How does one introduce on the television's most beautiful (and perfectly formed) actresses?

Such a dilemma that arises when you come to transcribe an interview with DOCTOR WHO co-star, Lalla Ward. Joining the regular cast, alongside Tom Baker, in DESTINY OF THE DALEKS (1979), Ward's character of Romanavoratrelundar (Romana for short) became an instant favourite with viewers and remained with the show until 1981 ( WARRIORS' GATE ).

The Lalla Ward Interview - 2 March 1983.

At the time, Lalla Ward was touring with a comedy, REHEARSAL (co-starring DOCTOR WHO guest stars Kate O'Mara and Peter Jeffery). The punishing schedule was taking its toll on her, and not helped by the relentless inclement Yorkshire weather.

Having been born in 1951 (28 June), Lalla would be in the ideal age range to have been a DOCTOR WHO viewer in the days of Hartnell and Troughton; had she watched the programme when she was a child?

"Not a great deal. I wasn't an avid DOCTOR WHO fan, I regret to admit. I did watch occasionally but I wasn't one of those kids who were glued to it all of the time. I thought the early ones were very good, though. I mean, I was first offered Princess Astra.

Lalla Ward first appeared in THE AMAGEDDON FACTOR (1978).

".I hadn't worked for a while. I had been away in France because I didn't want to act and also I wanted a rest."

Before DOCTOR WHO , roles were challenging and diverse. She played Harriet Shelley (in an adaptation of the life of poet, Shelley) who eventually drowned herself when her husband abandoned her. In the BBC's THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET (1977), she was daughter (Lottie) of Louisa Trotter (played by Gemma Jones).

"I came into the series quite late, which was quite nerve wracking. The cast were incredibly kind and I thoroughly enjoyed it."

In 1980, the quality of looking like a 19 year old at the age of 33 was great asset to Lalla when she accepted the challenging role of Ophelia in HAMLET (for BBC). Again, her character's life was terminated by drowning.

"One of the advantages of appearing in such a play is that you begin to understand it properly, I feel Ophelia's tragedy was that she had been so used by everybody and felt that she bore a great burden of guilt."

She confided that the role had pleased her, more so by the number of letters from DOCTOR WHO fans who.

".said that "we wouldn't have bothered to watch HAMLET if you hadn't been in it!" It's a smashing play."

On 7 February 1979, DOCTOR WHO's Producer, Graham Williams, announced that the re-occurring character of Romana was to be taken over by Lalla Ward. Amid newspaper headlines of "Lalla's just what the Doctor ordered" and "Lalla's right on time, for the Time Lord", did she enjoy the publicity aspect of such a high profile TV series?

"Yes, though it was mainly with kids. I enjoyed the promotion with K9 on my introduction day. I was sitting on K9's back and I remember there was a small dog wandering around us and came up for a 'sniff'. It was hilarious. It added something to the photos."

Whilst the script is key to character development, setting the character's agenda is often seen in its costume (and even makeup).

"I had an awful lot to say in what I wore as Romana. In DESTINY OF THE DALEKS , it was my idea for Romana to wear a copy of the Doctor's clothes. It was very funny to do. To come out of the TARDIS wardrobe wearing the EXACT copy of the Doctor's clothes, including the multi-coloured scarf - that was my idea. I enjoyed that kind of riding outfit I had in STATE OF DECAY . That was the type of stuff I wanted Romana to be in, and we had variations of that done. Then there was that 'schoolgirl' outfit of CITY OF DEATH. I thought it would be very funny for the children to see me as a schoolchild, with pleated skirt and straw boater. I didn't guess that it would make the Dads happy too."

Asking the same question we asked Tom Baker, Lalla's answer was surprisingly similar, focusing upon the 'style' of the show as opposed to the 'plot' or 'story'. What was her favourite story?

"I really like STATE OF DECAY , especially for its grate costumes and set designs. The castle and 'beneath' was well designed - it looked and felt almost real. The villains were superb. Emrys James. I think that was his name.had great eye make-up, and also Rachel Davies. They terrified me at times as it so creepy.

But I think the best script we had was the one with Julian Glover."

Of course, this was CITY OF DEATH (1979).

Starring opposite Tom Baker in no less than eleven stories and encountering a host of aliens and monsters; any key favourites?

"Well, I have to say, it has to be the Daleks. I suppose, they're my favourite monster of all time, right from the early series with Patrick Troughton. I enjoyed that story, DESTINY OF THE DALEKS."

Princess Astra or Romana, the Time Lady?

"Oh, I have to say Romana; she was much more fun to do but I did enjoy the Princess when she was turning bad. It was such a nice change from playing nice characters, you know, 'goody-goodies'.

I remember one that we had to re-write the script because I felt Romana wouldn't do that sort of thing. It was in CITY (OF DEATH) , you know. Romana had to build this machine and I disagreed with Graham (Williams) that a heroine would not build a machine for the baddies so we had to re-write the script to accommodate."

And the filming in Paris?

"Well, it was cold, in March and we didn't get to see as much as we would have liked as we were dashing about from one location to another all day. We were only there for five days and during that time Tom was a bit annoyed that the French were more interested in me and my schoolgirl outfit than him and his long scarf. Although the French were very friendly and helpful. On one location we were to film at the top of the Eiffel Tower but we couldn't, as it was so misty with four inches of snow on the ground. We couldn't see a thing but we finally got it done."

K9 played an important part in Romana's life. The relationship between the two flourished to a point that they became inseparable by WARRIORS' GATE.

"I liked him immensely, though he moved a bit too slowly and we were always saying, "Come on, K9!" When we filmed THE LEISURE HIVE, we had to put caterpillar tracks on him to get him across the rocky beach. In the end we dragged him across with some fishing wire. I was very sad when they wrote him out of the series but I was happy that he left with me. I tried to persuade John (Nathan-Turner) to keep in the show."

And a spin-off series?

"I don't know. If they asked me I would probably say, "Yes". I would have to do it with K9."

The final story, WARRIORS' GATE was a tough shoot and, in parts, a tougher script to understand. Was it difficult to act within a 'blue screen' environment?

"I didn't find it too difficult. In STATE OF DECAY, I had to throw this stalagmite at Aukon that would shatter in mid-flight. It was quite confusing because it was done with CSO. Throwing an imaginary rock! We had a fantastic Special Effects group."

Two series of DOCTOR WHO with two controversial Producers - Graham Williams and John Nathan-Turner, which did Lalla prefer to work under?

"I was very fond of Graham because he got me the job. They are very much so different. Under John, we had to change the trends of science fiction. With things like STAR WARS and other cinema they were so different to DOCTOR WHO and so we had to change. Although I don't see DOCTOR WHO as science fiction. It doesn't matter about it being in outer space, it's mainly about people - mainly the Doctor and his travelling companion."

DOCTOR WHO and SHADA . Any memories?

"That was great fun to do. I think they're going to use some unused pieces from it in this anniversary production."

THE FIVE DOCTORS (1983).

"I particularly remember the bits on the river and the punts. Ducks. White we were filming, about to 'take' these ducks would start quacking as if they were laughing at us. QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!

Tom was punting this boat and had great difficulty in steering it. We had to keep shooting those scenes. Although the actual storyline was very complicated, it was absolutely wonderful."

In 1980, Lalla decided to leave the series; any regrets?

"At the end of that season, I decided to leave half-way through the next season. I think that is eleven stories. I went to see John (Nathan-Turner) and over lunch tell him this. I was very nervous. Thankfully, we were on the same level as each other. He'd wanted to write me out in a special story halfway through the next series. I was quite happy with the way I went, I think."

Since leaving had she returned to the DOCTOR WHO studio to see friends?

"Yes, last year. I felt very much a stranger in a world I very much knew. I had some friends in the cast. Dominic Guard and Peter Benson."

TERMINUS (1983).

".John is very good at fixing things up. A good day."

It was a pure delight to meet Lalla Ward. As cheekily entertaining as you could have expected, with a twinkle of 'Romana' in her eyes. A hectic schedule with an illness - fantastic.

Our thanks to Lynne Horton at the York Theatre Royal for arranging the interview.