It's A Mel-Ebration As Bonnie Langford Returns To 'Doctor Who' As Classic Companion Mel Bush

In his second stint, showrunner Russell T. Davies wastes no time acknowledging the past

It seems that the companion support group has given Melanie Bush reason to spring back into action. It has been announced that Bonnie Langford will return to Doctor Who once again to reprise the role in the upcoming series 14, the first for Fifteenth Doctor Ncuti Gatwa.

Langford’s Melanie Bush succeeded Nicola Bryant’s Peri Brown during the back half of the 23rd season of Doctor Who, titled The Trial of a Time Lord, in 1986. Her debut comes in “Terror of the Vervoids”, the third of four serials that season, following Peri’s apparent death. Said first adventure is not her first adventure, but it was presented from the past at the trial before she’s even met the Doctor, at this point in his sixth incarnation played by Colin Baker. When she was introduced, she was a computer programmer from then-contemporary times, full of optimism, an eidetic memory, and a cheery, perky personality. She stays on for the entirety of the following season with Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy. In the final serial, Dragonfire, she meets up again with the trickster Sabalom Glitz, who she befriended in the previous season. She decides to travel with him aboard the Nosferatu II. In the 35 intervening years, she made her way back to Earth, as she was one of several companions to attend the support group in the BBC Centennial special “The Power of the Doctor”, which aired in October.

On her more substantial return, Langford is elated, saying: "I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back. To be part of the exceptional cast, crew, and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T. Davies is a career highlight. I’m so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.” Returning showrunner Davies stated “Open those TARDIS doors wide, because Bonnie’s back! What an honour, 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.” It’s gonna be a real “True Blue to the Rescue” or “Always a Chance” type, to use a Power Rangers analogy.

Langford has made many other TV appearances, including on game shows, most recently having been the Squirrel on their 2021 edition of The Masked Dancer. Series 14 of Doctor Who premieres this spring, and stars Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as his new companion Ruby Sunday. Their first adventure is at Christmas, following regeneration in the final 60th-anniversary special “The Giggle”. Langford joins a list of guest stars that include Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart set to return, and currently-undisclosed roles for Jonathan Groff, Aneurin Bernard, Indira Varma, Anita Dobson, Michelle Greenidge, and Jinkx Monsoon. Series 14 will be the first full to air internationally on Disney+, including the United States, while the series continues on its BBC home domestically.

Source: Doctor Who