Adam Mitchell (Bruno Langley)

Adric (Matthew Waterhouse)

Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill)

Ben Jackson (Michael Craze)

"Captain Jack" Harkness (John Barrowman)

Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet (Jackie Lane)

Dorothy ("Ace") (Sophie Aldred)

Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw (Caroline John)

Dr. Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook)

Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter)

Ian Chesterton (William Russell)

James Robert "Jamie" McCrimmon (Frazer Hines)

Josephine "Jo" Grant (Katy Manning)

K-9 Mark I (voice of John Leeson)

K-9 Mark II (voices of John Leeson/David Brierley)

Kamelion (voice of Gerald Flood)

Katarina (Adrienne Hill)

Leela (Louise Jameson)

Melanie "Mel" Bush (Bonnie Langford)

Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke)

Nyssa of Traken

Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown (Nicola Bryant)

Polly (Anneke Wills)

Romanadvoratrelundar ("Romana I") (Mary Tamm)

Romanadvoratrelundar ("Romana II") (Lalla Ward)

Rose Tyler (Billie Piper)

Sara Kingdom (Jean Marsh)

Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen)

Steven Taylor (Peter Purves)

Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford)

Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding)

Vicki (Maureen O'Brien)

Victoria Waterfield (Deborah Watling)

Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson)

Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury)

AHHHGH! SMILIES!



OK, method to compile was TV companioons only, count Sara Kingdom and Grace but not the Brigadier. Identified by the actor who portrayed them, I suggest considering them in an analytical comparison--what were their virtues or flaws?



First up, Adam vs Adric.

Adric may have been a wimp, but every time he seemed to change sides it was always a ploy. Adam was a bad un--although he had an ill fhater, his motivation which ended up being left out of The Long Game.



Adric wins, on we go..



Barbara vs Ben.

Barbara was very inquisative and a thoughtful companion, played by a great actress.



Ben was very much the action man, who did seem to descend into his 'seaman' cliche at times.



Barbara wins this round.



I dont know about Adric winning the last round though!!  At least Adam has some personality to him.

Jack vs Dodo.

Hmm, mismatch...



Ace vs Liz.

I didn't think that Liz fitted in well at all as a companion.



Their main function is to be 'the audience' and have the doctor explain whats going on.



Liz never fitted that mould, and seemed as clever as the doctor was.



Ace was much better , and gave the McCoy era much needed spark and life.



Ace wins by a mile

...and a cannister of Nitro 9...



Dr. Grace vs Dr. Harry.

I didnt like Grace at all.  She was simply a Dana Scully clone, in a 2nd rate tv movie!!



Harry was a great companion.  Even though he was only in a couple of stories, you could see his character slowly developing into someone much stronger.  Ian Marter was an excellent actor as well.

Harry was great, just not sure I'd want him on my side.



Ian vs Jamie

I'll definately go for Jamie.  He was very charming and his Scottish background made him quite interesting.



How the producers made a companion from the past, fit in with all of the Drs futuristic adventures was very well done.



I do like Ian as well, but I liked the fighting spirit that Jamie had.

How they got Ian from public school dork to strong jawed hero in one jump was streaching it...



Jo vs K-9 Mark I.

This is actually quite tough, as I must be one of the few fans who love K9 - I remember loving watching his with Tom Baker in the late 70s as a small lad.



ok enough waffle - I liked Jo as well, she was a perfect foil for the Pertwee Dr, although she did seem pretty ditzy as time went on.



I'll pick Jo - although K9 would actually be in my Top 10 companions - and I know some people would totally disagree with me on that score!!!!

I don't miss K9, but there are two of him (not counting beyond that!) to choose...



K-9 Mark II vs Kamelion.

K9 Mk 2 for sure.



Kamelion was just a waste of space to be honest, and didnt do much at all. 



One of JNTs more sillier ideas.

Kamelion is the most obvious symptom of what was wrong with the show in the '80s, quite a good idea but the execution...let's say "execution" is the right term! It staggers beleif that they had Gerald Flood hiding off stage to do the voice, but never thought of getting him to replace the mannequin when it didn't work...!



Katarina vs Leela.

Leela does it for me.  Although I must say I don't think she was the right sort of companion for the Baker Dr.  The actress who played her was great, but she didn't really come across as well as she should have.

There were issues around Leela--she was significantly re-written by Holmes, and Tom was into a "I won't talk to girls" phase. Katerina was largly memorable for one scene, which was the first filmed thanks to the incoming production team being hostile to the idea of primative companions!



Mel vs Mickey.

Do you even have to ask if I would choose between Mel and Mickey????



Mickey wins by a country mile for sure.  I think its great that a black character is one of the main leads in Dr Who now.  The actor who plays him is great too.



I realize he started off as being annoying, but he's grown quite considerably over time.

Next to Kamelion, Mel's another symptom of 80s - itis--she works really quite well in the books, totally divorced from being seen OR heard...



Nyssa vs Peri.

hmm tough. I like both of them.



Nyssa was perfect for the 5th Dr, although Peri had a lot of spark to start with.



I'll go for Nyssa, as she wasnt as cliched as Peri eventually got was.