News Carole Ann Ford wants to say "Hello, grandma!"

[The Nth Doctor]

Carole Ann Ford told Doctor Who Magazine that she wants to guest star alongside Jodie Whittaker's Doctor so she can say "Hello, grandma!"

“I really would like to meet her,” she told Doctor Who Magazine. “Wouldn’t it be fun?! What would I say to her? ‘Hello Grandma!'”

“Jodie’s got a very strong presence,” she added, referring to her debut scene in Christmas special Twice Upon a Time. “I saw the moment she arrived and I’ve been thinking about it quite a lot.”
​

This needs to happen, Chris Chibnall!

 

[Christopher]

It would be nice to get Ford back for a guest appearance... but imagine if it ended with Susan regenerating into an actress (or actor?) who'd become the Doctor's regular companion. It'd bring things full circle.

I always used to imagine that one way to get a female Doctor would be for the 13th Doctor to have a new incarnation of Susan (or Romana) as his companion in his last season, then with his dying breath, hand her the TARDIS key and say "You are the Doctor now." And then we'd have 11 (or 10) more female Doctors after that (since I was assuming regeneration sex changes couldn't happen, there being no onscreen precedent for it at the time).

 

[Nightowl1701]

Better late than never.

And with the 50'th Anniversary, the whole Capaldi era (he wanted her back too) and One's 'last' episode all having come and gone, and Carole herself now pushing 80, they have left it very very late.

 

[Mr Awe]

Long overdue. The shows been terrible about bringing back a few of those classic characters. Nicholas Courtney is a case in point that they can no longer fix. William Russel as Ian would've been perfect at various points when Coal Hill School was featured. Or, in the 50th. If they keep waiting, their opportunity will be irrevocably gone too. I think Susan would be particularly interesting because the new show can explore her history and their relationship more than the original show ever could.

There's not many classic characters that need to come back, but Ian and Susan are on my list! It probably would've had to have been a cameo for Ian, but even those can be fun and poignant, as shown by Tom in Day of the Doctor.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Yes, please!

And it wouldn't even contradict the End of Time fan-theory of Susan being that old lady that speaks with Wilfred. Susan could explain she's in her 5th regeneration or something, and knows how to choose her own body, making her smarter than the Doctor still.

And it is insane that she was never back since 1983. I don't get it. And I'll never "forgive" RTD for not bringing back the Brig back in series 4 but instead kept bringing back Martha and Rose... I mean, dang it, sir.

 

[Christopher]

And I'll never "forgive" RTD for not bringing back the Brig back in series 4 but instead kept bringing back Martha and Rose... I mean, dang it, sir.

Davies did bring the Brigadier back in The Sarah Jane Adventures. He later brought back Jo Grant as well.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

As excited as I am about Ford potentially reprising Susan (especially after all of the miss opportunities, included glaring omitted mentions like in "The Doctor's Wife"), I'm still very disappointed William Russell hasn't returned as Ian. I really wanted to see the juxtaposition of an old Ian meeting a young-looking Doctor (i.e. The Eleventh Doctor). Come to think of it, the juxtaposition would be even stronger now, so I sincerely hope Chibnall finds a way to bring back Ian.

Davies did bring the Brigadier back in The Sarah Jane Adventures. He later brought back Jo Grant as well.

True, and while those were wonderful treats, we didn't get to see the Brigadier with The Doctor one last time and that's definitely a missed opportunity. I know Nicholas Courtney was suppose to appear in "Death of the Doctor" but was unable to due to health issues, but he should've appeared on the main show before then.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ Yep, he should've appeared in the main show. It's bizarre to bring him back but only for the spin-off.

 

[OCD Geek]

They did bring her back in a recurring capacity for an entire season of Eighth Doctor audio plays. I mean, I know there's no "official" Who canon and that not everyone considers Big Finish's audio plays to be on the same level of legitimacy as Classic Who and NuWho, but they kinda did bring her back already.

Granted, I personally look at Classic Who, Big Finish Who and NuWho as being the three main and equal pieces of canon and not everyone does. It'd be freaking sweet if NuWho brought her back too, though.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

True and those appearances were very satisfying for a number of reasons (including that major spoiler). As much as I love the Big Finish audios (they've done many things the show could only dream about), it's still not quite the same as having Susan and any other character actually returning to the main show.

 

[Qonundrum]

A shame Susan didn't reappear in series 10, but if there were any other epic momentous time, now would be it. It's one piece of continuity that wouldn't feel forced or overblown.

If Chibnall (or other staff) writes it all and addresses (or not, perhaps) her being married to a human after the Dalek invasion who'd never really see her grow old with him... would rather have the Doctor show up in the era as opposed to anything else unless they got clever.

 

[diankra]

Would be more interesting if she still called her "Grandfather," assuming the Doctor was male when Susan's parent was born.
IYSWIM.

 

[Christopher]

Would be more interesting if she still called her "Grandfather," assuming the Doctor was male when Susan's parent was born.
IYSWIM.

First off, we know the Doctor was male at the time. It's been stated repeatedly that Hartnell was his first incarnation -- "the original, you might say."

However, it's inappropriate to refer to someone who's transitioned gender by what they used to be. Their current gender identity, the pronoun or title they choose to be identified by, is the one that should be used, and clinging to their old gender label against their preference is rude. (Unless it's a mutually understood joke, like Ben Sisko calling Jadzia Dax "Old Man.") Of course, it's possible that a lifelong male whose anatomy was changed to female might still consider themselves male and prefer to be addressed appropriately, but I doubt that'll be the case with the Doctor, who seems pretty chuffed about being a woman at last. (But still not ginger...)

 

[diankra]

First off, we know the Doctor was male at the time. It's been stated repeatedly that Hartnell was his first incarnation -- "the original, you might say."

However, it's inappropriate to refer to someone who's transitioned gender by what they used to be. Their current gender identity, the pronoun or title they choose to be identified by, is the one that should be used, and clinging to their old gender label against their preference is rude. (Unless it's a mutually understood joke, like Ben Sisko calling Jadzia Dax "Old Man.") Of course, it's possible that a lifelong male whose anatomy was changed to female might still consider themselves male and prefer to be addressed appropriately, but I doubt that'll be the case with the Doctor, who seems pretty chuffed about being a woman at last. (But still not ginger...)

That's humans. If Time Lords frequently switch gender at regeneration...

 

[The Wormhole]

BILL: So, the Time Lords, bit flexible on the whole man-woman thing, then, yeah?
DOCTOR: We're the most civilised civilisation in the universe. We're billions of years beyond your petty human obsession with gender and its associated stereotypes.
BILL: But you still call yourselves Time Lords?
DOCTOR: Yeah. Shut up.

 

[Christopher]

That's humans. If Time Lords frequently switch gender at regeneration...

The whole point is that it isn't defined by category, but by how an individual chooses to define their own identity. If someone wants to be called female, it's just impolite to refer to them as male, and what they were in the past has nothing to do with it.

I mean, we ask what name people want to be called by when we first meet them, because that's just basic courtesy. If someone says they want to be called Rebecca and hate being called Becky, then you don't call them Becky unless you're a jerk. The principle with gender pronouns/titles is essentially exactly the same. It's their identity, so it's their choice.

 

[diankra]

Sorry Chris, but while I obviously use the current name and pronoun with friends who've transitioned (which does take some thinking for one who is truly trans, so both and neither he/she apply), if we're discussing stuff from 20, 40 years ago, their then gender is relevant... sometimes. Working through that to the transition is a central part of their identity. Back-dating the change denies that experience, and the difficulties of it.

 

[Nightowl1701]

However, it's inappropriate to refer to someone who's transitioned gender by what they used to be. Their current gender identity, the pronoun or title they choose to be identified by, is the one that should be used, and clinging to their old gender label against their preference is rude. (Unless it's a mutually understood joke, like Ben Sisko calling Jadzia Dax "Old Man.") Of course, it's possible that a lifelong male whose anatomy was changed to female might still consider themselves male and prefer to be addressed appropriately, but I doubt that'll be the case with the Doctor, who seems pretty chuffed about being a woman at last. (But still not ginger...)

In this hypothetical reunion, I'm sure Susan would say it once, in shock, as she realized who this young woman in front of her is - "Grandfather?!?" It'd be worth the one time just to see the Companions' eyes bug out when the Doctor acknowledges who she is/was. And she would let it slide, as she was male all the other times Susan had seen her, before gently suggesting amending it to 'Grandparent.'

 

[Christopher]

Sorry Chris, but while I obviously use the current name and pronoun with friends who've transitioned (which does take some thinking for one who is truly trans, so both and neither he/she apply), if we're discussing stuff from 20, 40 years ago, their then gender is relevant... sometimes. Working through that to the transition is a central part of their identity. Back-dating the change denies that experience, and the difficulties of it.

What are you even talking about? I'm not saying that Susan should talk about the First Doctor as "Grandmother" in retrospect; I'm talking strictly about how she would address the Thirteenth Doctor in a (subjectively) present-day interaction. Not talking about who the Doctor was 1900 years ago or whenever, but talking to the Doctor in the immediate moment. That's what this thread is about, as indicated in the very title.

 

[diankra]

What are you even talking about? I'm not saying that Susan should talk about the First Doctor as "Grandmother" in retrospect; I'm talking strictly about how she would address the Thirteenth Doctor in a (subjectively) present-day interaction. Not talking about who the Doctor was 1900 years ago or whenever, but talking to the Doctor in the immediate moment. That's what this thread is about, as indicated in the very title.

I just think that if Susan were to call Jodie "Grandfather" that would be more post-gender...