Ace, played by Sophie Aldred, was a lady who knew how to fire a rocket propelled grenade. With Ace around, viewers knew the Daleks couldn't win. Ace would beat them to pieces - quite literally, too. After the Classic programme ended in 1989, Ace returned in the Virgin New Adventures range of novels alongside the Seventh Doctor. Her character continued to develop, eventually leaving with her own limited-range time machine and setting up a home with Count Sorin (fulfilling the future hinted at in The Curse of Fenric novelisation). Other media gave her other endings (Ace was killed in the comic strip), for example, but once again the plethora of alternative continuations was merely an indication of how popular the character was. Due to this enduring popularity, Ace was meant to return to TV screens in The Sarah Jane Adventures, however her return was scuppered when Elisabeth Sladen so very sadly passed away. But why can't Ace return in Doctor Who proper? Her character is one of a select few that is well enough remembered for a return to be practical, and fans are naturally curious as to what Ace's story would have been...