Doctor Who's 10 Best One-Off Companions

Doctor Who is famous for featuring one or more companions that travel alongside the Doctor, but there are also instances in which a one-off companion steals the show. Typically, the best Doctor Who companions stick around for one or more seasons. However, some of the greatest Doctor Who stories introduce a companion who only appears in one episode, or a two-part adventure.

Despite this, these one-off characters are so fantastic that audiences fall in love with them. Unfortunately, the fates of these personalities aren’t always positive. Some suffer a terrible fate before they are able to board the TARDIS, although this isn’t an exclusive rule, and others only stay as a one-off companion for other reasons. Doctor Who’s companions come and go in different ways, but to make such an impact in one story is an impressive feat.

10

Sally Sparrow

Season 3, Episode 10 – “Blink”

Sally Sparrow is easily one of Carey Mulligan’s best TV show performances, and despite the actress being more prominent as a movie star, many remember her for her stint in Doctor Who over anything else. “Blink” is a fantastic Doctor-lite episode of Doctor Who, and technically, Sally is the hero of the story, rather than the companion of the Doctor.

*IMDB’s Highest Rated Episodes of Doctor Who* (2005-)**
Episode Number	Title	IMDB Score
S3.E10	Blink	9.8
S9.E11	Heaven Sent	9.6
S4.E9	Forest of the Dead	9.4

Sally is the first person to properly encounter the terrifying Weeping Angels, decipher the Doctor’s cryptic messaging, and ensure that the Time Lord is prepared to face the villains when the time comes. She’s strong and brave, and even when things don’t make sense to Sally, she doesn’t shy away. The idea of time travel is an overwhelming one, but Sally takes it in her stride, all for the sake of saving humanity and understanding the fates of Kathy and Billy.

9

Astrid Peth

Christmas 2007 – “Voyage Of The Damned”

Kylie Minogue provides a fantastic portrayal as the tiny yet mighty Astrid Peth in the Doctor Who Christmas special, “Voyage of the Damned.” Although Astrid is sometimes unsure of herself, she always finds a way to pull herself back together and be brave. She leaves Sto in search of a better life and to travel the stars, and when Astrid meets the enigmatic Doctor, she throws herself into his exciting escapades almost immediately.

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Astrid doesn’t judge, especially the likes of Bannakaffalatta, and she tries to help even the most arrogant and undeserving, like Rickston. Her heroic Doctor Who sacrifice is heartbreaking, but her pushing Max Capricorn off a cliff with a forklift also highlights the kind of character Astrid is. Despite only just meeting the Doctor, she understands what needs to be done, and she won’t let the universe suffer because of Capricorn’s selfishness.

8

Jenny

Season 4, Episode 6 – “The Doctor’s Daughter”

The topic of the Doctor’s children in Doctor Who is complicated, but Jenny from season 4’s “The Doctor’s Daughter,” is the only one to ever be officially confirmed as the Time Lord’s offspring on-screen. Jenny has a lot of elements of the Doctor in her personality and appearance.

In fact, she closely resembles the Fifth Doctor, as actress Georgia Tennant is the real-life daughter of Peter Davison. What’s so interesting about her, though, is that within the first few hours of her life, Jenny not only adopts part of the Doctor but also Donna, too. Jenny’s “death” is devastating, but it shows how incredible her character development throughout the episode is.

Thankfully, Jenny’s story continues in the Doctor Who audio dramas, although it’s a shame the Doctor hasn’t reunited with his daughter on-screen yet.

While she initially starts as “just another soldier,” she quickly understands the negatives of the war between the humans and the Hath. Realizing what her father does for the universe, she steps in front of a bullet for him so that Messaline will be terraformed and get a new start. Thankfully, Jenny’s story continues in the Doctor Who audio dramas, although it’s a shame the Doctor hasn’t reunited with his daughter on-screen yet.

7

Christina De Souza

2009 Specials – “Planet Of The Dead”

Lady Christina de Souza is not the perfect companion in “Planet of the Dead,” but the fact she has flaws is what makes her such an endearing character. Christina challenges the Doctor, and she can keep up with his adventurous spirit and quick thinking. Despite her esteemed title, she is a thief for fun, and she’s always chasing the adrenaline high.

The main problem with Christina, however, is that she can be overly confident and a bit selfish. She begrudgingly lets the Doctor use the gold chalice she steals, even though she knows it’s the one thing that will get them and the other bus passengers back to safety.

Christina also assumes that the Doctor will bring her aboard the TARDIS once they escape back through the wormhole, and she’s taken aback when he says no, but helps her slip away from the police anyway. However, she’s still a brilliant one-off companion because she mixes things up for the Doctor and keeps him on his toes, something that only a few of his friends achieve so spectacularly.

6

Captain Adelaide Brooke

2009 Specials – “The Waters Of Mars”

The scariest episode of Doctor Who from David Tennant’s era, “The Waters of Mars,” introduces a fantastic one-off companion in Captain Adelaide Brooke. Adelaide is the leader of Bowie Base One, and despite the help that the Doctor provides throughout the episode, her team is always the most important to her.

Even when some of them are infected by the Flood virus, Adelaide keeps her cool and seeks a solution that will keep as many people safe as possible. The reason why Adelaide is such a powerful companion, though, is her backstory and how it pushes her to stand up to Doctor Who’s Time Lord Victorious.

The Dalek invasion in “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” occurs during her childhood, which affects her future career, and in turn, her death on Bowie Base One inspires her granddaughter to travel the stars. When the Doctor’s attempts to change the fixed point in time, Adelaide takes matters into her own hands, stands up to him without fear, and makes sure she still dies so that her granddaughter’s future remains intact.

5

Wilfred Mott

Christmas 2009/New Years 2010 – “The End Of Time Part One & Two”

While there are several Wilfred Mott episodes of Doctor Who, he only becomes a true companion in the two-part adventure “The End of Time.” Wilf not only understands the pain of war and what marvelous things the Doctor can do, but he also understands that the Time Lord brings the best out in his granddaughter, Donna.

So, when the opportunity arises after Donna’s memory is wiped, Wilf steps up and helps the Doctor in his fight against the Saxon Master and the Time Lords. Wilf genuinely cares about the Doctor as a person, and he sees him as more than just an alien time traveler.

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While he has plenty of comical moments in the two episodes, Wilf’s determination to find the Doctor and later protect him is nothing short of incredible, too. The Doctor sacrifices himself for his companions frequently, but when he realizes saving Wilf will cause him to regenerate, he understands that it’s absolutely worth it.

4

Canton Everett Delaware III

Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2 – “The Impossible Astronaut” & “Day Of The Moon”

Another two-part Doctor Who story that features a one-off companion are the season 6 episodes “The Impossible Astronaut” and “Day of the Moon.” Even though Canton Everett Delaware III only serves as a companion for this one adventure, he plays a crucial role in the season arc and the Eleventh Doctor’s death in the Utah desert.

Canton is bold and unafraid to be himself, and he even openly admits to being engaged to a Black man in the 1960s, to none other than President Nixon. He quickly embraces the Doctor’s madness and is the only person who initially takes a chance on Team TARDIS’ plan to find out who the little girl calling the Oval Office is.

Canton plays along with the Doctor’s scheme in the beginning of “Day of the Moon,” and he truly commits to the bit, even lying to his colleagues about how dangerous the Time Lord actually is. He knows how it feels to be rejected, having been fired by the FBI, and so Canton isn’t afraid to embrace the weird and wonderful when he needs to.

3

Brian Williams

Season 7, Episode 2 – “Dinosaurs On A Spaceship”

Brian Williams, Rory’s father, is by far one of the best parents in Doctor Who. He loves his son so much, although he possibly loves Amy even more, and he always wants the best for the pair. Brian embraces the wackiness of the Doctor immediately and is quickly consumed by their traveling lifestyle when he boards the TARDIS in “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.”

Even though this is a complete accident, and the Doctor doesn’t intend to bring Rory’s father with them to the spaceship, Brian doesn’t hesitate to throw himself into the adventure. Brian also gets to help save the day, which is an adorable and wholesome moment, as his genetic match with Rory allows the father and son duo to pilot the Ark to safety.

His amazing experience inspires Brian to travel more himself, and he later sends postcards to the Ponds from various countries. While Brian does return in “The Power of Three” and briefly leaves Earth, he’s not really a companion in the episode, rather a returning supporting character who fleshes out Amy and Rory’s lives.

2

Grace O’Brien

Season 11, Episode 1 – “The Woman Who Fell To Earth”

The multiple appearances of Grace O’Brien’s spirit in Doctor Who makes her death in “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” that much more devastating, considering that she proves herself to be a worthy companion in the episode. Even before the events of the episode, Grace never backs away from difficulties.

She takes in Ryan and raises him, and also falls in love with Graham despite being his nurse. Immediately after meeting the Doctor, she lets the mysterious woman sleep on her couch and recuperate from regenerating. Without hesitation, Grace helps the Thirteenth Doctor fight Tzim-Sha. She truly enjoys the adventure, even though Graham is less enthusiastic than his wife.

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Grace’s mind is sharp, and she’s swift to adapt to the situation, although this is what ultimately kills her, as she is electrocuted when she destroys the coil and falls to her death. Losing Grace is heartbreaking for Ryan and Graham, but it’s also terrible for viewers, because of her lost potential as a full-time Doctor Who companion.

1

Anita Benn

Christmas 2024 – “Joy To The World”

Despite the Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special teasing a new companion in Nicola Coughlan’s Joy, in reality, it’s Anita Benn. The Sandringham Hotel concierge is nothing short of brilliant from her first scene. She doesn’t bat an eyelid at the showdown between Joy, the Doctor, and a Silurian, and Anita goes about her day as if it’s the standard for her. Anita happily allows the Doctor to stay with her at the hotel, and across the year, the two form a fascinating friendship.

It’s not unusual for the Doctor to create an impact on those he meets, but “Joy to the World” presents a rare occasion in which it’s the other way around.

It’s not unusual for the Doctor to create an impact on those he meets, but “Joy to the World” presents a rare occasion in which it’s the other way around. The Doctor leaving Anita clearly strikes a chord, especially as he opens up to her while taking the slow path, and he leaves her a small TARDIS figurine. It’s strange that he doesn’t ask Anita to join him in the TARDIS for Doctor Who season 15. But with her now working at the Time Hotel, it’s not impossible for Doctor Who to check in with her again in the future.