Susan ago, years Three on TV… appearance did fleeting a make

If it sounds as if there’s a touch of regret there, she’s quick to play it down. “Well, only because I would like to do other work,” she clarifies. “I’d never say I regretted being in Doctor Who.

I loved doing it, and I still love doing things connected with it. But one does get very typecast. When I came out of it, I was immediately offered all sorts of sci-fi-related things, and rather kooky teenagers, and that was the last thing I wanted.”

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That said, she still readily accepts the invitation to come back and play Susan again, and has reprised the role for audio producers Big Finish on numerous occasions. This year she’s even gained her own spin-off series, Susan’s War, which sees the character returning to Gallifrey after she’s called up to help fight the Time War. The attraction of not playing second fiddle to the Doctor was clearly persuasive, then?

“Well, look at the title!” she laughs. “Absolutely, yes, of course. I was delighted to do it, whether I was the lead or not. It’s always such a fun thing to work for Big Finish, because everybody there is wonderful to work with. The scripts are always good, and it’s just a joy. But to do something where I’ve got the title role – it’s super! Who would not like it?”

In the course of the box set, Susan is reunited not only with the Doctor – this time played by Paul McGann – but also with Ian Chesterton, played once more by indomitable 95-year-old William Russell.

“Yes! I’m always so happy and so relaxed to be with him,” says Ford fondly. “We’re great friends, and it’s good to work with him. I love it. And Paul McGann is also wonderful. Immediately there’s a grandfathergranddaughter connection with him. It just all slots together.”

Is it not, though, a bit strange calling someone “grandfather” who is, ahem… “You’re saying he’s very much younger than me?” Well, yes.

“It might be strange – if he didn’t make it so easy!” she laughs.

Then again, it wouldn’t be quite as strange as the possibility of Susan meeting the current television Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.

“Now there’s a thing,” giggles Ford. “I have toyed with that: ‘Oh, grandfa – ma!’ I think Jodie is fantastic. It’s a wonderful thing she’s doing. She does it fabulously well. And how

it’s changed! Look how much money they’re spending on it now. We had to do what we did with thruppence. But they have these really big budgets. It’s just amazing.”

It’s clear that Ford would jump at the chance to make another appearance in the show if the opportunity arose. To date, however, she’s only had one full return to Doctor Who on television. This was in 1983’s “The Five Doctors”, made for the 20th anniversary.

“That was very strange,” she admits. “So many grandfathers – I was surrounded by them. Richard Hurndall [who played the First Doctor, as William Hartnell had died in 1975] was lovely. He was very nervous, and very concerned to get it absolutely right. He kept asking me if he was doing it okay, bless him.

“And I had worked with Patrick Troughton before,” she continues, recalling an episode of short-lived soap opera Harpers West One in 1962. “That was a long time ago. But I enjoyed working with him – except that he tied my hands behind my back!”

SFX is understandably shocked… How on earth did that happen?

“Well, I used to act with my hands flailing around in front of me, and I struck him in a rather tender place,” giggles the actress, with a hint of embarrassment. “So, when we took a break in recording, he grabbed hold of me, tied my hands behind my back, and said, ‘Now see if you can act!’

“It was only a joke, you know? But I remembered it. When I met him again, during ‘The Five Doctors’, I reminded him of that, and he was very apologetic. He said, ‘What a terrible thing for me to do – I’m so sorry!’”

Three decades on from that, Ford contributed to Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary. “The thing I enjoyed the most was the Royal Albert Hall show – that was extraordinary,” she enthuses, referring to the concert of Doctor Who music which she co-hosted, along with other stars from the programme. “What music! So stunning, so moving. It was very emotional