News

A brand-new Doctor Who audio adventure series will feature River Song meeting two companions from the classic series. Alex Kingston reprises her title role as the time-traveling adventurer in The Death and Life of River Song.

The Death and Life of River Song is a continuation of an ongoing series of audio dramas featuring the character, with River meeting the Fifth Doctor's companion Tegan (Janet Fielding) and the Seventh Doctor's pal Ace (Sophie Aldred) when they're all suddenly stranded in 1860. Four new serials begin with "Castaways," where Tegan and Ace find themselves wandering through the newly-opened London Underground with no memory of how they got there.

Three of The Doctor's Most Iconic Companions are Joining Forces

A Debunked Doctor Who Rumor Proves the 1 Thing the Franchise Needs More Than Anything

Doctor Who has made a splash with its latest season, but while there are some rumors about its future, there's...

One of the Doctor's most well-known foes is set to receive a new origin, as Big Finish is set to adapt the upcoming audio drama Doctor Who: Genesis of the Cybermen. The cyborg foes stripped of all their emotions made their debut in William Hartnell's final story as the First Doctor, The Tenth Planet, in 1966. Despite having several beginnings across the series, their goals have remained consistent as they set out to convert all life and remove anything they see as a weakness, ridding themselves of humanity.

While the Cybermen haven't been seen on-screen since Jodie Whittaker's final adventure, The Power of the Doctor, an older, once-scrapped tale has been given new life in the form of a new Big Finish audio drama set to release in March 2025. Published under The Lost Stories range, Genesis of the Cybermen will see the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davidson), Tegan (Janet Fielding...

Doctor Who season 14 introduced the Pantheon - a group of immortal entities - and confirmed the Mara as its God of Beasts. Tegan could still be carrying the Mara inside her mind, as suggested by "The Passenger." Doctor Who season 15 can explore Tegan's possession by a Pantheon God and how that impacts her job with Unit.

The return of a classic Doctor Who companion has become necessary after season 14's big Pantheon retcon. From Sutekh piggybacking on the Tardis to the reintroduction of Richard E. Grant's Shalka Doctor, there was no shortage of canon rewrites in Doctor Who season 14. While Sutekh's 49-year reign as hide-and-seek champion was undoubtedly the biggest retcon, the most significant change for future storylines proved to be the formation of Doctor Who's Pantheon - an order of immortal, near-omnipotent godlike entities presiding over time and space.

Sutekh sits atop the Pantheon as its God of Death,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Doctor Who, season 14, episode 8, "Empire of Death".

The Memory Tardis in Doctor Who is a cobbled-together version powered by memories, allowing time and space travel and revisiting past adventures. Created inside Unit's time window, the Memory Tardis serves as a temporary safe haven and a means of exploration for the Doctor's companions. After "Empire of Death", the Memory Tardis travels through the time vortex giving treats and rewards to old Doctor Who companions.

The Memory Tardis played a vital role in the Doctor Who season 14 finale, but what is it, and how does it work? With Sutekh's gift of death having laid waste to past, present, and future, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), and Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford) escaped in a Memory Tardis, liberated from Unit's Time Window. From inside the Memory Tardis, the Doctor provides Ruby and Mel with an explanation of season 14 villain Sutekh,...

Warning: This article contains Major Spoilers for the Doctor Who season 14 finale.

To understand Doctor Who season 14's finale, watching Tales of the Tardis is crucial for context on the Memory Tardis. Tales of the Tardis provides explanations on the purpose and abilities of the Memory Tardis, which the Fifteenth Doctor only briefly touches upon. The Memory Tardis has a significant narrative impact in Doctor Who season 14's finale, amplifying its role beyond the spinoff.

Doctor Whos season 14 finale introduces a concept that will make no sense to viewers who havent watched Doctor Whos newest spinoff show. The last episode of Doctor Who season 14 has finally released, wrapping up a thrilling debut season for Ncuti Gatwas Fifteenth Doctor. Like past finales, the ending of Doctor Who season 14 solves mysteries like the identity of Rubys mother while continuing to build the lore of the Whoniverse.

Sutekhs survival is explained by the...

Doctor Who season 14's retcon of a Peter Davison-era monster enhances a 42-year-old story with a new twist on powerful enemies. The Mara, originally a pure evil snake, is now a member of the Pantheon of godlike beings, explained by Sutekh in season 14. Linking the Mara to the Pantheon offers a deeper layer to its character and allows for potential future appearances in the series.

Doctor Who season 14's retcon of a Peter Davison-era monster vastly improved a 42-year-old story. Every actor who played Doctor Who has faced off against various powerful creatures who want to destroy the universe, many of whom have a hatred for Earth and human beings. The classic series featured both recurring villains such as the Daleks and monsters that appeared once or twice before being vanquished, seemingly forever. Some of the one-off stories are among the best Doctor Who episodes of all time, though...

Across its more than 60-year history, and counting, Doctor Who has featured dozens of companions, each of whom brings something wonderful and unique to the series and to the Doctor. While the show has been rebooted twice now, the continuity remains the same, and recently weve been treated to the return of another classic Who companion in Bonnie Langfords Mel Bush. Originally traveling with the sixth and seventh Doctors, Mel returned in The Power of the Doctor along with several other classic Who companions, including Ace (Sophie Aldred) and Tegan (Janet Fielding). Then late last year, Mel appeared in the 60th anniversary special The Giggle, as a member of Unit, finally getting to flex the computer programmer skills shes always had. And now, in classic Russell T. Davies fashion, a full ensemble of supporting players has returned for an epic finale.

In January 2024, Fourth Doctor companion Louise Jameson returned to Doctor Who in the short promotional film Leela vs the Time War for the release of the Season 15 Blu-ray boxset. It showed Jameson’s character on Gallifrey in the final moments of the Time War being threatened with extermination by the Daleks. “This is not how this ends,” says Leela, before transporting herself to the safety of the Tardis.

As reported by RadioTimes.com, writer/director Pete McTighe said at a BFI screening of 1977 episode “Horror of Fang Rock”, that he saw the new scene as “an opportunity to right [the] wrong” of Jameson’s character’s original exit, in which Leela was hurriedly married off to a Gallifreyan Time Lord.

McTighe has written increasingly ambitious promotional films for these series releases with original actors returning to play their roles, though the complexity of producing them means they won’t be done for every boxset.

Doctor Who is entering a new era with the "Whoniverse" being expanded and potential spinoff shows in the works. Doctor Who's Collection series of short films will be retired, disappointing fans who appreciated the additional content and answers it provided. While disappointing, the Collection shorts couldn't continue indefinitely, although the timing is confusing due to the franchise's increased emphasis on being a shared universe.

The Whoniverse is only just getting started, but Doctor Who is already winding up an exciting project that has brought joy to old and new viewers alike. Doctor Who season 14 marks the beginning of a new era under returning showrunner Russell T Davies. An international distribution deal with Disney+ not only boosts the Tardis coffers, but assures Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor a worldwide audience. Rtd is also keen to expand the world of Doctor Who by launching the "Whoniverse," which now comes with its...

"The Collection" short film trailers for Doctor Who home releases will be winding down due to the extensive production involved. These trailers have served as an introduction to the classic Doctor Who era for newer fans, showcasing the impact of classic companions' adventures. While there will still be future "The Collection" short films, there will be fewer released over time, leaving viewers eager to see which classic character will be revisited.

Doctor Who writer Pete McTighe reveals that the beloved classic series "The Collection" short film announcement trailers will begin winding down with future home releases due to their extensive production. Since 2019, the Blu-ray collections of classic stories have been announced with a trailer featuring the returns of classic Doctors, companions, and foes in new adventures. The latest trailer for Tom Baker's season 14 saw Louise Jameson reprise her role of Leela and explore her whereabouts in the final days...

Doctor Who season 15 comes to Blu-ray, with Horror Of Fang Rock leading the six-story collection. More here.

Never mind the fact that the entirety of Doctor Who – well, save for an episode or two – is available to watch on the BBC’s iPlayer service. There’s also the not-so-small matter of Doctor Who physical media releases, which continue thanks to the genuinely brilliant line of Blu-ray sets.

Next in line? Some Tom Baker magic, thanks to series 15 of Doctor Who becoming the subject of the latest set. This one runs to seven discs, dating all the way back to 1977, and includes the following stories…

Horror Of Fang Rock

The Invisible Enemy

Image Of The Fendahl

The Sun Makers

Underworld

The Invasion Of Time

Tom Baker is accompanied by Louise Jameson’s Leela in these tales, and we also get the introduction of K9 in there too. Plus, of course, Horror...

In celebration of Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary, the Tales of the Tardis microseries brings back many former Doctors and their companions. Critics calling the series empty nostalgia or "member berries" might have a point if the new scenes were executed poorly. Tales of the Tardis is a celebration that honors the people who built the Doctor Who legacy with warm, important character moments that enrich the franchise.

The following contains spoilers from the Doctor Who spinoff series Tales of the Tardis, streaming on BBC iPlayer.

There is a new Doctor Who spinoff series, Tales of the Tardis, that some people may dismiss as empty nostalgia and fan service. Putting aside that there's nothing wrong with Doctor Who storytellers pleasing the fans, such criticism does a disservice to what could become an important part of the Time Lord's overall story. With the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who celebration fast approaching,...

Bonnie Langford discusses how her character, Mel Bush, has changed since her last appearance on Doctor Who in 1987. Langford hints that Mel has gone through a difficult time, with something dreadful happening to her and her family. However, she still values her time with the Doctor and maintains a strong connection with him. Classic Doctor Who companions have made appearances in the revived era, and Mel's return is eagerly anticipated as viewers wonder how her tech expertise and tragic past will impact her journey in the Tardis.

Doctor Who season 14's returning classic companion actor Bonnie Langford explains how Mel Bush has changed following her departure from the Tardis since her last major appearance in 1987. First introduced during Colin Baker's Sixth Doctor era in "Terror of the Vervoids", computer programmer Melanie Bush traveled alongside Baker's Doctor briefly, but was more prevalent in the earlier seasons of Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy's tenure.

It’s Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary month, which calls for two things: celebration, and admin. Fittingly, here’s an administrative celebration of the BBC show, featuring every season/series that’s aired so far. After a six-tab Excel file and a lot of overthinking, it’s a big ol’ list arranging each of Doctor Who’s individual runs in reverse order of excellence.

(A note on methodology: this list does not include runs of Doctor Who specials or the TV movie, and Christmas specials are included under the entries for their relevant series.)

There’s good stuff everywhere in Doctor Who. Sometimes it can take a bit of digging to find it, but much of the time, you hardly even have to look – it’s just there, posing as the Commissioner from Sirius 4, or asking “Do I have the right?”. What follows is an attempt to arrange each season...

Tales of the Tardis opens up exciting possibilities for future episodes, with various Doctor and companion pairings to explore. Reuniting characters like Jenny and the Tenth Doctor could provide closure and new storylines for Doctor Who fans. Bringing back Martha Jones and the Master would offer more insight into Martha's side of the story from when Harold Saxon took over the world.

Tales of the Tardis opens a whole new universe of Doctor Who, with many tantalizing pairings now possible should future episodes happen. In preparation for Doctor Who's 60th anniversary special, the BBC has released Tales Of The Tardis. The show follows pairings of classic Doctor Who Doctors and companions, and not only involves the actors reprising their roles, but also combines individual older episodes to create new anthology stories.

Tales of the Tardis sees the return of the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and Tegan (Janet Fielding), the...

The spinoff Tales of the Tardis validates the divisive reception of companion Adric, as the Fifth Doctor and Tegan refer to him as a "nightmare" and "daft." The inclusion of the Doctor and Tegan's negative statements about Adric in Tales of the Tardis acknowledges the ongoing criticism and reflects viewers' common criticisms of the character. Despite his flaws, Adric's death holds meaning for the Doctor and Tegan, as it is mentioned as a reason for their continued adventures, and they still deeply feel the impact of his passing.

The Doctor's companions are a major component of Doctor Who, but the spinoff Tales of the Tardis shows that the divisive reception of one companion might be well-founded after all. Created as part of the BBC’s Whoniverse to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, Tales of the Tardis invites past companions and even some of Doctors from the classic era of...

Tales of the Tardis fixes mistakes from Jodie Whittaker's final Doctor Who episode. The spinoff confirms the romantic relationship between Tegan and Nyssa, correcting a retcon from "The Power of the Doctor." The Memory Tardis replaces the companion support group, allowing former Doctors and companions to reunite and process trauma in a better way.

Tales of the Tardis has taken a trio of notable flaws from Jodie Whittaker's final Doctor Who episode, "The Power of the Doctor," and fixed them ahead of the iconic sci-fi show's 60th anniversary. Chris Chibnall's reign as Doctor Who showrunner was arguably the most divisive in the franchise's 60-year history, and his final outing - also Jodie Whittaker's regeneration episode - proved no different. "The Power of the Doctor" featured appearances from former Doctor actors Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann, and brought back classic companions Tegan and Ace -...

Doctor Who's spin-off, Tales of the Tardis, is packed with Easter eggs referencing the Doctor's past, featuring reunions and reminiscing between various characters. The memory Tardis, formed with parts of different consoles, serves as a backdrop for the characters' recollections. Many items in the scenes pay homage to the show's history. Each pairing recalls a classic Doctor Who story and updates each other on the companions' lives post-tardis. References to significant episodes and iconic accessories are scattered throughout.

In preparation for its 60th-anniversary special, Doctor Who has released a brand-new spin-off, Tales of the Tardis, jam-packed with Easter eggs referencing the Doctor's past. Tales of the Tardis is the first Doctor Who spin-off since the return of Russell T. Davies as showrunner, who rebooted the hit sci-fi show in 2005, and served as head writer until the departure of David Tennant's Doctor in 2010. Tales of the Tardis follows several...

Contains spoilers for Tales of the Tardis, ‘Earthshock’, ‘The Three Doctors’, ‘Resurrection of the Daleks’, ‘The War Games’, ‘The Trial of a Time Lord’, ‘The Dalek Invasion of Earth’, ‘Survival’ and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

It’s not even November 25th and already we’re looking for Easter Eggs. Then again time has no meaning in a Remembered Tardis, the enigmatic location for Tales of the Tardis. What is Tales of the Tardis? I’m glad you asked. There are no stupid questions here, despite the best efforts of the comments section (I’m joking. Probably). Tales of the Tardis (I should probably put that on my clipboard now) is a new series of Doctor Who stories, edited to omnibus length with no episode breaks and bookended by appearances from characters connected to the stories. We went into more detail about it here.

A Remembered Tardis appears to be some...

Doctor Who spinoff Tales of the Tardis confirms long-held fan theory that Tegan and Nyssa were more than just friends. The 2022 Doctor Who special "Power of the Doctor" ignored the apparent romance between Tegan and Nyssa, but the new spinoff series re-establishes their relationship. The episode of Tales of the Tardis featuring Tegan mentioning Nyssa confirms their romantic relationship and fixes the mistake made in "Power of the Doctor."

Doctor Who spinoff Tales of the Tardis just confirmed a long-suspected but never official theory held by fans of the original show. Classic Doctor Who companions Tegan and Nyssa, played by Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton, were first introduced during the years of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor but are most memorable for their appearances during the Fifth Doctor's tenure. The pair were especially close during their on-screen time, leading fans to believe that there was more to their friendship than met the eye.

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Tales of the Tardis.

Doctor Who spinoff, Tales of the Tardis, reunites past companions to retell stories from the classic era, a unique approach compared to previous spinoffs. Characters like Tegan, Jamie, Zoe, Peri, Jo, Clyde, Steven, Vicki, and Ace share their post-tardis lives and their personal achievements. From Tegan's environmental campaigning to Peri becoming a Warrior Queen, the spinoff highlights the diverse and fulfilling lives of these beloved characters.

Doctor Who has had several spinoffs since its initial release in 1963, but its most recent addition, Tales of the Tardis, sees the return of multiple companions from previous years. Airing exclusively on BBC iPlayer, Tales of the Tardis reunites several characters from the Whoniverse to retell stories from Doctor Who's classic era. Six Classic Doctor Who stories are re-edited, with some of their main characters meeting to share their memories.

Tales of the...

Doctor Who: Tales of the Tardis introduces a brand-new Memory Tardis that connects all the Doctors and companions, allowing them to reminisce about past adventures. The Memory Tardis is a method of therapy, helping the Doctor and companions confront past losses and sad partings. The Memory Tardis is a powerful machine fueled by memories, providing an opportunity for reunions, new adventures, and the potential to bring back characters from the Doctor's past.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Doctor Who: Tales of the Tardis.In Tales of the Tardis, Doctor Who introduces a brand-new type of Tardis that connects every incarnation of the Doctor and their companions. Written by Russell T Davies, Phil Ford, and Pete McTighe, the six new episodes reunite Doctors and companions to reminisce about their time in the Tardis. These reminiscences effectively act as bookends to feature-length edits of classic serials like "The Curse of Fenric", "The Mind Robber", and "The Three Doctors.

Tales of the Tardis is an official Doctor Who spinoff that combines new scenes with classic episodes, featuring returning actors speaking in-character. The spinoff takes a relaxed approach to canon and may not neatly fit into the Doctor Who universe like previous spinoffs, resembling Marvel's What If...? in terms of being canon-adjacent. Tales of the Tardis marks the beginning of Doctor Who's Whoniverse, hinting at more spinoffs in development, making it the perfect introduction for viewers unfamiliar with the past 60 years of the show.

Tales of the Tardis will officially cut the ribbon on Doctor Who's Whoniverse, but - somewhat predictably, given the show's infamously complex continuity - where the spinoff sits within Doctor Who canon remains murky. With Russell T Davies' return as showrunner, a Disney+ deal in place, and a 60th anniversary celebration on the horizon, an expansion of the Doctor Who franchise looked as inevitable as Rose and Mickey's breakup.

If Doctor Who fans ever felt hard done by during any of the show’s previous big anniversaries then the 60th is here to soothe spirits, hand out cherished gifts, and generally make a bloody big hair-ruffling fuss of the lot of us.

First came news of David Tennant and Catherine Tate’s return in three anniversary specials, then came the ‘roughly 8 million episodes of Doctor Who are coming to BBC iPlayer on November 1’ announcement, then they brought back Doctor Who Confidential under a different name, and now…

…three Classic era Doctors are returning alongside eight former Doctor Who Companions (plus The Sarah Jane Adventures’ Clyde Langer) for new series Tales of the Tardis.

New Scenes, Classic Who Cast

Not a behind-the-scenes documentary, and not standalone adventures, the six-part series will pair up the stars of classic Who acting in new scenes together, in character, wrapped around episodes from six existing serials.

Tales of the Tardis is a great way for new viewers to get a taste of Doctor Who's classic era and understand its influence on the series today. The omnibus-inspired format of the series makes it more accessible to modern audiences who may not be used to the serialized format of the classic series. The newly filmed scenes in Tales of the Tardis offer a chance for familiar characters to return and tie up loose ends, while also introducing new viewers to other parts of the Doctor Who universe.

New Doctor Who spin-off series Tales of the Tardis has been revealed, as previous Doctor and companion actors reprise their roles to reflect on key stories from the show's classic era. The classic era of Doctor Who ran from the show's debut on November 23 1963 with "An Unearthly Child", and came to a close with the third episode of the 1989 storyline...

It’s a good time to be a Doctor Who fan. Over 800 episodes of the iconic sci-fi series will soon be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, and they’ll be joined by a brand-new Doctor Who spinoff series which will reunite classic Doctor Who duos, including classic Doctors and their companions.

Tales of the Tardis will span six-episodes, with each featuring a different duo, with brand new scenes woven together with classic episodes to create feature-length omnibus episodes. Reprising their roles for the Doctor Who spinoff series are; Maureen O’Brien as Vicki and Peter Purves as Steven, Frazer Hines as Jamie and Wendy Padbury as Zoe, Katy Manning as Jo and Daniel Anthony as Clyde, Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Janet Fielding as Tegan, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri, and Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace.

Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor had a misconceived reputation of being "nice," when in reality, he often displayed dismissiveness and overt hostility towards his companions. The Fifth Doctor's era was characterized by a dark and unpleasant tone, leading Tegan to leave the Tardis due to the horror and violence. The death of Adric left little impact on the Doctor, showcasing his coldness. Davison's Doctor highlighted that the Time Lord couldn't always afford to be nice, as he faced morally challenging situations and made questionable decisions, such as causing a massacre and attempting to shoot Davros. The era proved the existence of darkness in the Doctor Who universe.

Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor always had a reputation as being too nice, which is a popular Doctor Who misconception. Sandwiched between an irascible Tom Baker and the brash Colin Baker, it's easy to see how Davison earned his "nice guy" reputation. However,...

Doctor Who's fifth Time Lord, Peter Davison, reflects on the evolution of the show's companions, from flat characters to exploratory and amazing individuals. Davison praises Billie Piper's Rose Tyler as the best-written companion, highlighting her ability to show the Doctor through her eyes. The upcoming Doctor Who season will introduce a new companion named Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.

Doctor Who’s Fifth Doctor unpacks the revival’s treatment of the modern companions. Doctor Who’s fifth Time Lord was played by Peter Davison, who portrayed the character from 1982 to 1984. Throughout his run, Davison’s Fifth Doctor was joined by multiple companions, including Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton). Soon, the series will see a new companion as Doctor Who season 14 approaches its release.

Speaking with RadioTimes, Davison talks about the companions and their evolutions over time. According to Davison, “they wrote...

Peter Davison regrets not having the opportunity to work with Tom Baker in "The Five Doctors" and admires him as a great actor. Baker's absence from the special was explained within the storyline as an error by the story's foe, and his character was trapped in the Time Vortex instead. The Doctor Who crew took interesting steps to ensure all incarnations of the Doctor were represented, such as reusing footage from a missing Fourth Doctor adventure and using a waxwork of Baker in promotional materials.

Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison looks back on Doctor Who's 20th anniversary story "The Five Doctors," revealing he regrets not having the opportunity to work with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker. Davison first joined the series at the conclusion of Baker's final adventure in 1981, playing the Time Lord for three seasons. Airing in 1983, "The Five Doctors" saw the first five incarnations of the Doctor...

The return of Jemma Redgrave's Kate Stewart in Doctor Who season 14 opens the possibility for more classic companions to come back to the show. Kate Stewart's connection to the companion support group means she can easily bring back any living Doctor Who companion as a Unit consultant in season 14. Possible companions who could return alongside Kate Stewart include Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, and Jamie McCrimmon, who may have his memories restored by Unit.

The presence of an old friend in Doctor Who season 14 means even more classic companions could return to the sci-fi TV show in 2024 and beyond. For any actor, joining the world of Doctor Who means a job for life. Between multi-Doctor stories and Big Finish audios, no actor is ever truly finished with Doctor Who, and that has proven especially true for companions. In the main TV Show, Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith, Sophie Aldred's Ace,...

Jodie Whittaker's best Doctor Who episode, "Power of the Doctor," is a nostalgic celebration of the show's history but doesn't showcase her abilities as the Thirteenth Doctor. The top-ranked episodes in a Doctor Who Magazine poll reflect a preference for traditional stories rather than the modernization efforts of Chris Chibnall and Whittaker. Other episodes like "Rosa" and "Demons of the Punjab" better highlight Whittaker's performance and the fresh take on Doctor Who, challenging the ranking of "Power of the Doctor."

Doctor Who fans have decided on Jodie Whittaker's best episode, and their decision has exposed a huge injustice of the Thirteenth Doctor era. After 54-years of leading men, Jodie Whittaker made history when she was cast as the first female Doctor Who in 2017. This decision predictably upset staunch traditionalists who believed that the Doctor should always be played by a man despite the fact that the character is an...

Doctor Who has once again hinted at a romantic relationship between 1980s companions Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), potentially reversing a possible retcon from the Jodie Whittaker era. Russell T Davies' special webisode, "Farewell, Sarah Jane" was designed to say goodbye to the character of Sarah Jane Smith and pay tribute to actress Elisabeth Sladen, featuring many returning companions. The short revealed that Tegan and Nyssa had entered into a romantic relationship at some later point after leaving the Tardis. It's unclear how this was possible, given that Nyssa had been left on the space station Terminus in the far future, while Tegan left the Tardis in 1980s London.

Regardless of this complication, Doctor Who fans were perturbed when this surprise romance wasn't acknowledged when Tegan returned in "The Power of the Doctor" opposite Jodie Whittaker. She revealed that she'd "seen off two ex-husbands" but didn't mention Nyssa.

Doctor Who has revealed the return of a classic series villain, 40 years after their last appearance, potentially setting up a story in season 14. Although the 60th anniversary specials aren't due to air until November, a brand new Doctor Who webisode, "The Passenger" written by Pete McTighe, has been released online. Apparently set after the events of "The Power of the Doctor", the mini episode reunites Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) after a mysterious summons brings her to a creepy fairground and a familiar looking blue box.

Doctor Who webisode "The Passenger" has been released to announce the addition of season 20 to the Doctor Who: The Collection Bluray range later in 2023. The season features a remastered version of Doctor Who's 20th anniversary special "The Five Doctors" as well as the undisputed high-point of the season - "Snakedance". A sequel to season 19's "Kinda", the serial revealed that...

Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) has a surprising long-awaited reunion with fellow Doctor Who companion Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) along with an old foe in a new short webisode to celebrate the re-release of the classic series' season 20. Fielding and Sutton first joined the long-running sci-fi series in 1981 during the era of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor, remaining on the Tardis into Fifth Doctor Peter Davison's tenure until 1983 and 1984 respectively. While Sutton has yet to return to the main series, Fielding reprised the role of Tegan alongside Jodie Whittaker's Fifteenth Doctor in 2022's "The Power of the Doctor".

Ahead of David Tennant's return as The Doctor, the Doctor Who trailer for season 20's home media re-release featured a new short film that visited Fielding's Tegan in the present day.

Titled "The Passenger", the webisode seemingly picks up with Tegan after the events of "The Power of the Doctor", where...

Bonnie Langford's Mel was a divisive companion during her first Doctor Who era, but Mel's return is actually a really smart move by showrunner Russell T Davies. Mel will be joining Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson's Ruby in Doctor Who season 14, due to air in 2024. Mel will be the third returning 1980s Doctor Who companion since both Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) returned for Jodie Whittaker's final adventure. Doctor Who in the 1980s was a bumpy time for the show, and - through no fault of the actress - Bonnie Langford's Mel was right at the heart of it.

Anecdotally, John Nathan-Turner cast Bonnie Langford for her scream, which was a retrograde step even in 1986. This piercing scream didn't endear her to viewers, nor did her perky keep-fit routine. However, underneath the affectations forced on the character by Jn-t, there was...

The new era of Doctor Who will see Bonnie Langford return as classic companion, Melanie "Mel" Bush. The BBC recently confirmed that Langford would be reprising her role in 2024's Season 14, opposite Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor. Langford first portrayed Mel opposite Colin Baker's Sixth Doctor in 1986's "The Trial of a Time Lord," and later served as the full-time companion of Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor in Season 24. This isn't the first time returning showrunner Russell T Davies has brought back a companion from Doctor Who's classic era, nor is it the first time a classic companion has returned in recent years.

Given the growing precedent for classic series stars to remain involved with the series, Mel's return could well open the door to other companions coming back. Of course, with a bold new era on the horizon, companions such as Mel might be coming back for more than just Doctor Who.

Fan-favorite Doctor Who character Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford) is locked in for the long-running sci-fi series' upcoming 14th season.

The BBC recently announced that Langford will reprise the Mel role opposite Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor via the official Doctor Who website. This will make Gatwa the third incarnation of Doctor Who's Time Lord protagonist that Mel has joined in the Tardis, as she previously served as a companion for the Sixth and Seventh Doctors. "I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing Melanie Bush back," Langford said in a statement included with the BBC's announcement. "To be part of the exceptional cast, crew and production team led by the force of nature that is Russell T Davies is a career highlight. I'm so privileged and proud to have been a member of the Doctor Who family since the classic era and to be included in the new generation is phenomenal.

Doctor Who often returns to previous companions, but doing this in “The Power of the Doctor” killed a fifth Doctor companion romance in the worst way. “The Power of the Doctor” brought back plenty of old companions in Doctor Who in celebration of the BBC’s 100th Anniversary, and it also marked Jodie Whittaker’s final regular appearance as the Doctor. One of the returning companions was Tegan, played by Janet Fielding, who first appeared with the fourth Doctor but was mainly featured with the fifth Doctor and another companion Nyssa (Sarah Sutton).

Tegan was an Australian air flight attendant from Australia, and Nyssa was a young girl from Traken whose father was killed by the Master. Nyssa and Tegan were very close and had plenty of adventures with Peter Davison’s fifth Doctor, but parted ways once their time at the Tardis was done. There have always been rumors...

Doctor Who's centenary special "The Power of the Doctor" completed the journey of one classic series companion. In the closing moments of the special, as the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) prepared to regenerate alone, it was juxtaposed with scenes set at a support group for former Doctor Who companions. Spearheaded by Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), the group featured at least one companion from every decade of the show from the 1960s to the 2020s.

Although the 2000-2010 companions were notable for their absence, Chris Chibnall toyed with bringing back Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) to Doctor Who via a laptop. The absence was consistent with Chibnall's reasoning for not including the modern Doctors, as he believed they may appear in 2023's 60th-anniversary specials alongside David Tennant and Catherine Tate. The most surprising member of the support group was Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford), companion of the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy), mainly...

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies may have already revealed two of his planned spinoffs. Doctor Who may be the world's longest-running science-fiction TV show, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, but its future couldn't possibly look brighter. Russell T. Davies - mastermind of the 2005 revival - has returned, and Doctor Who season 14 is currently in production. Co-production and distribution deals with Bad Wolf Studios and Disney+ even seem to be making Davies' dream of spinoffs a reality.

Writing in Doctor Who Magazine #579, Davies revealed his return has been in the works since December 2020. That makes comments from Davies in January 2021, in which he described a vision for Doctor Who's future growth, particularly interesting. There, he reflected on how streaming has allowed film and TV franchises to expand in unprecedented ways. "There should be a Doctor Who channel now," Davies observed. "You look at those Disney announcements, of all...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for The Power of The Doctor.The reunion of multiple Doctor Who companions in "The Power of the Doctor" fulfilled a promise first made during the first Russell T Davies era. The possibility of more companions from the classic era returning to Doctor Who was first raised after Elisabeth Sladen returned during the revival to recreate the role of reporter Sarah Jane Smith and star in her own spinoff. "The Power of the Doctor" brought multiple companions together, but not in the way that The Sarah Jane Adventures suggested. This has raised the possibility of more classic companions appearing in Doctor Who now that Davies has returned as showrunner.

Sarah Jane Smith, the protagonist of The Sarah Jane Adventures, made reference to searching online to try and identify other former companions of the Doctor, eventually crossing paths with fellow Third Doctor companion Jo Grant. This set up...

When the 13th season of Doctor Who concluded at the end of October 2022, fans immediately rejoiced over the countless cameos from former companions, with characters like Donna and her grandfather Wilf also poised to return for critical roles in 2023 and beyond. The BBC also recently announced that the 15th Doctor's upcoming companion will be a young woman named Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.

With the 60th anniversary episode slated for next fall, now is a great time to assess which Doctor Who companions have endured the longest tenure on the show and how fans felt about their specific storylines. There have been so many beloved characters down the years.

Zoe Heriot

Wendy Padbury appeared in 49 episodes of Doctor Who from 1968 to 1983, playing the companion to the Second Doctor. The bright astrophysicist was fun, campy, and a joy to watch thanks to her easygoing dynamic with Patrick Troughton. Independent and...

"The Power of the Doctor," a special episode of Doctor Who celebrating the BBC's centenary, was a proud love letter to the long-running series, which was almost a problem until David Tennant's appearance as the Fourteenth Doctor. As both showrunner Chris Chibnall and Thirteenth Doctor actor Jodie Whittaker's final episode, "The Power of the Doctor" brought back several actors from Doctor Who's past. Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding returned as Ace and Tegan, respectively, but a number of actors who had previously portrayed different incarnations of the titular Time Lord also reprized their roles. However, there was a notable lack of actors from after Doctor Who was revived in 2005.

Since Doctor Who returned to the BBC in 2005, five actors have portrayed the Doctor, so many expected at least a couple of these faces to make an appearance. However, during a scene after the Master forces a regeneration on the Thirteenth Doctor,...

The companion support group scene in Doctor Who centenary special "The Power of the Doctor" paid a wonderful tribute to the legendary Sarah Jane Smith. "The Power of the Doctor" brought back several companions from Doctor Who history, most notably Sophie Aldred as Ace and Janet Fielding as Tegan, though a few others would appear in the closing moments as members of a post-tardis support group put together by Thirteenth Doctor companion Graham O'Brien. Iconic characters Melanie Bush, Jo Grant, and even Ian Chesterton returned, representing Doctor Who through the ages.

First appearing in 1973's "The Time Warrior," Sarah Jane Smith served as companion to Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor and Tom Baker's Fourth, eventually leaving the Tardis in 1976's "The Hand of Fear." Elisabeth Sladen revived Sarah Jane in 2006 opposite the Tenth Doctor, making her character one of the most tenured, popular, and beloved companions in Doctor Who.

Warning: Spoilers for the Doctor Who centenary special, "The Power of the Doctor."

Many previous Doctor Who actors had cameos in "The Power of the Doctor," but one of the series' biggest names was missing. Jodie Whittaker's final episode as the Doctor premiered on October 23, 2022, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the launch of the BBC, bringing back several actors from the show's rich history, including many who had previously portrayed the titular Time Lord. Five former Doctors were featured in the special episode, as well as the return of Jo Martin's Fugitive Doctor and Whittaker's surprise regeneration back into David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, but one of the most notable past Doctors was curiously absent.

Tom Baker became perhaps the most memorable actor to portray the Doctor during the classic run of the series thanks to his portrayal of the Fourth Doctor between 1974 and 1981. Despite being so recognizable,...

The third and final special episode of Doctor Who season 14, "The Power of the Doctor", is made an even better celebration of BBC’s 100th anniversary with one hidden detail. A time (and space) traveling alien from the destroyed planet of Gallifrey, the Doctor has the ability to regenerate into a new physical form when fatally injured. Thus, since the 1960s, various actors of different genders and ethnicities have taken on the role of the Doctor to extend their story on the screen.

"The Power of the Doctor" takes a look back at the show's history through its multiple Doctors and companions, both acknowledging its traditions and signaling a new, upcoming era. Since the series began in 1963, Doctor Who has featured many official renditions of the character of the Doctor, and many more companions as well. For BBC’s centenary celebration, the show called back actors from each decade that...

This article contains spoilers for the Doctor Who Centenary Special, The Power of the Doctor.Doctor Who finally honors the death of Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) after 40 long years. Doctor Who's centenary special, "The Power of the Doctor" sees the return of classic 1980s-era companions Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) to help the Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) battle against a terrifying triumvirate of the Master (Sacha Dhawan), the Daleks, and the Cybermen. Tegan has history with all three Doctor Who villains, but especially the Cybermen, who were responsible for the death of fellow Tardis companion Adric. In Doctor Who's 1982 "Earthshock" serial, Adric sacrificed himself to prevent the Cybermen crashing a space freighter into Earth.

The following serial, "Time-Flight," saw the Fifth Doctor swiftly and coldly move on from Adric's Doctor Who death, causing tension with Tegan that never really disappeared. "The Power of the Doctor" finally confirms...

The best way to describe Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker's era of "Doctor Who" is "stuff happened." And in the centenary special "The Power of the Doctor," which served as Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor swan song, stuff certainly happened. Was any of that stuff emotionally, narratively, or thematically resonant? Well, that's another story.

Jodie Whittaker's run as the first female Doctor in "Doctor Who" history has been mired in clunky writing, nonsensical plots, half-realized characters, and empty spectacle — which on the surface, sounds par for the course for a show as silly and weird as "Doctor Who." But it's been missing the heart that made those kinds of quirks bearable, and as a result — despite some genuine bright spots through this four-year run — has felt like a chore to watch more than anything. And Whittaker's final episode as the Thirteenth Doctor certainly felt like a laundry list of fan...

Saying goodbye to Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor feels bittersweet. As the first female actor to play the Time Lord, she’s brought Doctor Who up to speed with modern times – but her tenure has often struggled to live up to its potential. That’s due less to her performance – lord knows, she’s been giving all she can – than the scripts the actor has been given. There’s been a renewed interest in the show with Russell T Davies, the brains behind the original reboot, taking back the showrunner reins for the next series.

We know that Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa will be the 14th Doctor – a choice that was warmly received by fans. But rather than speculating about its future, I want this last review to focus on Whittaker. And, given the final moments of Whittaker’s regeneration were removed from the episode sent to reviewers, the Doctor...

Warning: Contains spoilers for the latest episode of “Doctor Who”

“Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on?” says incoming “Doctor Who” star Ncuti Gatwa in a trailer for next year’s series premiere. After seeing “The Power of the Doctor,” it would be hard to find any “Who” fan who doesn’t feel the same way.

Airing on the BBC on Sunday, “The Power of the Doctor” was advertised as a sendoff for the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whitaker, after four years in the role. But with the special also airing as part of the BBC’s 100th anniversary celebrations, it also was overloaded with cameos from past Doctors and companions.

As advertised, we got Sophie Aldred and Janet Fielding returning as 80s “Who” companions Ace and Tegan, but we also got cameos from four previous Doctors. Doctors No. Five through Eight — Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy...