William Russell returns to the role of Ian Chesterton after 34 Years

[@jetfire931]

RIP William Russell. You will be missed

[@bobhellier]

RIP william russell you were a great companion thank you for starting doctor who in 1963 along with jackie hill william hartnell and jackie hill

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

Can still hear the young Ian in his voice.

[@Gabtool]

And now Ian’s back again. God I’ve missed him so much, I hope we get to see him again if he wants to do it

[@DrTenochtitlan]

He's about to turn 98 years old, so it's incredibly unlikely we'll ever see him on screen again, but making certain he had one last appearance in the series, even as a cameo, was a well-deserved tribute to both him and the show.

[@thesimpsons17]

we made it.... LONDON 1965!!!

[@her0880]

I KNOW, BELIEVE ME, I KNOW!

[@Enzo012]

London 1999 in this case.

[@benw4409]

So glad he got the chance to come back one last time in the TV show. From the first to the latest, an icon, a legend!

[@estuaire44]

Ian and Barbara were amazing Companions and such a charming couple. Thanks for the ride, it was fun.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

After they left the TARDIS in 1965 I wonder if Ian and Barbara became a couple?

[@sianharry8053]

@@nicholasmaude6906 they got married and had a son

[@nicholasmaude6906]

@@sianharry8053 Good!

[@anthonygreen7063]

@@nicholasmaude6906 They feature in quite a bit of expanded media. The novel The Face of the Enemy has Ian and Barbara being called upon to help out by Unit in the 1970's. They have a pop star son called Ian Chess, obviously a pun on 'Chesterton'. The character is also involved in the Big Finish Susan's War audio story arc, though sadly not played by William. Even more sadly, Jacqueline Hill, the actress who played Barbara died in 1993, aged 63.

[@edcollins9377]

Chesterton, my boy, .... we'll miss you. You and Barbara set the gold standard for companions!

[@timrob12]

Despite the main show missing various opportunities to let him make a cameo, I thought it was fitting he had one in An Adventure in Time and Space. His line: "That's not how we do things at the BBC, sir," still cracks me up.

[@Kryojenix]

I legit didn't recognise him until I saw a list of cameos!

[@timrob12]

@@Kryojenix I recognized him, but only because I had read the name of his character beforehand on IMDB.

[@disneyboy3030]

He recently came back again along with a bunch of other past companions.

[@timrob12]

@@disneyboy3030 I know and that makes him the oldest actor to reprise their role in the revival.

[@Hb1290Logos]

Mawdryn Undead was written for Ian, but William Russell wasn’t available so they just shoved the Brigadier in instead. Hence the UNIT dating controversy.

[@DonnaLang42rockglobally]

RIP William Russell. Thank you for the films, the memories,and the adventures.

[@captainstage2009]

He’s back in the show!

[@227060]

Rest in Peace William Russell

[@DarthRushy]

34 years and he's still the best.

[@arianapuzzo7827]

God bless this man - now 97 years young! I wish there was a way for all of Classic Who eps to be found/restored/uploaded into one streaming place. That's my ultimate pipe dream.

[@Logan_Elkins]

Rest in glorious peace, William Russell

[@M3rche]

R.I.P. William Russell.

[@Pahjx]

Ian Chesterton should return for the 50th anniversary like this.

[@Turtl3Dov3]

I'm happy to see William Russell looking so good! I really like him. Ian and Barbara added some much-needed dignity to some of the goofier episodes (such as The Web Planet), especially when the Doctor laughed through them. (Hoo-hoo! Hmm?)

[@jacobk2]

Look it says 34 years later. Therefore, 1965+34= 1999. He did not look worse for wear, but now look at how he looked in 2013 in the 50th anniversay Docu Drama Adventures in Time and Space. as a BBC security guard.

[@mariabailey2195]

Ian was my favourite, I loved him! William Russell was so good and very kindly sent me a signed photo. Happy memories! Great to see him here...and looking so good.

[@richardgregory3684]

Ian and Barbera remain among my favourite companions. They are so totally believable as ordinary people, they really could be the teachers from your local school, their reactions and behavior in the first few stories are completely authentic and exactly as you'd expect and as any of us would likely behave as well. I think this was an enormous asset to the early show - the companions, of course, are there as proxies for the viewer. A million miles away from the modern versions who walk into the TARDIS, take it all in their stride and start quipping jokes about Queen Victoria. I had trouble believing in any of the modern companions as real, ordinary people at all. They just don't react that way. Great casting choices and wonderful acting from William Russell and the sadly no longer with us Jacqeline Hill.

[@Jiub_SN]

Not even rose? She was the only new companion I felt was fairly normal because they put a lot of care into focusing on her normal life

[@michaelsegal7443]

Anyone else noticed that Ian is wearing the Seventh Doctors TV movie outfit

[@jptheflipper3825]

I would love just once to see one of the doctors meet Ian just one more time, maybe near the end if it ever comes.

[@timrob12]

CLASS is the perfect series to have William Russell make an appearance.

[@g00gleminus96]

Because it sucked.

[@montiellopezbeatriz4796]

was the only reason y watched it and they didnt do it , what a waste of my time

[@910luk]

Well... There's Big Finish now... And he Works a lot there, sooooo.....

[@timrob12]

@@g00gleminus96 To me, Class wasn't perfect, but it fulfilled it's role: Having something from the Doctor Who universe while the main show is off the air. Still, they left it with an open ending and if someone someday wants to bring it back (and hopefully make it better) I'm wishing them the best of luck.

[@Kryojenix]

@@timrob12 I think there's a large part of the Doctor Who audience for whom Class is wholly unsuitable. I found it really inappropriate that they actually featured the Doctor in ep1 - even Torchwood kept itself separated. I liked it as a non-Doctor Who related intense sci-fi series. Oh, and Sophie Hopkins is a total doll!

[@Pahjx]

Ian would probably remember more since it was 50 year ago for him and about 500 ago for the doctor.

[@BrianSmith-lj6ug]

So Ian,Barbara and Susan a school girl vanish in 1963,and then the two School teachers reappear in 1965 with their pupil still missing.Think the Old Bill would want a word! 😀

[@josephryan362]

I love how william russell played ian on vhs release of the crusade

[@LibertyBridgeProductions]

He’s always returning! In the power of the doctor and an adventure in space n time.

[@UnchainedAmerica]

As of Feb 2024, William (Ian) still alive. He will be 100 in November.

[@scl1332]

Wow Russell is the Morgan Freeman of Doctor Who I could just listen to him for ages talking about missing Who stories

[@Steven_Andreyechen]

Then you’ll love his Big Finish appearances

[@princecharmless9742]

you will always be Sir Lancelot to me and you are still looking good.. very good for an old fellah

[@samuelbarrios3566]

Great actor !!

[@flippinecc]

Wonderful actor. What a marvellous legacy the two Bills, Carole Ann Ford and Jacqueline Hill have left for future generations with the birthing of Classic Who. The adventures of those four characters are still stimulating the imaginations of countless children and adults alike and long may they continue to do so.

[@The-Cosmic-Hobo]

This is how I think of Ian... even though this was 20 years ago. Posted even on here such a long time ago, back when William might have been capable of much more... :( So So So Amazing to see him in Power of the Doctor last year, but So So So Sad to hear that he very much struggled to be able to deliver the one line that he did. I'm glad that they did it... as he holds a very important place in my Whodom heart...

[@Hero1922]

oh my god thank you for uploading this i loved Ian he was a good man in the show and it's awesome that he did this intro glad i saw it :D

[@R.e.m.y.H.]

Please let there be a William Russell cameo in The Caretaker!!!

[@AubreySciFi]

Would have been the perfect chance, shame they didn't do it. Actually he could have technically been a recurring character in the season that Clara taught at Coal Hill School, if they'd wanted to go that way. Such a shame. And they're running out of chances, he's not getting any younger. Same thing happened with the Brigadier, tons of opportunities and he never appeared in the main New series. Sad.

[@PauloLima-zq2pz]

@@AubreySciFi He appeared in Sarah Jane Adventures!

[@AubreySciFi]

@@PauloLima-zq2pz Sure, the Brig appeared in The Sarah Jane adventures, but never in The New series of Doctor Who. At least we got him back in some capacity, but it still annoys me that he was never in the main series, post 2005. And a real missed opportunity with Ian too.

[@TheRealUnkn0wn_289]

@@AubreySciFi Yeah and they could've brought back Susan in twice upon a time but brought by Bill instead and gave Clara a weak cameo even rusty the dalek was in it

[@yospidey0078]

Such a missed opportunity to not include him in that episode. It would have been nice if the Doctor made a slight remark knowing someone else who worked at Coal Hill School to Clara.

[@Jamesalec63]

Ian Chesterton ( Wiiiiam Russell ) one of two companions of the first doctor he was a teacher and kept his cool most of the time but at first he didn't believe in time travel and aliens, much later he'll see the wonders of time travel but he always wants to return home he and the doctor never see eye to eye but he see the doctor as a crazy old man but in time that changes well in a small way, I think Ian is the only one who really sees the doctor as old traveler of many paths and he also thinks the doctors hiding something? I often wonder did the first companions ever wonder where this old time travel was going and what his part would play in earth's future or would he visit them again someday it would be fantastic to think Ian Chesterton could somehow meet his old friend who turned two people into time travelers the very first few of many children of time......

[@fjccommish]

It's good to see Chesterfield again...hmmm.

[@P-A.N.H-C]

RIP the first doctor companion William russell 🪦🕊🌿⚘️👤

[@theoutcastboi]

There is always a vague hope Ian could return this Christmas for a cameo, seeing as it is a First Doctor Regeneration story too.

[@bryanboatwright1671]

William Russell's video is only now showing in my video selection on youtube. However the rankings go, his character and Jacqueline Hill's set the bar for companions for years to come.

[@NewRootsHairUK]

You can still see it's him. Thanks

[@chrispy3369]

Fun fact, Ian references a couple off-screen adventures, one of which was shown in a book titled The Witch Hunters.

[@mayotango1317]

And the other is?

[@chrispy3369]

@@mayotango1317 No idea, I haven't found a story like that yet.

[@iLikeTheUDK]

ROUND AND ROUND

[@DaringNote62]

iLikeTheUDK the twitch memes never stop

[@OceanbornAngel]

Excellent!

[@MisterSnoops]

Genuine feels with this. Genuine.

[@iceomistar4302]

Loved his work in Big Finish.

[@gammaechofoundationproductions]

This is AWESOME!!!! 👍 It was a real treat and a delight to see the wonderful William Russell back as an elder Ian Chesterton! I love how he delivers his lines, such a great actor! 👋👋👋👋 Now that Russell T. Davies is in control again of Doctor Who, here's hoping that he will bring William Russell as Ian! 🤞 Anyway, I look forward to seeing more of your videos! You just earned a new subscriber! 🙂

[@boiwifeyasmr4U]

LONDON 1965!

[@spacial2]

That was really good. William Russell still looks like an overbearing school teacher. Well cast.

[@Kryojenix]

I think he'd have been a cool science teacher in the 1960s. He listened to The Beatles and takes things as they come.

[@julieeverett7442]

William is the original Ian Chesterton, one of the FIRST doctors original companions

[@professionalmemeenthusiast2117]

London 1965

[@CineScarborough]

I think he should return but not in a monologue. A 50th cameo featuring the Doctor asking about Barbara would be nice.

[@richardmattocks]

Awesome!

[@ellenthorne87]

I think travelling with The Doctor would have Ian & Barbara much better teachers.

[@SirDanFilmsUnltd]

I hope that these segments get included on the newly announced Season 2 Collection boxset. I know they’ve announced recons with off air photos, but these would be nice to see too.

[@irottaalfurinn2539]

Yes

[@SirDanFilmsUnltd]

@@irottaalfurinn2539 Very happy to see that’s the case. Also, these clips are heartwarming to see after Ian’s appearance in The Power Of The Doctor.

[@geebeedee9509]

I hope he could come back or be the next Doctor

[@MichaelM28]

You want a 97 year old to become a future Doctor?

[@KeizerHedorah]

Real cool he did this.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

I only found out recently the first companion was born in my hometown of Sunderland if he had any Mackem accent though, it is long gone

[@NC-gl6cx]

Ian and Barbara are what every other companion needs to live up to, and the new series has never even come close with companions.

[@fjccommish]

They've tried to elevate the companions above the Doctor.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

I can think of a few such as Liz Shaw, Sarah Jane Smith, Romana, Rose.

[@colinwood1023]

I just wished he had a better and bigger role in the adventure in time and space

[@edwardcatt2399]

"He was old when I was young"... That line gets me every time. Damn, if only they'd bought him on a reunion and adventure with Matt Smith's 11 (or any of the new ones*) for an (apparent) age reversal and for respect for the actor and character. *Not in any "Chibittaker" era episodes, though.

[@duhreetohs2103]

lol

[@nicholasmaude6906]

It's a pity that the actress who played Barbara died from cancer in 1993 otherwise I think she would've been in this too.

[@elliot20201]

God I wish they'd bring him back in for an episode. What is this from? Makes me wanna cry, as Ian was one of my favorite companions (right behind Jamie, and right ahead of Steven)

[@julieeverett7442]

this is from the dvd"lost in time" that had clips from the missing stories from 1st and 2nds run. The actual story he is relating is "the crusade" It has 2 parts missing. William himself is still alive, hes currently 97 years old!

[@DanBen07]

In the Sarah Jane Adventures episode death of the doctor. Sarah Jane says "And this couple in Cambridge, both professors. Ian and Barbara Chesterton. Rumour has it, they've never aged. Not since the sixties. I wonder."

[@astrochaos4182]

You got your wish

[@carealoo744]

May only be a cameo but he's finally back:)

[@elliot20201]

@@carealoo744 Yes, finally! I loved that. It got spoiled for me ahead of time, but I think I'd have shouted or something if I had no clue about it ahead of time LOL

[@Daisilina2001]

I hope he returns for series 8 :D

[@DarthRushy]

Why the hell he didn't come back for the 50th I will never know.

[@os2457]

DarthRushy Special was pretty packed and didn't really have a plot meant for that kind of fan service. Both the companions of 11 now work at Coal High, where we know Ian is a board member. I can see him popping up for a scene or so.

[@DarthRushy]

OttselSpy24 They could've dropped the girl in the scarf.

[@os2457]

DarthRushy Hardly an interchangeable role

[@LesterLeapsIn1]

DarthRushy I heard he originally was going to appear, but couldn't due to an illness.

[@Clock_70]

Wow.... where it all began

[@julietfischer5056]

Former companions get together to talk about their adventures with the Doctor. For obvious reasons, very little alcohol is consumed, yet things get wild. And that's before the space-nasty crashes the party.

[@bletheringfool]

It happened in power of the doctor

[@MaddoxProductions1]

Why do the ending credits make me so sad?

[@alexrobinson4802]

ella co wrote this so as a tribute get this on dvd

[@Kryojenix]

1:05 I've got that novel!! First published pure historical in ages! Is the talking stones a reference to another work?

[@irottaalfurinn2539]

no it's that novel

[@Kryojenix]

@@irottaalfurinn2539 I'll have to read it again!

[@feathersofdxhlia8122]

Alfred enochs dad!!

[@Kryojenix]

Russell Enoch!

[@os2457]

SecretTimeWarp I'm sure that THAT will never fall through...

[@josephryan362]

I love Ian in doctor who william russell was cast with grat characters ristick

[@Nati__1987]

Recien me vengo a enterar que este actor en la vida real, es el padre del actor que interpretó a Dean Thomas en Harry Potter.

[@CaltosVirnam]

why didnt they have him make an appearance during times where we see coalhill school

[@SamuelBlack84]

Chetterton 😊

[@sianharry8053]

It made me sad when I watched Ian and Barbara leave Doctor who on classic Doctor who

[@warrenhennessy7684]

How Time ages us all but was only Young l think I seen the last EPISODE of the 2nd doctor Patrick throuton mostly I watched Jon Pertwee EPISODES Right up to 2022still waiting to see WHO will play the next DOCTER

[@Paul_1971]

What was this footage from - not the Lost In Time disc was it?

[@TheValeyard92]

Is there a canon explanation for how Ian ended up loaded?

[@TNJX]

Apparently no one in the comments knows where this footage is from

[@backtothefutureman1]

It’s from the release version of ‘The Crusade’ back in the early 2000s.

[@kevinmcqueary7395]

was this from a tv special? or a vhs release?

[@TakeAchance365]

I feel like the whole the doctor was old when I was young I feel like I missed opportunity would’ve been Continuing with now, it seems like the doctor is young while I’m am now old but that’s the funny thing about Time travel when you think you know everything there is to know about the doctor about where we come from You come to realize that it’s only a matter of time before you finally can realize how very little we actually know about the universe and who we are as people

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

I just found out he is from my home city of Sunderland.

[@timescales]

Was this broadcast on TV?

[@irottaalfurinn2539]

no vhs

[@TNJX]

@@irottaalfurinn2539 but which VHS?

[@oliverwarren-cole9426]

What is this from

[@julieeverett7442]

Lost in time, a dvd that has clips from the missing stories of 1st and 2nd. The specific story hes telling is The crusade.

[@UKSCIENCEORG]

If they brought him back now it would be an episode where the female Dr and companions berate him for not being PC and referring to the Dr as 'my dear'.

[@alexv2926]

well do it then

[@finnsempire5671]

Please

[@Kritfayle]

One dislike from a Dalek

[@matthewst537]

Is this what the based tales of the tardis on?

[@Jamesalec63]

Ian and Barbara the first two who discovered the tardis along with Susan who it was later to be revealed was the grand daughter of an old man with a smile that held so many secrets and unbelievable tales yet he spoke very little at first and had a issue with these to people who turned out to be teacher at Susan's school and very intelligent for the old man this was annoying and yet he went along with it. The companions Barbara and Ian had discovered that Suans grandsd wasn't the man they thought he was or perhaps from earth or their time a mystery that both were to find out as their times on the so called ship at the time would develoop into something considerably so unbelievably and yet he the old himself sometimes couldn't tell if he know, and it was only Suans who knows what the ship was really, and that was even odder and definitely puzzling? A Tardis she started to tell them but they seemed to think this unbelievable and they were shocked to discovered the truth and so they story of adventures began for them time onboard this amazing time machine was both fantastic and unique the saw things that could chill the blood or fry it, and fought alongside heroes in history and found ancient cultures on worlds that were so advanced and possibly terrifying and some so odd? Ian and Barbara sailed through time and space but eventually really wanted to go home to their time period of course their stories did end at home but they don't truly forget about their adventures totally it was if they had dreamt them a memory that is at the back of your mind a missing clue to solve or not, but sometimes a shadow or reflection in a window or mirror, and a face in a room of people? Doctor Who reunites with his old friends by accident or something draws them back to that moment of when and where they saw that figure inside the shadow of the Tardis " Hello!" a voice rings out bang old memories return?

[@finnsempire5671]

Me : Ian well my grandfather william Hartnell is dead William Russell: you have got to be kidding me you are the doctor now Finn and William Hartnell was your ancestor and you are his grandson

[@mirlov]

What

[@SecretTimeWarp]

I suppose he'll have to do this again, now that the rest of "The Crusade" is now assumed to be recovered!

[@AshBob5000]

Still missing unfortunately

[@GuardianKyle]

Oh Ian, he's a she now. 😁

[@jims974]

You almost quoted his one line cameo. How prescient 😅

[@purefoldnz3070]

LONDON 1965!