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'''Companion''', in the long-running [[BBC]] [[science fiction on television|television science fiction]] programme '''''[[Doctor Who]]''''' and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctor]]. The term is primarily used in [[Doctor Who fandom]]; the press and general public often refer to these characters as "assistants". The term was rarely used in the classic series ([[1963 in television|1963]]-[[1989 in television|1989]]), however the revived series ([[2005 in television|2005]]-) makes more frequent use of the term. The Doctor almost always travels with between one and three companions; the only exception in the television series is the serial ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'', in which he travels alone. In most ''Doctor Who'' stories, the companion provides a [[audience surrogate|surrogate]] with whom the audience can identify, and furthers the story by asking questions and getting into trouble, or (especially in later stories) by helping or rescuing the Doctor.
'''Companion''', in the long-running [[BBC]] [[science fiction on television|television science fiction]] programme '''''[[Doctor Who]]''''' and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctor]]. The term is primarily used in [[Doctor Who fandom]]; the press and general public often refer to these characters as "assistants". The term was rarely used in the classic series ([[1963 in television|1963]]-[[1989 in television|1989]]), however the revived series ([[2005 in television|2005]]-) makes more frequent use of the term. More often, however, the Doctor merely introduces his fellow leads as his "friends". In the 2005 series, the [[Ninth Doctor]] states he "employed [[Rose Tyler]] as [his] companion", prompting an immediate inquiry into the sexual status of the relationship.
The Doctor almost always travels with between one and three companions; the only exception in the television series is the serial ''[[The Deadly Assassin]]'', in which he travels alone. In most ''Doctor Who'' stories, the companion provides a [[audience surrogate|surrogate]] with whom the audience can identify, and furthers the story by asking questions and getting into trouble, or (especially in later stories) by helping or rescuing the Doctor.


On occasion, characters have functioned as companions to series villain [[Master (Doctor Who)|the Master]], among them [[Chang Lee]], [[List of Doctor Who monsters and aliens#Malmooth|Chantho]] and his eventual wife, [[List of Doctor Who henchmen#Lucy Saxon|Lucy Saxon]], whom he calls his "human companion".<ref>{{cite episode
On occasion, characters have functioned as companions to series villain [[Master (Doctor Who)|the Master]], among them [[Chang Lee]], [[List of Doctor Who monsters and aliens#Malmooth|Chantho]] and his eventual wife, [[List of Doctor Who henchmen#Lucy Saxon|Lucy Saxon]], whom he calls his "human companion".<ref>{{cite episode
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As a technical term, "companion" is more common within fan circles; the press uses the term more loosely, and often refers to the characters as "assistants". The series itself does not apply the term consistently: often, the Doctor merely introduces his fellow leads as his "friends". In the 2005 series, the [[Ninth Doctor]] states he "employed [[Rose Tyler]] as [his] companion", prompting an immediate inquiry into the sexual status of the relationship.


==History of the ''Doctor Who'' companion==
==History of the ''Doctor Who'' companion==

Revision as of 14:57, 30 June 2008

Doctor Who companions
A collection of companions from Doctor WhoSusanBarbaraIanVickiStevenKatarinaSaraDodoPollyBenJamieVictoriaZoeLizJoSarah JaneHarryLeelaK-9K-9 Mark IIRomanaRomana IIAdricTeganNyssaTurloughKamelionPeriMelAceGraceRoseAdamJackMickeyDonnaMarthaAstrid
A collection of companions from Doctor Who
A collection of companions from Doctor Who
Click on a face for details

Companion, in the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the Doctor. The term is primarily used in Doctor Who fandom; the press and general public often refer to these characters as "assistants". The term was rarely used in the classic series (1963-1989), however the revived series (2005-) makes more frequent use of the term. More often, however, the Doctor merely introduces his fellow leads as his "friends". In the 2005 series, the Ninth Doctor states he "employed Rose Tyler as [his] companion", prompting an immediate inquiry into the sexual status of the relationship.

The Doctor almost always travels with between one and three companions; the only exception in the television series is the serial The Deadly Assassin, in which he travels alone. In most Doctor Who stories, the companion provides a surrogate with whom the audience can identify, and furthers the story by asking questions and getting into trouble, or (especially in later stories) by helping or rescuing the Doctor.

On occasion, characters have functioned as companions to series villain the Master, among them Chang Lee, Chantho and his eventual wife, Lucy Saxon, whom he calls his "human companion".[1]

History of the Doctor Who companion

When Doctor Who was created, the dramatic structure of the programme's cast was rather different from the hero-and-sidekick pattern that emerged later. Initially, the character of the Doctor was almost an antihero, with uncertain motives and abilities. The protagonists were schoolteachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, who provided the audience's point-of-view in stories set in Earth's history and on alien worlds. Ian in particular served the role of the action hero. The fourth character was the Doctor's granddaughter Susan, who was initially presented as an "unearthly child"; the programme's makers intended Susan as an identification figure for younger viewers.

Carole Ann Ford, who played Susan, became unhappy with the lack of development for her character, and chose to leave in its second series. The character of Susan was married off to a freedom fighter and left behind to rebuild a Dalek-ravaged Earth, establishing two scenarios to which the series would later return. Doctor Who's producers replaced Susan with another young female character, Vicki. Similarly, when Ian and Barbara left, the "action hero" position was filled by astronaut Steven Taylor. This grouping of Doctor, young heroic male and attractive young female became the programme's pattern throughout the 1960s.

When the programme changed to colour in 1970, its format changed: the Doctor was now Earth-bound, and acquired a supporting cast by his affiliation with the paramilitary organization United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. The Third Doctor, more active and physical than his predecessors, made the role of the "action hero" male companion redundant. In the 1970 season the Doctor was assisted by scientist Liz Shaw and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, along with other UNIT personnel. The intellectual Shaw was replaced by Jo Grant in the 1971 season, and as the programme returned to occasional adventures in outer space, the format shifted once more: while UNIT continued to provide a regular "home base" for Earth-bound stories, in stories on other planets the Doctor and Jo became a two-person team with a close, personal bond. This pattern, the Doctor with a single female companion, became a template from which Doctor Who rarely diverged. The "heroic male" type occasionally returned (for example, Harry Sullivan and Jack Harkness), but the single female companion was Doctor Who's staple.

The role of the companion in Doctor Who

Companions have assumed a variety of roles in Doctor Who, as involuntary passengers, as assistants per se (particularly Liz Shaw), as disciples, as friends, and as fellow adventurers.

The Doctor regularly gains new companions and loses old ones; sometimes they return home, or find new causes — or loves — on worlds they have visited. Some companions (notably Katarina, Sara Kingdom, Adric, Kamelion and Astrid Peth) have died during the course of the series.

There are some disputes within Doctor Who fandom about the definition of a companion, but most fans agree that over thirty (including K-9 Marks I and II) meet the criteria for "companion" status in the television series, with others being established in the various spin-offs. Most companions travel in the TARDIS with the Doctor for more than one adventure, although there are exceptions; see Disputed companions, below. Sometimes a guest character will take a role in the story similar to that of a companion: one recent example is Lynda in "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways" while an example from the classic series is photographer Isobel Watkins who plays a significant role in "The Invasion".

Despite the fact that the majority of the Doctor's companions are young, attractive females, the production team for the 1963–1989 series maintained a longstanding taboo against any overt romantic involvement in the TARDIS: for example, Peter Davison, as the Fifth Doctor, was not allowed to put his arm around either Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) or Janet Fielding (Tegan).[2] However, that has not prevented fans from speculating about possible romantic involvements, most notably between the Fourth Doctor and the Time Lady Romana (whose actors, Tom Baker and Lalla Ward, shared a romance and brief marriage). The taboo was controversially broken in the 1996 television movie when the Eighth Doctor was shown kissing companion Grace Holloway. The 2005 series played with this idea by having various characters think that the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler were a couple, which they vehemently denied. Since the series revival, the Doctor has kissed companions Rose, Jack, Martha, Astrid and Donna, although each instance not in a romantic context (see also "The Doctor and romance").

Previous companions have reappeared in the series, usually for anniversary specials. One former companion, Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen), together with the robotic dog K-9, appeared in one episode of the 2006 series more than twenty years after their last appearances in the 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors (1983). The character of Sarah Jane also heads up a Doctor Who spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures. Another companion, Captain Jack Harkness, appears in the spin-off programme Torchwood.

The new series (2005–) has slightly altered the significance of the companion status, partly due to a strong focus on the character of Rose Tyler and characters connected to her. For example, although Adam Mitchell was a companion by the standard definition, he appeared in only two episodes and was arguably a less significant part of the 2005 series than Rose's sometime boyfriend Mickey Smith, who was not technically a companion but appeared in five episodes (or six, including a brief appearance as a child in "Father's Day"). Mickey later gained full-fledged companion status when he joined the TARDIS crew in the 2006 episode "School Reunion". In that episode, Sarah Jane Smith referred to Rose as the Doctor's "assistant", a term to which the latter took offence. This exchange might be regarded as indicating a deliberate shift in approach for the new series.

New series companions have also a more flexible tenure than their classical predecessors. Of the Doctor's six companions over the first three series, two (Jack and Mickey) have left the Doctor's company at some point, only to return later for further adventures. This will continue in Series 4, with Donna, Martha, Rose, Sarah Jane and Jack returning to the show.

List of Television companions

The First Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Susan Foreman Carole Ann Ford 1–2 An Unearthly Child The Dalek Invasion of Earth 10; plus travels pre-An Unearthly Child. Also appears in The Five Doctors.
Barbara Wright Jacqueline Hill 1–2 An Unearthly Child The Chase 16
Ian Chesterton William Russell 1–2 An Unearthly Child The Chase 16
Vicki Maureen O'Brien 2–3 The Rescue The Myth Makers 9
Steven Taylor Peter Purves 2–3 The Time Meddler The Savages 9; although first appears in The Chase.
Katarina Adrienne Hill 3 The Myth Makers The Daleks' Master Plan 2
Sara Kingdom
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]		 Jean Marsh 3 The Daleks' Master Plan The Daleks' Master Plan 1
Dodo Chaplet Jackie Lane 3 The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve The War Machines 6
Polly Anneke Wills 3–4 The War Machines The Tenth Planet 9; (3 with the First Doctor).
Ben Jackson Michael Craze 3–4 The War Machines The Tenth Planet 9; (3 with the First Doctor).

The Second Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Polly Anneke Wills 4 The Tenth Planet The Faceless Ones 9; (7 with the Second Doctor).
Ben Jackson Michael Craze 4 The Tenth Planet The Faceless Ones 9; (7 with the Second Doctor).
Jamie McCrimmon Frazer Hines 4–6 The Highlanders The War Games 20; also appears in The Two Doctors.
Victoria Waterfield Deborah Watling 4–5 The Evil of the Daleks Fury from the Deep 7
Zoe Heriot Wendy Padbury 5–6 The Wheel in Space The War Games 8

The Third Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Liz Shaw Caroline John 7 Spearhead from Space Inferno 4
Jo Grant Katy Manning 8–10 Terror of the Autons The Green Death 15
Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 11 The Time Warrior Planet of the Spiders 18; (5 with the Third Doctor).

The Fourth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 11–14 Planet of the Spiders The Hand of Fear 18; (14 with the Fourth Doctor).
Harry Sullivan Ian Marter 12–13 Robot Terror of the Zygons 6; also appears in The Android Invasion.
Leela Louise Jameson 14–15 The Face of Evil The Invasion of Time 9
K-9 voice of John Leeson 15 The Invisible Enemy The Invasion of Time 5
K-9 Mark II voice of John Leeson (16 and 18) and voice of David Brierly (17) 15–18 The Ribos Operation Warriors' Gate 17
Romana and Romana II Mary Tamm and Lalla Ward 16 and 17–18 The Ribos Operation and Destiny of the Daleks The Armageddon Factor and Warriors' Gate 6 as Romana I; 11 as Romana II who also appears in The Five Doctors.
Adric Matthew Waterhouse 18 State of Decay Logopolis 10; although first appears in Full Circle, (4 with the Fourth Doctor).
Tegan Jovanka Janet Fielding 18 Logopolis Logopolis 19; (1 with the Fourth Doctor).
Nyssa of Traken Sarah Sutton 18 Logopolis Logopolis 12; although first appears in The Keeper of Traken, (1 with the Fourth Doctor).

The Fifth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Adric Matthew Waterhouse 18–19 Logopolis Earthshock 10; (7 with the Fifth Doctor).
Tegan Jovanka Janet Fielding 18–21 Logopolis and Arc of Infinity Time-Flight and Resurrection of the Daleks 19
Nyssa of Traken Sarah Sutton 18–20 Logopolis Terminus 12; (12 with the Fifth Doctor).
Vislor Turlough Mark Strickson 20–21 Mawdryn Undead Planet of Fire 10
Kamelion voice of Gerald Flood 20–21 The King's Demons Planet of Fire 2
Peri Brown Nicola Bryant 21 Planet of Fire The Caves of Androzani 11; (2 with the Fifth Doctor).

The Sixth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Peri Brown Nicola Bryant 21–23 The Caves of Androzani The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp 11; (10 with Sixth Doctor).
Melanie "Mel" Bush Bonnie Langford 23–24 The Trial of a Time Lord: Terror of the Vervoids Time and the Rani 6; (3 with Sixth Doctor).

The Seventh Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
Melanie "Mel" Bush Bonnie Langford 24 Time and the Rani Dragonfire 6; (4 with Seventh Doctor).
Ace Sophie Aldred 24–26 Dragonfire Survival 9; remains with the Doctor post-Survival

The Eighth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Production
Dr. Grace Holloway Daphne Ashbrook Doctor Who

The Ninth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Series First episode Last episode Number of episodes
Rose Tyler Billie Piper 1 "Rose" "The Parting of the Ways" 28 (to date), 13 with Ninth Doctor
Adam Mitchell Bruno Langley 1 "Dalek" "The Long Game" 2
Captain Jack Harkness John Barrowman 1 "The Empty Child" "The Parting of the Ways" 9 (to date), 5 with Ninth Doctor

The Tenth Doctor's companions

Companion Actor Series First episode Last episode Number of episodes
Rose Tyler Billie Piper Christmas special 2005, 2 and 4 "The Christmas Invasion" "The Stolen Earth" (to date) 29 as companion, 15[10] with Tenth Doctor; 33 in total (to date)
Mickey Smith Noel Clarke 2 "School Reunion" "Doomsday" (to date) 4 (as companion); 14 (in total)
Donna Noble Catherine Tate Christmas Special 2006 and 4 "The Runaway Bride" "The Stolen Earth" (to date) 13(to date)
Martha Jones Freema Agyeman 3 and 4 "Smith and Jones" "The Stolen Earth" (to date) 17 (to date)
Captain Jack Harkness John Barrowman 3 and 4[11] "Utopia" "The Stolen Earth" (to date) 9 (to date), 4 with Tenth Doctor.
Astrid Peth[12][13][14] Kylie Minogue Christmas Special 2007 "Voyage of the Damned"[12] "Voyage of the Damned" 1
Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 2 and 4 "School Reunion" "The Stolen Earth" (to date) 1 as companion, 2 in total (to date)

River Song

River Song is an archaeologist who states that she has travelled with the Doctor in his relative future (her relative past).[15][16][17] Although the Doctor first meets her on the Library planet in "Silence in the Library", she states that she has met him on several occasions prior to that in her relative timeline but in a time yet to come for the Doctor.[18][19] It is suggested that at some point they share an intimate relationship of some sort, and River Song reveals that she knows the Doctor's real name, which she whispers in his ear, thus gaining his trust.[20][21] River Song appears to be familiar with the TARDIS,[22] and apparently has first-hand knowledge of The Doctor's future conflicts with alien races.[23][24] She additionally possesses her own sonic screwdriver, or else a version of the Doctor's, that is more advanced than the tenth Doctor's when she encounters him. This is cited as evidence of his trust in her, and the Doctor considers it highly surprising she should have it - claiming he'd not give anyone else a sonic screwdriver. As the episode unfolds, the Doctor may have had ulterior motives for this, in addition to trust. River Song dies while using her brain as a memory buffer for The Library's data core, thus saving the Doctor, Donna, and the 4,022 people trapped in the data core in "Forest of the Dead."

Disputed companions

Since there is no formal definition of what makes a companion, Doctor Who fans sometimes dispute whether certain characters are "really" companions or not. Liz Shaw never travelled in the TARDIS in the television series, and Sara Kingdom and Astrid Peth both died in the same adventures in which they made their debut. Some fans define these three as companions and others do not. Fans also disagree on whether Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and other UNIT staff, who sometimes filled the companion's dramatic role during the Third Doctor's exile on Earth, should be counted as companions. For example, Sergeant Benton's only trip in the TARDIS came in The Three Doctors, while the Brigadier travelled with the Doctor on that occasion, and again in Mawdryn Undead and The Five Doctors, but Captain Mike Yates never stepped inside the blue box. Furthermore, companion status cannot simply be based on travelling in the TARDIS, since several stories of the Peter Davison era featured the majority of the cast being transported by the Doctor (it was even invaded by Cybermen on two occasions). On that basis, Sara Kingdom would be considered a companion, but not Bret Vyon, who travelled with the Doctor, Steven and Katarina in the spaceship Spar 7-40 during the same adventure.

The robot Kamelion travelled with the Fifth Doctor, but did not appear frequently. The actual robotic Kamelion prop had chronic technical problems on the set, and therefore appeared in only one story in Season 20 and a second in Season 21, in which it was destroyed. Because Kamelion could change shape into anyone, a number of actors played it. Since it only appeared in two stories (a third appearance was filmed but not aired), its status as a companion is a matter of debate.

There is also dispute over the companion status of Dr Grace Holloway from the 1996 telemovie, who is offered the chance to travel with the Doctor but declines, and therefore appeared only once. Another character from the telemovie, Chang Lee, is sometimes described as a companion as well, although to be accurate he was more a companion of the Master. Jackie Tyler, Rose's mother, had a recurring, non-travelling role in the series, although in the episode "Army of Ghosts", she does travel with the Doctor in his TARDIS and also acts in the role of companion (standing in for Rose); she is not, however, generally considered a companion.

In the new series, the Doctor's primary companion (first Rose Tyler, then Martha Jones, then Donna Noble) plays a distinct role, more significant than other, more transient TARDIS travellers such as Adam, Jack, and Mickey. Indeed, the British press touted Martha as the "first ethnic minority companion in the 43-year television history of Doctor Who"[25] or "first black assistant",[26] even though Mickey was also from an ethnic minority background. The significance of this "primary companion" role is indicated by the fact that Billie Piper's name appeared in the programme's title sequence (as does Freema Agyeman's and Catherine Tate's; John Barrowman also receives this credit when Jack reappears from "Utopia" onwards).

Companion deaths

As noted above, during the course of the show's history, companions have, on rare occasion, been killed while serving with the Doctor.

  1. Katarina dies in "The Traitors", the fourth episode of The Daleks' Master Plan, when she opens the airlock of a spaceship and is sucked into space while trying to protect her friends from the insane Kirkson.[27]
  2. Sara Kingdom dies in "Destruction of Time", the twelfth and final episode of The Daleks' Master Plan, when she undergoes extreme aging as an unfortunate side-effect of the First Doctor activating a "Time Destructor" device in order to defeat the Daleks.[28]
  3. Adric dies at the end of Episode 4 of Earthshock in the explosion of a bomb-laden space freighter in Earth's atmosphere.[29]
  4. Kamelion, an android companion, is destroyed by the Fifth Doctor in Episode 4 of Planet of Fire as an act of mercy after Kamelion is taken over by the Master.[30]
  5. Astrid Peth sacrifices herself in order to kill Max Capricorn by driving him into a reactor core at the end of "Voyage of the Damned". The Tenth Doctor partially resurrects her and sends her atoms flying into space.

Peri Brown's death is depicted in episode 4 of Mindwarp, the second story arc in The Trial of a Time Lord, as having been killed by King Yrcanos upon his discovering that her brain has been replaced by that of Kiv, a member of the Mentor race.[31] However, the concluding episode of the Trial of a Time Lord season revealed that Peri had not been killed after all and had instead become Yrcanos' consort, although it is not explained how the brain transplant was undone or even if it actually occurred as several incidents depicted in the arc are revealed to have been fabricated by the Valeyard.[32]

Susan Foreman and Romana are implied to have died by the events of "Rose" in the Doctor's personal chronology as the Doctor is said to be the last of the Time Lords following the events of the Time War. Susan is left on 22nd century Earth by the First Doctor in The Dalek Invasion of Earth after she falls in love with David Campbell, whilst Romana chooses to remain in E-space to help the Tharils at the end of Warrior's Gate.

Grace Holloway and Chang Lee die in the 1996 television movie when they are killed by the Master. However they are soon revived by the TARDIS's link to the Eye of Harmony.[33]

Captain Jack Harkness is killed by Daleks in "The Parting of the Ways" but is soon after brought back to life, and inadvertently given immortality, by Rose Tyler during her "Bad Wolf" manifestation.[34] (He then goes on to die a number of times, both on and off screen-but is able to come back to life.)

Rose Tyler is trapped in the parallel universe in "Doomsday" while trying to save the world from a war between Daleks, Cybermen and humans. The Doctor tells her that she has been declared dead in her original universe.[35] Like Peri, however, she does not die in actuality, and the Doctor later tells Donna Noble that Rose is "so alive".[36]

K-9 Mark III sacrifices himself in "School Reunion" in order to save the Doctor and his friends from a group of aliens. Technically, however, this model of K-9 was never officially a companion of the Doctor, having only been given to Sarah Jane Smith in the spin-off K-9 and Company, and the episode does not establish whether the subsequent K-9 Mark IV that the Doctor leaves with Sarah Jane is completely new or if Mark III's files have been transferred to the new machine.[37]

Many companions died in the episode "Turn Left". Sarah Jane and Martha die when the Royal Hope hospital is transported to the Moon, and Donna is hit by a truck. However, they are all bought back to life when the timeline is fixed.

Additional companions have died while serving with the Doctor in the various spin-off media (the canonicity of which is unclear); this has included Jamie McCrimmon and Ace, both of whom were killed off in the Doctor Who comic strip published in Doctor Who Magazine (McCrimmon in a Grant Morrison-written strip entitled The World Shapers[38] and Ace in Ground Zero).[39]

Additional spin-off works have also postulated the final fates of some former companions in the years following their travels with the Doctor, such as Dodo Chaplet, whose death is indicated in the novel Who Killed Kennedy,[40] Liz Shaw in the novel Eternity Weeps[41] and Tegan Jovanka who, though her death is not depicted, is described as having a terminal illness in the Big Finish audio production The Gathering.[42]

Miscellaneous notes

Most of the Doctor's companions have been human, with some exceptions such as Kamelion, Nyssa, Adric, Turlough and Romana. Of the non-human companions, all apart from K-9 are (or were) members of humanoid races. To date, Romana and Susan are the only members of the Doctor's own race to travel with him.

Susan, Jamie, Harry and Sarah Jane (and K-9 Mark III) have guest-starred in later stories. Zoe, Liz, Adric, Tegan, Nyssa, Turlough and Kamelion have reappeared in cameo roles, played by the original actors rather than in stock footage or still photos (eg. Romana's later appearance in The Five Doctors).

Vicki, Polly, Mel and Ace/Dorothy are never given surnames on-screen. Polly Wright and Mel Bush are fully named in their original character outlines, while Vicki Pallister and Dorothy McShane gained surnames in spinoff novels. The production team had intended that, if revealed in the course of a story, Ace would either have the last name Gale (an allusion to the movie version of The Wizard of Oz) or whatever would suit the story.

Jamie was played by Hamish Wilson in The Mind Robber episodes 2 and 3, as Frazer Hines was suffering from chicken pox during filming (the surreal nature of that story allowed the change to be written into the plot).

The series never establishes how the Doctor first meets Mel: she just appears mid-way through The Trial of a Time Lord. The Doctor's first meeting with Mel is recounted in the Past Doctor Adventures novel Business Unusual.

Adam Mitchell was the first companion to be expelled by the Doctor for bad behaviour, attempting to use future technology for personal gain.

Jack Harkness was the first openly LGBT (in this case pansexual) companion.

Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 Mark III returned in the 2006 series episode "School Reunion". This was a one-episode guest appearance, similar to her appearance in The Five Doctors.

Mickey Smith was the first black companion. Martha Jones was the first black female companion.

Sarah Jane has appeared in three television series, namely Doctor Who, K-9 and Company and The Sarah Jane Adventures. K-9 Mark III has appeared in two, (K-9 and Company and Doctor Who), as have K-9 Mark IV, (Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures) and Captain Jack and Martha (Doctor Who and Torchwood)

Nine companions have been with the Doctor through a regeneration:

Four companions have been played by actors older than the actor playing the Doctor their character accompanied:

  • Kamelion - Voiced by Gerald Flood, (who was older than Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison)
  • Donna Noble - Played by Catherine Tate, (who is older than Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant)
  • Jack Harkness - Played by John Barrowman, (who is older than Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant)
  • Astrid Peth - Played by Kylie Minogue, (who was older than Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant)

Companions in Spin-off material

Main article: List of companions in Doctor Who spin-offs

References

  1. ^ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Colin Teague (2007-06-30). "Last of the Time Lords". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Commentary on DVD of Castrovalva
  3. ^ Robinson, Nigel (1981). The Doctor Who Quiz Book. Target Books. pp. pp. 39 and 98. ISBN 0426-20143-4. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Lofficier, Jean-Marc (1994). The Doctor Who Programme Guide Third Edition. Virgin Publishing Ltd. pp. pp. 16, 43 and 45. ISBN 0-426-20342-9. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coauthors= and |month= (help)
  5. ^ Howe, David J. (1994). Doctor Who The Handbook – The First Doctor. Virgin Publishing Ltd. pp. p. 297. ISBN 0-426-20430-1. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Richards, Justin (1997). Doctor Who The Book of Lists. BBC Books. pp. pp. 13 and 218. ISBN 0-563-40569-4. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Pixley, Andrew (16 December), Doctor Who Magazine, p. 21 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year=, |date=, and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ Campbell, Mark (2000). The Pocket Essential Doctor Who. Pocket Essentials. pp. pp. 20-21. ISBN 1-903047-19-6. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Cornell, Paul (1995, 1998 and 2003). "The Daleks' Master Plan". Doctor Who: Classic Series Episode Guide. BBC. Retrieved 2007-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ including Children in Need 2005 episode
  11. ^ "EG BIG INTERVIEW: JOHN BARROWMAN". thisisnottingham.co.uk. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Companion Piece". BBC News. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Who Should Be So Lucky?". 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2008-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Confidential at Christmas". Doctor Who Confidential. Season 4. Episode 1. 2007-12-25. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "The future is already written for both the Doctor and his adventurous companion to come" - Narration: Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9
  16. ^ "Here's a woman who travels with the Doctor, therefore she knows him" - director Euros Lyn to Alex Kingston (Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9)
  17. ^ "You took me to Derillium, to see the Singing Towers. Oh, what a night that was." - River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  18. ^ "Crash of the Byzantium, have we done that yet? .... Picnic at Asgard. Have we done Asgard yet?" - River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  19. ^ "It's ok, it's not over for you. You'll see me again. You've got all of that to come. You and me, time and space, you watch us run." - River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  20. ^ "One day I'm going to be someone you'll trust.. completely. " -River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  21. ^ "River, you know my name. You whispered my name in my ear. There's only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name. There's only one time I could." - the Doctor, to River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  22. ^ "The squareness gun ended up in the Tardis" ... "it's the same squareness gun, it's Captain Jack's older one, pilfered from the Tardis locker by River Song" - Steven Moffatt (Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9)
  23. ^ "I've seen whole armies turn and run away and he'd just swagger off back to his TARDIS and open the doors with a snap of his fingers" - River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
  24. ^ "It's a tempting thing isn't it? I mean, there it is, there's you future, there's what's going to happen to you... There's a handy guide to how to win against the... the other monsters, you know? Of course you'd want to have a little look" - Steven Moffatt, referring to River Song's diary (Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9)
  25. ^ Adam Sherwin (2006-07-05). "Sidekick whose time has come". The Times. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
  26. ^ Richard Simpson (2006-07-05). "Doctor Who gets first black assistant". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
  27. ^ Writer Terry Nation, Director Douglas Camfield (1965-12-04). "The Traitors". Doctor Who. BBC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Writer Dennis Spooner, Director Douglas Camfield (1966-01-29). "Destruction of Time". Doctor Who. BBC. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Writer Eric Saward, Director Peter Grimwade. Earthshock. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Writer Peter Grimwade, Director Fiona Cumming. Planet of Fire. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC 1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Writer Philip Martin, Director Ron Jones (1986-10-25). The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Writer Pip and Jane Baker, Director Chris Clough (1986-12-06). The Trial of a Time Lord: The Ultimate Foe. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Writer Matthew Jacobs, Director Geoffrey Sax (1996-05-14). Doctor Who. FOX. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help)
  34. ^ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Joe Ahearne (2005-06-18). "The Parting of the Ways". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Graeme Harper (2006-07-08). "Doomsday". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Euros Lyn (2006-12-25). "The Runaway Bride". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Writer Toby Whithouse, Director James Hawes (2006-04-29). "School Reunion". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ Morrison, Grant (w), Ridgway, John (p), Perkins, Tim (i). "The World Shapers" Doctor Who Magazine, no. 127–129 (August–October 1987). Marvel UK.
  39. ^ Gray, Scott (w), Geraghty, Martin (p), Georgiou, Bambos (i). "Ground Zero" Doctor Who Magazine, no. 238–242 (May 8 1996 – July 31 1996). Marvel UK.
  40. ^ Bishop, David (1997). Who Killed Kennedy. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-426-20497-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Mortimore, Jim (1996). Eternity Weeps. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-426-20467-0.
  42. ^ The Gathering. Writer Joseph Lidster. Director Gary Russell. Big Finish Productions, 2006. ISBN 1 84435 195 5.

See also

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