Doctor Who companion makes "really emotional" return to departure location for mini-episode

Former Doctor Who companion Janet Fielding has returned to a film a new mini-episode on location at the very place she made her last regular appearance on the sci-fi series.

Fielding played Tegan Jovanka from 1981 to 1984 and was last at the location next to Tower Bridge for her departure scenes in the adventure Resurrection of The Daleks in September 1983, now returning after more than four decades.

The actress filmed Destination: Daleks with Fifth Doctor Peter Davison at Butler's Wharf to promote an upcoming Blu-ray release.

"It was really emotional being back to film there after so long," Fielding told BBC News. "Peter and I are such good friends. It was a joy to go back. Absolutely."

Fielding previously told Radio Times her early working relationship with Davison led to a long friendship.

She said: "We spend so much time taking the mickey out of each other, and being rude to each other. Genuinely, it’s like family – he's always trying to score points off me... and regrettably he often succeeds.

"David [Richardson], who produces the Doctor Who stories [at Big Finish] will tell you that he's had guest artists come in and say, 'Oh, Janet and Peter, they don't seem to really get on, do they?' and he says, 'No, no, they're like this all the time – when they're polite to each other, that's when you have to worry!'"
Butler's Wharf was once derelict warehouses when they first filmed in the '80s and is now modern housing, restaurants and shops that overlook the Thames.

"The location is so different now," Fielding said. "It was obvious that it was going to be a very nice place to live once developed."

Reflecting on filming her final scenes for Resurrection of the Daleks, Fielding said: "I remember that the stairs were very slippery that led down to the river.

"I was wearing high heels and a tight leather skirt. It was emotional as I knew I was leaving."

Fielding previously returned to the timey wimey world of Doctor Who in 2022, during Jodie Whittaker's final outing in The Power of the Doctor alongside Sophie Aldred.

She later returned alongside Davison in Tales of the TARDIS, a series on BBC iPlayer.

Fielding said: "Everything keeps coming back to Doctor Who. It's really quite circular. But I think that's because it has been going for so long. So many people have Doctor Who connections. It's astounding."

Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 21 will be released on Blu-ray on 16 March.

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