Since ‘Doctor Who’ was revived in 2005 we have had met quite a few cool and interesting companions, enjoyed their adventures with the Doctor and, sometimes tearfully, bid them a fond adieu. But did you ever wonder what happened to the actors after they left the show? If you have then this post is for you.
For this week we will be looking at nine Former Companions and seeing what they are doing with their careers; I left out the character Adam Mitchell (Bruno Langley) from the first season because nobody cares about Adam. This is a companion piece to last week’s edition of “So Who Saturdays” when we took a look at nine Former Doctors.
So without further ado Allons-y, Geronimo and here we go:
#1 Rose Tyler/ Billie Piper
Our very first NuWho companion Rose was full of spunk and energy and was the one of Doctor’s few romantic interests. We said goodbye to her when she got stuck in a parallel dimension in “Doomsday”, then she came back in “The Stolen Earth”, and then went back to the parallel dimension in “Journey’s End” with the Meta-Crisis Doctor. Piper also returned for the 50th Anniversary special though not as Rose but as the manifestation of the Moment device.
Between her Who reappearances she appeared as a an escort in TV series ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’ and also played Irish immigrant Lily Frankenstein on Showtime horror series ‘Penny Dreadful’.
#2 Mickey Smith/ Noel Clarke
Mickey started off as a goof but eventually transitioned into a strong soldier. After a spell in the parallel dimension he returned to the regular dimension and married former companion Martha Jones.
Clarke’s post-Doctor Who work include playing a detective in the mini-series ‘Chasing Shadows’ and playing a small role in the film Star Trek Into Darkness.
#3 Captain Jack Harkness/ John Barrowman
Everyone’s favourite omnisexual immortal time traveler Captain Jack Harkness was such a hit with fans that he scored his own spin-off series ‘Torchwood’ which ran for three regular seasons and then the Starz collaboration season ‘Miracle Day’. In main Who he last appeared in a cameo in “The End of Time Part II” and many fans have been longing for him to return since.
Post Who Barrowman has continued work in music, theatre and on television with his most popular role as the devious and deadly Malcolm Merlyn on “Arrow” and the CW “Flarrowverse” of DC shows.
#4 Martha Jones/ Freema Agyeman
I enjoyed Agyeman as the smart and impassioned Dr Martha Jones, especially after she stopped pining for the Tenth Doctor like a lovesick puppy. After her initial departure she returned for a few episodes in Season 4 and showed up on ‘Torchwood’. We last saw her with hubby Mickey Smith in “The End of Time Part 2”.
From 2009-2012 she played junior CPS prosecutor Alesha Phillips on “Law and Order: UK”. She also appeared in teen comedy “The Carrie Diaries” and from 2015 to the present as a lesbian on the Wachowskis’ sci fi drama “Sense8”.
#5 Donna Noble/Catherine Tate
One of my favourite all time companions Donna Noble, played by award-winning funny woman Catherine Tate, was witty, thoughtful and a breath of fresh air. She had one of the saddest departures of any companion when the Doctor was forced to remove all memory of him and their travels to save her life.
This year she did voice work in the animated film Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods and played various characters in her show aptly titled The Catherine Tate Show: Live.
#6 Amelia “Amy” Pond/ Karen Gillan
The beautiful and fearless Amy Pond really put some fire into the Eleventh Doctor’s adventures. We said goodbye to her and husband Rory when they were zapped back into time by the Weeping Angels in “The Angels Take Manhattan”. At least the couple got to be together.
Gillan has kept busy post-Who appearing in films like the horror Oculus and as blue skinned Nebula in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Guardians of the Galaxy, a role she will be reprising for the sequel next year. Also in 2017 she will be appearing in the Jumanji reboot.
#7 Rory Williams/ Arthur Darvill
Where is my wife? How could you not love the loyal and brave Rory aka Rory the Roman. As mentioned above he got time zapped but was able to spend the rest of his life with his true love.
After Who Darvill appeared alongside Tenth Doctor David Tennant in British crime drama ‘Broadchurch’ and has been continuing to time travel as former Time Master Rip Hunter on CW series ‘DC Legends of Tomorrow’ which recently started its second season.
#8 Clara Oswald/ Jenna Coleman
The most recently departed regular companion Clara began as a bit one dimensional but evolved into a passionate, intelligent and intuitive companion. She was killed in the episode “The Raven” but then sort of saved by the Twelfth Doctor in “Hell Bent”. She may be still traveling time and space with companion Me in their TARDIS.
You can currently see Coleman (she dropped the Louise) as Queen Victoria in British drama “Victoria”.
#9 River Song/ Alex Kingston
No story or character has a more mixed up history than River Song. Strong, sassy and driven she steals the show every time she appears. We have said goodbye to the Doctor’s wife a few times only for her to return. So whether we will see her again is anybody’s guess.
The lovely Ms Kingston has continued her television work, appearing alongside Clarke in ‘Chasing Shadows’ and also joining Barrowman in ‘Arrow’. She is also slated to appear in the Netflix continuation of ‘Gilmore Girls’.
So who is your favourite former companion? Feel free to comment below and if you have any ideas for a “So Who Saturday” post I would love to here it.
For my Where Are They Know Former Doctors edition you can click here and for my Top Doctor/Companion Combos you can click here. Next week I will be doing a countdown of the best Season Finales of Doctor Who. For this and other post updates you can follow me on Twitter @suprememango012.
Julien is outie like a navel. l8rs
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