Doctor Whoseason 14 marked a huge turning point for the classic sci-fi television show, bringing back showrunner Russell T. Davies for a completely new era of adventures and mysteries. As with the arrival ofany new actor playing the Doctor, this season ofDoctor Whowas filled with exciting backstory and character-building moments that rendered it much slower-paced than most other seasons, butthere were still some gripping storylines that ran throughout. One of this season’s biggest mysteries pertained to the character of Susan, who first appeared in 1963 as the Doctor’s granddaughter.
Susan’s name was teased multiple times throughout the season,leading fans to theorize that she would return in the finalein the form of Susan Triad, a recurring face that had been appearing on the Doctor’s adventures. However, this later proved to be a red herring as Triad was revealed to be an emissary ofSutekh, the God of Deathfrom the popular TV serialPyramids of Mars. This was a great reveal that tied neatly into the show’s history, and while it overshadowed the potential Susan return, it was a much safer twist.
Susan’s Doctor Who Return Wouldn’t Mean Anything Without Carole Ann Ford
The Actress Has Expressed Her Interest In Coming Back
Bringing back Susan Foreman without letting Carole Ann Ford return to the classic role would have been a huge misfire, particularly given the actress’ vocal enthusiasm for returning at some point in the future. Speaking withDoctor Who TV,Ford recently admitted that she’d love to reprise the character of Susan.She announced that she’d met with Russell T. Daviesseveral times, and he’d be the man in charge of saying yes or no: “so hopefully it’s going to be yes,” she said.
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Ford is the last surviving cast member fromDoctor Who’s first season following William Russell’s death in 2024, soit would be a huge missed opportunity if she never gets to returnto the show. When it was suggested that Susan could be recast, Ford joked: “they better not, I’d burn the studio down.” It’s clear that the actress holds this character fondly, and ifDoctor Whois going to bring her back, she has to be the one to play her.
Doctor Who Season 15 Must Include The Real Susan After Season 14’s Fake-Out
The Character Is Long Due Her Return
Susan’s fate inDoctor Whois one of the most unfortunate of all the Doctor’s companions: the Time Lord merely left her behind one day, never visiting her again following their amiable goodbye. It’s something that he clearly feels guilty about, as Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor expressed in the most recent season, soit makes sense that audiences would expect her returnat some point in the future. And given the show’s clever fake-out, it now seems even more likely that she’ll come back.
Perhaps Ford’s conversations with Davies have been more fruitful than either has been letting on.
Doctor Whois recognizing Susan’s character for the first time in a long while, even if it’s just for a fake-out like this. But the fact that she’s been mentioned, and her name has been indirectly thrown back into the discussion, means thata return could be on the cards in the next season. Perhaps Ford’s conversations with Davies have been more fruitful than either has been letting on.
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Doctor Who: Released on June 09, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
