Sylvester McCoy had to fight for Bonnie Langford’s Doctor Who exit scene

In the final instalment of a 3-part interview, Doctor Who legend Sylvester McCoy reveals his favourite stories from the Seventh Doctor's era and recalls how he had to fight for Bonnie Langford's companion Mel to get a farewell scene.
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[@TheMoodbeam]

Sylvester is such a gentleman, I've had the fortune to meet him three times and he's been brilliant for each one. The last I saw of him he was perched upon the Iron Throne whilst Katy Manning and Bonnie Langford had photos taken with fans infront of the Tardis prop. He sat swinging his legs back and forth cheekily grinning. No other Doctor could do that on the Iron Throne 😂

[@damiangriffiths6065]

The seventh doctor was more memorable than he was given credit for at the time. Thank you Mr McCoy!

[@purefoldnz3070]

still the longest serving Doctor by far 1987 - 1996.

[@dommoore6180]

And despite no new seasons he actually made several in character TV appearances from 1990 to 1996 and he did voice work for video games, the pinball table, albums based on the new adventures books etc. So he was a present figure during those years themselves for doctor who

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@dommoore6180 yeah despite that, the 7th lived on in novels, comic books and audio plays. So his incarnation is the most developed by far.

[@josgibbons6777]

1996-2005 is also 9 years.

[@dommoore6180]

@josgibbons6777 true although mcgann didn't make appearances throughout that period (being absent from 1998-2000) and there was still mccoy era based media like lungbarrow and destiny of the doctors coming out in 1997 as holdover. I would still give mcgann the 9 year period though he was current for that time, but I think mccoy just edges him out as "longer" by making more regular appearances during his era and having that holdover into 97. Just my opinion though, they're both by far the longest running periods for a doctor.

[@purefoldnz3070]

​@@dommoore6180 oh yes that is true!

[@MalcolmMXTaylor]

I did like Sylvester especially when the storylines suggested he could be 'Merlin' and how he could have been much more entwined in mythical history. Ghost Light was a great story, Greatest Show in the Galaxy was pretty ambitious for it's time, and Curse of Fenric had very dark elements esp with his relationship with Ace (and Sophie's acting in that was top notch as well). Am so glad he came back to hand over to McCann in the tv movie, and yes he can always claim that TARDIS was HIS, and in a way that design of tardis is what was then carried on when ecclestone took on the role in 2005

[@robertwiddasart6947]

This was incredible, thank you radio times

[@cloudsparrow7729]

if Ghost Light had had 5 more minutes of explaining what on earth was going on, it would have been truly magnificent. As it was we got August Strindberg's Ghost Sonata for kids on Wednesday evenings. The last season was great

[@minicle426]

The novelisation does help sort some things out.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

McCoy was an excellent Doctor Who. I'm glad what he did with The Doctor. He made The Doctor more mysterious and made him manipulative and cunning.

[@themirrorsofmymind]

MEL: "Well, I suppose it's time..." THE DOCTOR: "Funny old business, time. It delights in frustrating your plans! All Kane's bitterness and hatred thwarted by a quirk of time..." MEL: "No, I meant that I guess that it's time that I should be going... Time that I left." THE DOCTOR: "Oh... Well, I guess you could be right. It probably is time for you to go..." MEL: "Before I go-" THE DOCTOR: "Well, if you must go!" MEL: “Look, I just wanted to say-” THE DOCTOR: “There’s no time, Mel.” MEL: "No, I'm not going until I've said my piece! I just wanted to say-" THE DOCTOR: "There isn't time, Mel!" MEL: "Oh, alright. You win." THE DOCTOR: "I do? I usually do..." MEL: "I'm going now..." THE DOCTOR: "Oh, yes, you're going... You've been gone for ages! Already gone and still here... Only just arrived, haven't even met you yet... It all depends on who you are and how you look at it, I suppose. Strange business, time..." MEL: "Goodbye, Doctor." THE DOCTOR: "Oh... I'm sorry, Mel. Think about me, when you're living your life, one day after another, all in a neat pattern. Think about the homeless traveler and his old Police Box. His days like crazy paving..." MEL: "Who said anything about home? I've got much more crazy things to do yet...” (later) MEL: “I'll send you a postcard." THE DOCTOR: "But I don't have an address." MEL: "Oh, I'll put it in a bottle and throw it into space! It'll reach you... In time..." (ALL FROM MEMORY, so it may have errors...)

[@darkwoods1954]

Such a shame the BBC screwed McCoy and the series over.

[@purefoldnz3070]

should have wrapped the interview talking about the 60th anniversary and the return of Mel. Instead it just ends.

[@radiotimes]

…unless we held something back for the 60th? 😏

[@purefoldnz3070]

@@radiotimes in that case.... cant wait!

[@huwturbervill8476]

Bit muddled I think. Inconceivable that the BBC, who didn't like Doctor Who at the time, would extend season 27 to 26 episodes from 14 :)