Ann Talbot
Lady Ann Cranleigh (née Talbot) was an aristocratic young woman physically almost identical to the Fifth Doctor's companion Nyssa.
Biography
Ann Talbot had relatives in Worcestershire, namely Percy, (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"]) and was dedicated to charitable pursuits. George and Charles Cranleigh competed for her affections (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"]) and she fell in love with George, whom she intended to marry. (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"]) She stayed the night at Cranleigh Hall several times. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"])
Following George's disappearance in Brazil in 1923, Ann entered into a relationship with Charles, (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"]) whom she did not love the same way that she had loved his brother. Charles, however, promised that he would make her love him. She began to have nightmares whenever she stayed at Cranleigh Hall and was told that they would subside once she came to terms with George's death. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"])
The Fifth Doctor and his companions Nyssa, Adric and Tegan Jovanka met Ann on 11 June 1925, at a cricket match and fancy dress party at Cranleigh Hall. At the fancy dress ball, Ann and Nyssa wore identical butterfly costumes to play a prank on the other guests. This nearly backfired when George escaped and took Nyssa hostage, mistaking her for Ann, but Charles and the Doctor were able to rescue Nyssa, only for George to fall to his death from the roof of Cranleigh Hall. (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"])
Searching for segments of the Key to Time, the Seventh Doctor's companion Ace briefly visited Cranleigh Hall in 1925. She saw a woman who was either Nyssa or Ann Talbot. She could not tell which as she did not approach or speak to her. (COMIC: Time & Time Again [+]Loading...["Time & Time Again (comic story)"])
Ann married Charles Cranleigh the following year. The Doctor attended the reception and asked a favour of the new Lady Cranleigh: impersonate Nyssa as part of an elaborate plan to defeat the Osiran Nephthys. By having Ann accompany him to 1996 and disguise herself as an elderly Nyssa, the Doctor was able to trick Nephthys into travelling back and forth between 1926 and 1996 via her Osiran time corridor, culminating in her ageing to death. (PROSE: The Sands of Time [+]Loading...["The Sands of Time (novel)"])
Personality
Ann found brandy unpleasant. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"])
Appearance
Ann had a small face, a slight body and dark hair which she wore in a bob. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"]) She was indistinguishable from Nyssa aside from a small mole on her shoulder and her differing haircut, (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"]) although Charles Cranleigh was also able to tell them apart from Ann's eyes. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"])
