Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Bonnie Langford confirm Mel Bush will play a key part in tackling the mystery of Anita Dobson’s Mrs. Flood in season 15. Langford made her classic series debut in Colin Baker’s final season in 1986, and would continue into Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor era before departing in 1987’s “Dragonfire”. After a brief cameo in Jodie Whitaker’s final story “Power of the Doctor”, Mel would join UNIT and aid both David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor and Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor.
While Mel played a pivotal, but tragic role in Doctor Who’s season 14 finale, Davies and Langford have already teased where the classic companion will return next during “Empire of Death’s” commentary on BBC iPlayer. During a moment where Mrs. Flood was the focus of the episode, Davies highlighted how at the time of the commentary’s recording Langford had been filming scenes involving Dobson, confirming that her “plans” would play a part in season 15 that reveal insight into the character’s true nature. Check out Davies’ and Langford’s exchange below:
Davies – We have plucked Bonnie from the set of series two, where more is revealed about Mrs Flood. That’s all we’re saying.
Langford – A lot more is revealed. But we always knew there was something there.
Davies – Oh something’s going on. Well, she says here, “I had such plans!” And you are in the middle of those plans right now.
Could Mel’s Season 15 Return Answer Many Long-Held Doctor Who Mysteries?
The Mystery Around Mrs. Flood Is One Of Season 14’s Biggest Unanswered Questions
Despite briefly becoming one of Sutekh’s (Gabriel Woolf) servants, Mel is restored to life at the end of Doctor Who season 15 alongside the rest of the universe. However, during his psychological torture and possession of Mel, Sutekh hinted to the family that she had lost long ago, an event never seen on screen and a tragedy that Davies has drawn attention to in the episode commentary and other interviews. With Langford now a returning Whoniverse player, it is possible Mel may receive much-needed exploration that her original run was never able to.
In her debut classic season, Mel didn’t meet the Sixth Doctor (Baker) in the correct order of events and was instead ripped from a later adventure to take part in his trial by the Time Lords, with the season concluding with the Sixth Doctor returning her to her proper time. With her next appearance in “Time and the Rani” skipping to the end of her travels with the Sixth Doctor, their true initial meeting was never seen on screen, but Doctor Who’s expanded media would offer several answers. With Davies teasing Mel’s past, perhaps the showrunner is preparing to offer a more definitive origin.
Within Davies’ second Doctor Who tenure, Mel’s role is akin to Sarah Jane Smith’s (Elizabeth Sladen), a familiar and beloved face who carries on the legacy of the classic era and bridged multiple generations. As such, many viewers will be glad to hear that not only will she return in Doctor Who season 15, but play a key part in one of the season’s biggest mysteries. Furthermore, with both Davies and Langford confirming Mel will star alongside Dobson, it is clear answers are coming to Flood’s true nature.
Doctor Who season 14 is available on Disney+ and BBC iPlayer, with a seasonal special set to air in December.