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Josephine Grant was placed in UNIT, against the Brigadier's wishes, by her uncle - a high-ranking official in the United Nations. The Brigadier decided that Jo could replace Liz Shaw, who had returned to Cambridge, as the Doctor's research assistant. Secretly hoping that the Doctor's attitude would put Jo off UNIT, the Brigadier told the Doctor that Jo would be an admirable assitant.
Biography
Jo's first meeting with the Doctor didn't bode well for the future, as she mistook an important experiment for a fire and ruined it by dousing it with a fire extinguisher. Despite this initial clumsiness, her failures fueled her enthusiasm, and she became more determined to prove people wrong about her. So much so, that, after recovering from being hypnotised by the Master to kill the Doctor, she disobeyed orders and followed the Doctor to Rossini's Circus, and was able to rescue him. Having been hypnotised by the Master once, Jo was able to resist his hypnosis on further encounters by reciting nursery rhymes. One such time, she reacted to the hypno-sound by seeing a Drashig, a Mutant and a Sea Devil.
Jo claimed to be a qualified agent, but she may have exaggerated about this, in the same way she exaggerated the extent of her A-Levels. After saying she took an A-Level in Science, she later revealed that "I didn't say I passed." That said, there can be no doubt of Jo's escapology abilities. She could ride a motorbike, use karate, pick locks, abseil, and even pilot a helicopter - all of which came in very useful during her time as the Doctor's assistant. These abilities combined with her enthusiasm proved Jo to be an asset to UNIT.
Once the Doctor regained his knowledge of time travel, Jo was persuaded to take a short trip in the TARDIS. On one particular evening Jo was dressed up ready for a night on the town with Captain Mike Yates, which proved to be fortunate as she and the Doctor landed on the planet of Peladon. The Doctor was mistaken for the Earth chairman of the committee assessing Peladon's application to join the Galactic Federation. Jo was introduced as an Earth Princess, as she was dressed in an appropriate manner - and only those of Royal blood were allowed to enter the conference chamber. King Peladon was smitten, and later proposed marriage, but Jo wasn't impressed. Over the time she and the Doctor were on Peladon, Jo did grow to like the King, but decided that she really must return to her own planet.
Jo learnt well with the Doctor, and when he was unwilling to complete the Time Ram, it was she who finished building it. She realised why the Doctor was reluctant, but saw the potential outcome of not completing it.
Wilst Jo was certainly a member of the team, her individualism made her stand out in UNIT, and her desire to follow her own instincts and speak her mind brought Jo and the Doctor close. They were both very different from the norm in UNIT. Nearing the end of her time with UNIT, Jo told the Brigadier that she was going to Llanfairfach even if it meant resigning. Ironically he had orders for her to go there anyway, so her threats were unneccessary.
Once Jo arrived in Llanfairfach, she met Professor Clifford Jones. She was already aware of him, having read reports of his work, and ideals, in various newspapers. Jo already admired Cliff before she met him, and as she was telling the Doctor about him she said that he reminded her of a younger version of the Doctor. Over the short time that UNIT were in Llanfairfach, Jo and Cliff fell in love. Jo agreed to marry him, and left UNIT. This came as something of a disappointment to Mike Yates, who had always hoped to be involved romantically with Jo himself. Despite his sadness, Mike did attend Jo and Cliff's celebration party, and put on a brave face. The Doctor, on the other hand, was devestated, drank his champagne in one, and left on his own, after giving Jo a blue crystal from Metebelis III. Before Jo and Cliff left for the Amazon, she asked her Uncle to get UN status for the Wholeweal community. A few months later the couple returned the crystal to the Doctor, as it was bringing them bad luck. Cliff and Jo later had a son, however they then divorced. (EDA: Genocide)