Why Every Classic Companion Left Doctor Who

29. William Russell - Ian Chesterton

Susan Foreman
BBC

Record breaking William Russell played Ian Chesterton, the charming chemistry teacher who also knew how to handle himself in a fight. Ian and Barbara were always keen to get back home to London and they finally got their wish in 1965's The Chase. William Russell and Jacqueline Hill left the show together, but decided this wouldn't be the end of their partnership. 

Shortly after wrapping on Doctor Who, Russell and Hill toured the Terrance Rattigan play "Separate Tables". Indeed, it was Russell's desire to get back to acting on stage that drove his decision to leave the role of Ian Chesterton after 77 episodes.

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Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.