The following article contains major spoilers for "The Power of the Doctor," Doctor Who's third and final 2022 special, which aired Oct. 23 on BBC One.
Set to reprise their respective roles as Tegan Jovanka and Ace on Doctor Who, Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred said they were in tears after receiving the call to return to the long-running sci-fi series after over three decades.
In an interview with Radio Times, both Fielding and Aldred stated that they were emotional and excited about coming back to Doctor Who after their return was announced in April 2022. "When I got the call, I burst into tears," Fielding said. "I wasn’t conscious of it, but it’s the call I’ve always been hoping for, you know? There aren’t many jobs where you can say that you’ve been playing the same part for 33 years. Maybe in The Archers. It’s extraordinary."
Aldred echoed Fielding's sentiment, saying, "How many shows give you that opportunity? It’s been 35 years since I acted on camera, so it was an adjustment. I did the series in my 20s but now I’m in my 60s. So it’s not as easy as it once was. But at least, these days, I don’t have [former series boss] John Nathan-Turner telling me what I’m going to wear."
Ace and Tegan Return to the TARDIS
Aldred also stated that following the initial announcement of her return, she received endless messages from fans. Fielding confirmed that the response was "enthusiastic," which took them both by surprise. Fielding said that time has not mellowed Tegan, who was a companion to both the Fourth (Tom Baker) and Fifth Doctors (Peter Davison) and appeared on the show from 1981 to 1984. "Those of you who are thinking that she’s become soft and gentle in her old age -- dream on! She’s in her 60s and she’s taking no s*** from anybody. And that includes the Doctor, as it always has."
As for Aldred, the actor stated that Ace is now the CEO of a charity, but "is never that far away from a baseball bat." Ace was a companion of the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and was a series regular from 1987 to 1989. Both Fielding and Aldred reprised their respective characters in the recent Doctor Who special "The Power of the Doctor," which aired on Oct. 23 and marked the final episode for the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker.
"The Power of the Doctor" also saw the return of former Doctor Who star David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. While Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa was expected to be the next iteration of the Doctor, it has been confirmed by showrunner Russell T. Davies that the actor will be the Fifteenth Doctor.
New episodes of Doctor Who will premiere on the BBC in November 2023.
Source: Radio Times