The sister of Clacton MP, Giles Watling, and former Doctor Who companion has died following a short battle with cancer.
Deborah Watling, who lived with her husband, Steve Turner, in Thorpe-le-Soken, was best known for her role as Victoria Waterfield in the BBC series alongside second doctor, Patrick Troughton.
The actress was diagnosed with lung cancer just six weeks ago, and died earlier today, aged 69.
She was the daughter of Jack Watling – a film star in the 1940s and 50s – and actress Patricia Hicks, and sister to Clacton MP Giles Watling, who is also an actor.
Mrs Watling was born in Loughton on January 2, 1948, and followed her parents into acting at a young age.
At just nine-years-old, she got the part of Sally in The Invisible Man and but secured her first television appearance in an episode of William Tell.
Her stage debut was at the age of 12 in Roar like a Dove, before her big break in 1965 when she landed the lead role in Play for Today: The Life of Lewis Carroll, playing Alice.
She became a household name after working on Doctor Who in 1967, even appearing opposite her father in two episodes.
Many of Mrs Watling’s episodes were lost by the BBC, and only one – Tomb of the Cybermen – still exists and has been released on DVD.
Later on in her career, she appeared in The Newcomers and various theatre roles.
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