| Sylvia Noble | Appearances | Talk |
Sylvia Noble (née Mott) was the mother of Donna Noble.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Sylvia Mott was born on 5 March (PROSE: Rose [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Rose (Russell T Davies), Target novelisations (Target Books, 2018).) to Wilfred and Eileen Mott. (TV: Partners in Crime [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).; PROSE: Beautiful Chaos) As a child, Sylvia was never shouted at by her father. (PROSE: In the Blood)
In 1969, she was on Barry Island where she met Geoff Noble for the first time. She helped the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond and Rory Williams defeat an infestation of time flies which had infested the location, driving away visitors to Barry Island. The Doctor did not initially recognize her, calling her and Geoff, "Twiggy" and "Elvis" respectively until the ordeal was over. (GAME: The Silent Streets of Barry Island)
Family life[]
She married Geoff Noble circa 1970 (PROSE: Beautiful Chaos) and had a daughter named Donna (TV: The Runaway Bride [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2006 (BBC One, 2006).) in Southampton when she was visiting Iris, as Iris had refused to come to the family home in Chiswick, leading Sylvia to claim that Donna had been a problem "from the day [she] was born". (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
When Donna was six, Sylvia refused to take her on holiday, prompting her to get on a bus and go on her own to Strathclyde. After realising that Donna was missing, they called the police. (TV: Partners in Crime [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).) Sylvia bought Donna a bottle of Odeur Delaware as a gift Christmas gift in 2001. (COMIC: The Widow's Curse)
On 25 June 2007, she insisted that Donna apply to work as Jival Chowdry's secretary, as Sylvia knew him, rather than working as a temp at H.C. Clements. Donna refused, and got a job at H.C. Clements. (TV: Turn Left [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).) She would later reminisce about how she had seen ghosts that year. (AUDIO: Wild Pastures)
Early alien encounters[]
Sylvia dismissed the widely-held belief that the Cybermen were ghosts, never having believed in them. (AUDIO: Wild Pastures; TV: Army of Ghosts [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).)
On 24 December 2007, Sylvia attended her daughter's unsuccessful wedding to Lance Bennett. She witnessed Donna disappear from the church and later received a phone call from her saying that she was "on Earth", which Sylvia did not find amusing. She attended the wedding reception, where she was reunited with Donna. However, the party was soon attacked by Robot Santas and killer Christmas trees. Later, Sylvia and Geoff returned home and embraced near their Christmas tree while Donna and the Tenth Doctor spoke outside; although Donna invited him in for Christmas dinner, as Sylvia always cooked enough food for twenty people every year, the Doctor declined. (TV: The Runaway Bride [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2006 (BBC One, 2006).)
Sylvia voted for Harold Saxon's party in the general election (PROSE: Judge, Jury and Executioner) and let Donna return to live with her, believing that it would only be for a few weeks. (TV: Partners in Crime [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Sylvia had a difficult year after Geoff died in a filling station on 15 May. They had been married for thirty-eight years. (PROSE: Beautiful Chaos)
In the 2000s, Sylvia went out to De Rossi's Wine Bar with Suzette Chambers and the "Wednesday girls", where Suzette started producing Adipose infants. Along with other passers-by, Sylvia saw the nursery ship picking up and taking away the infant creatures. (TV: Partners in Crime [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
During Donna's travels[]
Sylvia remained unaware for some time of Donna's travels with the Tenth Doctor, as she chose to keep it a secret from her, only telling Wilf. She met the Doctor again just before she saved her father from suffocating in her car thanks to ATMOS by smashing the front window with an axe. She made it clear that she did not like him, blaming him for what happened at the wedding, and thought he had "blown up the car" upon activating the ATMOS placed in it. (TV: The Sontaran Stratagem [+]Helen Raynor, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008)./The Poison Sky [+]Helen Raynor, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Sylvia joined the Doctor in his investigations into the Wild Pastures Rest Home after he arrived at the house looking for Wilf, insisting that she go with him instead after seeing the nursing home's brochure which promised a tranquil holiday. She was checked in as a resident and lost track of time, believing that the Doctor disappeared for only a day rather than a week. She realised that something was happening to herself and the other patients, learning that their memories and life experiences were being harvested by a Sarga plant. She sprayed the harvested life essences into the clone nurses and killed the plant with weed killer, something that she chose to keep secret from the Doctor. (AUDIO: Wild Pastures)
When Donna returned after the trauma of the Library, Sylvia attempted to return Donna to her old self by reacquainting her with her old school friend Natalie Morrison, signing them both up for One's no Fun speed-dating, despite knowing that Nat was married to Garrison Lord. (AUDIO: Out of this World)
Unaware that Donna had been replaced with a duplicate as part of the Collectors' invasion of Earth, Sylvia was impressed with how she had turned her life around and got a job mapping trends in big data. The real Donna had been captured by aliens with Nat and was trying to return to Chiswick in the TARDIS. (AUDIO: Spinvasion, The Sorcerer of Albion, The Chiswick Cuckoos)
Sylvia and Wilf appeared on Haunted Makeovers alongside the Doctor and Donna, who were investigating the haunting of Morley Mansion. She had to pretend to be the Doctor's "mother-in-law". (AUDIO: No Place)
Medusa Cascade incident[]
When the Earth was moved to the Medusa Cascade, Wilf warned Sylvia to stay indoors, as it was always "the women" that the aliens wanted. Regardless, she went out with Wilf and witnessed the Daleks' killing of an entire family in their own house. They were almost killed by a Dalek themselves, but were saved by Rose Tyler who blew it up. As Rose was looking for Donna, the Nobles took her home where they watched the Sub-Wave Network broadcast, unable to participate as Sylvia disapproved of webcams. Sylvia and Wilf contributed to the Sub-Wave signal using their mobile phones. (TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Sylvia was relieved when the Earth was returned to the solar system. She was resentful of the Doctor for wiping Donna's mind following the Human-Time Lord Meta-Crisis and asked him to leave the house when he brought her. After these events, she had a much healthier relationship with her daughter, as in her eyes, Donna was still the "most important woman in the universe". (TV: Journey's End [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Life goes on[]
Sylvia and Wilf did not mention the Doctor to Donna per his instructions. Sylvia saw him again at Christmas when he was chasing the Saxon Master. Like the rest of humanity, she became a member of the Master Race for a time, after which she watched as Gallifrey appeared and disappeared in the sky. She finally accepted the Doctor, praying for his help when Gallifrey appeared, and smiled at him when he returned Wilf home. At Donna and Shaun Temple's wedding, the Doctor gave her a winning lottery ticket to give to Donna, having been purchased with £1 lent to him by Geoff. (TV: The End of Time [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2009 and New Year Special 2010 (BBC One, 2009-2010).)
Sylvia met Lady Christina de Souza and was proud to be welcomed by aristocracy. The two went to a party for the Amber. (AUDIO: Skin Deep) She later met River Song, who asked her, Wilf, Jackie Tyler and Francine Jones to talk about their history with the Doctor. (PROSE: Judge, Jury and Executioner)
Growing family[]
Sylvia became a grandmother when Donna and Shaun had a child, (PROSE: We Are Family [+]Paul Lang, Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (Penguin Group, 2023). Page 35.) who, by 2023, had come out as both transgender and non-binary, choosing the name of Rose for herself. While she was supportive of Rose's decision, Sylvia would catch herself making inappropriate statements and accidently referring to Rose using male-assigned pronouns, and would feel guilty for "get[ting] so clumsy" about the topic. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Doctor Who and the Star Beast (Pat Mills and John Wagner), Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
In November 2023, Sylvia went to 23 Bachelor Road (PROSE: The Star Beast [+]Gary Russell, adapted from The Star Beast (Russell T Davies), 60th Anniversary Novels (Target Books, 2023).) to cook tuna madras for her family, but the arrival of the Meep and the Fourteenth Doctor put her in a fright, (TV: The Star Beast [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Doctor Who and the Star Beast (Pat Mills and John Wagner), Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).) knowing that Donna's life was at risk (PROSE: We Are Family [+]Paul Lang, Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 (Penguin Group, 2023). Page 35.) of remembering the Doctor and becoming the DoctorDonna again. Despite her protests, Sylvia found Donna, herself and their family being dragged into the Meep's plot destroy London to fuel an escape ship, which was thwarted by the Doctor and Donna. It was then revealed that Rose had inherited Donna's meta-crisis consciousness, and they were were able to safely disperse the energy by letting go, allowing Donna to regain her memories. The next morning, Sylvia agreed to let her go on one last trip with the Doctor, albeit reluctantly, to see Wilf. However, Sylvia, Rose and Shaun watched in fear as the TARDIS suddenly dematerialised and took off uncontrollably. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Doctor Who and the Star Beast (Pat Mills and John Wagner), Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
Within the next few days of Donna's disappearance, Sylvia, Shaun and Rose went into hiding at Wilf's behest after the world fell into the madness (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).) caused by the Toymaker and the Giggle. After the Doctor and his fifteenth incarnation resolved the crisis, and the Fourteenth Doctor decided to take "rehab" on Earth to heal his mental state, Sylvia came to a garden party with his family and Melanie Bush (TV: The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).) at the Doctor's home in the countryside, (PROSE: The Giggle [+]James Goss, adapted from The Giggle (Russell T Davies), 60th Anniversary Novels (Target Books, 2024).) where she accepted being the Doctor's new "evil stepmother", jokingly retorting that she had "barely begun." (TV: The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
Other realities[]
Donna's World[]
In a parallel world, Sylvia's hectoring Donna to work for Jival Chowdry succeeded. Donna never went to work at H.C. Clements and the circumstances which led to her meeting the Doctor never occurred; as a result of this, the Doctor didn't survive his encounter with the Racnoss and various catastrophes he had stopped in the original timeline weren't averted.
Sylvia despaired when her husband Geoff Noble became ill and died. While at a hotel for a Christmas country holiday, Sylvia told her daughter how Donna's father would have loved the place they were staying in. Before long, (as the Doctor wasn't alive to prevent it as in the original timeline) the Titanic crashed into London and obliterated it, killing everyone in the city. The Nobles were forced to move to Leeds, where a huge relocation scheme was running. Southern England was flooded with radiation and conditions became much harsher as Donna and her family shared a house with Rocco Colasanto's family. Sylvia slipped deeper and deeper into depression, thinking each day of someone she knew in London who was now dead, although she managed to occasionally do things like joining in group singing of "Bohemian Rhapsody". As Sylvia's depression worsened, Donna asked if she had always been a disappointment in her mother's eyes, and Sylvia just answered, "Yeah".
This version of Sylvia was erased from history when Donna's parallel timeline was negated. (TV: Turn Left [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Personality[]
Sylvia was bossy. She liked things her way and was rarely tactful, often insulting or condescending when speaking to her father or daughter. She seemed depressed after her husband's death and did not act as if she valued the rest of her family very much. In particular, the Doctor asserted that she had been neglectful to Donna, never telling her she was important or special, and contributing to Donna developing an inferiority complex, viewing herself as "just a temp". (TV: Journey's End [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
She tended to be very practical and had a hard time believing in aliens, even when presented with very obvious encounters. (TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Sylvia deeply mistrusted and disliked the Doctor due to his actions at Donna's wedding to Lance. (TV: The Runaway Bride [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2006 (BBC One, 2006).) She was similarly annoyed when the Doctor reprimanded her for her neglectful attitude towards Donna, kicking him out of the house in response. However, her attitude towards him later changed. She prayed for his help when Gallifrey appeared in the sky. His saving the world again apparently changed her attitude towards him as she gave him a smile when he returned Wilfred home and was very nice to him at Donna's second wedding, even being deeply touched by his actions to help them out. (TV: The End of Time [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2009 and New Year Special 2010 (BBC One, 2009-2010).) When the Fourteenth Doctor came, Sylvia was concerned about his presence due to the threat to Donna's safety. However, she was also more accepting and happy to see him. After Beep the Meep's defeat and the safe return of Donna's memories, Sylvia joyfully told the Doctor that Wilf would be impressed, which she claimed was the highest compliment she could ever give. She was reluctant to let Donna go on a final trip with the Doctor, but ultimately conceded as it made Donna happy, and it was just to see Wilf. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Doctor Who and the Star Beast (Pat Mills and John Wagner), Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).) When the Doctor chose to retire on Earth, Sylvia accepted him into the family and good-naturedly responded to the Doctor calling her the evil stepmother. (TV: The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
Behind the scenes[]
- The setting of the present day of Donna Noble's family in series 4 of Doctor Who is inconsistent, and their later appearance in the Christmas Special and New Year Special The End of Time [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2009 and New Year Special 2010 (BBC One, 2009-2010). is not dated at all. In the television story The Fires of Pompeii [+]James Moran, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008)., Donna mentions the Doctor saving her in 2008. In the novel Beautiful Chaos, set between the television stories The Poison Sky [+]Helen Raynor, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008). and The Stolen Earth [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008)., a newspaper at a newsagent gives the date as Friday 15 May 2009. During an in-universe episode of The Blue Box Files in the audio story SOS, Abby McPhail describes the events of the television story Partners in Crime [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008). as taking place in 2008. During the 2023 specials, Sylvia mentions Donna's memory loss happened "a long time ago, darling. fifteen years" in The Star Beast [+]Russell T Davies, adapted from Doctor Who and the Star Beast (Pat Mills and John Wagner), Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023)., while The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023). places the present day in 2023, heavily implying a 2008 setting for series 4.
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