Janet Fielding exclusive: 'I WAS TERRIFIED OF THE DALEKS'

THE AUSSIE COMPANION LOOKS BACK ON HER TIME IN THE TARDIS

- Phillip Koch

When Brisbane-born actress Janet Fielding successfully auditioned to become Doctor Who's new companion in 1980, she never imagined she'd still be flying in the Tardis all these years later!

Now 70, Janet played the very feisty Tegan Jovanka, and tells us, "The companions never really did more than three years."

Thus Janet went into the job thinking she might only last 12 months if her character didn't "work" or connect with Doctor Who's rabid fan base. However, the world immediately fell in love with Tegan, who remains one of the most memorable classic companions of all time.

"She was the world's crankiest air stewardess!" Janet says with a laugh.

"I always thought of her like Lucy in [the comic strip] Charlie Brown she was Lucy in space.

"Tegan was not going to take nonsense from anybody, least of all the Doctor."

New Idea is catching up with Janet to celebrate Doctor Who's 60th anniversary. The milestone will be marked in a few weeks with a three-part TV special that sees the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, returning as the Time Lord. Ncuti Gatwa will then take over as the Fifteenth Doctor for the new season.

Although Janet watched Doctor Who growing up, she was never a superfan. She admits that, as a girl, she "was terrified of the Daleks and Cybermen".