For actually travelling with, not during any of their pitstop adventures... Davison with four is the most I beleive... But could circumstances present themselves that he might wind up with 15 or 20 travelling companions? 30?
What's the largest # of companions the Dr'd take on at 1 time?
- Thread starter Guy Gardener
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Actual traveling at the same time, four. Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, and Kamelion.
One-time stories, that's another matter. When Ten visited Pompeii, he traveled (technically) with that family of four plus Donna, so five.
There were times several people were wondering around inside Four's Tardis ... Invasion of Time is one example. Several guards, Leela, her boytoy, K9, a couple Sontarans, etc. But they didn't go anywhere, so that doesn't really count. At least the family in Pompeii traveled somewhere, a few miles away.
Kamelion was introduced after Nyssa had left the show.
^ True. I think that the most has been three so far. Of course, hypothetically he may have previously been part of a TARDIS crew that numbered at least six.
In the novels, the maximum number of companions was three, from Original Sin to Happy Endings -- Benny, Chris, and Roz.
However, the eighth Doctor traveled with four passengers aboard the TARDIS (and I use the word "passengers" deliberately) between Interference and The Shadows of Avalon. While the only companions were Fitz and Compassion, there were two Saudis who wandered into the TARDIS in Interference and they never, ever left. Presumably, they were aboard the TARDIS when it exploded, and then they were part of whatever its remains drew upon in rebuilding itself.
However, the eighth Doctor traveled with four passengers aboard the TARDIS (and I use the word "passengers" deliberately) between Interference and The Shadows of Avalon. While the only companions were Fitz and Compassion, there were two Saudis who wandered into the TARDIS in Interference and they never, ever left. Presumably, they were aboard the TARDIS when it exploded, and then they were part of whatever its remains drew upon in rebuilding itself.
I think I was counting the doctor when i said Davison had four.
But three is common.
Ian, Barbara, Susan.
Ian, Barbara, Vicki.
Ben, Polly Jamie.
Romana, Adrik K9.
Nyssa, Tegan, Adrik.
But you have to wonder if he comes across people he would want to sign up as crew if only he didn't have too many people already straggling around since he has to wonder about composition.
But three is common.
Ian, Barbara, Susan.
Ian, Barbara, Vicki.
Ben, Polly Jamie.
Romana, Adrik K9.
Nyssa, Tegan, Adrik.
But you have to wonder if he comes across people he would want to sign up as crew if only he didn't have too many people already straggling around since he has to wonder about composition.
^ Also, too many companions and they might start to spoil his fun.
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Journey's End had 6, plus a spare Doctor.
Donna, Rose, Martha, Jack, Sarah Jane & Mickey.
Donna, Rose, Martha, Jack, Sarah Jane & Mickey.
There was a 5th Doctor story, I think it was Earthshock, where he had a bunch of humans and Cybermen on a short trip in the TARDIS.
Actually, it was 7. Jackie Tyler was there too and she counts for two reasons: 1, she acts in a companion role in that episode and is included as one of the "Children of Time". And she also qualifies because she actually was a companion - even fulfilled the "travel in the TARDIS" criteria some fans require - when she travelled to Torchwood One in Army of Ghosts and spent part of that episode impersonating Rose. She doesn't get listed by the BBC, but Jackie's claim to be a companion is just as strong as that of Adelaide Brooke or Astrid Peth.
Alex
But on the flip side, I would argue that Adelaide isn't a companion, even if BBC does. I go back and forth with both Astrid and Jackie.
Jackie's claim to be a companion is STRONGER than Adelaide or Astrid's because she travelled in the TARDIS twice (S2 finale and Journey's End) and appeared in more than one adventure travelling in the TARDIS.
I don't think Adelaide can be considered a companion any more than the other people at Bowie Base One could. Adelaide never actually subordinates herself to the Doctor -- never willingly joins him as a subordinate ally the way, say, Rose or Martha does. She always remains firmly tied to the world she is from. I wouldn't consider her a companion any more than I'd consider any commander of one of the five million Bases Under Siege the Doctor has visited over the years to be companions. She's more a passenger in the TARDIS than an honest companion.
By contrast, Christina and Astrid, though they never set foot in the TARDIS, both willingly subordinate themselves to the Doctor's command during the duration of their respective crises. So does Jackie. I'd say that gives them a far stronger claim to the title of "companion," even if they never traveled on the TARDIS.
I don't consider Adelaide Brook a companion. She's like Clent from "The Ice Warriors," a leader of a base-under-siege whom the Doctor allies with during the course of a single adventure, and no one would consider Clent a companion. 
That she went for a ride in the TARDIS doesn't, in my view, make her a companion.
I do consider Astrid a companion, even though she never went for a TARDIS ride, because the Doctor clearly intends to take her on board the TARDIS, only she dies before that happens. (That same logic applies to Lynda-with-a-Y, so you can make the argument that she counts.)
Lady Christina I'm a little iffy on. I can see the arguments both ways. I lean towards Not-a-Companion for Christina because, in the end, the Doctor rejects her when she clearly wants to come along.
I also consider Richard Mace from "The Visitation" a companion, because he fills the "role" so well in the story. The fifth Doctor should have left Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric in 1666 London and gone on madcap adventures with a 17th-century highwayman!
That she went for a ride in the TARDIS doesn't, in my view, make her a companion.I do consider Astrid a companion, even though she never went for a TARDIS ride, because the Doctor clearly intends to take her on board the TARDIS, only she dies before that happens. (That same logic applies to Lynda-with-a-Y, so you can make the argument that she counts.)
Lady Christina I'm a little iffy on. I can see the arguments both ways. I lean towards Not-a-Companion for Christina because, in the end, the Doctor rejects her when she clearly wants to come along.
I also consider Richard Mace from "The Visitation" a companion, because he fills the "role" so well in the story. The fifth Doctor should have left Nyssa, Tegan, and Adric in 1666 London and gone on madcap adventures with a 17th-century highwayman!
^ I think Eric Saward agreed with you. 
This is an old question that fans have been debating for decades. The prime example being Sara Kingdom who only appeared in one serial, The Daleks' Master Plan, but appeared in nine episodes within that serial. During that story, she traveled to many places and times with The Doctor and Steven (even more than see on screen if you follow Big Finish's Companion Chronicles).
Generally, I agree one story isn't enough but I make an exception for Sara Kingdom.
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