Zoe Heriot
Encyclopedia
Zoe Heriot or simply Zoe, is a fictional character played by Wendy Padbury
in the long-running British
science fiction television
series Doctor Who
. A young astrophysicist
who lived on a space wheel
in the 21st century, she was a companion
of the Second Doctor
and a regular in the programme from 1968 to 1969.
, where she is the librarian on board Space Station W3, also known as the Wheel. When the Cybermen
attack, she aids the Doctor
and Jamie
in defeating them before stowing away aboard the TARDIS
. In David Whitaker's script for The Wheel in Space, Zoe's last name is spelled "Heriot", but the double-"r" misspelling is also seen in reference works.
Zoe's age is not given in the series, but according to initial publicity she was fifteen when she joined the TARDIS crew. She holds a degree in pure mathematics and is a genius, with intelligence scores comparable to the Doctor's. Coupled with her photographic memory
and the advanced learning techniques of her era, this makes her somewhat like a human calculator, able to perform complicated mathematics in her head. Part of the reason for her wanting to travel with the Doctor is her chafing at the restrictions and sterile surroundings of her station-bound existence. However, her real world experience is severely limited, and that gives her an ability to frequently get herself in trouble.
Together with the Doctor and Jamie, she meets the Cybermen again when they invade 20th century London
, enters the surreal Land of Fiction, fights the Ice Warrior
s and survives the battlefields of the War Chief's war games
. Her journeys with the Doctor come to an end in that serial, when the Time Lord
s finally catch up with the Doctor. As well as forcing a regeneration on him and exiling him to Earth
, the Time Lords return Jamie and Zoe to their own times, wiping the memory of their experiences with the Doctor (save for their first encounters with him) in the process.
short story "The Tip of the Mind" by Peter Anghelides
, it is revealed that although her intellect allows her to resist the memory blocks by the Time Lords, she is unable to access the memories of her time with the Doctor consciously. This causes her strange dreams, and makes her work suffer. An encounter with the Third Doctor
makes the memory blocks permanent, but she ultimately never reaches her full potential.
Padbury has appeared in Doctor Who audio adventures from Big Finish Productions
, first as a character other than Zoe in the full-cast audio Davros
, and then as Zoe in Fear of the Daleks
, part of the "Companion Chronicles" talking book series. The latter story portrays an older Zoe having detailed dreams of her adventures with the Doctor; she suspects that something is blocking her memory, but she does not know what, and is seeing a psychiatric counselor in an effort to understand the "dreams". She has returned as Zoe in several more Big Finish plays such as Echoes of Grey
, her second Companion Chronicle and unmade TV story, Prison in Space. An older Zoe is reunited with the Doctor (The Sixth Doctor
) in Legend of the Cybermen
, where her life after the Doctor is explored.
The novelisation of The Mind Robber
mentions, in passing, that Zoe discussed that adventure "long afterwards", suggesting that she eventually recovered some or all of her lost memories.
As with all Doctor Who spin-off media, the canonicity of these sources is open to interpretation.
Wendy Padbury returned to Doctor Who as an illusory image of Zoe in the 20th anniversary episode, The Five Doctors
.
and a vision of Zoe is seen along with every other companion aside from Leela
on the scanner screen in Resurrection of the Daleks
.
Season 6
20th anniversary special
Past Doctor Adventures
Telos Doctor Who novellas
Wendy Padbury
Wendy Padbury is a British actress from Warwickshire, England. She is most famous for her involvement in various Doctor Who projects....
in the long-running British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. A young astrophysicist
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
who lived on a space wheel
Rotating wheel space station
A rotating wheel space station is a hypothetical wheel-shaped space station that could create artificial gravity by rotating. If the station were rotated, inertia and the centripetal force would cause objects to press against the outer rim of the "wheel"; in the rotating frame of reference of the...
in the 21st century, she was a companion
Companion (Doctor Who)
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, the term "companion" refers to a character who travels with, and shares the adventures of the Doctor. In most Doctor Who stories, the primary companion acts as both deuteragonist and audience surrogate...
of the Second Doctor
Second Doctor
The Second Doctor is the second incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by character actor Patrick Troughton....
and a regular in the programme from 1968 to 1969.
Character history
Zoe first appears in the serial The Wheel in SpaceThe Wheel in Space
The Wheel in Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 27 April to 1 June 1968...
, where she is the librarian on board Space Station W3, also known as the Wheel. When the Cybermen
Cyberman
The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs who are amongst the most persistent enemies of the Doctor in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of humanoids originating on Earth's twin planet Mondas that began to implant more...
attack, she aids the Doctor
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
and Jamie
Jamie McCrimmon
James Robert "Jamie" McCrimmon is a fictional character played by Frazer Hines in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A piper of the Clan McLaren who lived in 18th century Scotland, he was a companion of the Second Doctor and a regular in the programme from 1966...
in defeating them before stowing away aboard the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
. In David Whitaker's script for The Wheel in Space, Zoe's last name is spelled "Heriot", but the double-"r" misspelling is also seen in reference works.
Zoe's age is not given in the series, but according to initial publicity she was fifteen when she joined the TARDIS crew. She holds a degree in pure mathematics and is a genius, with intelligence scores comparable to the Doctor's. Coupled with her photographic memory
Eidetic memory
Eidetic , commonly referred to as photographic memory, is a medical term, popularly defined as the ability to recall images, sounds, or objects in memory with extreme precision and in abundant volume. The word eidetic, referring to extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall not limited to, but...
and the advanced learning techniques of her era, this makes her somewhat like a human calculator, able to perform complicated mathematics in her head. Part of the reason for her wanting to travel with the Doctor is her chafing at the restrictions and sterile surroundings of her station-bound existence. However, her real world experience is severely limited, and that gives her an ability to frequently get herself in trouble.
Together with the Doctor and Jamie, she meets the Cybermen again when they invade 20th century London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, enters the surreal Land of Fiction, fights the Ice Warrior
Ice Warrior
The Ice Warriors are a fictional extraterrestrial race of reptilian-like humanoids in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The race originated on Mars, and first appeared in the 1967 serial The Ice Warriors where they encountered the Second Doctor and his...
s and survives the battlefields of the War Chief's war games
The War Games
The War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from 19 April to 21 June 1969. It was the last regular appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, and of Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines as companions Zoe...
. Her journeys with the Doctor come to an end in that serial, when the Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
s finally catch up with the Doctor. As well as forcing a regeneration on him and exiling him to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, the Time Lords return Jamie and Zoe to their own times, wiping the memory of their experiences with the Doctor (save for their first encounters with him) in the process.
Other appearances
Zoe's life after her return to her own time is not further explored in the series. In the spin-offDoctor Who spin-offs
Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
short story "The Tip of the Mind" by Peter Anghelides
Peter Anghelides
Peter Anghelides is an English author and dramatist best known for his work on various spin-offs related to the BBC television series Doctor Who.-Work:...
, it is revealed that although her intellect allows her to resist the memory blocks by the Time Lords, she is unable to access the memories of her time with the Doctor consciously. This causes her strange dreams, and makes her work suffer. An encounter with the Third Doctor
Third Doctor
The Third Doctor is the third incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee....
makes the memory blocks permanent, but she ultimately never reaches her full potential.
Padbury has appeared in Doctor Who audio adventures from Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
, first as a character other than Zoe in the full-cast audio Davros
Davros (Doctor Who audio)
Davros is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, and then as Zoe in Fear of the Daleks
Fear of the Daleks
Fear of the Daleks is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
, part of the "Companion Chronicles" talking book series. The latter story portrays an older Zoe having detailed dreams of her adventures with the Doctor; she suspects that something is blocking her memory, but she does not know what, and is seeing a psychiatric counselor in an effort to understand the "dreams". She has returned as Zoe in several more Big Finish plays such as Echoes of Grey
Echoes of Grey
Echoes of Grey is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.The Companion Chronicles "talking books" are each narrated by one of the Doctor's companions and feature a second, guest-star voice along with music and sound...
, her second Companion Chronicle and unmade TV story, Prison in Space. An older Zoe is reunited with the Doctor (The Sixth Doctor
Sixth Doctor
The Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
) in Legend of the Cybermen
Legend of the Cybermen
Legend of the Cybermen is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, where her life after the Doctor is explored.
The novelisation of The Mind Robber
The Mind Robber
The Mind Robber is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in five weekly parts from September 14 to October 12, 1968...
mentions, in passing, that Zoe discussed that adventure "long afterwards", suggesting that she eventually recovered some or all of her lost memories.
As with all Doctor Who spin-off media, the canonicity of these sources is open to interpretation.
Wendy Padbury returned to Doctor Who as an illusory image of Zoe in the 20th anniversary episode, The Five Doctors
The Five Doctors
The Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
.
Other mentions
Zoe is mentioned by the 6th Doctor in Attack of the CybermenAttack of the Cybermen
Attack of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from 5 January to 12 January 1985. It opened Season 22 of the series...
and a vision of Zoe is seen along with every other companion aside from Leela
Leela (Doctor Who)
Leela is a fictional character played by Louise Jameson in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Leela was a companion of the Fourth Doctor and a regular in the programme from 1977 to 1978...
on the scanner screen in Resurrection of the Daleks
Resurrection of the Daleks
Resurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts between 8 February and 15 February 1984...
.
Television
Season 5- The Wheel in SpaceThe Wheel in SpaceThe Wheel in Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 27 April to 1 June 1968...
Season 6
- The DominatorsThe DominatorsThe Dominators is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in five weekly parts from 10 August to 7 September 1968.-Plot:...
- The Mind RobberThe Mind RobberThe Mind Robber is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in five weekly parts from September 14 to October 12, 1968...
- The InvasionThe Invasion (Doctor Who)The Invasion is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in eight weekly parts from 2 November to 21 December 1968...
- The KrotonsThe KrotonsThe Krotons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 28, 1968 to January 18, 1969...
- The Seeds of DeathThe Seeds of DeathThe Seeds of Death is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 25 January to 1 March 1969...
- The Space PiratesThe Space PiratesThe Space Pirates is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1969.-Plot:...
- The War GamesThe War GamesThe War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from 19 April to 21 June 1969. It was the last regular appearance of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, and of Wendy Padbury and Frazer Hines as companions Zoe...
20th anniversary special
- The Five DoctorsThe Five DoctorsThe Five Doctors is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programme's twentieth anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago PBS station WTTW and various other PBS member stations...
(cameo)
Audio drama
- Fear of the DaleksFear of the DaleksFear of the Daleks is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
- The Glorious RevolutionThe Glorious Revolution (Doctor Who audio)The Glorious Revolution is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
(adventure related by Jamie) - Legend of the CybermenLegend of the CybermenLegend of the Cybermen is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
(with the Sixth DoctorSixth DoctorThe Sixth Doctor is the sixth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Colin Baker...
) - Echoes of GreyEchoes of GreyEchoes of Grey is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.The Companion Chronicles "talking books" are each narrated by one of the Doctor's companions and feature a second, guest-star voice along with music and sound...
- Prison in Space
- Tales from the VaultTales from the VaultTales from the Vault is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
- The Memory CheatsThe Memory CheatsThe Memory Cheats is a Big Finish Productions audiobook based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who....
- The Rosemariners
Short Trips audios
- A Stain of Red in the Sand
- The Five Dimensional Man
- Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
Novels
Virgin Missing AdventuresVirgin Missing Adventures
The Virgin Missing Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which had been cancelled in 1989, featuring stories set between televised episodes of the programme. The novels were published from 1994 to 1997, and...
- The MenagerieThe Menagerie (Doctor Who)The Menagerie is an original novel written by Martin Day and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe.-External links:*...
by Martin DayMartin DayMartin Day is a screenwriter and novelist best known for his work on various spin-offs related to the BBC Television series Doctor Who, and many episodes of the daytime soaps Doctors and Family Affairs.-Work:...
Past Doctor Adventures
Past Doctor Adventures
The Past Doctor Adventures were a series of spin-off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. For most of their existence, they were published side-by-side with the Eighth Doctor Adventures...
- The Final Sanction by Steve Lyons
- The Colony of LiesThe Colony of LiesThe Colony of Lies is a BBC Books original novel written by Colin Brake and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Second Doctor, Zoe and Jamie...
by Colin BrakeColin BrakeColin Brake is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programs such as Bugs and EastEnders. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series Doctor Who... - The Indestructible ManThe Indestructible Man (Doctor Who)The Indestructible Man is a BBC Books original novel written by Simon Messingham and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
by Simon MessinghamSimon MessinghamSimon Messingham is a British science fiction writer who has written six Doctor Who novels and another story released as an BBC Audio Drama. He also wrote and performed in the cable television programmes The Dave Saint Show and Tales of Uplift and Moral Improvement.-Past Doctor Adventures:*Zeta...
Telos Doctor Who novellas
Telos Doctor Who novellas
The Telos Doctor Who novellas were a series of tie-in novellas based on the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, officially licensed by the BBC and published by Telos Publishing Ltd...
- Foreign DevilsForeign DevilsForeign Devils is an original novella written by Andrew Cartmel and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
by Andrew CartmelAndrew CartmelAndrew Cartmel is a British science fiction writer and journalist, and former script editor of Doctor Who. He has also worked as a script editor on other television series, as a magazine editor, a film studies lecturer and as a novelist.-Biography:...
Short stories
- "Fallen Angel" by Andy LaneAndy LaneAndrew Lane , who also writes as Andy Lane, is a British author and journalist. He has written a number of spin-off novels in the Virgin New Adventures range and audio dramas for Big Finish based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who , as well as assorted non fiction books based...
(Decalog) - "Vortex of Fear" by Gareth RobertsGareth Roberts (writer)Gareth John Pritchard Roberts is a British television screenwriter and novelist, best known for his work related to the science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
(Decalog 2: Lost Property) - "Aliens and Predators" by Colin Brake (Decalog 3: Consequences)
- "War Crimes" by Simon Bucher-JonesSimon Bucher-JonesSimon Bucher-Jones in Liverpool; he is a British author, poet, artist, and amateur actor, best known for his Doctor Who novels for Virgin and the BBC and as a contributor to the Faction Paradox spin-off series....
(Short Trips) - "uPVC" by Paul FarnsworthPaul Farnsworth (writer)Paul Farnsworth is a British author best known for his comedy writing, which began with contributions to Deadpan in 1994. Between 2000 and 2006, Farnsworth concentrated on producing comedy material for the website The University of the Bleeding Obvious...
(More Short Trips) - "Please Shut the Gate" by Stephen Lock (Short Trips and Sidesteps)
- "Constant Companion" by Simon A. ForwardSimon A. ForwardSimon A. Forward is an author and dramatist most famous for his work on a variety of Doctor Who spin-offs. He currently lives and works in Penzance with his wife as a full-time writer.-Work:...
(Short Trips: ZodiacShort Trips: ZodiacShort Trips: Zodiac is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Jacqueline Rayner and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Stories:-External links:*Reviews...
) - "The Tip of the Mind" by Peter AnghelidesPeter AnghelidesPeter Anghelides is an English author and dramatist best known for his work on various spin-offs related to the BBC television series Doctor Who.-Work:...
(Short Trips: CompanionsShort Trips: CompanionsShort Trips: Companions is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Jacqueline Rayner and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The stories focus on the companions and their travels with the Doctor.-Stories:...
) - "One Small Step" by Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsNicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs, particularly as the voice of the Daleks. Briggs sometimes uses the pseudonym Arthur Wallis...
(Short Trips: Past TenseShort Trips: Past TenseShort Trips: Past Tense is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Ian Farrington and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The collection's theme is history with each story being set before the year 2000...
) - "Goodwill Towards Men" by J. Shaun LyonOutpost GallifreyOutpost Gallifrey was a fan website for the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was active as a complete fan site from 1995 until 2007, then existing solely as a portal to the still-active parts of the site, including its news page and forums Outpost Gallifrey was a fan website...
(Short Trips: A Christmas TreasuryShort Trips: A Christmas TreasuryShort Trips: A Christmas Treasury is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Paul Cornell and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The collection is the first Christmas book in the Short Trips range....
) - "That Which Went Away" by Mark Wright (Short Trips: Seven Deadly SinsShort Trips: Seven Deadly SinsShort Trips: Seven Deadly Sins is a Big Finish original anthology edited by David Bailey and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The collection's theme is the seven deadly sins.-Stories:...
) - "Undercurrents" by Gary Merchant (Short Trips: A Day in the LifeShort Trips: A Day in the LifeShort Trips: A Day in the Life is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Ian Farrington and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features a collection of stories that, together, are set over a 24-hour period.-Stories:-External links:* * Trevor...
) - "Visiting Hours" by Eddie RobsonEddie RobsonEddie Robson is a freelance author best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from the BBC Television series Doctor Who in his book : Who's Next. He is also co-owner of and a regular reviewer on the Shiny Shelf website, as well as a freelance reviewer for various science fiction magazines...
(Short Trips: A Day in the Life) - "Mercury" by Eddie Robson (Short Trips: The Solar SystemShort Trips: The Solar SystemShort Trips: The Solar System is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Gary Russell and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The collection features ten stories - one set on each planet in the solar system....
) - "Lepidoptery for Beginners" by John DorneyJohn DorneyJohn Dorney is a British writer and actor best known for stage roles including the National Theatre and his scripts for the Big Finish Doctor Who range...
(Short Trips: Defining PatternsShort Trips: Defining PatternsShort Trips: Defining Patterns is a Big Finish original anthology edited by Ian Farrington and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
) - "Homework" by Michael Coen (Short Trips: Defining Patterns)
- "Relative Dimensions" by Andrew Cheverton (Shelf Life)
Comics
- "The Vampire Plants" by David BrianDavid BrianDavid Brian was an American actor and dancer.-Career:Brian was signed by Warner Bros. in 1949 and appeared in such films as The Damned Don't Cry! and Flamingo Road with Joan Crawford, and Beyond the Forest with Bette Davis...
(Doctor Who Annual 1970) - "The Robot King" by David BrianDavid BrianDavid Brian was an American actor and dancer.-Career:Brian was signed by Warner Bros. in 1949 and appeared in such films as The Damned Don't Cry! and Flamingo Road with Joan Crawford, and Beyond the Forest with Bette Davis...
(Doctor Who Annual 1970) - "The Tides of Time" (Cameo) by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons (Doctor Who Magazine)
- "Land of the Blind" by W. Scott Gray and Lee Sullivan (Doctor Who Magazine 224–226)
- "Renewal" by Tony Lee and Pia GuerraPia GuerraPia Guerra is an award-winning Canadian comic book artist best known for her work as co-creator and lead penciller on the Vertigo title Y: The Last Man.-Career:...
(Doctor Who: The Forgotten #2)