WHATEVER HAPPENED TO... IAN CHESTERTON?

The question on the lips of many fans is; where is Ian Chesterton?

Ever since last year's anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, fans have been eagerly anticipating the return of original companion, Ian Chesterston, after we learned that in the current day he is Chairman of the Governors at Coal Hill Secondary School (see above). It could easily have been a nice little touch added to the anniversary special, but with Clara now a teacher at the school it seemed likely to most fans that Ian would make a long-awaited return -- especially given that the latest episode, The Caretaker (shown last Saturday), was to be set entirely within Coal Hill School. Did Ian turn up, though? No!

Coal Hill School science teacher, Ian Chesterton

Many fans, including professional authors who have written novels featuring Ian, believe this to be a missed opportunity. Other than Carol Ann Ford who played Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, Ian actor William Russell is the only surviving actor from the original line-up that shaped Doctor Who in it's first year. It's been fifty years since we last saw Ian in Doctor Who, although he has returned in many novels, short stories, comics and audio dramas over the last couple of decades. In these it became known that he and Barbara Wright (the first regular character to be seen in Doctor Who) married after their travels with the Doctor, and this was finally confirmed in 2010 in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode Death of the Doctor when Sarah informed her young friends that Ian and Barbara Chesterston live in Cambridge, and rumour has it they haven't aged since the '60s. Thus we know for certain that both Ian and Barbara are still alive in the Doctor Who universe, although it is unlikely we'll ever see Barbara make a return on TV due to the actress' unfortunate death in 1993.

So, what of Ian? Why hasn't he returned? Gareth Roberts, author of The Caretaker, was asked about this at Cultbox.co.uk and has this to say; 'I just thought it would be too much of a distraction. I think that's an episode all of its own.' He makes a fair point. To bring back such an important character from Doctor Who's informative years would and should be a very big deal. Roberts added; 'I'd love to see William Russell back in the show! That's so rich and so fertile for someone to do. You'd have to explain it enough so that everyone would get it.'

Cambridge scientist, Professor Ian Chesterton

But how much would you really need to explain? It could so easily be a passing encounter, in which Professor Chesterton assists the Doctor without even realising who the caretaker, Mr Smith, is. The Doctor would, of course, know and taking the cue from an old Brief Encounter prose story published in Doctor Who Magazine, the Doctor could leave a little gift for Ian. It would be a magical last moment of an episode to have Ian holding that gift, as realisation dawns. A wistful smile plaguing his lips as he lifts the phone to call his wife Barbara...

Perhaps this is all being set up now? Perhaps Adrian, the teacher that bore a passing resemblance to Matt Smith, will be revealed to be Adrian Chesterton, Ian and Barbara's son? Certainly that is what I was expecting as I watched The Caretaker. Was I the only one to think that? Drop a post in the comments, and let us know your thoughts. 

Coal Hill teacher, Adrian... Chesterton?