Bonnie Langford on her return to Doctor Who as Mel

Bonnie Langford on the news of her return as Melanie Bush:

“In many respects, it’s a relief,” Bonnie says, reflecting on the announcement, “because I don’t have to lie or be frugal with the truth any more – and I’m very excited about coming back, so I wanted to tell everyone. But I thought, oh God, I wonder what the reaction is going to be. And it’s all been lovely, I think. I don’t know. If people say lovely things, I’ll take it, I’ll take it, I’LL TAKE IT! And if they don’t… y’know, whatever. People will always have opinions, they’re allowed to, that’s fine. Even when we did that [The] Power of the Doctor, I saw some of them…” 

Last October, for the first time since 1987 (or since 1993, if – and let’s not fall out over this – you count Children in Need fever dream Dimensions in Time), Mel made a brief return to TV: Bonnie’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-her cameo in Jodie Whittaker’s final episode, The Power of the Doctor. “That was very last-minute,” says Bonnie. “I only did a tiny, weenie, just-one-scene. But it was nice, to be part of that. I saw some of the stuff” – the fan reaction, to the companion support group scene – “and people were saying, ‘I cried! I cried when the companions were all there, sitting around,’ and I thought, my God, if only they knew what’s coming!”
 

Highlights of issue 595 include:

• Highway to Mel – in her first major interview with DWM since her return to Doctor Who was announced, Bonnie Langford talks exclusively about reprising the role as Melanie Bush opposite Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. 
• Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies shares his reactions as he watches the finished version of The Star Beast, the first of this year’s Doctor Who Specials.
• We Need to Talk About Mel Bush – a compelling argument as to why Mel is the most underrated companion of all time.
• Dread Right Hand – what makes a great sinister assistant in Doctor Who, and how do they get their dirty work done? DWM investigates…
• Web Slingers, Surfers and Time Lords – acclaimed comic-book writer Dan Slott on his debut Doctor Who graphic novel, Once Upon a Time Lord.
• The Butterfly Effect – DWM talks to Emily Cook and finds out how a virtual event during lockdown snowballed into something that would change the course of Doctor Who history.
• Game designer Gavin Verhey and art director Matt Cavotta reveal how they combined fantasy trading card game Magic: The Gathering with Doctor Who.
• Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock files his latest report, direct from Doctor Who’s HQ.
• Welcome to Aladdin’s Cave – brand asset manager Jonathan Davies on how it feels to have 60 years’ worth of Doctor Who props, costumes and assets at his fingertips.
• Liberation of the Daleks Part Twelve – the adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor continue in the epic comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan.
• 60 Objects, 60 Years – the latest instalment of the series that tells the story of one object from every year of Doctor Who’s history.
• The Fact of Fiction unlocks the secrets of the Sixth Doctor’s final episodes, The Trial of a Time Lord Parts Thirteen and Fourteen.
• Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
• Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

The latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) is on sale from Thursday 14th September. It is available to order as a subscription, either physical or digital, here.