Best known to Who fans for her role as the third Doctor’s companion Liz Shaw, the funeral for actress Caroline John took place yesterday in London.
John’s involvement with Doctor Who lasted long beyond her reign as the 1970 companion, extending to an appearance in 1983’s The Five Doctors, the 1990 Children in Need special Dimensions in Time and a string of the Mark Gatiss-written P.R.O.B.E video spin-offs and Big Finish audio plays.
Doctor Who was also part of the actress’ personal life, as she was married to Geoffrey Beevers, the actor behind the third Master’s appearance in The Keeper of Traken serial.
John’s companion has received attention of late from those puzzling over potential clues in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, due to her sharing a name with Noomi Rapace’s Dr Elizabeth Shaw in the recent release.
The Who character’s scientific background put her on much more of an even footing with Pertwee’s Doctor than companions past and since, a dynamic Steven Moffat has teased may be returning to the show, with the Doctor’s new companion set to “run rings around” him.
Caroline John, rest in peace.
