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Barbara Wright: Difference between revisions
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'''Barbara Chesterton''', née '''Barbara Wright''' ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]''), was one of the earliest [[companion]]s to travel with [[the Doctor]]. Before meeting the [[First Doctor]], Barbara was a history teacher at [[Coal Hill School]] in [[1960s]] [[London]]. After leaving the Doctor, she had an adventure with his eleventh incarnation and at the end of that adventure, married close friend [[Ian Chesterton]]. | '''Barbara Chesterton''', née '''Barbara Wright''' ([[TV]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor (TV story)|Death of the Doctor]]''), was one of the earliest [[companion]]s to travel with [[the Doctor]]. Before meeting the [[First Doctor]], Barbara was a history teacher at [[Coal Hill School]] in [[1960s]] [[London]]. After leaving the Doctor, she had an adventure with his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] and at the end of that adventure, married close friend [[Ian Chesterton]]. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
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In [[1963]], Barbara taught [[Susan Foreman]] history at [[Coal Hill School]] in [[Shoreditch]], [[London]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') Her classroom was C4. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Nothing at the End of the Lane (short story)|Nothing at the End of the Lane]]'') She had a particular interest in the [[Aztec]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') The odd gaps in Susan's knowledge and her knowledge of things she could not know intrigued Barbara. Informing her colleague Ian Chesterton of the strange girl, together they followed Susan to [[76 Totter's Lane]], where they heard her voice from inside a [[police box]]. They forced their way inside, discovering the massive [[console room]] of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. | In [[1963]], Barbara taught [[Susan Foreman]] history at [[Coal Hill School]] in [[Shoreditch]], [[London]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') Her classroom was C4. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Nothing at the End of the Lane (short story)|Nothing at the End of the Lane]]'') She had a particular interest in the [[Aztec]]s. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') The odd gaps in Susan's knowledge and her knowledge of things she could not know intrigued Barbara. Informing her colleague Ian Chesterton of the strange girl, together they followed Susan to [[76 Totter's Lane]], where they heard her voice from inside a [[police box]]. They forced their way inside, discovering the massive [[console room]] of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. | ||
Susan's grandfather, the [[First Doctor]], kidnapped Ian and Barbara in the TARDIS, which [[Time travel|travelled back in time]]. The TARDIS landed in [[Earth]]'s [[BC#Prehistory|Stone Age]]. The Doctor was taken by [[Kal]], who had apparently seen him produce [[fire]] from his fingers (the Doctor had been lighting his pipe using matches). The others tried to rescue the Doctor, but were taken to the [[Cave of Skulls]]. The [[Old Mother]] released the Doctor and his [[companion]]s and they escaped into [[Forest of Fear|a nearby forest]]. Ian and Barbara aided [[Za]]'s injuries from an animal when he tried to chase after them, but were returned to the cave. Ian produced fire for the tribe and devised a way of scaring the cavemen by setting the skulls on fire. The group escaped to the TARDIS, which took off again. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') | Susan's grandfather, the [[First Doctor]], kidnapped Ian and Barbara in the TARDIS, which [[Time travel|travelled back in time]]. The TARDIS landed in [[Earth]]'s [[BC#Prehistory|Stone Age]]. The Doctor was taken by [[Kal]], who had apparently seen him produce [[fire]] from his fingers (the Doctor had been lighting his pipe using matches). The others tried to rescue the Doctor, but were taken to the [[Cave of Skulls]]. The [[Old Mother]] released the Doctor and his [[companion]]s because she did not want them to bring fire back to her tribe, and they escaped into [[Forest of Fear|a nearby forest]]. Ian and Barbara aided [[Za]]'s injuries from an animal when he tried to chase after them, but were returned to the cave. Ian produced fire for the tribe and devised a way of scaring the cavemen by setting the skulls on fire. The group escaped to the TARDIS, which took off again. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'') | ||
When the TARDIS landed on [[Skaro]], the Doctor lied about the [[fluid link]] needing more [[mercury (element)|mercury]], when there was nothing wrong, so he could explore [[Dalek City|a nearby city]]. The [[Dalek]]s imprisoned the Doctor and his companions inside the city, confiscating the fluid link they brought along. | When the TARDIS landed on [[Skaro]], the Doctor lied about the [[fluid link]] needing more [[mercury (element)|mercury]], when there was nothing wrong, so he could explore [[Dalek City|a nearby city]]. The [[Dalek]]s imprisoned the Doctor and his companions inside the city, confiscating the fluid link they brought along. | ||
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[[File:Barbara Yetaxa.jpg|thumb|Barbara posing as the [[Aztec]] [[god]], [[Yetaxa]]. ([[TV]]: "[[The Day of Darkness]]")]]The Doctor and his companions arrived in an [[Aztec]] temple in [[Mexico]]. They went through a one-way passage that prevented access to the TARDIS. Barbara posed as the Aztec [[god]], [[Yetaxa]], with the others as her servants, to find a way back. Barbara tried and failed to change the Aztecs' history of [[human sacrifice]] for the better, which the Doctor strongly advised her against. | [[File:Barbara Yetaxa.jpg|thumb|Barbara posing as the [[Aztec]] [[god]], [[Yetaxa]]. ([[TV]]: "[[The Day of Darkness]]")]]The Doctor and his companions arrived in an [[Aztec]] temple in [[Mexico]]. They went through a one-way passage that prevented access to the TARDIS. Barbara posed as the Aztec [[god]], [[Yetaxa]], with the others as her servants, to find a way back. Barbara tried and failed to change the Aztecs' history of [[human sacrifice]] for the better, which the Doctor strongly advised her against. | ||
Susan was to be punished for denying marriage to the [[Perfect Victim]] and Ian to be executed when he was framed by the [[High Priest of Sacrifice]], [[Tlotoxl]], for attacking the [[High Priest of Knowledge]], [[Autloc]]. Autloc's faith in Yetaxa was shattered, and he left for the wilderness. The Doctor, Ian and the Doctor's accidental fiancée, [[Cameca]], distracted Ian and Susan's [[Aztec captain|guard]] to escape. Ian prevented Tlotoxl's murder of Barbara and fought off the warrior [[Ixta]]. They worked on a wheel and pulley system to open the doorway back to the TARDIS. As they departed, the sacrifice of the Perfect Victim continued as planned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') | Susan was to be punished for denying marriage to the [[Perfect Victim]] and Ian to be executed when he was framed by the [[High Priest of Sacrifice]], [[Tlotoxl]], for attacking the [[High Priest of Knowledge]], [[Autloc]]. Autloc's faith in Yetaxa was shattered, and he left for the wilderness. The Doctor, Ian and the Doctor's accidental fiancée, [[Cameca]], distracted Ian and Susan's [[Aztec captain|guard]] to escape. Ian prevented Tlotoxl's murder of Barbara and fought off the warrior [[Ixta]]. They worked on a wheel and pulley system to open the doorway back to the TARDIS, taking the wheel with them to avoid contaminating history (the Aztecs had never used wheels). As they departed, the sacrifice of the Perfect Victim continued as planned. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]'') | ||
[[File:Susan and Barbara resist Sensorites.jpg|thumb|left|[[Susan Foreman|Susan]] and Barbara defy the [[Telepathy|telepathic]] attack from the [[Sensorite]]s. ([[TV]]: "[[The Unwilling Warriors]]")]] | [[File:Susan and Barbara resist Sensorites.jpg|thumb|left|[[Susan Foreman|Susan]] and Barbara defy the [[Telepathy|telepathic]] attack from the [[Sensorite]]s. ([[TV]]: "[[The Unwilling Warriors]]")]] | ||
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In [[1965]], Ian and Barbara were pulled into an illusionary world, and made to believe they were in Coal Hill. They encountered the [[Eleventh Doctor]], who helped them overcome the illusion. Ian was sceptical when the strange young man proclaimed himself to be the Doctor, brushing off his intimate knowledge of their adventures as being a result of him being some sort of mind-reading alien. Barbara, on the other hand, was more willing to believe him, citing all the strange things the Doctor had done during their travels. They went with the Doctor to [[Cornucopia]], where they discovered the place in ruins. | In [[1965]], Ian and Barbara were pulled into an illusionary world, and made to believe they were in Coal Hill. They encountered the [[Eleventh Doctor]], who helped them overcome the illusion. Ian was sceptical when the strange young man proclaimed himself to be the Doctor, brushing off his intimate knowledge of their adventures as being a result of him being some sort of mind-reading alien. Barbara, on the other hand, was more willing to believe him, citing all the strange things the Doctor had done during their travels. They went with the Doctor to [[Cornucopia]], where they discovered the place in ruins. | ||
When the attackers (known as "the Hunters of the Burning Stone") attacked, the Doctor got their attention by claiming to possess the item they sought, allowing Ian to attack their leader from behind ( | When the attackers (known as "the Hunters of the Burning Stone") attacked, the Doctor got their attention by claiming to possess the item they sought, allowing Ian to attack their leader from behind (and finally convincing him that he really was the same man he once knew). Barbara was then kidnapped by [[Annabel Lake|Miss Ghost]], and transported to her ship. There, Barbara learned that Miss Ghost was actually [[Annabel Lake]], an acquaintance of the Doctor's from [[20th century]] [[Prague]]. | ||
Using Annabel's ship, they flew to the Prometheans' ship, narrowly escaping the Hunters (who were revealed to be the [[Tribe of Gum]]) and saved the Doctor, Ian and Annabel's father, [[Patrick Lake]]. Unfortunately, they could not prevent the Prometheans from using their "Neural Extractor" to regress humanity to a neanderthal mindset. On Annabel's ship, Ian and Barbara encouraged the Doctor to think of a plan, and he finally hit upon one, taking the TARDIS to the past. | Using Annabel's ship, they flew to the Prometheans' ship, narrowly escaping the Hunters (who were revealed to be the [[Tribe of Gum]]) and saved the Doctor, Ian and Annabel's father, [[Patrick Lake]]. Unfortunately, they could not prevent the Prometheans from using their "Neural Extractor" to regress humanity to a neanderthal mindset. On Annabel's ship, Ian and Barbara encouraged the Doctor to think of a plan, and he finally hit upon one, taking the TARDIS to the past. | ||
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== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
* The roles of Ian and Barbara as, respectively, science and history teachers were part of the series' original plan to alternate between science-fiction and historical stories. In an original format document, Barbara's age is listed as twenty-three, but it was decided to cast a slightly older actress in the role instead. | * The roles of Ian and Barbara as, respectively, science and history teachers were part of the series' original plan to alternate between science-fiction and historical stories. In an original format document, Barbara's age is listed as twenty-three, but it was decided to cast a slightly older actress in the role instead. | ||
* Barbara Wright has the distinction of being the first regular ''Doctor Who'' character to appear on screen. She also spoke the first line of dialogue ever heard in the series, "Wait in here please, Susan. I won't be long," as well as being the first character to meet a [[Dalek]] on screen. | * Barbara Wright has the distinction of being the first regular ''Doctor Who'' character to appear on screen. She also spoke the first line of dialogue ever heard in the series, "Wait in here please, Susan. I won't be long," as well as being the first character to meet a [[Dalek]] on screen. | ||
* [[Russell T Davies]] has stated that he sees [[Tenth Doctor]] [[companion]] [[Donna Noble]] as how Barbara would be presented today | * Compared to later companions, Barbara was not a screamer, so when looking back at the famous cliffhanger to [[The Dead Planet|the first Dalek episode]], where the camera takes the Dalek's point of view as it closes in on her, her scream is all the more powerful. | ||
* [[Russell T Davies]] has stated that he sees [[Tenth Doctor]] [[companion]] [[Donna Noble]] as how Barbara would be presented today ([[REF]]: ''[[The Writer's Tale]]''): | |||
** "She's an equal to the Doctor, a friend, a mate, a challenge. It struck me - this is how Barbara Wright would be written, if she were a 2007/8 character." | |||
