Doctor Who Companions - Background research

Doctor Who Companions

Billie Piper – Rose Tyler

Companion from 26^th March 2005 - 8^th July 2006

Billie Piper started her career as a teenage pop star at age fifteen, becoming the youngest recording artist to have a number one in the UK singles chart. She then decided to focus on acting and had roles in BBC series ‘’The Canterbury Tales’’ and films such as ‘’Things to do before your thirty’’ and ‘’The Calcium Kid’’ alongside Orlando Bloom.  In 2005 Billie started her role as Rose Tyler in Doctor Who as the doctors companion, she appeared in the show until the end of Series 2 in 2006 however this was not the end of her Doctor Who career as she made appearances in the show in 2007, 2010 and 2013.

On leaving the show in 2006 Piper starred as lead role Hannah Baxter in ‘’Secret Diary of a Call Girl’’ on ITV2 until 2011.

Catherine Tate – Donna Noble

Companion April 2008 – July 2008

Catherine Tate is an extremely successful British comedian and actress who has starred in numerous television programmes. She first made an appearance in serial dramas such as ‘’The Bill’’ and ‘’London’s Burning’’. She started her stand-up comedy career in 1996 making appearances on ‘’The Harry Hill Show’’ and ‘’That Peter Kay Thing’’. In 2004 Tate was given her own programme ‘’The Catherine Tate Show’’ which ran for three series. Tate made her first appearance in Doctor Who in 2006; she got mixed reviews from the British viewers who said they didn’t want ‘’Lauren’’ one of Tate’s comedy characters, in the Tardis. When Freema Agyeman announced she would be leaving the show, Tate was cast as the Doctors new companion Donna Noble and would return in series four (2008).

Tate remained the Doctors companion from April 2008 until July 2008 but still made appearances in the show until 2010. Tate’s success as a comedian and actress continued after leaving Doctor Who, she has starred in many popular comedy sitcoms such as ‘’The Office’’ and ‘’Big School’’. In late 2016 she began touring with ‘’The Catherine Tate Show Live’’

Freema Agyeman – Martha Jones

Companion 31^st March 2007- 30^th June 2007

Freema Agyeman starred as Martha Jones, companion to the tenth doctor, David Tennant. Her first appearance in the show was in Series two as Adeola Oshodi a Torchwood institute employee, she then returned in series three as Adeolas cousin Martha Jones. Agymans first acting job was as Lola wise in ‘’Crossroads’’ she had also made guest appearances in ‘’Casualty’’, ‘’ The Bill’’ and ‘’Silent Witness’’. She also starred in Doctor Who spin off show ‘’Torchwood’’ playing the same role.

After leaving Doctor Who in 2007 she returned for five episodes in series four and made her last appearance in ‘’The End of Time ’’ in 2009 for David Tennants final episode as the Doctor. In 2008 Agyemans career took off as she played roles in ‘’Survivors’’ and ‘’Law and Order UK’’. Her most recent work includes starring in American TV series ‘’The Carrie Diaries’’

Karen Gillan – Amy Pond

Companion 3^rd April 2010 – 29^th September 2012

Scottish actress Karen Gillan started her career as an actress in 2000 when she landed a role in ‘’Rebus’’ while still attending The Italia Conti Academy. She then went on to appear in a number of television shows such as ‘’Stacked (2008) and ‘’The Kevin Bishop Show’’ (2008). She played the role of the eleventh doctor, Matt Smiths companion Amy Pond . Her first appearance on the show was in 2008 when she had a small part in series four episode ‘‘the fires of Pompeii’’. Gillan finally left the show at the end of series seven in 2012.

She made one final appearance in the 2013 Christmas special ‘‘the time of the doctor’’ to say goodbye to her co-star Matt smith. After leaving Doctor Who Gillan went on to another big role in Guardians of the Galaxy, she played Nebula and had to shave her head for the part. In 2014 she starred in the pilot for ‘‘Selfie’’, which aired on American network ABC. She is currently working on Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which is to be released in December 2017

Arthur Darvill – Rory Williams

Companion 17^th April 2010 - 29^th September 2012

Arthur Darvill made his first television debut in ‘’He Kills Coppers’’ an ITV drama in 2008. He then starred in ‘’Little Dorrit’’ a BBC programme later the same year. In the fifth series of Doctor Who Darvill began his role of Rory Williams, one of the eleventh Doctors companions. It was then confirmed that he would become a regular character for the sixth series and would also be featured in series seven of the popular TV show. It was in the fifth episode of series seven that Darvill and his on screen wife Karen Gillan left the show.

After leaving the show Darvill was cast in popular crime drama Broadchurch as Paul Coats along with two former Doctor who stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman. Not only is Darvill known for his acting career he is also a successful musician and composer. He has written songs for the Bush Theatre and received a Judges Discretionary Award from MTM for his music. In 2013 Darvill took the lead male role ‘’Guy’’ from the musical ‘‘once’’ on Broadway in New York.

Alex Kingston – River Song

Companion 23^rd April 2011 - 25^th December 2015

Alex Kingston is a British actress that made her debut at age fifteen as a bully in then popular TV show Grange Hill. The actress became popular when starring in American TV show ER as surgeon Elizabeth Corday; she remained in the show for seven seasons. Kingston has also played in US TV series ‘’Flash-forward’’ as Scotland Yard Inspector ‘’ Fiona Banks’’ and also starred in multiple seasons of Law & Order as defence attorney ‘’Miranda Pond’’

In 2008 Kingston made her first appearance as River in series four of Doctor Who, the actress was only cast for two episode of Doctor Who but after seeing the popularity of her character the producers decided to bring her back as Amy Pond & Rory Williams daughter. She remained in the series for fifteen episodes until her final appearance in the Christmas special in 2015.

Throughout her acting career Kingston has held many roles in a number of TV series as well as having small parts in programmes such as ‘’NCIS’’ and ‘’The Bill’’

Jenna Coleman – Clara Oswald/Oswin

Companion 25^th December 2012 - 5^th December 2015

Jenna Coleman is a popular British actress; she made her TV debut in 2005 on popular British TV show Emmerdale as ‘’Jasmine’’ at aged 19, she remained in this role for three years and was nominated for a number of British Soap Awards. This made the young actress very popular in the UK. She then landed parts in ‘’Waterloo road’’ and ‘’Room at the top’’ both BBC television productions. After moving to Los Angeles for three months Coleman landed a small part in her first film ‘’Captain America: The first Avenger’’ and then went on to feature as ‘’Annie Desmond’’ in ABC’s ‘’Titanic’’ these roles made the actress more popular to the American audience.

Coleman made her first appearance in Doctor Who as Oswin Oswald in 2012. She is then introduced again in the 2012 Christmas special as Clara Oswin Oswald. She remains the Doctors companion until she leaves in December 2015.

After leaving Doctor Who Coleman was cast to play the lead, Queen Victoria in new British TV series ‘’Victoria’’ in 2015. The show first premiered in August 2016 and producers are planning to air series 2 in 2017.