Past Companions with newer Doctors

[davejames]

Well to be fair, the companions of old weren't exactly the most interesting or defined characters ever. I'm sure the producers considered them all to be fairly disposable and not really worth revisiting or exploring further.

Plus they probably had enough trouble finding stuff for the CURRENT companions to do every episode. lol

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

what has happened outside of TV, in Big Finish and the various book lines is another question. The Brig has appeared in a Tenth Doctor DWM comic for example.

One of my favorite innovations from the Big Finish audios has been the introduction of Katy Manning as a derranged Time Lady named Iris Wildthyme. I especially love the way she is absolutely convinced that the Doctor is in love with her and how she has to constantly deflect his non-existent advances. If ever they bring back more Time Lords, I hope Iris Wildthyme is one of them.

Speaking of bringing back more Time Lords, I still want to see the long-awaited reunion between the Doctor & Romana.

That being said, I'm finding myself wanting Ian to return in the new series more and more. I would love the juxaposition between the old companion with a young looking Doctor.

Agreed, particularly considering how old William Hartnell was and how young Matt Smith is. And then there's the fact that the concept of regeneration had never even been broached during that era. I can just imagine how totally confused Ian would be. Then, when the Doctor explains it, Ian simply says, "That's the most ludicrous explanation I've ever heard! Even from you."

I'd also like to see a cameo from Sophie Aldred as post-apocalyptic, warrior Ace.

 

[arch101]

I was just thinking the other day that, now that we are effectively entering a new WHO era, who will be the next classic companion to appear? Much as I like Sarah Jane, I see her NewWho arc as being over. Having a classic companion show up occasionally is a nice tie to the original show for us old folks who have been watching since the 70s or earlier. So, I was wondering who might be the best "fit" (as well as who is still available)? Whoever it is, they shouldn't appear for awhile. Sarah Jane didn't show up until Tennant was pretty well established.

 

[diankra]

JNT planned to bring back Ian Chesterton for Mawdryn Undead but unfortunately William Russell was too busy at the time. This is why The Brigadier is a mathematics teacher in the serial.

Russell and Jacqueline Hill were also to have done a cameo at the end of The War Machine but it didn't work out.

I think that was The Massacre, actually. They were going to be walking their dog on Wimbledon Common when they saw Dodo run into the TARDIS thinking it was a real police box.
The War Machines connection to Ian is that, in the book, the Doctor gets into this top secret project because Ian has become a major league scientist since he got home (with lots of future knowledge), and he says the Doctor's OK.

 

[Rarewolf]

JNT also wanted to bring back Sarah Jane for the four-to-five regeneration.

He also tried to get Louise Jameson back as Leela for the transition, I don't know who he tried first though.

JNT later had a change of heart about new roles for old companions - he wouldn't allow Michael Craze (Ben Jackson) to take a role in Caves Of Androzani.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

JNT later had a change of heart about new roles for old companions - he wouldn't allow Michael Craze (Ben Jackson) to take a role in Caves Of Androzani.

Interesting, I never heard about that particular tidbit.

 

[wamdue]

what has happened outside of TV, in Big Finish and the various book lines is another question. The Brig has appeared in a Tenth Doctor DWM comic for example.

One of my favorite innovations from the Big Finish audios has been the introduction of Katy Manning as a derranged Time Lady named Iris Wildthyme. I especially love the way she is absolutely convinced that the Doctor is in love with her and how she has to constantly deflect his non-existent advances. If ever they bring back more Time Lords, I hope Iris Wildthyme is one of them.

Speaking of bringing back more Time Lords, I still want to see the long-awaited reunion between the Doctor & Romana.

Romana yes, Iris Wildthyme seems more like a comedy character from a Love & Monsters type ep.

 

[Pauln6]

Susan, Romana, Leela, and Ace all have potential to returning - the former three because they have a link to Gallifrey and the latter because her ultiimate fate is not known - maybe it was horrible and the new Doctor can rescue her.

Tegan I'd be up for if they put her back in that lilac air hostess uniform! Peri - please no. Nicola Bryant is adorable and wondferful but Peri was whiny and the most annoying assistant ever, plus she married the shoutiest warlord in the universe (I'm assuming with the aid of drugs).

Ian could easily fit into a plotline without a hiccup as could a few of the other Earthlings that were just droped off on Earth (Polly, Ben, Jo, Liz etc). Actually, as long as they don't make her scream all the time, Mel had a lot of untapped potential, although I can't exactly remember where or when she ended up...

 

[OmahaStar]

Ian could easily fit into a plotline without a hiccup as could a few of the other Earthlings that were just droped off on Earth (Polly, Ben, Jo, Liz etc). Actually, as long as they don't make her scream all the time, Mel had a lot of untapped potential, although I can't exactly remember where or when she ended up...

She stayed in the future on that dragon something planet, in the episode with Columbia from RHPS.

 

[davejames]

Strangely enough, Ace is the one I'd most like to see again. It would be fun to see what became of her, and to see what the dynamic between her and the new, younger "Professor" would be like.

 

[OmahaStar]

Strangely enough, Ace is the one I'd most like to see again. It would be fun to see what became of her, and to see what the dynamic between her and the new, younger "Professor" would be like.

She's also the one we know least about, since she was still companion when the series ended, and she was gone in the movie. For all we know, she was off on some vacation during those events, and met up with Eight shortly after the movie. Or maybe she did go to "time lord academy" ... who knows? The writers are free to do anything they want with the character, and don't have to worry about screwing up continuity.

 

[Starkers]

Mel left the Doctor to roam the galaxy with Glitz...a man who likely sold her into slavery first chance he got!

 

[OmahaStar]

Mel left the Doctor to roam the galaxy with Glitz...a man who likely sold her into slavery first chance he got!

Hopefully after ripping out her vocal cords.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

If they do more UNIT stuff, I'd like to see Liz Shaw back working with them again. "Someone with some brains needed to keep these brutes in line."

Also, after watching "Children of Earth," I had many fantasies about the Brigadier (or Lord Alistair now) coming in and cleaning house, firing all of the UNIT officers that had anything to do with that repugnant debacle.