Tales from Chicago TARDIS: Jo Martin, Steph De Whalley, and Susan Twist Appreciate Doctor Who Beyond the Show

We've said this time and time again: Smaller cons hold a bit of special magic to them. They're perfect chance to spend sometime with like minded people in a non hectic, not overcrowded venue and discuss the smallest detail of the fandom. Such was the case during these two fantastic panels.

First up was the trio of Jo Martin (the Fugitive Doctor), Steph De Whalley ( 15th Doctor companion Anita Benn), and Susan Twist (Susan Triad). Right off the bat, all three members of the panel discussed the discovery of the vast world of cons and being honored to represent the series beyond their time on the show. For us fans who are well aware of the con circuit, its always refreshing to hear that actors appreciate the second like their work get beyond the show.

Having depicted a mysterious version of the Doctor, Jo Martin certainly got a lot of attention during the audience Q&A portion and was more forthcoming about the future of her character than one would think. She responded positively to questions about a show revolving around her Doctor, teasing that it is a very real possibly. Later asked what she would like her Doctor to do in the future, Martin had to navigate a little more carefully but hoped some capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial art the mixes dance and acrobatics) could be in the Doctor's future,

Susan Twist, certainly the most recent focal point of three on Doctor Who, delved into her history with Russel T Davies, after being asked if her character's plot line was possibly inspired by her perfect stage name or it was a happy coincidence. She admitted to not really knowing and being really impressed with all the theries the fans made (like thinking that her name and history had been planted online as a ARD) before she was revealed as ... well, spoilers. Twist recalls having met Davies well before being on the show and being asked to be on the show with out an audition, something the panelists and audienced agreed must have fed into the character he wrote.

Towards the end of the talk questions began to expand beyond the world of Who. Martin discussed her time on Mike Leigh's Hard Truths, which at the time the iconic British writer/director claimed to her would be his last film, but is currently is filming his 16th feature. "He lied to me!" She jokingly exclaimed, much to the glee of the crowd, before relaying how happy she was to work with Leigh.. All three were then asked who they would love to work. De Whalley immediately noted Olivia Coleman, Martin instantly noted Judy Dench, and Twist lamented that she never worked with Maggie Smith.

Of course the conversation returned to Who before the end of the panel and Steph De Whalley shined the brightest. She proudly declared to have eaten every bite of food on screen (and beyond in additional takes) during her time on Doctor Who, which was met with a bit of astonishment form her fellow panelists and Ncuti Gatwa while on set. And when asked what they all wanted their TARDIS to look like if they were the Doctor, de Whalley invoked the inside of the Spice Girls tour bus from Spice World.. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want that!