Polly Wright: [during the First Doctor’s regeneration] “Ben, what are we going to do? We can’t just leave the Doctor there.
Ben Jackson: What, ‘him’? [sarcastically] ‘The Doctor’?
Salt-of-the-Earth types
Ben Jackson & Polly Wright first appeared in the First Doctor adventure; The War Machines – 1966, meeting the Doctor and Dodo; in London – in 1966.
Ben (played by Michael Craze), was a Royal Navy Seaman and was on shore leave. Polly (played by Anneke Wills), worked as a secretary for a Professor Brett, who was developing the super-computer – ‘WOTAN’.
Polly met Dodo and took them both, to a nightclub called ‘Inferno’. Here, Polly was hassled by a pushy male bar-patron – and Ben stepped in, to defend her honour.
Afterwards, Dodo left London and Ben and Polly helped the Doctor defeat the WOTAN computer and it’s (created) War Machines.
Before leaving, Dodo sent her Tardis key back; to Ben and Polly. Who both attempted to return it to the Doctor; by entering the Tardis unchallenged. The Tardis then dematerialised, with both – accidentally stuck inside.
Ben was a – no-nonsense plain-talking ‘salt-of-the-earth’ type, who didn’t really understand his time-travel predicament but was quick-thinking and could use his fists. Alot of the Doctor’s spoken sci-fi concepts, went straight-over Ben’s head. Therefore, Ben looked to Polly to translate what the Doctor had just said.
Ben had a soft-spot for Polly, impressed – seemingly by her “upper class” accent and manners. Even going as far to nickname her; “Duchess”.
Polly – meanwhile, was a happy go-lucky swinging 60’s young socialite. Polly used her feminine charms – and sense of humour, to get the best of a situation; especially with men.
Infuriatingly, for Polly, she could normally be found making cups of tea in the Tardis; her main errand.
The trio travelled to 17th Century Cornwall, in The Smugglers – 1966 and to meet the Cybermen in The Tenth Planet – 1966 where they both witnessed the First Doctor regenerate – into the Second.
Ben – especially, did not accept the newly regenerated Second Doctor; believing him to be an imposter. Polly – alternatively, took to the younger, more dynamic Doctor sooner. They didn’t have long to enjoy each other’s company though, as they were both thrust into a conflict – against the Doctor’s biggest foes; The Daleks in The Power of the Daleks – 1966.
In The Highlanders – 1966 Ben and Polly became a trio of companions, when Scottish Highlander Jamie- joined the Second Doctor and crew.
Ben and Polly, both got a follow-up run-in – with the Cybermen, in The Moonbase.
The pair even broke the stalemate of an invasion attempt, by concocting an acidic mixture. Which they used, to melt the Cybermen’s chest-breathing panels; killing them.
The pair stayed on with the Second Doctor, until the Doctor was able to return to 1960’s London. Luckily, on the very day they had left; in The Faceless Ones – 1967.
Being back on Earth – in 1966; at London’s Gatwick Airport; on the day they had both originally departed, in The War Machines). The pair decided to take their leave and left the Tardis.
