“But if you’re the REAL Doctor! [following his regeneration from Sixth to Seventh], then why do you look like THAT? ” Mel – Time And The Rani.
Chipper, chirpy – annoying!
Mel (Bonnie Langford), was a companion of the Sixth and Seventh Doctor – and the first companion to feature, as a “future” companion of the Sixth Doctor.
The Sixth Doctor – at this point in time, had not actually met Mel yet and didn’t meet her – until after the events, in Trial Of A Timelord.
“I’ll send you a postcard! Oh, I’ll put it in a bottle and throw it into space! It’ll reach you… in time!” Mel – Dragonfire
These future events, would have been covered in some more detail – in season 24 but Colin Baker was replaced, by Sylvester McCoy.
Mel (whose second name was not disclosed – but believed to be “Bush” – from subsequent novelisations), was of 20th Century Earth origin; hailing from Sussex – in the UK.
Mel was a computer programmer by trade and a commited vegetarian – and health enthusiast. She frequently badgered the Sixth Doctor – to take more exercise, due to his expanding girth.
She was a bubbly, vivacious girl; with shock curly red hair and a colourful dress sense to match. But Mel’s most distinguishable facet; her ear-piercing, sonic-boom scream which rang out every time Mel laid eyes – on a monster.
This made her character not very well liked, as the Doctor’s companion. But to be fair, Mel was a victim of a show in decline and at this time – Doctor Who was very close to being cancelled. It was only given a further stay of execution, when Colin Baker was dropped from the role of the Doctor.
Due to the change of Doctor, Mel was never given much of a backstory and she left – herself, shortly after the Sixth Doctor regenerated into the Seventh and was replaced by the much deeper – and more relatable; Ace.
In Time And The Rani – 1987, Mel was captured by the Rani – who cast an illusion, to make herself appear as Mel – to get the newly regenerated (and confused) Seventh Doctor – to be complicit in one of the Rani’s dastardly schemes.
During the events of Dragonfire – 1987, Mel met up with Bounty Hunter and all round rogue; Sabalom Glitz – who she had previously met in Trial Of A Timelord and decided to leave the Seventh Doctor – to go travelling with Glitz instead.
Mel is not remembered as a very popular companion – in Doctor Who but the show generally, was in decline at this time and her character development suffered considerably, from this.
