Companions: More Than Sixty Years of Doctor Who Assistants - Review

Few shows boast a legacy as rich and enduring as Doctor Who, and across its six+-decade history, no character—Doctor aside—has been as integral to its success as the companions. Now expanded and updated for 2025, Companions: More Than Sixty Years of Doctor Who Assistants is a comprehensive and affectionate tribute to the many brave, brilliant, and sometimes bumbling individuals who have stood by the Doctor’s side.

Originally authored by Andy Frankham-Allen in 2013, this definitive companion guide has been thoroughly revised by Philip Bates, expanding to an impressive 700 pages to encompass the ever-growing Doctor Who universe. With detailed character studies, behind-the-scenes insights, and a wealth of information from across the franchise, this book is an essential resource for Whovians old and new.

A Journey Through Time and Space

The book is structured as a chronological exploration, tracking each era of Doctor Who from its 1963 debut with Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) to the modern-day TARDIS team. Every major companion receives a dedicated section, outlining their backstory, character development, most iconic moments, and their relationships with the Doctor. Long-time favorites such as Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Ace (Sophie Aldred), and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) are given detailed analyses, but it’s just as delightful to see lesser-discussed characters, like Kamelion or Dodo Chaplet, receiving their due.

With this new edition, Companions now features extensive updates covering the most recent Doctor Who stories, including Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and the ever-expanding world of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. Bates analysis acknowledges the impact of modern companions like Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), and does an excellent job of charting how the role of the companion has evolved, from being the audience’s surrogate to active, often complex drivers of the narrative. 

Beyond the TARDIS

One of the book’s strengths is its attention to companions beyond the television screen. Companions explores how the Doctor’s allies have lived on in Big Finish audio dramas, novels, and comics, adding further depth to characters like Romana, Nyssa, and even past one-off characters who’ve found second lives in expanded media. The book also acknowledges the unique status of spin-off companions from Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and even Class, solidifying its position as a truly exhaustive reference guide.

Final Thoughts

For Doctor Who fans—whether you’ve been watching since the Hartnell era or joined during the latest Disney+ co-production—Companions: More Than Sixty Years of Doctor Who Assistants is an essential addition to your collection. More than just a list of names, it’s a love letter to the figures who have made Doctor Who what it is today: a show not just about an alien with a blue box, but about the extraordinary humans (and non-humans) who travel with them.

While it is deeply informative, it never reads like a dry encyclopedia. Bates brings a lively, engaging tone to his writing, making the book as entertaining as it is insightful. At 700 pages, this is the most in-depth look at the Doctor’s companions ever published, and with Doctor Who constantly evolving, it serves as both a celebration of the past and an anticipation of what’s to come.

Companions: More Than 60 Years of Doctor Who Assistants is available from the Candy Jar website, for £20 (plus p&p). To order, click here.