In one of his last acts as script editor, Andrew Cartmel convinced Sophie Aldred to stay on as Ace for one more year, so that the new caretaker producer, David Maloney, wouldn’t have to deal with two inexperienced actors carrying the show. As for the Doctor, the production crew cast Edward Peel-Smith, a respected character-actor who had appeared on such shows as All Creatures Great and Small, Emmerdale Farm and even as a one-time Doctor Who villain, Mr. Peel-Smith was tall, well-built and thought to be a suitable contrast to the short and slight Sylvester McCoy. He had a demonstrated acting ability, but was a relative unknown on British television … not unlike what Tom Baker had been before he became the fourth Doctor, Maloney noted.

Edward Peel-Smith jumped at the opportunity to star and he and David Maloney worked out a characterization that would differentiate the eighth Doctor from the seventh. Maloney suggested a “gentle giant” approach at one point and, while Peel-Smith didn’t wholly agree, he liked the idea of a Doctor that didn’t seek out trouble, but rather had trouble find him.

The season had a strong transition feel about it. The production team was a transitional team designed to take care of the program while a co-producer could be found. Ace was a holdover from a previous era, and the eighth Doctor hadn’t yet hit his stride. Even so, a number of fans confessed an appreciation of the season’s quiet and subtle style, as the eighth Doctor and Ace adjusted to each other, and the eighth Doctor adjusted to his new body.

At the end of Season 28, Ace took her final bow. Sophie Aldred moved onto other projects, and a new companion was sought for Season 29.