Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has discussed which classic characters he would love to bring back to meet Jodie Whittaker's Doctor.

In an interview with BBC America, Chibnall named Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan – played respectively by the late actors Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter – describing them as "indelible" characters.

"I would really love to bring back Sarah Jane," he said. "People working on the show now worked with Lis Sladen, and everybody still remembers her so fondly and talks about her a lot.

"I would love to see her with the Thirteenth Doctor."

doctor who elisabeth sladen as sarah jane smith and k9
BBC

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He added: "I would love to have brought back Harry Sullivan too, played by the wonderful Ian Marter from Tom Baker's first season. I would have loved to see Sarah and Harry nowadays to check in with them.

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"It's a credit to those actors. They are indelible in my life and memories and those of many others. It's so sad that they're not with us anymore."

Chibnall also named Ace (Sophie Aldred), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) as characters he wished he could bring back.

"To be honest, the canon of Doctor Who is filled with amazing characters," he said. "I'd love to see Ace back. I'd love to see Tegan back. I'd love to see Amy and Rory. The list goes on."

doctor who amy pond
BBC

Elsewhere, Chibnall confirmed that he will be back for series 13 alongside Jodie Whittaker.

"We have very big, ambitious plans for our third series together," he teased. "It will be next year sometime, hopefully."

Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US.


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