Why Every Classic Companion Left Doctor Who
24. Jackie Lane - Dodo Chaplet
While training at the Library Theatre in Manchester, Jackie Lane had a role in the play Never Had It So Good. The play was written by future Doctor Who producer John Wiles, who cast Lane as Dodo Chaplet, making her debut in the closing moments of The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve.
This was actually Lane's second attempt at a Doctor Who role, having previously auditioned for the role of Susan. While her previous connection with Wiles earned Lane the role of Dodo, it didn't count for much when he was replaced by Innes Lloyd.
Lloyd didn't feel that Dodo's ill-defined contemporary companion was modern enough for his vision of Doctor Who, and duly axed Jackie Lane. Dodo didn't even get a proper goodbye, and merely sent a telegram to the Doctor to state her intention to stay in London.