Jackie Lane, Doctor Who’s Dodo Chaplet, dies at 79

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Doctor Who actress Jackie Lane has sadly passed away on 23 June, 2021, a few weeks shy of her 80th birthday.

Born 10 July, 1941, Jackie Lane was an English actress best known for her role as Dodo Chaplet, a companion of William Hartnell’s first Doctor in the Season 3 of programme, from the conclusion of The Massacre to the second episode of The War Machines. Lane played Dodo Chaplet from February to July 1966.

Prior to joining Doctor Who, Lane made occasional appearances in BBC television and radio productions, including Anna Neagle’s radio production of Wonderful Things in 1958, the TV production Grandad was a Wrestler in 1959, and as a panellist on Juke Box Jury in 1961.

After leaving Doctor Who, Lane became a diplomatic secretary in Paris for some time. She then returned to the UK to start an antiques shop.

Lane then became a theatrical agent, representing Tom Baker, who would play the Fourth Doctor, and Janet Fielding, who would play companion Tegan Jovanka and she managed Nicholas Courtney who would play the Brigadier.

Lane made a rare TV appearance in 2013, in the Doctor Who 50th anniversary programme the Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty.

In 2018, Lane recorded and interview with Myth Makers where she spoke of her Doctor Who costar William Hartnell.

During the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, Lane recorded a brief fan greeting for Fantom Films’ Time-Space Visualiser online convention.

Our deepest sympathies to her family and friends.