List of Doctor Who regular cast non-appearances

The following is a list of Doctor Who regular cast non-appearances, that is, episodes of Doctor Who in which a member of the main cast does not appear as their usual character.

Overview

Non-appearances were more prevalent during the 1960s where, with the first six seasons ranging from thirty-nine to forty-five episodes in length, it was common for an actor to occasionally miss an episode or two in the middle of a story in order to enjoy a holiday. This practice stopped after the episode count was reduced to twenty-five with season 7 in 1970, never again to exceed twenty-eight. Also, injury or illness contributed to a non-appearance twice during this time, with both affecting William Hartnell.

Another large source of arguable non-appearances was the Third Doctor era where the Doctor's exile on Earth resulted in an extended recurring cast of UNIT characters in addition to the successive "main" companions of his era Liz Shaw, Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith. Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart was initially contracted for the same amount of episodes as Jon Pertwee when he was cast in season 7, while for season 8 Courtney, John Levene as Sergeant Benton, Richard Franklin as Captain Yates as well as Roger Delgado as the Master were all contracted for the season. This changed in season 9, from which point these actors were instead contracted on a serial-by-serial basis. Although Delgado continued to recur every year until season 10, Franklin to season 11, and Courtney and Levene to season 13, from this point on all appeared in less episodes than they did not. Whether non-appearances during this time count as those for the regular cast is arguable.

The only non-appearances of the Fourth Doctor era were down to K9, with the character sometimes excluded from the main action in stories due to logistical difficulties with operating the prop on location. The final non-appearance not driven by narrative reasons was Nyssa's absence in Kinda ^[+]Loading...["Kinda (TV story)"] as the already-written script could not facilitate the inclusion of a third companion in any major capacity.

First Doctor era

William Hartnell (The Doctor)

William Hartnell was part of the main cast as the First Doctor from "An Unearthly Child" ^[+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedep":"An Unearthly Child (1)","1":"An Unearthly Child (TV story)"} to The Tenth Planet ^[+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"] Episode 4. He later returned in all four episodes of The Three Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
"The Screaming Jungle" [+]Part of The Keys of Marinus, Loading...{"namedep":"The Screaming Jungle (3)","1":"The Keys of Marinus (TV story)"}	The Doctor does not appear because William Hartnell was allocated a holiday. At the end of episode 2 of The Keys of Marinus [+]Loading...["The Keys of Marinus (TV story)"] "The Velvet Web" [+]Part of The Keys of Marinus, Loading...{"namedep":"The Velvet Web (2)","1":"The Keys of Marinus (TV story)"}, the Doctor goes ahead to Millenius in search of the fifth and final key while his companions retrieve others in different locations over the course of the next two episodes before reuniting with the Doctor in "Sentence of Death" [+]Part of The Keys of Marinus, Loading...{"namedep":"Sentence of Death (5)","1":"The Keys of Marinus (TV story)"}.
"The Snows of Terror" [+]Part of The Keys of Marinus, Loading...{"namedep":"The Snows of Terror (4)","1":"The Keys of Marinus (TV story)"}
"The End of Tomorrow" [+]Part of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Loading...{"namedep":"The End of Tomorrow (4)","1":"The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"}	Hartnell only appears physically in the reprise from the previous episode "Day of Reckoning" [+]Part of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Loading...{"namedep":"Day of Reckoning (3)","1":"The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"}, though his voice is also briefly heard. Hartnell's back was injured during camera rehearsals for "Day of Reckoning" and after he continued to experience pain this led to his release with pay for the recording of "The End of Tomorrow" [+]Part of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Loading...{"namedep":"The End of Tomorrow (4)","1":"The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"}. Edmund Warwick stood-in for Hartnell during the first scene (the extent of the Doctor's originally-intended appearance in the episode) which was altered to have him collapse immediately, with Warwick being filmed exclusively from behind and the Doctor's dialogue being reassigned to Susan and David.
"The Search" [+]Part of The Space Museum, Loading...{"namedep":"The Search (3)","1":"The Space Museum (TV story)"}	Hartnell is absent as he was allocated a holiday. The Doctor's only appearance is in the reprise from the previous episode "The Dimensions of Time" [+]Part of The Space Museum, Loading...{"namedep":"The Dimensions of Time (2)","1":"The Space Museum (TV story)"} in which Lobos instructs his guards to take him to the preparation room so he can be made a Space Museum exhibit. Ian finds the Doctor in the cliffhanger of "The Search" [+]Part of The Space Museum, Loading...{"namedep":"The Search (3)","1":"The Space Museum (TV story)"} although the camera remains on Ian and the Doctor is not revealed until the start of the next episode "The Final Phase" [+]Part of The Space Museum, Loading...{"namedep":"The Final Phase (4)","1":"The Space Museum (TV story)"}.
"The Meddling Monk" [+]Part of The Time Meddler, Loading...{"namedep":"The Meddling Monk (2)","1":"The Time Meddler (TV story)"}	The Doctor is physically absent as Hartnell was given a holiday, though the Doctor's voice made two brief appearances through dialogue which had been recorded the previous week. This was during his incarceration by the Monk, who had captured him at the end of "The Watcher" [+]Part of The Time Meddler, Loading...{"namedep":"The Watcher (1)","1":"The Time Meddler (TV story)"}. The Doctor would escape his confinement off-screen later on in "The Meddling Monk" [+]Part of The Time Meddler, Loading...{"namedep":"The Meddling Monk (2)","1":"The Time Meddler (TV story)"} before returning in the next episode "A Battle of Wits" [+]Part of The Time Meddler, Loading...{"namedep":"A Battle of Wits (3)","1":"The Time Meddler (TV story)"}.
Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"]	This episode featured neither the Doctor nor any of his companions. It focused on the Daleks and the Space Security Service, serving as a prologue to the twelve-episode The Daleks' Master Plan [+]Loading...["The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)"].
"The Sea Beggar" [+]Part of The Massacre, Loading...{"namedep":"The Sea Beggar (2)","1":"The Massacre (TV story)"}	Hartnell appears in both episodes but as the Abbot of Amboise instead of his usual role as the Doctor. His one scene for "The Sea Beggar" [+]Part of The Massacre, Loading...{"namedep":"The Sea Beggar (2)","1":"The Massacre (TV story)"} was pre-filmed, allowing him to take a week's holiday. These episodes are the only two in the series to credit no actor for playing the Doctor.
"Priest of Death" [+]Part of The Massacre, Loading...{"namedep":"Priest of Death (3)","1":"The Massacre (TV story)"}
"The Hall of Dolls" [+]Part of The Celestial Toymaker, Loading...{"namedep":"The Hall of Dolls (2)","1":"The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)"}	Hartnell is physically absent for both episodes as he was given a two-week holiday. The Doctor was rendered mostly invisible by the Toymaker while he played the Trilogic Game, with Albert Ward standing in as Hartnell's hand double. Pre-recordings of Hartnell's voice were heard in "The Hall of Dolls" [+]Part of The Celestial Toymaker, Loading...{"namedep":"The Hall of Dolls (2)","1":"The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)"} but the Doctor was also made mute near the start of that episode which lasted for all of "The Dancing Floor" [+]Part of The Celestial Toymaker, Loading...{"namedep":"The Dancing Floor (3)","1":"The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)"} and into "The Final Test" [+]Part of The Celestial Toymaker, Loading...{"namedep":"The Final Test (4)","1":"The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)"} with Hartnell returning in the latter, the last episode of the story.
"The Dancing Floor" [+]Part of The Celestial Toymaker, Loading...{"namedep":"The Dancing Floor (3)","1":"The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)"}
The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"] Episode 3	Hartnell fell ill with bronchitis following the second episode, preventing him from appearing in episode three. The Doctor's role in the third episode was already intended to be relatively minimal but was altered so he collapsed at the very start, with his dialogue reassigned to Ben and Barclay. Gordon Craig stood-in for Hartnell, filmed only from the back. Hartnell returned for episode four, his final regular performance as the Doctor before being replaced by Patrick Troughton.

Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright)

Jacqueline Hill was part of the main cast as Barbara Wright from "An Unearthly Child" ^[+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedep":"An Unearthly Child (1)","1":"An Unearthly Child (TV story)"} to "The Planet of Decision" ^[+]Part of The Chase, Loading...{"namedep":"The Planet of Decision (6)","1":"The Chase (TV story)"}.

Title	Notes
"A Race Against Death" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"A Race Against Death (4)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"}	Credit only. Barbara does not appear because Jacqueline Hill was granted a holiday. Barbara remains on Maitland's ship in the third episode of The Sensorites [+]Loading...["The Sensorites (TV story)"] "Hidden Danger" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"Hidden Danger (3)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"} while the Doctor, Susan and Ian go down to the Sense Sphere. Hill returns in the sixth episode "A Desperate Venture" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"A Desperate Venture (6)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"} after the Doctor asks the First Elder to bring Barbara down to the Sense Sphere towards the end of "Kidnap" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"Kidnap (5)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"}.
"Kidnap" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"Kidnap (5)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"}
"Escape to Danger" [+]Part of The Web Planet, Loading...{"namedep":"Escape to Danger (3)","1":"The Web Planet (TV story)"}	Hill is absent as she was allowed a week's holiday. Barbara was captured by the Zarbi towards the end of "The Zarbi" [+]Part of The Web Planet, Loading...{"namedep":"The Zarbi (2)","1":"The Web Planet (TV story)"} and is not seen again until the start of "Crater of Needles" [+]Part of The Web Planet, Loading...{"namedep":"Crater of Needles (4)","1":"The Web Planet (TV story)"} where it is shown that she has been set to work in the titular crater.

Maureen O'Brien (Vicki Pallister)

Maureen O'Brien was part of the main cast as Vicki Pallister from "The Powerful Enemy" ^[+]Part of The Rescue, Loading...{"namedep":"The Powerful Enemy (1)","1":"The Rescue (TV story)"} to "Horse of Destruction" ^[+]Part of The Myth Makers, Loading...{"namedep":"Horse of Destruction (4)","1":"The Myth Makers (TV story)"}.

Title

Notes

Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"]

Maureen O'Brien did not appear as Vicki, nor did the Doctor or any of his companions. The episode focused on the Daleks and the Space Security Service, serving as a prologue to the twelve-episode The Daleks' Master Plan [+]Loading...["The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)"]. O'Brien did not feature in Master Plan, departing the series in The Myth Makers [+]Loading...["The Myth Makers (TV story)"], the story which separated it from Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"].

Peter Purves (Steven Taylor)

Peter Purves was part of the main cast as Steven Taylor from "The Planet of Decision" ^[+]Part of The Chase, Loading...{"namedep":"The Planet of Decision (6)","1":"The Chase (TV story)"} to The Savages ^[+]Loading...["The Savages (TV story)"] Episode 4.

Title	Notes
Mission to the Unknown [+]Loading...["Mission to the Unknown (TV story)"]	Peter Purves did not appear as Steven, nor did the Doctor or any of his companions. The episode focused on the Daleks and the Space Security Service, serving as a prologue to the twelve-episode The Daleks' Master Plan [+]Loading...["The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)"].

Jackie Lane (Dodo Chaplet)

Jackie Lane was part of the main cast as Dodo Chaplet from "Bell of Doom" ^[+]Part of The Massacre, Loading...{"namedep":"Bell of Doom (4)","1":"The Massacre (TV story)"} to The War Machines ^[+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
The War Machines [+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"] Episode 3	Jackie Lane's contract expired half-way through The War Machines [+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"] and was not renewed, with Dodo making her final appearance in the second episode. Her departure from the series was not addressed until the fourth and final episode in which Polly tells the Doctor she has received a letter from Charles Summer communicating that Dodo wishes to stay in London.
The War Machines [+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"] Episode 4

Second Doctor era

Patrick Troughton (The Doctor)

Patrick Troughton was part of the main cast as the Second Doctor from The Power of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"] Episode 1 to The War Games ^[+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"] Episode 10. He later returned in all four episodes of The Three Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"], The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] and all three episodes of The Two Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
The Web of Fear [+]Loading...["The Web of Fear (TV story)"] Episode 2	Patrick Troughton is absent because he was on holiday. The Doctor's only appearance is in the reprise from the first episode in which he thrown clear by an explosion at close proximity. Jamie and Victoria search for the Doctor in the London Underground during episode two, with Victoria finding him at the start of episode three.
The Wheel in Space [+]Loading...["The Wheel in Space (TV story)"] Episode 2	Troughton is absent as he had a week's holiday. The Doctor is rendered unconscious towards the end of the first episode after succumbing to the effects of a concussion. Chris Jeffries stood-in for Troughton during episode two, with Troughton returning and the Doctor recovering in episode three.
The Seeds of Death [+]Loading...["The Seeds of Death (TV story)"] Episode 4	Troughton does not appear as he was allowed a week's holiday. The Doctor collapses near the end of the third episode when a Seed Pod explodes in his face. He remains unconscious for all of episode four, in which the Doctor was played by stand-in Tom Laird whose face was not seen, before the Doctor recovers and Troughton returns in episode five.

Michael Craze (Ben Jackson)

Michael Craze was part of the main cast as Ben Jackson from The War Machines ^[+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"] Episode 1 to The Faceless Ones ^[+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 6.

Title	Notes
The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"] Episode 5	Ben does not appear because Michael Craze was given a holiday. Ben is knocked out by Kebble towards the end of the fourth episode and is not seen again until episode six.
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 3	Craze (and Polly actor Anneke Wills) were originally contracted up to the second episode of The Evil of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Evil of the Daleks (TV story)"], the story which followed The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"]. However, producer Innes Lloyd wished to introduce a new female companion and requested the pair instead be written out a story earlier after episode two of The Faceless Ones, though their contracts were honoured and Craze and Wills received payments up until The Evil of the Daleks even though their services weren't required. Ben and Polly would make a final appearance at the end of episode six as part of a pre-filmed sequence at Gatwick Airport in which they announced they were leaving the Doctor's company.
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 4
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 5

Anneke Wills (Polly Wright)

Anneke Wills was part of the main cast as Polly Wright from The War Machines ^[+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"] Episode 1 to The Faceless Ones ^[+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 6.

Title	Notes
The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"] Episode 4	Polly does not appear because Anneke Wills was given a holiday. Polly was rendered unconscious by Valmar towards the end of the third episode and is not seen again until episode five.
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 3	Polly (and Ben actor Michael Craze) were originally contracted up to the second episode of The Evil of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Evil of the Daleks (TV story)"], the story which followed The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"]. However, producer Innes Lloyd wished to introduce a new female companion and requested the pair instead be written out a story earlier after episode two of The Faceless Ones, though their contracts were honoured and Craze and Wills received payments up until The Evil of the Daleks even though their services weren't required. Ben and Polly would make a final appearance at the end of episode six as part of a pre-filmed sequence at Gatwick Airport in which they announced they were leaving the Doctor's company.
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 4
The Faceless Ones [+]Loading...["The Faceless Ones (TV story)"] Episode 5

Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)

Frazer Hines was part of the main cast as Jamie McCrimmon from The Highlanders ^[+]Loading...["The Highlanders (TV story)"] Episode 1 to The War Games ^[+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"] Episode 10. He later returned in all three episodes of The Two Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Two Doctors (TV story)"]. Hines also appeared in The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] though only played an illusory Jamie.

Title	Notes
The Enemy of the World [+]Loading...["The Enemy of the World (TV story)"] Episode 4	Jamie does not appear because Frazer Hines was on holiday and nor did Victoria actor Deborah Watling for the same reason.

Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)

Deborah Watling was part of the main cast as Victoria Waterfield from The Evil of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["The Evil of the Daleks (TV story)"] Episode 2 to Fury from the Deep ^[+]Loading...["Fury from the Deep (TV story)"] Episode 6.

Title	Notes
The Enemy of the World [+]Loading...["The Enemy of the World (TV story)"] Episode 4	Victoria does not appear because Deborah Watling was on holiday and nor did Jamie actor Frazer Hines for the same reason.

Wendy Padbury (Zoe Heriot)

Wendy Padbury was part of the main cast as Zoe Heriot from The Wheel in Space ^[+]Loading...["The Wheel in Space (TV story)"] Episode 2 to The War Games ^[+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"] Episode 10. Padbury later returned in The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] but only played an illusory Zoe.

Title	Notes
The Invasion [+]Loading...["The Invasion (TV story)"] Episode 3	Zoe does not appear as Wendy Padbury was allowed a week's holiday. Zoe and Isobel are grabbed by Tobias Vaughn's guards in the second episode and they are not seen again until episode four when they are rescued by the Doctor and Jamie in a helicopter.

Third Doctor era

Caroline John (Liz Shaw)

Caroline John was part of the main cast as Liz Shaw from Spearhead from Space ^[+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"] Episode 1 to Inferno ^[+]Loading...["Inferno (TV story)"] Episode 7. John later returned in The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] but only played an illusory Liz.

Title	Notes
Inferno [+]Loading...["Inferno (TV story)"] Episode 5	Caroline John appears in this episode but only as Liz's Inferno universe counterpart Section Leader Shaw.

Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart)

The below table only covers Nicholas Courtney's non-appearances as the Brigadier while he was a contract regular during seasons 7 and 8.

He had previously been introduced as a guest, appearing in the last four episodes of The Web of Fear ^[+]Loading...["The Web of Fear (TV story)"] and the last seven of The Invasion ^[+]Loading...["The Invasion (TV story)"]. Following season 8, he made appearances in: all but the third episode of Day of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Day of the Daleks (TV story)"] and all but episode five of The Time Monster ^[+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"] in season 9; every episode of both The Three Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"] and The Green Death ^[+]Loading...["The Green Death (TV story)"] in season 10; the first part of The Time Warrior ^[+]Loading...["The Time Warrior (TV story)"], all six episodes of Invasion of the Dinosaurs ^[+]Loading...["Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)"] and episodes one, two and six of Planet of the Spiders ^[+]Loading...["Planet of the Spiders (TV story)"] in season 11; all four episodes of Robot ^[+]Loading...["Robot (TV story)"] in season 12; and every part of Terror of the Zygons ^[+]Loading...["Terror of the Zygons (TV story)"] in season 13. Much later, Courtney returned in all four episodes of Mawdryn Undead ^[+]Loading...["Mawdryn Undead (TV story)"], The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] and all four parts of Battlefield ^[+]Loading...["Battlefield (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
Inferno [+]Loading...["Inferno (TV story)"] Episode 5	Nicholas Courtney appears in this episode but only as the Brigadier's Inferno universe counterpart Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart.
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 2	Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] was set mostly away from Earth, resulting in the minimal involvement of UNIT. Nicholas Courtney appears only in the opening and closing instalments.
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 3
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 4
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 5

John Levene (Sergeant Benton)

The below table only covers John Levene's non-appearances as Sergeant Benton while he was a contract regular during season 8.

He had previously been introduced as a guest, appearing in all but the fourth episode of The Invasion ^[+]Loading...["The Invasion (TV story)"], the fifth and seventh episodes of The Ambassadors of Death ^[+]Loading...["The Ambassadors of Death (TV story)"], and the first and last two episodes of Inferno ^[+]Loading...["Inferno (TV story)"] while playing an alternate Benton for the remaining three.

Following season 8, he made appearances in: all but the third episode of Day of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Day of the Daleks (TV story)"] and all but episode five of The Time Monster ^[+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"] in season 9; all four episodes of The Three Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"] and the final three of The Green Death ^[+]Loading...["The Green Death (TV story)"] in season 10; all six parts of Invasion of the Dinosaurs ^[+]Loading...["Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)"] and the first two episodes of Planet of the Spiders ^[+]Loading...["Planet of the Spiders (TV story)"] in season 11; all four parts of Robot ^[+]Loading...["Robot (TV story)"] in season 12; and every part of Terror of the Zygons ^[+]Loading...["Terror of the Zygons (TV story)"] and the final episode of The Android Invasion ^[+]Loading...["The Android Invasion (TV story)"] in season 13, though Levene also appeared as an android Benton in episodes two and three of the latter.

Title	Notes
Terror of the Autons [+]Loading...["Terror of the Autons (TV story)"] Episode 3
The Mind of Evil [+]Loading...["The Mind of Evil (TV story)"] Episode 1
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"]	This story was set mostly away from Earth, resulting in the minimal involvement of UNIT.

Richard Franklin (Mike Yates)

The below table only covers Richard Franklin's non-appearances as Mike Yates while he was a contract regular during season 8.

Following season 8, he made appearances in all but the third episode of Day of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Day of the Daleks (TV story)"] and the first four parts of The Time Monster ^[+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"] in season 9, the last three episodes of The Green Death ^[+]Loading...["The Green Death (TV story)"] in season 10, and all six parts of both Invasion of the Dinosaurs ^[+]Loading...["Invasion of the Dinosaurs (TV story)"] and Planet of the Spiders ^[+]Loading...["Planet of the Spiders (TV story)"] in season 11. Franklin also returned much later in The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"] but only played an illusory Yates.

Title	Notes
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"]	This story was set mostly away from Earth, resulting in the minimal involvement of UNIT.

Roger Delgado (The Master)

The below table only covers Roger Delgado's non-appearances as the Master while he was a contract regular during season 8.

Following season 8, he made appearances in all six parts of both The Sea Devils ^[+]Loading...["The Sea Devils (TV story)"] and The Time Monster ^[+]Loading...["The Time Monster (TV story)"] in season 9 and the final four episodes of Frontier in Space ^[+]Loading...["Frontier in Space (TV story)"] in season 10.

Title	Notes
The Mind of Evil [+]Loading...["The Mind of Evil (TV story)"] Episode 1
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 1	The Master was not revealed until mid-way through Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] in an effort to prevent the season 8 stories, which all featured the Master, from becoming predictable and boring.
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 2
Colony in Space [+]Loading...["Colony in Space (TV story)"] Episode 3

Fourth Doctor era

John Leeson (Voice of K9)

John Leeson was part of the main cast as the voice of K9 from The Invisible Enemy ^[+]Loading...["The Invisible Enemy (TV story)"] Episode 1 to The Armageddon Factor ^[+]Loading...["The Armageddon Factor (TV story)"] Episode 6 and again from The Leisure Hive ^[+]Loading...["The Leisure Hive (TV story)"] Episode 1 to Warriors' Gate ^[+]Loading...["Warriors' Gate (TV story)"] Episode 4. Leeson later returned in The Five Doctors ^[+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"], School Reunion ^[+]Loading...["School Reunion (TV story)"] and Journey's End ^[+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
Image of the Fendahl [+]Loading...["Image of the Fendahl (TV story)"]	K9 appears in the first and final episodes of the four-parter but is said to be in a damaged state and does not speak.
The Invasion of Time [+]Loading...["The Invasion of Time (TV story)"] Episode 5	John Leeson was contracted to voice K9 in all but the fifth episode of this story.
The Ribos Operation [+]Loading...["The Ribos Operation (TV story)"] Episode 2	K9 is initially left behind in the TARDIS while the Fourth Doctor and Romana explore Ribos.
The Power of Kroll [+]Loading...["The Power of Kroll (TV story)"]	Writer Robert Holmes avoided using K9 as the prop was not suited to the marshland setting of the story. Instead of his usual role, Leeson played the human character Dugeen in all four episodes after original choice Martin Jarvis dropped out.
The Leisure Hive [+]Loading...["The Leisure Hive (TV story)"] Episode 2	K9 is badly damaged at the start of the first episode of this story when he attempts to fetch a beach ball Romana has thrown in the sea.
The Leisure Hive [+]Loading...["The Leisure Hive (TV story)"] Episode 3
The Leisure Hive [+]Loading...["The Leisure Hive (TV story)"] Episode 4
Full Circle [+]Loading...["Full Circle (TV story)"] Episode 3	K9's head is knocked off by a Marshman in the second episode of this story.
State of Decay [+]Loading...["State of Decay (TV story)"] Episode 2	K9 initially remains in the TARDIS while the Doctor and his companions explore outside.

David Brierley (Voice of K9)

David Brierley was part of the main cast as the voice of K9 for season 17 only, making his first appearance in The Creature from the Pit ^[+]Loading...["The Creature from the Pit (TV story)"] Episode 1 and his last in The Horns of Nimon ^[+]Loading...["The Horns of Nimon (TV story)"] Episode 4.

Title	Notes
Destiny of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Destiny of the Daleks (TV story)"]	K9 appears briefly at the start of the first episode where he is shown to be suffering from laryngitis but his croaking cough was provided by Dalek voice actor Roy Skelton instead of David Brierley, who had been contracted to replace John Leeson. Writer Terry Nation was also keen for K9 to play only a small role so he did not upstage the Daleks.
City of Death [+]Loading...["City of Death (TV story)"]	K9 was absent from this story due to the complexities of operating the prop while on location in Paris. He is briefly addressed by the Doctor as he enters the TARDIS in episode two but does not appear.

Fifth Doctor era

Sarah Sutton (Nyssa)

Sarah Sutton initially played Nyssa as a guest character in all four episodes of The Keeper of Traken ^[+]Loading...["The Keeper of Traken (TV story)"] before joining the main cast from the second part of the next story Logopolis ^[+]Loading...["Logopolis (TV story)"] until Terminus ^[+]Loading...["Terminus (TV story)"] Episode 4. Sutton later returned in the fourth part of The Caves of Androzani ^[+]Loading...["The Caves of Androzani (TV story)"] but only played a version of Nyssa from within the Doctor's mind.

Title	Notes
Kinda [+]Loading...["Kinda (TV story)"] Episode 2	When Christopher Bailey began work on the script for Kinda [+]Loading...["Kinda (TV story)"], after initially conceiving of the idea with Tom Baker in mind, Bailey knew the story would feature the Fifth Doctor and two new companions in the form of Adric and Tegan. It was a late decision to promote Nyssa to the main cast by which time Bailey's narrative could not accommodate three companions without an adverse effect. Thus, it was decided Nyssa should be written out of the main action. She only appears in the opening and closing scenes of the story, having spent most of it asleep in the TARDIS recovering from what the Doctor termed mild mental disorientation in episode one.
Kinda [+]Loading...["Kinda (TV story)"] Episode 3

Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka)

Janet Fielding was part of the main cast as Tegan Jovanka from Logopolis ^[+]Loading...["Logopolis (TV story)"] Episode 1 to Resurrection of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Resurrection of the Daleks (TV story)"] Episode 2. She later returned in The Power of the Doctor ^[+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]. Fielding also appeared in the fourth part of The Caves of Androzani ^[+]Loading...["The Caves of Androzani (TV story)"] but only played a version of Tegan from within the Doctor's mind.

Title

Notes

Arc of Infinity [+]Loading...["Arc of Infinity (TV story)"] Episode 1

Although Tegan had seemingly parted ways with the Doctor at the end of season 19 in Time-Flight [+]Loading...["Time-Flight (TV story)"], there were no plans to write out the character and Janet Fielding had been assured she would be returning for season 20. Tegan was re-introduced in the second episode of Arc of Infinity [+]Loading...["Arc of Infinity (TV story)"] before reuniting with the Fifth Doctor in episode three.

Twelfth Doctor era

Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald)

Jenna Coleman was part of the main cast as Clara Oswald from The Snowmen ^[+]Loading...["The Snowmen (TV story)"] to Hell Bent ^[+]Loading...["Hell Bent (TV story)"]. Coleman had previously appeared as a Clara splinter in Asylum of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)"] and later returned as Clara in Twice Upon a Time ^[+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"].

Title	Notes
Heaven Sent [+]Loading...["Heaven Sent (TV story)"]	Jenna Coleman appears as Clara, albeit only as a figment of the Doctor's imagination. Clara had died at the end of the previous episode, Face the Raven [+]Loading...["Face the Raven (TV story)"].