Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has shared a heartfelt tribute to late actress Kate O'Mara.
O’Mara played the original Rani, the renegade Time Lord, who first faced off against The Doctor in 1985's 'The Mark of the Rani'.
The character made her return to the series on last Saturday's (17 May) episode titled 'The Interstellar Song Contest', now portrayed by The Good Wife star Archie Panjabi.
On Instagram, Davies shared a photo of O'Mara, who passed away in 2014, and wrote: "Kate played the original Rani in Doctor Who, and we dedicated the readthrough of this year’s finale to her.
"I once walked past her in Soho. Tiny and impossibly beautiful! She appeared in lots of wonderful TV (Absolutely Fabulous and Dynasty, what a combination!) though it’s said she did TV work to fund her theatre company and her love of Shakespeare.
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"And the Rani is something to behold – you think she’d be all poised and delicate, but she’s so physically strong, she STOMPS around those sets, she BELLOWS! At one point, she’s having so much fun she actually skips across the set. Glorious."
Davies continued: "What a star. We’re delighted to honour her. Thank you, and all hail Kate. Coming on Saturday: the Rani’s greatest experiment yet, in WISH WORLD, BBC One & iplayer & Disney+."
Meanwhile, Panjabi has paid her own tribute to O'Mara ahead of the two-part season finale.
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Speaking to the BBC, Panjabi said: "It seems there’s been quite a bit of speculation about the Rani’s return... and who can blame you? Kate O’Mara’s portrayal was brilliant, ruthless and unforgettable.
"Now, under Russell T Davies, she’s back- and I’ll ask... what in the WHOniverse will we bring to her? Let’s just say, you might not be ready!"
Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
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