I is for... Idris

 

Idris was a young woman who lived on the planetoid known as House, which existed in a bubble universe. House was really a hostile gaseous entity which fed on TARDISes, which it lured to its world. In order to consume the TARDIS energy House had to first remove its matrix - the sentient part of it which could attune itself telepathically with its operator. This was downloaded into an organic being, who would soon burn up and die. When House captured the Doctor's TARDIS, House transferred its matrix into Idris. Her own personality blotted out, she effectively became the TARDIS, and for the first time the Doctor was able to communicate with his ship as though it were another person. She revealed that rather than he stealing her, she had stolen him - wanting to explore the universe as much as he did. When he complained about the ship never going where it was supposed to go, she explained that it went where he needed to go. She was unhappy that he always ignored the "Pull to Open" sign on the doors, always pushing them open instead. Idris helped the Doctor put together a makeshift TARDIS from the remains left on the planetoid after House departed in the Doctor's ship with Amy and Rory trapped on board. Idris was able to make a telepathic link with Rory to guide them to one of the old console rooms, as she had saved them all. Soon after the makeshift TARDIS materialised within the Doctor's ship, Idris began to die. However, the matrix was now back in its home and was able to re-establish itself there, destroying House. Just before she died, Idris was able to give the Doctor a clue which would lead to River Song's true identity.

Played by: Suranne Jones. Appearances: The Doctor's Wife (2011).

• Jones had earlier appeared as the living Mona Lisa portrait in the Sarah Jane Adventures story Mona Lisa's Revenge. She first came to prominence as a regular on Coronation Street.
• The "Pull to Open" on the TARDIS door actually refers to the telephone cabinet, not the main doors.