Every Classic Doctor Who Companion Ranked From Worst To Best

26. Mel Bush

Doctor Who Bonnie Langford as Mel Bush
BBC Studios

Melanie Bush suffered slightly from how she was introduced to the show. She was initially shown to the Sixth Doctor during his trial. In a strange twist, her first adventure with the Doctor wasn't shown on-screen, throwing audiences a little. After this, her characterisation served to damage her standing even more.

She was cast, as per her own admission, not for her acting ability but for her screaming ability. She had a roar that could shatter glass. Even with the most deserving situations, that becomes grating after a time. On top of this, she badgered the Doctor almost constantly about staying in shape and keeping a healthy diet, ensuring she came across as preachy rather than friendly.

She benefitted greatly from a deeper exploration in the Big Finish productions, though on-screen she was largely forgotten after being replaced by Ace.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"