Bonnie Langford: “I wasn’t proud of my work on Doctor Who – until I came back”

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Bonnie Langford starts our conversation with a clever tactic. When asked about her earliest TV memories, she quickly responds by asking, “Are you asking about shows I watched as a viewer, or shows I was actually in?”

Langford had a natural stage presence from a very young age. She grew up around theatre and began performing early – she was on TV at age six with Hughie Green on Opportunity Knocks, and at twelve, she got her big break playing a role in the ITV series, Just William.

Langford explains to TopMob that they’ve always just naturally performed, and never really considered it anything else – it’s simply always been a part of who they are.

I recently lost my mum, and while sorting through her belongings, I came across a really old photo of me as a baby. It was a funny picture – I was wearing a diaper under a tutu, kicking my leg, and holding hands with my two sisters who were watching over me. Looking at it, I realized it perfectly captured how safe and loved I always felt with my family.

I’ve always kept going because I didn’t want to lose the sense of comfort and security I found there. Things around it could be difficult and stressful at times, but that core environment felt safe, and I didn’t want to let it go.

It’s remarkable that Langford, at 61, still finds comfort and safety in performing, given the harsh criticism she faced earlier in her career from the media, the public, and even fellow performers. You can still see the effects of that experience, but she’s handled it with grace and resilience.

She can be really hard on herself, but she’s still incredibly cheerful, lively, and has a great sense of humor. She’s also been very successful lately, recently appearing again as Melanie Bush in Doctor Who and performing in the stage production of Paddington The Musical. Ultimately, she’s proving all the doubters wrong and thriving.

Langford didn’t watch Doctor Who growing up because she found it too scary. She first became involved with the show when she met producer John Nathan-Turner, who later cast her as computer programmer Melanie Bush, working alongside the Sixth and Seventh Doctors, played by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy.

I went into the show without really knowing what to expect,” Langford says. “I really enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun. However, if I were to do it again today, I’d probably approach it a little differently. At the time, I had no idea how much of an impact it would have.

It was also noteworthy that the actors playing supporting roles were typically at the beginning of their careers, especially on television. Having a recognizable name alongside them was therefore quite rare.

The show was really struggling at that time, but John loved it and was working hard to save it. I think he hired me because I was getting a lot of media attention, and he hoped that publicity would help the show.

You know, looking back at my work, I have my own thoughts on how I did. I was going through a lot personally at the time, but I was really committed to giving it my all, even when things felt challenging. I truly wanted to do the best job I could.

Honestly, looking back, she’s really hard on herself about how she did, saying she’d change so much if she could. She feels like she overdid it – she was just too energetic and put on too big of a show. She even thinks she came across as annoying, and she’s really bothered by that.

There were several reasons why Mel ended up portrayed the way she did. One was a surprisingly blunt character description given to actress Bonnie Langford when she was first cast, which specifically called Mel “irritating.” Another factor was a trip to Alton Towers with the cast and crew, where producer John Nathan-Turner heard Langford’s powerful scream and decided to incorporate it into nearly every episode.

Langford started her time on Doctor Who during a difficult period for the show. She first appeared in the 1986 story ‘The Trial of a Time Lord,’ which featured the Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker, being put on trial by the Time Lords for violating Gallifreyan laws. She didn’t initially realize the challenges the show was facing.

Looking back, it was far more challenging than I anticipated,” she said. “I understood I was entering a tough environment. Both Colin and John were really pushing to make the show work, and there was a lot of tension and constant feedback.

According to Langford, Baker was a dedicated fan of the show, and she believes he unfairly received blame for issues surrounding it. She suggests that speaking out can be difficult and that he was hurt by the way the show was handled.

Colin Baker left Doctor Who right after ‘The Trial of a Time Lord,’ and Sylvester McCoy, whom Langford had worked with before, took over the role. Langford felt it was a new beginning for both of them. However, after just one more season, she believed her time with the show was over – or so she thought then.

It’s typical in this industry that you commit to a show for a certain period, but there’s often no clear communication about whether it will be extended. That’s just how things work – you never really know if a show will last or be cancelled, she explained.

It’s crazy these days, you hear about shows just getting stopped right in the middle of filming! A friend told me they were on set in the US and the executives literally walked in during a scene and just called the whole thing off. It’s really scary! But then you also see shows that go on forever, so it’s a total rollercoaster.

As McCoy shared in a past interview with TopMob, it wasn’t easy to arrange a satisfying farewell scene for Langford either – it took some persuading.

Langford remembers that the show didn’t properly address her character’s departure at the end of the series. She says Sylvia suggested they film a better farewell scene, so they did.

Looking back, I think I might have made it a little too sentimental, but it worked out okay. I’d probably approach it differently now, but I’m glad I finished it. It was just amusing that she ended up leaving with Sabalom Glitz on a shopping vessel!

She initially signed on for a two-year commitment, never planning to make it a long-term position. She admits she wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the work and had another job lined up, so she expected to leave after the agreed-upon time. However, things didn’t end so cleanly.

I was so thrilled to hear about the planning for Jodie Whittaker’s final episode, ‘The Power of the Doctor’! Apparently, Chris Chibnall, who was running the show at the time, had this beautiful idea to bring back past companions for a really touching moment where they could reminisce about their experiences. And of course, he reached out to Sophie Langford, and she immediately said yes – can you imagine how excited she must have been? It was a fantastic way to honor the show’s history.

She remembers thinking, ‘I wonder what Mel would be like.’ She imagines a much calmer person, very focused on computers, but private about her work.

I always admired her unwavering loyalty to the Doctor. It was wonderful being able to stay in touch with Mel over the years, and I often found myself curious about her adventures and how she maintained her bond with the Doctor. So, when we reunited for the new series, it felt very natural and comfortable to work with her again.

Now that Russell T Davies is back as showrunner for Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary and with Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor, he’s also brought back Millie Gibson. She initially appeared in special episodes and will continue as a main cast member for seasons 14 and 15.

Now, Langford says, it was time to do right by Mel.

I was so pleased he believed Mel deserved another chance, and that the story allowed her character to develop in a really interesting way. It was exciting to revisit the role, especially because I felt I could improve on my previous performance. More importantly, I loved that Mel got to come back as a more complex and relatable character, showing both strengths and weaknesses.

You know, revisiting the role of Mel was really interesting for me personally. When I first started on the show, I felt a lot of pressure to present a certain image – everything had to be polished, perfect, and aesthetically pleasing. It was all about looking good and keeping things pretty. But coming back to the character, I was in a different headspace myself, and that allowed for a different approach.

Returning to the show and working on ‘Empire of Death’ required a lot of prosthetics, which I might have hesitated about if it had been my first time playing Mel. However, I was really happy that the storyline focused on Mel becoming aware of Sutekh’s control and her struggle against it, especially the powerful scene where she desperately tried to connect with the Doctor before being fully taken over.

Honestly, watching this film, I realized how much I would have rejected this story back in the ’80s. But it really resonated with me now. I felt incredibly grateful for the chance to play this character and, in a way, reinvent myself as an actor by taking on something so different and embracing its complexities.

Following the conclusion of ‘The Reality War,’ Ncuti Gatwa’s last episode as the Doctor ended with a surprising turn: he transformed into Billie Piper, who is reprising her role. Fans are now eager to see what happens next.

Langford explains that the final version was quite different from the original footage. They had filmed most of it the previous year, but she had to return for additional shots, which she couldn’t do alongside the rest of the cast. She was disappointed about this, as she was in America at the time. However, she was thankful the storyline accommodated her absence by explaining her character, Mel, was busy elsewhere.

You know, Ncuti is just completely captivating. He’s got this incredible charisma – whenever he steps onto a set, the whole atmosphere just lights up with joy and laughter. He’s a genuinely sweet person, and honestly, he was dealing with a lot during filming. It was a really demanding process for him, I think.

The shoot took a long time and involved a lot of complex work, but we still managed to have fun. I don’t think anyone, especially not him, fully understood the challenges we faced. It’s hard for anyone to predict how demanding these projects will be, especially with so much at stake these days.

Taking on this role means inheriting a rich history and reputation, which can be both inspiring and challenging. It requires a unique, even unconventional, brilliance, but also an acceptance of its complexities. It’s an amazing opportunity, but it comes with a lot of responsibility – and a bit of freedom to be different.

Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will star in a new six-part Doctor Who spin-off called The War Between the Land and the Sea. Several familiar faces from the show are also set to make appearances.

When asked about whether she would appear, Langford remained tight-lipped, stating, “I’m not able to say anything at all. I’m under strict orders to keep everything confidential.”

Langford reflects on her career with deep gratitude, appreciating both the opportunities she’s had and the people she’s shared them with. She fondly remembers her early stage days and a special connection with the late Dame Angela Lansbury, with whom she performed in the 1974 Broadway revival of Gypsy.

Langford remembers being deeply influenced by her – particularly in how to conduct herself. She admired her greatly and tried to model her behavior. Langford describes her as not only a talented and authentic actress, but also a truly kind and wonderful person, and that made a lasting impression on her.

She remembers facing challenges in the past, but realizes actors today have it even harder. She’s grateful she didn’t have to deal with the instant feedback and potentially hurtful comments that come with social media, where people can hide behind anonymity.

I felt somewhat shielded growing up, but looking back at all the old publicity materials from my mother’s collection, becoming an adult actress was a really difficult change. The industry was tough, and I think I mostly just tried to avoid dealing with it. Still, I genuinely loved my work, and that’s what motivated me to keep going.

If someone asked me what advice I’d give to actresses, especially those playing companions on Doctor Who, I’d say what Niamh Langford herself suggests – it’s actually just brilliant life advice, period. It’s a really simple idea that applies to everything, not just acting!

“Embrace it, enjoy it and find your version. There is no right or wrong.”

Join us next month for more Doctor Who insights with TopMob! Sign up now so you don’t miss out. You can currently watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer.

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2025-11-18 04:30