Warning: HUGE spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 15, episode 6, “The Interstellar Song Contest.“Doctor Whoseason 15, episode 6, “The Interstellar Song Contest,” finally returns Carole Ann Ford to the role of Susan, giving the actress a franchise record that now looks unbeatable. Ford’s addition to theDoctor Whoseason 15 castcomes as a very welcome surprise, even if Susan only plays a minor role in her comeback episode. She was vital toDoctor Who’s classic era, serving as the show’s very first companion. As the granddaughter of William Hartnell’s First Doctor,Susan remains unique as the Time Lord’s only onscreen family memberto date.
Susan’s cameo in “The Interstellar Song Contest"quietly installs a new subplot that runs alongside the episode’s primary narrative. By the end of the installment,it remains unclear exactly how and why Susan is reaching out to her grandfather, but the mystery is part of what makes Ford’s unexpected return so exciting. While her presence is great from a storytelling perspective, it also gives Ford a behind-the-scenes plaudit that will probably remain hers for all time.
Susan’s Doctor Who Return Comes Over 60 Years After Her Debut
Carole Ann Ford appeared in the Doctor Who pilot episode & beyond
“An Unearthly Child” markedDoctor Who’s first ever episode on July 07, 2025. It introduced William Hartnell’s Doctor as the first iteration of the Time Lord, as well as Carole Ann Ford as Susan.The Doctor’s granddaughter returns in “The Interstellar Song Contest,“just over 61 years after Ford’sDoctor Whodebut. So, the length of time between her first appearance and her most recent sets an impressive record for her role in the show.
However, it should be noted that Carole Ann Ford did return to the show afterHartnell’s Doctor left Susan behind in 1964.She appeared in 1983’s “The Five Doctors” to celebrateDoctor Who’s 20th anniversary. That said, this doesn’t affect the record she has set by returning once again in 2025. While she has also reprised the role in manyDoctor Whoaudio adventures, the canon status of anything outside the live-action TV shows is nebulous at best.
2022’s “The Power of the Doctor” briefly recalled William Russell to the character of Ian Chesterton.
Ford’s inheritance of this prestigious honor strips one of herDoctor Whocontemporaries of the record. 2022’s “The Power of the Doctor” briefly recalled William Russell to the character of Ian Chesterton. Russell also appeared in “An Unearthly Child” and remained part of the show for longer than Ford, leaving the cast in 1965. The actor previously (and briefly) held the record for the longest gap between aDoctor Whocompanion’s debut and return, but fell just short of the 60-year mark.
It’s Unlikely Any Other Companion Will Return To Doctor Who 60 Years After Their First Episode
Susan will probably hold onto this title forever
William Russell passed away in 2024, leaving Carole Ann Ford as the only surviving member of the originalDoctor Whocast. Therefore, he can’t reclaim the title he once held. In fact,I find it difficult to believe that anyDoctor Whocompanion can take the record from Carole Ann Ford. It’s an achievement that should be revered, and her return is a narrative development that even many of the world’slongest-running TV showscan’t even dream of pulling off.
Susan is a Time Lord, so her presumed ability to regenerate means the character could continue to be part of the show even after Carole Ann Ford surrenders the role for good.
To give just one example, if Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond were to break Susan’s return record, she would need to appear in an episode ofDoctor Whoin 2072, as she made her debut as the Eleventh Doctor’s companion in 2010. The show has already proven it has the formula in place to enjoy such longevity, butFord’s record being broken would require an unprecedented level of continued success for the showand a bunch of other factors that are almost impossible to plan for.
Recasting a Doctor is often not an issue, and is actually a cornerstone of the show, but companions being recast can be tricky because they often lack a Time Lord’s regenerative capabilities.
What’s far more likely is that companions from the show’s earliest years will return, but played by new actors. Something similar to this has already happened, as William Hartnell has already been replaced twice as the First Doctor. Recasting a Doctor is often not an issue, and is actually a cornerstone of the show, but companions being recast can be tricky because they often lack a Time Lord’s regenerative capabilities. That said, Ford’sDoctor Whocharacter shouldn’t have this issue as a direct descendant of the Doctor.
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Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
Doctor Who: Released on August 01, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
