Original Doctor Who Companion Addresses Season 14 Reference & Her Possible Return

Summary Carole Ann Ford was pleasantly surprised by the Susan reference, celebrating the series' origins.

Susan's potential return is hinted at in season 14, and could tie into the Timeless Child mythology.

Doctor Who season 14 may see Susan reunite with the Doctor aboard the Memory TARDIS.

Original Doctor Who star Carole Ann Ford shares her reaction to a surprising reference to her 60s companion Susan in season 14, alongside her thoughts on whether a potential return is in the cards. Episode 2 "The Devil's Chord" saw Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor return to the 1960s alongside Millie Gibson's companion Ruby Sunday to visit The Beatles and face powerful deities. When looking over a smoggy London sky, the Doctor reflects on where he would be at this time to Ruby, revealing he lived there in his first incarnation (William Hartnell) with his granddaughter Susan.

With Beatlemania adventure "The Devil's Chord" featuring a surprising nod to Susan, Ford opened up to Radio Times about her character's surprising and sincere nod. Ford was pleasantly surprised by the mention and how it bridged both the classic era and Russell T Davies' new era together while revealing she is open to starring alongside Gatwa, as there were plenty of ways for Susan to cross paths with her grandfather once more. Check out Ford's response below:

It was a lovely surprise. I do like the way the new series is refreshing everyone's memories and celebrating the series' beginnings while welcoming in new audiences. As we know, with Doctor Who, absolutely anything and everything is possible. Bonnie [Langford]'s character, Mel, was last seen on a far away planet hitching a lift with Tony Selby's loveable rogue Glitz, and then suddenly turned up in 21st century London working for UNIT! So the mind boggles with all the many ways Susan could come back, where and when. But I think she would love reuniting with her grandfather in his new form. Isn't Ncuti [Gatwa] amazing!

Is Doctor Who Season 14 Building Up To A Long-Awaited Reunion?

How Susan Could Return In The Show

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While Susan's fate hasn't been explored beyond her final recurring TV appearance, she started her own life on the post-Dalek occupation Earth in the 22nd century, though the Fifteenth Doctor assumes she was killed when the Master (Sacha Dhawan) conducted bloody vengeance on the Time Lord race. With Davies keeping family a key element of Doctor Who season 14's overall arc, Ruby's mysterious mother may not be the only absent family member who may make a return. Not only does the Doctor's reflection remind viewers of the long-lost companion, but trailers may have revealed how Susan could return.

Related Doctor Who's Beatles Episode True Story Accuracy: 9 Changes & Details Doctor Who's take on the history of The Beatles is more accurate in parts than others, but the changes are made for intentional dramatic effect.

As seen in later Doctor Who season 14 trailers, footage of Gatwa's Doctor screaming out of a TARDIS floating in space was elaborated on, as the control room of the Memory TARDIS was seen rather than the series' new bright white control room appearing behind him. The main setting of the spin-off Tales of the TARDIS' framing device, the vessel can bring Doctors and companions new and old together from across space and time to reunite, and still remains a mystery. As such, the Fifteenth Doctor and Susan may find themselves stepping aboard the Memory TARDIS to reunite.

Regardless of how the Doctor and Susan could reunite, Davies' new era is perhaps the best opportunity to bring the original Doctor Who companion to the series. Not only could Susan's return address a long-shelved narrative thread of the original series, but could explore where Susan fits into the Timeless Child mythology Davies is set on continuing this plot point from Chris Chibnall's show running tenure. And while Ford may seem like she has yet to return, the sudden mention of Susan does make it seem that she may play a part in the current season.

Doctor Who season 14 releases every Friday simultaneously across Disney+ for international audiences and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.

Source: Radio Times