N is for... Newman, Verity

Granddaughter of nurse Joan Redfern, whom the Doctor had fallen in love with whilst transformed into the human schoolmaster John Smith in 1913. He had employed a Chameleon Arch to alter himself physically and mentally as a means to evade the alien Family of Blood who were hunting him. Joan was matron at the school where the Doctor had hidden himself. On regaining his true identity, Joan had rejected him since he had brought death and destruction to the area - albeit inadvertently.

Knowing that he was soon to regenerate, the Doctor decided to revisit old friends and companions. As it might hurt too much to see Joan again, he instead went to a book signing by Verity - named after John Smith's supposed mother. She had written a book based on Smith's dreams - A Journal of Impossible Things. This actually comprised the Doctor's memories leaking through to his human form. He had left this with Joan.

Verity realised who he was, and was able to inform him that Joan had lived a happy life.

Played by: Jessica Hynes. Appearances: The End of Time Part II (2010).

• Verity is named for Verity Lambert, Doctor Who's first producer, and Sydney Newman, the series' creator.
• Hynes had played Joan Redfern in Human Nature / The Family of Blood. She was available for only a couple of hours to record her scene, prior to travelling abroad. Her scene would have been cut had she proved unavailable, potentially replaced with a meeting with Elton Pope.