Kylie Minogue in Doctor Who. This was what fans were talking about back in 2007 when it was announced that the Australian superstar would take up a role in the Christmas Special. It was a moment of confliction for many fans, with some applauding the casting of such a huge star and others feeling that someone like the pop princess would take the focus away from the Doctor. It was pleasantly surprising, then, to find that overshadow him is exactly what she did. Not, however, because of who she was but because of how well the character came across. Despite the fact that Catherine Tate had already been announced as the new companion for the following series, Minogue's performance gave fans a look into what could have been had Minogue been able to commit longer term. Astrid Peth, a waitress from Sto, caught the Doctor's eye almost immediately upon his arrival on Titanic (down boy!). From the moment trouble struck, Astrid was at the Doctor's side and even managed to strike up an unlikely friendship with the Cyborg Zocci, Bannakaffalatta. Between them, Astrid and the Doctor were able to guide many of their group to safety, despite some heat-wrenching losses along the way. Astrid's defining moment came when - having heard Max Capricorn's plans to crash the Titanic into Earth - the Doctor was unable to convince the human-turned-cyborg to stop the inevitable destruction. Astrid used a forklift to carry Capricorn off the edge of a platform, down into the ships exposed engine, falling to her death along with him. Not only did Astrid's death save Earth but it also saved the Doctor and many lives aboard the Titanic itself. She gave her life to save a world upon which she had only spent a moment, yet fell eternally in love with. A true hero.
