- December 25, 2023
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- AppleTV+ , Britbox , Max , Disney+
- Franchise(s)
- Doctor Who
- Writers
- Russell T. Davies , Dave Gibbons , Kate Herron , Steven Moffat
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi