The Companions (reference book)
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- You may be looking for a similarly-titled reference book or the 2013 documentary.
The Companions was a Doctor Who reference book written by John Nathan-Turner and published by Piccadilly Press in November 1986. Random House also published an edition in December the same year and in May 1987, and Crescent Publishing published an edition in December 1987.
Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
(this synopsis is taken from the UK editions)
It used to be claimed that there were just two requirements to be a ‘companion’ in Doctor Who. The first was to be able to scream and run at the same time. The second was to be able to say “What do we do next, Doctor?” with conviction!
Following his highly successful book on the six Doctors, Doctor Who: The TARDIS Inside Out, John Nathan-Turner examines the Doctor’s companions. Thirty companions are mentioned, and fifteen are discussed in some depth. The text is complemented by Stuart Hughes’ beautiful full-colour and black and white illustrations.
(this synopsis is taken from the US editions)
According to BBC producer John Nathan-Turner: “It used to be claimed that there were just two requirements to be a ‘companion’ on DOCTOR WHO. The first was to be able to scream and run at the same time. The second was to be able to say “What do we do next, Doctor?” with conviction."
Actually, the companion plays a very vital role: He or she (or IT — three of the companions have been robots) provides the Doctor with someone to talk to, someone to confide in and protect — and someone to ask the questions the viewers would like to ask — and hopefully get the answers from the Doctor in plain English.
Thirty characters have met these requirements since DOCTOR WHO first aired 23 years ago, and they are all featured in this fascinating, heavily illustrated scrapbook. This is an essential album for fans of TV’s science-fantasy classic — and the perfect companion volume to last year’s DOCTOR WHO: THE TARDIS INSIDE OUT.
Subject matter[[edit] | [edit source]]
- John Nathan-Turner examines and details many of the companions up to "the new companion" Melanie Bush with several behind the scenes comments.
Notable features[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Paintings and illustrations by Stuart Hughes.
- Companions detailed are: Adric, Barbara Wright, Ben Jackson, The Brigadier, Dodo Chaplet, Harry Sullivan, Ian Chesterton, Jamie McCrimmon, Jo Grant, K9, Kamelion, Katarina, Leela, Liz Shaw, The Master, Nyssa, Perpugilliam Brown, Polly Wright, Romana I, Romana II, Sara Kingdom, Sarah Jane Smith, Steven Taylor, Susan Foreman, Tegan Jovanka, Turlough, Vicki Pallister, Zoe Heriot, Melanie Bush.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Published by arrangement with the BBC, John Nathan Turner was the currently serving producer of the show and this publication followed the previously published title The TARDIS Inside Out.
- Most of the companions covered are reduced to a few lines with simply name, played by, first appearance, last appearance and a line of comment.
- A bit more depth is given to the companions featured during John Nathan-Turner's time with the show from Romana through to Peri Brown (played by Nicola Bryant), the then current travelling companion soon to leave the show.
- It is established that Melanie Bush joined the Sixth Doctor in 1986 when she helped thwart the Master (presumably the Tremas Master), who planned a dastardly attempt at a massive computer fraud involving all the banking houses on Earth.
