The Companions get far too little attention in discussions of Doctor Who, usually just a passing nod as the spotlight is ever on the Doctor. But the Doctor has it easy. He faces the forces of destruction with a wealth of knowledge, a respiratory bypass system, and, if all else fails, the possibility of regeneration. Meanwhile, his Companions, without immortality, a superhuman physique, or (frequently) a clue, stand beside him, loyally and courageously placing their frail, one-shot bodies in the same deadly peril as the Doctor, with far less chance of survival. After all, four Companions have died in the line of duty with a ten others stranded far from home. The Doctor, meanwhile, survives and is free to travel wherever he can get the TARDIS to take him.
Let us consider, too, the actors and actresses who portray the Companions. It's not as easy as it looks: they must play a character who is simon-pure and simon-simple, who is interesting but not as interesting as the Doctor, who can ask stupid questions without seeming stupid, and who can run like a cheetah and scream like a boiling teapot.
So we are here to praise Barbara's common sense and Jacqueline Hill's
intelligence, the Brigadier's reliability and Nicholas Courtney's professionalism,
Sarah Jane's curiosity and Elisabeth Sladen's warmth, Ace's loyalty and Sophie
Aldred's sense of humor. In other words, here's a toast to the Companions and to the
talented performers
who have played them. Where would Doctor Who, or the Doctor, be without
them?
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| Anneke Wills | Carole Ann Ford | Frazer Hines |
The Roll of Honour
Susan Foreman* Carole Ann Ford Ian Chesterton William Russell Barbara Wright Jacqueline Hill Vicki* Maureen O'Brien Steven Taylor* Peter Purves Katarina+ Adrienne Hill Sara Kingdom+ Jean Marsh Dodo Chaplet Jackie Lane Polly Anneke Wills Ben Jackson Michael Craze James "Jamie" McCrimmon Frazer Hines Victoria Waterfield* Deborah Watling Zoe Herriot Wendy Padbury Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart Nicholas Courtney Captain Michael "Mike" Yates Richard Franklin Sergeant Benton John Levene Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw Caroline John Josephine "Jo" Grant Katy Manning Sarah Jane Smith Elisabeth Sladen Harold "Harry" Sullivan Ian Marter Leela of the Sevateem* Louise Jameson K9* John Leeson David Brierley Romanadvoratrelundar* Mary Tamm Lalla Ward Adric+ Matthew Waterhouse Nyssa of Traken* Sarah Sutton Tegan Jovanka Janet Fielding Turlough Mark Strickson Kamelion+ Gerald Flood Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown* Nicola Bryant Melanie Bush* Bonnie Langford Ace Sophie Aldred Grace Holloway Daphne Ashbrook
+ Died in the line of duty
* Stranded (left the TARDIS with no means of returning home)
We'd like to have all the Companions here, eventually.
If you would like to help out, or provide input on any of the other Companions and
Companion actresses, please contact: