Who's your Favorite companion?

For me it has to be Ian Chesterton, he was just the sort of chap you want around you when you need help.

My mothers favorite was Jamie, played by Frazer Hines. Infact my mother had a crush on old Frazer so much so that on her 18th Birthday she sent a card to the radio station he worked at inviting him to the gig. He ACTUALLY turned up but she was to shy to talk with him so he must have been confused as to who was the party girl

In my opinion The Daleks are the Doctor's fave companions...they follow him around like a dog would...and he they.

For me, Frazer Hines as the one and only Jamie McCrimmon, closely followed by Sarah Jane Smith. Just never, ever mention Rose Tyler to me...

Sarah Jane Smith all the way !!!
However I did enjoy Donna Noble - thought she was quite funny and she worked well with the Doctor

Donna was probably the best of the new series companions so far-must admit, after having serious reservations about Catherine Tate's casting, I was pleasantly surprised to find that she could actually act!

I still wouldn't want to live next door to Donna, though...

Liz shaw in season Seven! She was the first female companion to have more of an `adult` slant to in personality! I think she is the only companion never to enter the Tardis!

alanultron5 wrote:Liz shaw in season Seven! She was the first female companion to have more of an `adult` slant to in personality! I think she is the only companion never to enter the Tardis!

You are correct, Liz never stepped across the Police Box threshold-though strangely enough, she did help the Doctor work on the control console, which he'd removed from the ship, in Inferno. Actually, I'd say Liz was about the only one (aside from perhaps Jo and Romana) who was more of an assistant than a companion. There's seemed to be a purely professional relationship, unlike any Doctor/companion pairing before or since.

When Derrick Sherwin was briefly Producer in the setting up of season seven and very much involved in `Spearhead from Space` he outlined the character of Liz Shaw as a serious minded `career person`

Sadly, when the next producer came in during season seven (for the life of me I can't recall his name...apologies!) He had Caroline John dress in rather short mini-dresses and reduced her character to not much more than a cypher!

Caroline was happy to leave at series finish and didn't even push for a new contract! Hence no real `leaving scene` for Liz Shaw!

Liz Shaw's finest moment was when she deduced the correct combination for the `cure` for the Silurians virus! If you check through the `Silurians` story carefully, the Doctor recognises her suggestion of mixing compounds and is able to prepare the antidote!

That incoming producer was Barry Letts, who stayed with the series throughout the remainder of Pertwee's run. He and script editor Terrance Dicks had a very different vision of the show from Sherwin, hence the creation of airhead Jo Grant. However, Caroline John would likely have left at the end of season seven anyway; she was pregnant at the time.

Thanks Tony! I just couldn't remember Barry's name! I believe Barry took over directing duties on the `Inferno` story when Douglas Camfield sufferred heart problems!

Caroline's husband of the time Geoffrey Beevers had a small role in `Ambassadors of Death` and was-a few years later- one of the incarnations of `The Master` (with `Fried Egg` eyes! )

alanultron5 wrote:Thanks Tony! I just couldn't remember Barry's name! I believe Barry took over directing duties on the `Inferno` story when Douglas Camfield sufferred heart problems!

And subsequently died...

Caroline's husband of the time Geoffrey Beevers had a small role in `Ambassadors of Death` and was-a few years later- one of the incarnations of `The Master` (with `Fried Egg` eyes! )

Beevers took over from Peter Pratt as the 'dessicated' Master in The Keeper of Traken (though the fried egg eyes were actually on Pratt's version; Beevers basically had the same costume but the make-up was toned down a lot). But he also later reprised the role in a couple of Big Finish audio stories just a couple of years ago. A terrific performance in both, as I recall. I recommend Master, starring Beevers and Sylvester McCoy.

The Brig, Romana 2 and Ace for me.

codywillis1 wrote:The Brig, Romana 2 and Ace for me.

Ah, Romana. The lovely Lalla Ward, definitely one of the more memorable companions. No-one could fill out a school uniform or sailor suit quite like her...

Well done everyone who's mentioned Liz Shaw, one of the greatest, most underrated companions/assistants to the Doc ever.

My fav's:
Liz Shaw
Jo Grant
Sarah Jane
Leela
Romana I
Romana II


Or should I have just said...'all those 70's girls' !!!

I'm not what you might call an 80's Doctor Who fan, which isn't to say I dislike everything about these years. I love S18 and have a real soft spot for S19. However, I can probably count the stories I like from S20 - 24 on one hand, and think it only reached former glories with parts of S25 and the whole of S26. And I lot of this dislike is to do with, not only the stories and the general direction of the programme, but the 'companions' of this era (not the Doc's themselves in particular) . The best companions of the 80's were, IMO, Nyssa and Ace.

I'd go along with that. I could tolerate Tegan, and even Turlough. But as for the ginger one who shall not be named...

Out of the few i've seen probably the original Ian and Barbara, and then Martha Jones... hmm, all intelligent "professional" people and not screaming idiots.

felneymike wrote:Out of the few i've seen probably the original Ian and Barbara, and then Martha Jones... hmm, all intelligent "professional" people and not screaming idiots.

I don't think Sarah Jane Smith was a screaming idiot. Mind you, I'm not sure how professional she could claim to be, routinely leaving her job to go swanning off to outer space all the time...

I found Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith to be snootily attractive.....she had a winning surname, to boot!




going by recent pics, she still seems pretty presentable today. [not the term the local Rugby Club would use after a few beers].

MR X wrote:I found Elizabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith to be snootily attractive.....she had a winning surname, to boot!

What, Sladen?

going by recent pics, she still seems pretty presentable today. [not the term the local Rugby Club would use after a few beers].

Lis gets younger every year...

Having come across this thread again, I thought I'd add a poll. Unfortunately, options are limited to ten, so I've had to go for the more obvious (ie well known) choices, so if you're a disciple of Dodo or a fan of Fitz Kreiner, you'll have to make your case in the thread itself...

I voted for Sarah Jane Smith, but if the poll were multiple choice I would also have voted for Ian and Barbara (very down-to-earth and dependable in a crisis) and Jo Grant (a lovely person who really blossoms during her time with the Doctor, eventually leaving him to go and save the world on her own).

Lucy McGough wrote:I voted for Sarah Jane Smith, but if the poll were multiple choice I would also have voted for Ian and Barbara (very down-to-earth and dependable in a crisis) and Jo Grant (a lovely person who really blossoms during her time with the Doctor, eventually leaving him to go and save the world on her own).

Hmm, maybe I can make this one multiple choice...give me a minute or two...

Sadly, while I agree with you about Sarah and the schoolteachers, Miss Grant tended to make me grit my teeth every time she opened her mouth (though I did appreciate her in other ways).

OK: multiple choice it is... (though this may not help those of us who've already voted)

I've grown accustomed to Jo's voice. It's actually kind of sweet.

If she were an animal, she'd be a golden retriever or a spaniel, looking up at you with big, melting eyes.

If I were an animal I'd want to be the kind animal Jo Grant would want for a 'mate' (or a few hours anyway)

Tony - why not show those OTHER pics of Jo...well, maybe not - children may be watching!!

Anyone who says that men have one-track minds is obviously perpetrating a stereotype that bears no relation whatsoever to the truth. Oh yes.

A bit harsh that, Luce! Get used to it - it's a man's world!!

But 50% of us are women

Lucy McGough wrote:But 50% of us are women

Yes, but we're the 50% that can successfully unblock a sink and read a map, so you lot are buggered really, aren't you?

hear,hear...women are inferior...only kidding, Luce!!! Us blokes LOVE you guys really!!

GBF wrote:hear,hear...women are inferior...only kidding, Luce!!! Us blokes LOVE you guys really!!

Yes, I have the utmost respect and admiration for the weaker sex, even if it is a scientific fact that they have smaller brains and notoriously dodgy taste in interior design.

Out of the spin off media I'd have to say Dr Evelyn Smythe. I just love Maggie Stables performance and how the character works with the 6th Doctor. Happy to see shes returning to audio in a few months.

Hourglass wrote:Out of the spin off media I'd have to say Dr Evelyn Smythe. I just love Maggie Stables performance and how the character works with the 6th Doctor. Happy to see shes returning to audio in a few months.

I agree. it's good to see a character like Evelyn once in awhile, if only to prove that you don't need to be under 25 to make a good companion...

GBF wrote:hear,hear...women are inferior...only kidding, Luce!!! Us blokes LOVE you guys really!!

Thanks GBF

Tony, you're a silly banana

Lucy McGough wrote:

GBF wrote:hear,hear...women are inferior...only kidding, Luce!!! Us blokes LOVE you guys really!!

Thanks GBF

Tony, you're a silly banana

Bananas are good.

tony ingram wrote:

Hourglass wrote:Out of the spin off media I'd have to say Dr Evelyn Smythe. I just love Maggie Stables performance and how the character works with the 6th Doctor. Happy to see shes returning to audio in a few months.

I agree. it's good to see a character like Evelyn once in awhile, if only to prove that you don't need to be under 25 to make a good companion...

It's even more juicy when you realise the Doctor in the upcoming story has to tell her of Hexs.....change of circumstance and his latest confrontation with The Forge.

I voted Ace, Romana and Ian & Babs.


Sarah is SO overrated.

codywillis1 wrote:I voted Ace, Romana and Ian & Babs.


Sarah is SO overrated.

Burn the heretic!

(shakes self)

Thought I was over on GB for a moment there.

I like Sarah, but she's not my favourite. I still think Jamie was the best companion overall.