The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Louise Jameson is a classically trained actress whose first love is the stage, but she also became known to millions of British television viewers through her roles in such hugely popular television series as Doctor Who (1963), Tenko (1981), Bergerac (1981) and EastEnders (1985).

Jameson had formal acting training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and embarked on a considerable amount of stage work, including two-and-a-half years at the Royal Shakespeare Company. She also achieved several roles in television, including Z Cars (1962) and Emmerdale Farm (1972), and the horror film Disciple of Death (1972). She auditioned for the role of a nurse in Angels (1975) and the role of Purdey in The New Avengers (1976).

In 1976, Jameson got her big break into television when she won the role of Leela, the alien savage companion of Tom Baker's Doctor in the BBC's Saturday evening science-fiction adventure series Doctor Who (1963). Jameson joined the series midway through its 14th season and when it was at the height of its popularity under producer Philip Hinchcliffe; her debut in The Face of Evil: Part One (1977) was seen by 10.7 million viewers. She also attracted much tabloid attention due to her skimpy leather costume, with many people calling her the sexiest companion yet. Despite the series' huge popularity, Doctor Who had been coming under increasing fire from Mary Whitehouse for its violent and horrific content. Hinchcliffe was replaced by Graham Williams at the end of the season and the new producer was told by the BBC to lighten the tone of Doctor Who.

Jameson completed another season of Doctor Who but her relationship with Tom Baker was strained. She decided to leave the series during the production of Image of the Fendahl: Part One (1977), when she was offered another prestigious stage role as Portia in The Merchant of Venice at the Bristol Old Vic, and she left at the end of The Invasion of Time: Part Six (1978).

In 1981, Jameson appeared as a regular in another popular BBC series, Tenko (1981), where she was cast by Pennant Roberts, who had auditioned her for Doctor Who and directed her first story. In 1985, she became a regular in the BBC's Jersey-based detective drama Bergerac (1981) as star John Nettles's love interest.

Between 1998 and 2000, Jameson played Rosa di Marco in the BBC's top soap opera EastEnders (1985), although Jameson later said she found the heavy schedule and lack of rehearsal time left her dissatisfied.

As well as her acting roles, Jameson has been a prison visitor in her spare time. One of her achievements was encouraging Leslie Grantham to become an actor while he was serving a murder sentence. She has directed youth productions of the works of William Shakespeare for local festivals and she has run a Sunday Drama College, based in her home town of Tunbridge Wells.

Tom (<a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0048982/?ref_=nmqu_qu">Tom Baker</a>) wasn&#39;t always the easiest man in the world to work with, but he is a very exciting and dedicated actor. When I see him at conventions now we get on terribly well. He&#39;s brilliant with the fans, so witty and unpatronising.

<a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0056751/?ref_=nmqu_qu">Doctor Who (1963)</a> still haunts me! But I am very happy to be associated with it. I attend three or four conventions a year and do a little bit of charity work. The fans are very, very loyal.

I&#39;ve always had plenty of attention from men. As I&#39;ve got older, there&#39;s been less but I&#39;ve also been less interested. When I was Leela I was surprised I became a sex symbol. I thought <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0056751/?ref_=nmqu_qu">Doctor Who (1963)</a> was just a children&#39;s show but they dressed me in skimpy leather and a leotard and put it on after the football results on Saturday evening so all the Dads watched. I&#39;d love to say it was a complete pain being a sex symbol but actually, although unanticipated, I enjoyed it. Yet I don&#39;t miss it.

[on the continuing appeal of <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0056751/?ref_=nmqu_qu">Doctor Who (1963)</a>] It was way ahead of its time dealing with inclusivity and dangerous issues like bullying. If you analyse any one of those scripts, it is about stopping bullying. Everyone feels different or excluded at some point and &quot;Doctor Who&quot; puts its arms around you and holds you.

[on making acting choices] I don&#39;t think it&#39;s necessary to receive approval from the world. It&#39;s about doing the best you can and being content with that.

[on the way she was written out of <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0088512/?ref_=nmqu_qu">EastEnders (1985)</a> in 2000] I was annoyed about the way it was announced. I was only told the night before it appeared in the papers. I thought they could have run it by me first so I could tell my family. It wasn&#39;t respectful.

[on her departure from <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0088512/?ref_=nmqu_qu">EastEnders (1985)</a>] Shortly before that announcement they&#39;d wanted to run a particular story that I wasn&#39;t happy with and I wonder if that was the beginning of my demise. They were going to make Rosa racist. It&#39;s not that I wouldn&#39;t play a racist if the overall feel was anti-racism. But when you&#39;re in a soap, people identify you so strongly with the character you&#39;re playing, so I didn&#39;t want to appear racist.

Quotes

Louise Jameson

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