Doctor Who writer Gareth Roberts is keen for original companion Ian Chestertson to return to the show.

Actor William Russell played teacher Ian alongside the First Doctor in 77 episodes from 1963 to 1965.

The character was referenced in last year’s 50th anniversary special, ‘The Day of the Doctor’, as Coal Hill school’s Chairman of the Governors.

The school has featured heavily in Doctor Who‘s current season, most notably in last weekend’s ‘The Caretaker’, written by Gareth Roberts.

Speaking exclusively to CultBox, Roberts revealed: “I just thought [including Ian in ‘The Caretaker’] would be too much of a distraction. I think that’s an episode all of its own. I thought, particularly after the 50th, where there were lots of references to past Doctor Who, sometimes you need to just put your foot on the accelerator and keep going forward.”

Asked if we could see William Russell return in a future episode set at Coal Hill school, the writer commented: “I’d love to see William Russell back in the show! That’s so rich and so fertile for someone to do. You’d have to explain it enough so that everyone would get it.”

He added: “There’s a tiny reference to that first year of Doctor Who in ‘The Caretaker’ which is the Coal Hill motto, on the wall of the parent’s evening: “a great spirit of adventure”, which is what the Doctor says about Ian and Barbara in ‘The Sensorites’. I thought that was a nice nod in the background.”

> Read our full interview with Gareth Roberts.

Season 8 continues on BBC One next weekend with ‘Kill the Moon’.

> Here’s everything we know so far about Season 8.

Would you like to see Ian Chesterton return to Doctor Who? Let us know below…