Star of stage and screen Bonnie Langford will once again reprise her legendary role as Melanie (Mel) Bush as she returns to Doctor Who, this time starring alongside Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the Fifteenth Doctor in the new series.
Langford first entered the world of Doctor Who in 1986 as the companion to the Sixth and Seventh Doctors played by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, before returning in a cameo role in Jodie Whittaker’s final episode as the Thirteenth Doctor, The Power of the Doctor.
Making her West End debut at just seven years old in Gone with the Wind at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Langford has since gone on to lead an outstanding career. From her countless performances on both Broadway and West End, such as Chicago, 9 to 5 and Cats, to her award-winning role as Carmel Kazemi on EastEnders.
Langford now returns for another epic adventure starring as Mel, who looks to be involved with the Unified Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT). The official photo released shows Bonnie Langford in costume as Mel on a UNIT helipad set built at Wolf Studios Wales where Doctor Who is filmed.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back,” Langford enthused in a press release. “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.”
Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T Davies said, “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.”
Davies added on Instagram, “Bonnie’s back! In Doctor Who! How is she back on Earth?! What happened to Sabalom Glitz? And what will she say when she sees the Doctor again?! Such a delight and an honour and a hoot to work with [Bonnie], and this isn’t just a cameo, it’s a great big starring role! With the stakes higher than they’ve ever been before 😳 Hop on cowboy, this is going to be nuts! ♥️”
Langford is rumoured to also star in at least one of the 2023 Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Doctor, likely the third and last special The Giggle, where Mel is rumoured to meet Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor for the first time.
Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble. In the following festive period, Ncuti Gatwa will star in his first full Doctor Who episode as the Fifteenth Doctor. A new Doctor Who series starring Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson will debut in 2024.