2018 is a hugely significant year for Doctor Who, as it’ll usher in a brand new era for the sci-fi behemoth. Last Christmas, showrunner Steven Moffat and Doctor Peter Capaldi exited the series, handing the reigns of the show over to new exec producer Chris Chibnall and, most famously, Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth incarnation of the Time Lord.
It’s a time of rebirth (or regeneration) for Doctor Who, then. Going by the decisions made so far – notably the casting of an actress in the lead role for the first time – the Thirteenth Doctor’s tenure in the TARDIS is going to, if we can borrow the lingo of another classic sci-fi series for a moment, go boldly where Who has not gone before.
However, that doesn’t mean this new era should turn its nose up at the show’s long and storied past. Doctor Who has always excelled at juggling paying homage to its past with looking to the future (which makes sense, seeing as it’s about time travel) and the renewed show should be no different.
With that in mind, here are 8 characters from the past 50 years in the TARDIS that we would love to see return in season 11 and beyond.