Doctor Who Between 1986 and 1987, Langford played the role of
Mel, companion to both the
Sixth and
Seventh Doctors in the science fiction series
Doctor Who. She returned to the role in 1993 for
Dimensions in Time, a special charity
Doctor Who/
EastEnders crossover episode as part of the
BBC's
Children in Need. She has continued to reprise the role in several
audio dramas alongside the
Colin Baker and
Sylvester McCoy Doctors and in a cameo in the episode "
The Power of the Doctor". In her first appearances one of her trademarks was a penetrating scream uttered while escaping from monsters. Langford made a surprise return to
Doctor Who in 2023 for the 60th Anniversary story ‘’
The Giggle’’. Also in 2023, it was announced that Langford would be returning to the series in the revival’s
fourteenth series, reprising her role as a guest star, alongside
Ncuti Gatwa as the
Fifteenth Doctor and
Millie Gibson as
Ruby Sunday. She appeared in the two part finale ‘’
The Legend of Ruby Sunday’’ and ‘’
Empire of Death’’. The episodes were broadcast in June 2024. She returned to the role for the 2025 season finale.
Dancing Langford was a featured dancer in
BBC One's popular
light entertainment series
The Hot Shoe Show, which she co-presented with
Wayne Sleep. On 23 October 2005, she performed in
Children Will Listen, a 75th birthday tribute to
Stephen Sondheim at the
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She is also a
panto regular; recent credits include Peter in
Peter Pan at the
Richmond Theatre in
Richmond, London (2008–2009); and Fairy Snow in
Cinderella at the
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in
Guildford (2013–2014).
Dancing on Ice In 2006, Langford was a celebrity contestant in the first series of
ITV's
Dancing on Ice, partnering professional
figure skater Matt Evers. Their routines were characterised by the dramatic lifts and tricks they performed and were amongst the most ambitious in the competitions. Viewers saw her bang her head as she was spun on the ice during rehearsals, illustrating the danger of some of the moves they were attempting. Their appearances were also notable for the differing reception they received from the panel of judges (which consistently voted them highly, awarding them the highest total scores and the only two maximum scores from individual judges) and the voting public (who twice placed them in the bottom two pairs, forcing a "skate off" to remain in the competition). They finished in third place overall. Langford and Evers appeared again on the programme in the one-off
Champion of Champions show which followed series two. They were scored second overall by the judging panel but again the public vote was less favourable and they were amongst the four teams eliminated in the first round of the competition. Langford then toured with ''
Torvill and Dean's
Dancing on Ice: The Tour'' in 2007. Langford took part in the
Dancing on Ice: The Tour in April and May 2008. In 2014, Langford returned to
Dancing on Ice for the ninth and final series (10 Week run), which saw the return of contestants from previous series. This time she was partnered with professional ice skater
Andrei Lipanov. She was eliminated in Week 5 after losing out to
Sam Attwater and his fiancé
Vicky Ogden. In February 2014 she was announced as one of eight celebrities that would be appearing in ''Torvill & Dean's Dancing on Ice: The Final Tour'' between March & April 2014.
Stage and television work Langford's appearance on
Dancing on Ice reinvigorated her career. She returned to the West End theatre in 2006 playing the role of
Roxie Hart in
Chicago. In 2006 and 2007, Langford appeared in the
Birmingham and
Plymouth tours of
Guys and Dolls playing Miss Adelaide Adams, a dance hall hostess. In July 2007, Langford was a judge on the
ITV series
Baby Ballroom: The Championship. In 2009 and 2010, she again appeared in
Chicago as
Roxie Hart. Langford played the role of Roz in the first UK tour production of the Broadway musical,
9 to 5, which was launched at the
Opera House, Manchester on 12 October 2012. In 2018 she took over the leading role of Dorothy Brock in the
West End revival of 42nd Street, until the show closed on 5 January 2019; a recording from the end of the 2018 run aired as part of PBS's
Great Performances’ third annual “Broadway’s Best” lineup in November 2019. In 2021, Langford appeared on
The Masked Dancer, masked as Squirrel. She reached the final and was announced as the runner up on 5 June. Langford has played the role of "Mrs. Bird" as part of the Brown family, in London West Ends "Paddington the Musical" from November 2025 to present, at the Savoy Theatre.
EastEnders On 5 April 2015, it was announced that Langford had joined long-running
BBC soap opera EastEnders for a guest role, later promoted to a regular role as character
Carmel Kazemi, the mother of established character,
Kush Kazemi (
Davood Ghadami). Carmel is described as an "overly protective" and "outspoken" mother. Commenting on the casting, Langford said: "I’m so thrilled and delighted to be part of
EastEnders. I’m a great fan of the show and think the recent 30th Anniversary was sensational and shows just how good British television can be. To be part of this family is an absolute privilege." ==Personal life==