Russell T Davies Reveals How Susan’s Shocking Doctor Who Return Was Created

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Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Doctor Who episode The Interstellar Song Contest

In the 6th episode of Doctor Who’s 15th season, titled “The Interstellar Song Contest,” there were numerous shocking disclosures. Not only was the destiny of Earth on May 24th definitively explained, but also the true persona behind Mrs Flood was unmasked.

Yet, a particularly significant event transpired roughly halfway through the show – the Doctor was ejected into the vastness of space, leaving him exposed and slowly succumbing to the cold.

As his final breath drew near, one single sight managed to revive him and offer the determination to carry on – the arrival of his granddaughter, Susan.

Carole Ann Ford reprised her role from the initial episode, taking on the character once more, a twist that came as quite a shock. In a vision, Susan appeared to the Doctor, instructing him to locate her.

Currently, showrunner Russell T Davies clarified the circumstances surrounding Ford’s reappearance and emphasized its significance in shaping that pivotal scene within the episode.

In conversation about Doctor Who: Unleashed, Davies expressed: “When the Doctor is in a critical state, frozen in space potentially dying, I desired something exceptional to revive him. It was quite moving collaborating with Juno [Dawson], the scriptwriter, and asking her if she could include Susan in the storyline, so that she might rescue him from his icy prison.

She exclaimed something like, ‘Wow! Should I try that or not?!’ Then, Carole Ann Ford entered the studio. It was all under wraps, everything shut down, everyone signing non-disclosure agreements, and she was secretly brought onto the TARDIS. I believe Ben did a fantastic job directing this scene as well.

Furthermore, Ford commented on her comeback, attributing it to the “enthusiasm of fans” and their persistent curiosity about her current whereabouts, which ultimately led to this event.

Ford added: “Russell and I had never crossed paths before, and we both looked forward to our encounter. It happened at a party, specifically during the showing of The Star Beast. So, that’s where we finally connected, with lots of excitement, warm embraces, and exclamations of joy like ‘At last we meet!’

As we embraced, Russell asked, “Fancy returning?” To which I replied, “Absolutely, I’d love to!” He then added, “Well, that’s settled then, you are indeed returning!

It remains uncertain if Ford will appear in the upcoming two-episode conclusion, airing next week with “Wish World.” However, since the Doctor was instructed to locate her, it certainly wouldn’t shock us if she made a reappearance at some point.

On Saturday, 24th May, a fresh batch of Doctor Who episodes will be broadcast starting at 8am on BBC iPlayer within the UK, with re-runs appearing on BBC One later in the day. For those residing outside of the UK, you can find the series on Disney+.

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2025-05-18 14:34