History Creator / BonnieLangford

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': 17 episodes / 6 stories[[labelnote:show list]]"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E3TerrorOfTheVervoids Terror of the Vervoids]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E4TheUltimateFoe The Ultimate Foe]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E1TimeAndTheRani Time and the Rani]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E2ParadiseTowers Paradise Towers]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E3DeltaAndTheBannermen Delta and the Bannermen]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire Dragonfire]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWho2022CENThePowerOfTheDoctor The Power of the Doctor]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWho60thASTheGiggle The Giggle]]"[[/labelnote]] (1986-87, 2022-23) -- Melanie "Mel" Bush

In 2022, Langford briefly reprised her role as Mel in televised ''Doctor Who'' for a one-line cameo in the BBC Centenary Special "[[Recap/DoctorWho2022CENThePowerOfTheDoctor The Power of the Doctor]]".

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': 17 episodes / 6 stories[[labelnote:show list]]"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E3TerrorOfTheVervoids Terror of the Vervoids]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E4TheUltimateFoe The Ultimate Foe]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E1TimeAndTheRani Time and the Rani]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E2ParadiseTowers Paradise Towers]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E3DeltaAndTheBannermen Delta and the Bannermen]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire Dragonfire]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWho2022CENThePowerOfTheDoctor The Power of the Doctor]]"[[/labelnote]] (1986-87, 2022) -- Melanie "Mel" Bush

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': 17 episodes / 6 stories[[labelnote:show list]]"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E3TerrorOfTheVervoids Terror of the Vervoids]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E4TheUltimateFoe The Ultimate Foe]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E1TimeAndTheRani Time and the Rani]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E2ParadiseTowers Paradise Towers]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E3DeltaAndTheBannermen Delta and the Bannermen]]", "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS24E4Dragonfire Dragonfire]]"[[/labelnote]] (1986-87) -- Melanie "Mel" Bush

From 1999 onwards, she has also reprised the role on Mel in audio from for AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho, which has provided her with much higher quality scripts than she was given for the televised show and given her the chance to show that she was capable of portraying Mel as a far more interesting and rounded character than the one-note damsel in distress she was written as for the main show.

Mel is generally remembered as one of the worst companions in Series/DoctorWho history, but the fandom has become increasingly willing to acknowledge that this is not entirely Langford's fault, as the poor quality of writing for the show at the time and unusual circumstances of her introduction, follwed by Baker's firing denying her the chance to have a more conventional introduction, meant she never had a fair crack at the whip.

From 1999 onwards, she has also reprised the role on Mel in audio from for AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho, which has provided her with much higher quality scripts than she was given for the televised show and given her the chance to show that she was capable of portraying Mel as a far more interesting and rounded character than the one-note damsel in distress she was written as for the main show. She is the '''only''' regular actor of the original ''Doctor Who'' series to have been born during its run (even her successor as companion, Creator/SophieAldred, was born in 1962).

From 1999 onwards, she has also reprised the role on Mel in audio from for AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho, which has provided her with much higher quality scripts than she was given for the televised show and given her the chance to show that she was capable of portraying Mel as a far more interesting and rounded character than the one-note damsel in distress she was written as for the main show. She is the '''only''' regular actor of the original Doctor Who series to have been born during its run (even her successor as companion, Creator/SophieAldred, was born in 1962).

From 1999 onwards, she has also reprised the role on Mel in audio from for AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho, which has provided her with much higher quality scripts than she was given for the televised show and given her the chance to show that she was capable of portraying Mel as a far more interesting and rounded character than the one-note damsel in distress she was written as for the main show.

* ''Series/EastEnders'': 350 episodes (2015-18) -- Carmel Kazemi

From 1999 onwards, she has also reprised the role on Mel in audio from for AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho, which has provided her with much higher quality scripts than she was given for the televised show and given her the chance to show that she was capable of portraying Mel as a far more interesting and rounded character than the one-note damsel in distress she was written as for the main show.

Langford subsequently reprised her role on-screen as Mel in the 1993 special "[[Recap/DoctorWho30thASDimensionsInTime Dimensions in Time]]", ironically a crossover with ''Series/{{Eastenders}}'', which she would join as a regular cast member 22 years later.

At the end of the season, Creator/ColinBaker was uncerimoniously fired from the show and replaced by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy, meaning the show never got the chance to show how Mel actually met the Doctor. Langford stayed on as Mel for [=McCoy's=] first season, before the production team chose to write her out and replace her with Creator/SophieAldred as new companion Ace.

Langford subsequently reprised her role on-screen as Mel in the 1993 special "[[Recap/DoctorWho30thASDimensionsInTime Dimensions in Time]]", ironically a crossover with ''Series/Eastenders'', which she would join as a regular cast member 22 years later.

Mel is generally remembered as one of the worst companions in Series/DoctorWho history, but the fandom has become increasingly willing to acknowledge that this is not entirely Langford's fault, as the poor quality of writing for the show at the time and unusual circumstances of her introduction, follwed by Baker's firing denying her the chance to have a more conventional introduction, meant she never had a fair crack at the whip.

Mel is generally remembered as one of the worst companions in Series/DoctorWho history, but the fandom has become increasingly willing to acknowledge that this is not entirely Langford's fault, as the poor quality of writing at the time and unusual circumstances of her introduction, follwed by Baker's firing denying her the chance to have a more conventional introduction, meant she never had a fair crack at the whip.

Mel is generally remembered as being among the worst companions in Series/DoctorWho history, but the fandom has become increasingly willing to acknowledge that this is not entirely Langford's fault, as the poor quality of writing at the time and unusual circumstances of her introduction, follwed by Baker's firing denying her the chance to have a more conventional introduction, meant she never had a fair crack at the whip.

Mel is generally remembered as being among the worst companion's in Series/DoctorWho history, but the fandom has become increasingly willing to acknowledge that this is not entirely Langford's fault, as the poor quality of writing at the time and unusual circumstances of her introduction, follwed by Baker's firing denying her the chance to have a more conventional introduction, meant she never had a fair crack at the whip.

At the end of the season, Creator/ColinBaker was uncerimoniously fired from the show and replaced by Creator/SylvesterMcCoy, meaning the show never got the chance to show how Mel actually met the Doctor. Langford stayed on as Mel for [=McCoy's=] first season, before the production team chose to write her out and replace her with Creator/SophieAldred as new companion Ace.

In 1986, she returned to television when she was cast in ''Series/DoctorWho'' as companion Melanie "Mel" Bush, alongside Creator/ColinBaker's Sixth Doctor. She made her debut mid-way through Season 23, in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS23E3TerrorOfTheVervoids Terror of the Vervoids]]". Uniquely, she was introduced as a companion who the Doctor had already been travelling with for a significant period of time, as part of the season-long ''The Trial of a Time Lord'' arc.

In 1986, she returned to television when she was cast in ''Series/DoctorWho'' as companion Melanie "Mel" Bush, alongside Creator/ColinBaker's Sixth Doctor.

After taking time out to focus on studying at Italia Conti Stage School, Langford spent the early 1980s focussed on stage acting. This included appearing in a production of ''The Pirates Of Penzance'' with future ''Series/DoctorWho'' co-star Creator/SylvesterMcCoy.

Bonita "Bonnie" Langford (born 22 July 1964) is an English actress, dancer and singer. She is known for her acting roles as companion Melanie "Mel" Bush on ''Series/DoctorWho'' and Carmel Kazemi in ''Series/EastEnders''.

Bonita "Bonnie" Langford (born 22 July 1964) is an English actress, dancer and singer. She is known for her acting roles as companion Melanie "Mel" Bush on ''Series/DoctorWho'' and Carmel Kazemi in ''Series/Eastenders''.