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Companion (Doctor Who)

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Companion, in the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, is a term which is often 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), while 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".

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 and the Master's wife, Lucy Saxon, whom he calls his "faithful 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 (though initially presented as an "unearthly child") was intended 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.

What is a companion?

There is no formal definition of what makes a companion. The Guardian muses in its OrganGrinder blog "how do you qualify? Name in the opening credits, regular trips in the Tardis?"[2] The definition of who is and is not a companion becomes less clear in the newer series.[2] The Doctor's primary companion (first Rose Tyler, then Martha Jones, then Donna Noble) fulfilled a distinct dramatic role, more significant than other, less-present 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"[3] or "first black assistant",[4] despite the presence of Mickey Smith in the previous season -- including several episodes in which he travelled with the Doctor as an invited companion.

Initially, in the renewed series, only Billie Piper's name appeared in the programme's opening title sequence along with the Doctor's portrayer (either Christopher Eccleston or David Tennant). The other 'primary companions' (Freema Agyeman and Catherine Tate) are listed in the opening sequence in every episode of the series they are affiliated with, but in the third series, John Barrowman appeared alongside Agyeman in the credits. Piper, Agyeman, Barrowman and Elisabeth Sladen appeared in the sequence along with Tennant and Tate in the season finale of series four. The characters played by these actors are listed as companions on the BBC Website for Doctor Who (series 4).[5] Noel Clarke, who acted as a companion in the last episode and is listed as such on the website, was not credited in this way however.

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 and Kamelion) have died during the course of the series.

Most companions travel in the TARDIS with the Doctor for more than one adventure, although there are exceptions. 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).[6] 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.

When Doctor Who returned to television in 2005, the companion characters played a slightly different role, 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 the new series' shift in approach to the companion role.

New series companions have also a more flexible tenure than their classical predecessors. Several companion characters have returned to the series after leaving the Doctor's company, most notably in the series four finale "The Stolen Earth"/"Journey's End", which featured the returns of Rose, Martha, Jack, Sarah Jane and Mickey. This tendency, and the increase in "one-off" companions like Astrid Peth or Jackson Lake, has further obscured the matter of who is and is not a companion.[2]

List of television companions

The First Doctor's companions

No. Companion Actor Season/s First appearance Last appearance Appearances in
First Doctor stories
1 Susan Foreman Carole Ann Ford 1–2 An Unearthly Child,[nb 1] The Dalek Invasion of Earth[7] She subsequently appeared in The Five Doctors 10
2 Barbara Wright Jacqueline Hill 1–2 An Unearthly Child[8][nb 2] The Chase[9] 16
3 Ian Chesterton William Russell 1–2 An Unearthly Child[8][nb 2] The Chase[9] 16
4 Vicki Maureen O'Brien 2–3 The Rescue[10][nb 3]) The Myth Makers[11] 9
5 Steven Taylor Peter Purves 2–3 The Time Meddler[12]
(first appearing in The Chase[9][nb 4])		 The Savages[13][nb 5] 9
6 Katarina Adrienne Hill 3 The Myth Makers[11] "The Daleks' Master Plan[14] 2
7 Sara Kingdom[15] Jean Marsh 3 The Daleks' Master Plan[14] The Daleks' Master Plan[14] 1[nb 6]
8 Dodo Chaplet Jackie Lane 3 The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve[16] The War Machines[17] 6 .
9 Polly Anneke Wills 3–4 The War Machines The Tenth Planet[18] 3 [nb 7]
10 Ben Jackson Michael Craze 3–4 The War Machines The Tenth Planet[18] 3
  1. ^ Susan travelled with the Doctor prior to the events of "An Unearthly Child" as well.
  2. ^ a b The Doctor takes Barbara and Ian from their time against their will in "An Unearthly Child".
  3. ^ Vicki joins the TARDIS crew at the end of her first story, The Rescue.
  4. ^ Unbeknown to the Doctor and Vicki, Steven took refuge in the TARDIS during the events of "The Planet of Decision" and is not discovered by them until "The Watcher".
  5. ^ Steven left the Doctor in "Bell of Doom", episode four of The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve, but returned to him shortly afterwards in the same episode.
  6. ^ Sara Kingdom is not included in all lists of companions - the BBC's list of companions at http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/companions/ excludes her.
  7. ^ Polly and Ben remain in Doctor Who as companions to the Doctor for the Second Doctor's first six stories.

The Second Doctor's companions

No. Companion Actor Season/s First serial Last serial Appearances
in Second Doctor stories
9 Polly Anneke Wills 3-4 The Power of the Daleks The Faceless Ones[19] 6 [nb 1]
10 Ben Jackson Michael Craze 3-4 The Power of the Daleks[nb 2] The Faceless Ones[19] 6 [nb 1]
11 Jamie McCrimmon Frazer Hines
Hamish Wilson[nb 3]		 4–6 The Highlanders[20] The War Games[21] A phantom version of Jamie makes a cameo appearance in "The Five Doctors", and Jamie himself appears in The Two Doctors 20
12 Victoria Waterfield Deborah Watling 4–5 The Evil of the Daleks Fury from the Deep 7
13 Zoe Heriot Wendy Padbury 5–6 The Wheel in Space The War Games[21] A phantom version of Zoe makes a cameo appearance in "The Five Doctors" 8
  1. ^ a b Polly and Ben appeared also in Doctor Who as companions to the Doctor in the First Doctor's final three stories.
  2. ^ The First Doctor regenerates into the Second Doctor in "Episode 4" of The Tenth Planet.
  3. ^ 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 Third Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of appearances
with the Third Doctor
14 Liz Shaw Caroline John 7 Spearhead from Space Inferno; also appeared as a "phantom" in "The Five Doctors" 4
15 Jo Grant Katy Manning 8–10 Terror of the Autons The Green Death 15
16 Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 11 The Time Warrior Planet of the Spiders 5[22]
17 Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart[23] Nicholas Courtney Recurred in 7-11 Spearhead from Space. First appeared in The Web of Fear with the Second Doctor. Terror of the Zygons. The Brigadier has reappeared numerous times, however, most recently in Battlefield. He also appeared in Enemy of the Bane, a serial of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
18 Sergeant Benton [24] John Levene Recurred in 7-11 Spearhead from Space. First appeared in The Invasion with the Second Doctor. The Android Invasion
19 Captain Mike Yates [25] Richard Franklin Recurred in 8–11 Terror of the Autons Planet of the Spiders; also appeared as a "phantom" in "The Five Doctors"

The Fourth Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of appearances
with the Fourth Doctor
16 Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 11–14 Robot The Hand of Fear 13.[22]
20 Harry Sullivan Ian Marter 12–13 Robot The Android Invasion but did not appear in Planet of Evil or Pyramids of Mars 7
21 Leela Louise Jameson 14–15 The Face of Evil The Invasion of Time 9
22 K-9 voice of
John Leeson		 15 The Invisible Enemy The Invasion of Time 5
23 K-9 Mark II voice of John Leeson (Seasons 16 & 18)
voice of David Brierly (Season 17)		 15–18 The Ribos Operation Warriors' Gate 17 [26]
24 Romana Mary Tamm 16 The Ribos Operation The Armageddon Factor 6
25 Romana II Lalla Ward 17–18 Destiny of the Daleks Warriors' Gate 11.[27]
26 Adric Matthew Waterhouse 18 Full Circle Logopolis 4[28]
27 Nyssa Sarah Sutton 18 The Keeper of Traken [29] Logopolis 2[30]
28 Tegan Jovanka Janet Fielding 18 Logopolis Logopolis 1[31]

The Fifth Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Duration as a companion
by number of stories
26 Adric Matthew Waterhouse 18–19 Logopolis Earthshock 10; although first appears in Full Circle; 4 with the Fourth Doctor and 6 with the Fifth Doctor.
27 Tegan Jovanka Janet Fielding 18–21 Logopolis
Arc of Infinity		 Time-Flight
Resurrection of the Daleks		 19; although leaves the Fifth Doctor in Time-Flight but returns in the next serial, Arc of Infinity; 1 with the Fourth Doctor and 18 with the Fifth Doctor.
28 Nyssa of Traken Sarah Sutton 18–20 Logopolis Terminus 12; although first appears in The Keeper of Traken; 1 with the Fourth Doctor and 11 with the Fifth Doctor, plus appears in Dimensions in Time.
29 Vislor Turlough Mark Strickson 20–21 Mawdryn Undead Planet of Fire 10
30 Kamelion voice of Gerald Flood 20–21 The King's Demons Planet of Fire 2; without explanation in the stories, he is not featured in the 5 serials between his first and last stories, although he does appear in deleted scenes from The Awakening.
31 Peri Brown Nicola Bryant 21 Planet of Fire The Caves of Androzani 11; 2 with the Fifth Doctor and 9 with the Sixth Doctor, plus appears in Dimensions in Time.

The Sixth Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
31 Peri Brown Nicola Bryant 21–23 The Twin Dilemma The Trial of a Time Lord: Mindwarp 11; 2 with the Fifth Doctor and 9 with the Sixth Doctor, plus appears in Dimensions in Time.
32 Melanie "Mel" Bush Bonnie Langford 23–24 The Trial of a Time Lord: Terror of the Vervoids[nb 1] Time and the Rani 6; 2 with the Sixth Doctor and 4 with the Seventh Doctor, plus appears in Dimensions in Time.
  1. ^ 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.

The Seventh Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Seasons First serial Last serial Number of serials
32 Melanie "Mel" Bush Bonnie Langford 24 Time and the Rani Dragonfire 6; 2 with the Sixth Doctor and 4 with the Seventh Doctor, plus appears in Dimensions in Time.
33 Ace Sophie Aldred 24–26 Dragonfire Survival 9; fate unknown post-Survival and her appearance in Dimensions in Time, both times being shown to remain with the Seventh Doctor, as she does not appear in the following story, Doctor Who.

The Eighth Doctor's companion

Number Companion Actor Production Year Story Number of stories
34 Dr. Grace Holloway Daphne Ashbrook Television movie 1996 Doctor Who 1

The Ninth Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Series First episode Last episode Number of episodes
35 Rose Tyler Billie Piper 1 "Rose" "The Parting of the Ways" 31 (13 with Ninth Doctor)
36 Adam Mitchell [nb 1] Bruno Langley 1 "Dalek" "The Long Game"[nb 2] 2
37 Captain Jack Harkness[nb 3] John Barrowman 1 "The Empty Child" "The Parting of the Ways" 10 (5 with Ninth Doctor)
  1. ^ Adam Mitchell is invited to travel aboard the TARDIS at the conclusion of Dalek
  2. ^ Adam Mitchell was the first companion to be expelled by the Doctor for bad behaviour, attempting to use future technology for personal gain.
  3. ^ Jack Harkness was the first openly LGBT (in this case pansexual) companion.

The Tenth Doctor's companions

Number Companion Actor Series First episode Last episode Number of episodes
35 Rose Tyler Billie Piper Christmas special 2005, 2 and 4 "The Christmas Invasion" "Journey's End" 31 (18[32] with Tenth Doctor);
38 Mickey Smith Noel Clarke 2 and 4 "School Reunion" "Journey's End" 15 (5 as companion)
39 Donna Noble Catherine Tate Christmas Special 2006 and 4 "The Runaway Bride (First appeared at the end of Doomsday) "Journey's End" 14
40 Martha Jones Freema Agyeman 3 and 4 "Smith and Jones" "Journey's End" 18
37 Captain Jack Harkness John Barrowman 3 and 4[33] "Utopia" "Journey's End" 10 (5 with Tenth Doctor)
41 Astrid Peth [34][35] Kylie Minogue Christmas Special 2007 "Voyage of the Damned"[34] "Voyage of the Damned" 1
16 Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen 4 "The Stolen Earth"[nb 1] "Journey's End" 3 (2 as companion); (18 serials with the Third and Fourth Doctors).
42 Jackson Lake [nb 2] David Morrissey Christmas Special 2008 "The Next Doctor" "The Next Doctor" 1
43 Lady Christina de Souza[36] Michelle Ryan 2009 Specials "Planet of the Dead" "Planet of the Dead" 1
  1. ^ Sarah Jane was not a companion in "School Reunion" - she declines the Doctor's offer to rejoin him
  2. ^ Jackson Lake is the first of a series of one-off companions featured in the aftermath of Journey's End (for reasons explained within this episode and those which follow). In this story, The Doctor is technically Lake's companion.

Future companions

The BBC and outgoing executive producer Russell T. Davies have indicated that the following characters and actors will appear as companions in future episodes.

Companion Actor Series First episode
Adelaide[37][nb 1] Lindsay Duncan 2009 Specials "The Waters of Mars"[37]
Wilfred Mott[38] Bernard Cribbins[38] 2009 Specials 2009 Christmas specials (first appeared in "Voyage of the Damned", and was a recurring character in Series 4, most recently appearing in "Journey's End")
Amy Pond[39][nb 2] Karen Gillan[40] 5 TBA
  1. ^ Like Jackson Lake and Christina da Souza, Adelaide is a one-off companion.
  2. ^ Announced as the first companion of the Eleventh Doctor

River Song

River Song is an archaeologist who states that she has travelled with the Doctor in his relative future (her relative past).[41] 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.[42] 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.[43] River Song appears to be familiar with the TARDIS,[44] and apparently has first-hand knowledge of The Doctor's future encounters with alien races.[45] She also possesses a sonic screwdriver, which she says a future Doctor gave her. 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 his 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", although in the last minutes of the show, the Doctor searches the sonic screwdriver he left her and finds a communications device similar to the ones used in the Lux Industries' suits, and is able to store a digital impression of her personality (thus "saving" her) onto the "hard drive" in the planet's core.

Promotional photographs of Alex Kingston have been taken on set with herself, Matt Smith and Karen Gillian in front of the TARDIS. [46]

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.

Katarina dies in "The Traitors", the fourth episode of The Daleks' Master Plan, when she opens the airlock of a spaceship and is blown out into space while trying to protect her friends from the insane Kirkson.[47]

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.[48]

Adric dies at the end of Episode 4 of Earthshock in the explosion of a bomb-laden space freighter in Earth's atmosphere.[49]

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.[50]

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 8 of 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.[51] However, episode 14 of The Trial of a Time Lord 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.[52]

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.[53]

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.[54] (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.[55] Like Peri, however, she does not die in actuality, and the Doctor later tells Donna Noble that Rose is "so alive".[56]

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, the subsequent K-9 Mark IV that the Doctor leaves with Sarah Jane tells her that his (Mark III's) files have been transferred to the new machine.[57]

Sarah Jane Smith and Martha Jones die from oxygen starvation in "Turn Left" when the Royal Hope hospital is transported to the Moon, whilst Donna Noble is hit by a truck later in the episode. However, these events do not happen once the timeline is repaired.[58]

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[59] and Ace in Ground Zero).[60]

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,[61] Liz Shaw in the novel Eternity Weeps[62] 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.[63]

Miscellaneous notes

Most of the Doctor's companions have been human, with some exceptions such as Kamelion, Nyssa, Adric, Turlough, Astrid (who was from the planet Sto) 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 (e.g. 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.

Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 Mark III returned in the 2006 series episode "School Reunion". She later reappears and acts as a companion in The Stolen Earth and Journey's End.

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)

When Donna Noble was first introduced, she turned down the Doctor's offer to become a companion, but encouraged him to find someone to act as his moral compass. She later got a rare, second chance to travel with the Doctor and whole heartedly accepted, regretting her initial refusal.

Three companions had memories of their adventures erased: Jamie and Zoe, by the Time Lords, and Donna, by the Doctor himself. Jamie and Zoe's only remaining memories were their first encounters with the Doctor whilst Donna was left only with an anonymous 'John Smith' who was visiting her grandfather Wilfred Mott.

Ten companions have been with the Doctor through a regeneration:

During the Tenth Doctor's aborted regeneration ("The Stolen Earth"), Rose, Jack and Donna were all present.

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. ^ a b c Brook, Stephen (23 January 2009). "Michelle Ryan guest stars in Doctor Who. But would she make a good companion?". Organ Grinder. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2009. A minor factor in the continual swirl around Doctor Who is that what consitutes a Doctor Who companion is no longer clear. Sure, Rose, Martha and Donna were all companions. So was Captain Jack. But what about Mickey and Jackie? How do you qualify? Name in the opening credits, regular trips in the Tardis? The doctor kisses you? I'm no longer sure. Modern TV drama is so difficult.
  3. ^ Adam Sherwin (2006-07-05). "Sidekick whose time has come". The Times. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
  4. ^ Richard Simpson (2006-07-05). "Doctor Who gets first black assistant". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
  5. ^ "BBC Doctor Who Series 4 Characters". Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  6. ^ Commentary on DVD of Castrovalva
  7. ^ Writer Terry Nation, Director Richard Martin, Producers Verity Lambert, Mervyn Pinfield. The Dalek Invasion of Earth. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Writers Anthony Coburn, C. E. Webber, Directors Waris Hussein, Douglas Camfield, Producers Verity Lambert, Mervyn Pinfield. An Unearthly Child. Doctor Who. BBC. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c Writer Terry Nation, Directors Richard Martin, Douglas Camfield, Producers Verity Lambert. The Chase. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Writer David Whitaker, Director Christopher Barry, Producer Verity Lambert, Mervyn Pinfield. The Rescue. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ a b Writer Donald Cotton, Directors Michael Leeston-Smith, Producer John Wiles. The Myth Makers. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help) Cite error: The named reference "The Myth Makers" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  12. ^ Writer Dennis Spooner, Director Douglas Camfield, Producers Verity Lambert. The Time Meddler. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Writer Ian Stuart Black, Director Christopher Barry, Producer Innes Lloyd. The Savages. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b c Writers Terry Nation, Dennis Spooner, Director Douglas Camfield, Producer John Wiles. The Daleks' Master Plan. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Robinson, Nigel (1981). The Doctor Who Quiz Book. Target Books. pp. 39 and 98. ISBN 0426-20143-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    Lofficier, Jean-Marc (1994). The Doctor Who Programme Guide Third Edition. Virgin Publishing Ltd. pp. 16, 43 and 45. ISBN 0-426-20342-9.
    Howe, David J. (1994). Doctor Who The Handbook – The First Doctor. Virgin Publishing Ltd. p. 297. ISBN 0-426-20430-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    Richards, Justin (1997). Doctor Who The Book of Lists. BBC Books. pp. 13 and 218. ISBN 0-563-40569-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    Pixley, Andrew (16 December), Doctor Who Magazine, p. 21 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
    Campbell, Mark (2000). The Pocket Essential Doctor Who. Pocket Essentials. pp. 20–21. ISBN 1-903047-19-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
    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)
  16. ^ Writers John Lucarotti, Donald Tosh, Director Paddy Russell, Producer John Wiles. The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Writer Ian Stuart Black, Kit Pedler (idea), Director Michael Ferguson, Producer Innes Lloyd. The War Machines. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b Writers Kit Pedler, Gerry Davis (episodes 3 & 4), Director Derek Martinus, Producer Innes Lloyd. The Tenth Planet. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b Writers David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke, Director Gerry Mill, Producer Innes Lloyd. The Faceless Ones. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Writers Elwyn Jones, Gerry Davis, Director Hugh David, Producer Innes Lloyd. The Highlanders. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b Writers Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks, Director David Maloney, Producer Derrick Sherwin. The War Games. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC1. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |began= ignored (|date= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |ended= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b Sarah Jane Smith is a companion with both the Third and Fourth Doctors, and has numerous subsequent appearances, most recently in "Journey's End", as well as her own spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures.
  23. ^ "Doctor Who - Classic Series - Companions - Brigadier Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart". BBC. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  24. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/companions/page13.shtml Benton is not included by all comprehensive lists of companions - he is, for instance, excluded in John Nathan-Turner's book on Doctor Who companions.
  25. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/companions/page15.shtml Yates is not included by all comprehensive lists of companions - he is, for instance, excluded in John Nathan-Turner's book on Doctor Who companions.
  26. ^ Subsequent models of K-9 have made appearances with Sarah Jane Smith in various episodes, due to the Doctor's giving Sarah Jane a version of K-9 in the aborted spin-off K-9 and Company. He has also appeared in The Sarah Jane Adventures. K-9 is due to be the subject of his own spin-off, produced separate from the BBC, entitled simply K-9.
  27. ^ Romana also appears in The Five Doctors via the use of footage from Shada.
  28. ^ Adric serves as a companion with both the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, and has a cameo appearance in The Caves of Androzani.
  29. ^ "Doctor Who - Classic Series - Companions - Nyssa". BBC. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  30. ^ Nyssa serves as a companion with both the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, and has a cameo appearance in The Caves of Androzani. Some sources consider her to have firs appeared as a companion in Logopolis, treating her as a guest star in Keeper of Traken. [citation needed]
  31. ^ Tegan serves as a companion with both the Fourth and Fifth Doctors, and has a cameo appearance in The Caves of Androzani.
  32. ^ including Children in Need 2005 episode
  33. ^ "Eg big interview: john barrowman". thisisnottingham.co.uk. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ a b "Companion Piece". BBC News. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Who Should Be So Lucky?". 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2008-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    "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)
  36. ^ Cook, Benjamin (2008-01-09 (cover date)), "Sands of time", Radio Times, no. 11-17 April 2009, pp. pp. 16–20 {{citation}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ a b "Lindsay Duncan to star in second Doctor Who Special of 2009". BBC. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 21 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ a b Davies, Russell T (2009-04-07), Dr Who's Easter special, BBC News, retrieved 7 April 2009 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ New Doctor Who costume revealed
  40. ^ "Entertainment | Doctor Who assistant is unveiled". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  41. ^ "The future is already written for both the Doctor and his adventurous companion to come" - Narration: Doctor Who Confidential, Series 4, Episode 9
    "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)
    "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)
  42. ^ "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)
    "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)
  43. ^ "One day I'm going to be someone you'll trust.. completely. " -River Song (Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead)
    "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)
  44. ^ "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)
  45. ^ "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)
    "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)
  46. ^ http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6161/tardis.jpg
  47. ^ 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)
  48. ^ 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)
  49. ^ 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)
  50. ^ 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)
  51. ^ Writer Philip Martin, Director Ron Jones (1986-10-25). The Trial of a Time Lord. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ Writer Pip and Jane Baker, Director Chris Clough (1986-12-06). The Trial of a Time Lord. Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ Writer Matthew Jacobs, Director Geoffrey Sax (1996-05-14). Doctor Who. FOX. {{cite serial}}: Unknown parameter |seriallink= ignored (help)
  54. ^ 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)
  55. ^ 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)
  56. ^ 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)
  57. ^ 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)
  58. ^ Writer Russell T Davies, Director Graeme Harper (2008-06-21). "Turn Left". Doctor Who. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ Morrison, Grant (w), Ridgway, John (p), Perkins, Tim (i). "The World Shapers" Doctor Who Magazine, no. 127–129 (August–October 1987). Marvel UK.
  60. ^ 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.
  61. ^ Bishop, David (1997). Who Killed Kennedy. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-426-20497-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  62. ^ Mortimore, Jim (1996). Eternity Weeps. London: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-426-20467-0.
  63. ^ The Gathering. Writer Joseph Lidster. Director Gary Russell. Big Finish Productions, 2006. ISBN 1 84435 195 5.

See also

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