Bonnie Langford reveals how she convinced beloved Doctor Who companion to take role

Doctor Who legend Bonnie Langford has revealed her influence on the show reaches further than fans may have thought, as she was the one who convinced another beloved companion to say yes to their role.

During a recent interview with RadioTimes.com, the Melanie Bush actress recalled sitting down with Bradley Walsh and convincing him to take the role of companion Graham O'Brien alongside Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor.

"I went and met him for lunch," she recalled. "And he said, ‘I've been asked to do Doctor Who, I don't know if I should.’ I said, ‘Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. It's the gift that keeps on giving.'

"And he did! In the end, we ended up doing a scene together, and I was just so pleased."

Walsh's first appearance came in Doctor Who season 11, when he was introduced as Graham, the grandfather of Tosin Cole's character Ryan. The pair left together in the 2021 New Year's Day special, Revolution of the Daleks.

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However, both Langford and Walsh reprised their roles for Jodie Whittaker's final episode, The Power of the Doctor, which featured the beloved companion support group scene, with various companions from across Doctor Who's 62-year history reuniting.

Langford never expected to be asked back, but was delighted when she got the call from then-showrunner Chris Chibnall.

"At that point I thought, 'Well, I wonder what Mel would be,'" she reflected. "A lot calmer. A lot calmer, and much more into her computers, yet very discreet about the work that she does.

"She had such a loyalty to the Doctor. It was really great that I had been able to still be in touch with [Mel], to think, 'I wonder where she's been and what she's done, and how she has kept her connection with the Doctor.'

"So then when I came to do it in the new TV series, it felt really comfortable to be with her."

Bonnie Langford's full interview will be available on RadioTimes.com on 18th November.

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