Wendy Padbury played Zoe Heriot, a companion to Patrick Troughton's Doctor, in "Doctor Who". Zoe was a young astrophysicist and librarian on board the W3 space station. She was a former student of the Earth School of Parapsycology and could only think logically and not emotionally. After the W3, or Wheel, had been attacked by the Cybermen she joined forces with the Doctor and Jamie to defeat them. She then stowed away on board the TARDIS and became one of the Doctor's travelling companions. Slowly her emotions returned whilst still thinking logically to help get them out of a few sticky situations they tended to find themselves in!
THE WHEEL IN SPACE
This, as stated above, was Wendy's first story in Doctor Who. She had previously attended the recording of Deborah Watling's (Victoria Waterfield) final episode but she recalls being very scared during the recording of her own first story. The Wheel is somewhat of a blur to Wendy as she was too busy concentrating on remembering her lines and standing in the right positions in the studio! She enjoyed working with the cast and crew, however, as well as working with the Cybermen and their little "pets", the Cybermats!
THE DOMINATORS
This was Wendy's least favourite story to make and to watch. One thing she does recall is the fact that she had to wear a skirt made out of PVC paper which was constantly tearing!
THE MIND ROBBER
This story is one of fandoms most popular stories of all time and it remains Wendy's favourite story. She recalls that it was a very exciting story to do and she loved the inventiveness of the script, such as the forest of letters. "I thought it was really wacky, kind of a bit before its time if you know what I mean" she told Doctor Who Magazine [DWM] issue 208. "I loved the tin soldiers and the unicorn and all those scenes. They were really fun to do." The picture top right is a publicity shot from "The Mind Robber", featuring Zoe and Jamie (Frazer Hines) with the robots. The outfit she had to wear was amazing and she remembers the zip breaking! The most popular image from this story is with Zoe clinging onto the TARDIS console screaming as it spins around in space when the TARDIS is destroyed.
THE INVASION
Another encounter with the Cybermen in this very popular story. Who can forget seeing them walking down the steps of St Paul's Cathedral? Here Zoe's logically mind helped overcome Tobias Vaughn's security system and enabled her to work out the firing plan that destroyed the invading Cyber fleet.
THE KROTONS
Wendy cannot recall this story and it is not terribly popular with fans of the show. But here, again, Zoe was a match with the Kroton's computer and logic games, convincing them she was a "high brain". She even outwitted the Doctor!
THE SEEDS OF DEATH
An epic adventure involving the Ice Warriors and lots of foam! Wendy has recently recorded commentary with Frazer Hines for the forthcoming DVD release of this story. She found the Ice Warriors the most frightening of all the monsters and villains she encountered during her time on the show - it was the low hissing whispering voice that frightened her the most and they are, indeed, very convincing monsters!
THE SPACE PIRATES
Another story Wendy cannot recall - "I don't remember The Space Pirates at all," she told Nicholas Briggs during her "Myth Makers" video interview. Sadly, like so many of Patrick Troughton stories, this story no longer survives apart from the first episode, although, thankfully, the vast majority of Wendy's episodes still do exist.
THE WAR GAMES
The ten part epic story which saw Patrick Troughton's tenure as the Doctor come to an end. Here Wendy wore the most remarkable trench coat in keeping with much of the First World War theme. Both Frazer Hines and Wendy were invited to remain with the show but both decided it just wouldn't be the same without Pat Troughton and so they, too, decided to leave the show. Wendy recalls being very sad during the recording of the final scenes when Zoe and Jamie are returned to their rightful place in time and space, whilst they have all but their first adventure removed from their memories by the Time Lords.
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