Doctor Who Confidential
I Get a Side-Kick Out of You
Saturday 16 April 2005 on BBC-3

This episode looks at Rose and her predecessors. What does it take to make the grade as the Doctor's companion? The Confidential team looks back at companions from the past. Why does the Doctor need Rose? What does she add to the mix?

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  external: Doctor Who: Ace visitor in Norwich Feb 5, 2008 (Score: 35)
  

In a 2008 poll with SFX Magazine Doctor Who Special Sophie's Doctor Who character Ace McShane ranked Number 4 for Best Companion. (edit) In February 2008 Sophie attended a convention in Norfolk to meet fan to talk about her past experiences on Doctor Who. (edit) Sophie also has another son called William. (edit) Sophie voiced the character of Dr. Cockcroft in 'The Curse of Tutancommon', the first episode of the BBC Radio 4 comedy series Ectoplasm (which first aired in 2000).
(edit) Sophie has appeared as Gretel in a production of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera version of Hansel And Gretel. (edit)

Sophie Aldred: (On acting with Sylvester McCoy) Yeah. It was one of those lucky things really. We just very much got on from the moment we met. We shared a similar-ish background; I was an ex-radical feminist student with hairy armpits, and he really liked that. A bit rebellious, and he'd come from this very subversive background with his Ken Campbell roadshow. And don't forget that Margaret Thatcher was our Prime Minister, which we weren't very happy with at the time. So it was all a real bonding process. (edit) Sophie Aldred: (On the thought of reprising the role of Ace for the new series of Doctor Who) I'd love it, it would be so exciting.

I'd love to have another go at some point, but I can see it was totally right that Lis went back to do her bit and I'm so delighted for her that she's going on to do the Sarah Jane Adventures.

I think it so fantastic for children to have an older female role model – where else can you find that. An exciting, adventurous older woman on children's telly, it's so brilliant.

I thought the episode that she did [School Reunion], the story summed it up for all the assistants.
(edit) Sophie Aldred: (On Remembrance of the Daleks) Smoke was billowing out of these tunnels and the police, we could hear the sirens coming, and they jumped out of their cars and then the smoke cleared and these Daleks appeared from under the bridge – can you imagine the police faces as the Daleks came out. And my real claim to fame is that I beat up a Dalek with a baseball bat! Nobody had ever done that and nobody has done it since. It was really amazing to do that stunt sequence. (edit) (On Ace being more assertive compared to other companions)
Sophie Aldred: You couldn't have said a nicer thing. I was a real tomboy when I was growing-up. I really understood the character of Ace.
Twenty years ago there were no equivalent young female roles on television who were doing realistic, down-to-earth, tomboyish things. I think there was Susan Tully on EastEnders, but I can't think of any others – so it was very exiting for me to do that part and get such great feedback from the public about having somebody realistic to see on the screen. Still now I meet women who say, 'You were such a hero of mine. I loved the way you were so strong,' and all that sort of thing – so I'm very proud to have played a character like that. (edit) (On how she got the part of Ace on Doctor Who)
Sophie Aldred: John Nathan Turner said afterwards he saw me because on the back of my publicity photo it says,'Has own leathers!'. (edit)

Star
Doctor Who Ace	It's a Mystery Presenter
Zzzap! Minnie The Magician(11-12)

Guest Star
Children in Need 1993 [2 Parts] Herself	Children in Need Pause For Pudsey (4) Ace
Doctor Who Confidential I Get a Side-Kick Out of You Herself	Search Out Science The Ultimate Challenge Ace
Space Cadets Alphas vs. Omegas Herself