55 Years of Fury
It’s exactly 55 years since the final appearance of Deborah Watling in Doctor Who, in ‘Fury from the Deep’.
Deborah played the character of Victoria Waterfield, a companion of the Second Doctor portrayed by Patrick Troughton. Her tenure on the show lasted from 1967 to 1968, and she appeared in a total of 40 episodes.
‘Fury from the Deep’ was Deborah’s last adventure in the TARDIS. In the story, the Doctor, Victoria, and their fellow companion Jamie McCrimmon (played by Frazer Hines) arrived on a gas refinery in the North Sea, where they discovered that the plant was being attacked by sentient seaweed. Besides featuring the departure of Victoria from the series, the story also marked the first appearance of the Sonic Screwdriver.
Deborah’s performance as Victoria was well-received by audiences and critics alike. She brought a sense of vulnerability and compassion to the character, who had lost her father and was seeking solace in her travels with the Doctor.
After leaving Doctor Who, Deborah continued to work in television, film, and theatre. She appeared in shows such as The Newcomers, The Invisible Man and Danger UXB, and also starred in films like That’ll Be the Day and Take Me High. She returned to the world of Doctor Who in 1993, when she reprised her role as Victoria for the charity special Dimensions in Time, and again in 2013 for the affectionate 50th anniversary send-up The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. She also appeared in many video and audio spin-offs.
Deborah passed away in 2017 at the age of 69, but her legacy in the world of Doctor Who lives on. Her portrayal of Victoria remains a beloved part of the show’s history, and her contribution to the development of female characters in science fiction continues to be celebrated by fans and creators alike.
Deborah Watling’s autobiography, Daddy’s Girl, co-written with Paul W. T. Ballard, is still available from Fantom in paperback and abridged audio. Deborah also contributed to Who Talk providing her throughs on The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear.
