Ada ‘stars’ in latest episode of Doctor Who
A FAMOUS historical figure had a starring role on the hugely popular BBC science fiction series, Doctor Who.
Computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, who was raised at Kirkby Mallory Hall, featured in the second part of the episode Spyfall, travelling with the doctor through time as she tries to uncover who is behind a series of assassinations.
They spend time in 1940s Nazi-occupied Paris, where Ada despairs to see a world of destruction that flies in the face of her vision for how computing could advance humanity.
But once the doctor has saved the day and returned Ada to her own time, the time lord encourages her that her work is worthwhile, telling her: “Computers start with you.”
Greg Drozdz, of Hinckley and District Museum, said: “It’s magnificent that Ada was depicted in the recent Doctor Who episode.
“There are people locally who say that Ada Lovelace has been done to death.
“Well, I say that we have hardly begun to understand what Ada means to us. Ada lived at Kirkby Mallory Hall for the first seven years of her life.
“She thought Hinckley charming and was punished for being naughty by being denied a visit to the town.
“Ada, was unusual for her age and was a gifted mathematician who understood the possibilities of advancing work around calculating machines to create what we would recognise as computers.
“A strong woman character alongside a female Doctor Who sends a very powerful message.”
Ada was played by Sylvie Briggs in the episode, alongside Jodie Whittaker as the doctor, the first woman to take on the title role in the hit series, which started in 1963.
Mr Drozdz said: “We should be highly excited for our local heritage that Ada Lovelace is becoming more and more part of our popular culture. We can be proud that we have local connections with her.”
There was an exhibition last year at the Atkins gallery in Hinckley about the history of computing and the life of Ada, who was the only legitimate child of poet Lord Byron.
She worked with mathematician Charles Babbage and saw the potential of his difference engine computing machine, both of which also featured in the episode.
A blue plaque in Ada’s honour was unveiled at Kirkby Mallory in 2017.
Spyfall is available on BBC iPlayer. to view