THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING BOX

CHRIS CHIBNALL HAS AN ACE UP HIS SLEEVE FOR THE DOCTOR WHO CENTENARY SPECIAL AND AN ARGUMENTATIVE AUSSIE TOO...

- IAN BERRIMAN

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER... Soon the era of the Thirteenth Doctor - and producer Chris Chibnall - will draw to a close in "The Power Of The Doctor", a feature-length Doctor Who special which also marks 100 years of the BBC. It's a story that will not only feature the Doctor's regeneration, but include Flux's Vinder, UNIT's Kate Stewart, Bradley Walsh's Graham, Lone Cyberman Ashad, the Daleks and Sacha Dhawan's Master.

But none of the above - not even the prospect of regenerative energy blasting from Jodie Whittaker's coat sleeves - is what's really set fandom abuzz. That's the return of '80s companions Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding), as revealed in the teaser trailer at the end of Easter special "Legend Of The Sea Devils".

It's a turn of events which means a great deal to old-school fans, but also to the actors. They've never quite left their characters behind, of course - both have recorded numerous audio dramas. Aldred even co-wrote a novel recently (At Childhood's End), in which a mature Ace meets Thirteen. But this is different. This is prime time BBC One. It's exciting... and also daunting.

"I got a call out of the blue from my agent, and she said, '[Doctor Who casting director] Andy Pryor has been asking for an availability check for you,' Aldred tells SFX, remembering that fateful day last summer. "I came off the phone and I just burst into tears. I think it was what I've always been waiting for somehow, weirdly. It wasn't conscious, but it was there, because we never knew what happened to Ace when she walked off into a bush."

She references the Seventh Doctor voiceover at the end of "Survival", the final story of the original series. "Somewhere the tea's getting cold. Come on Ace, we've got work to do.' Well, I've been ready to do the work. So it was really emotional, actually."