The days of the Doctor having a companion to accompany them for their adventures in the Tardis are over. At least, it will look a little different moving forward.
‘Doctor Who’ has been on the air since the 60s, becoming a hit and cultivating a huge following of Whovians in the process. Between the years 1963 and 1989, eight different actors played the Doctor (thanks to the power of regeneration), and even more actors and actresses served as companions. The person to hold the title of first companion was actually the Doctor’s granddaughter. Since then, humans, aliens, and one robot dog have been companions of the Doctor. Now, it seems like the show is going to move the concept of the companion in a new direction.
‘Who’ executive producer Matt Strevens recently explained that the Doctor’s traveling partners will no longer be referred to as companions but will be called friends. New York Comic Con was the site of this announcement when Strevens was discussing the new season of the show.
‘Doctor Who’ has found massive international fame throughout the years, especially following the reboot in 2005, which featured Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor. Since the reboot, some of the UK’s finest performers have come and gone as the Doctor’s companions. The most notable among them being Billie Piper, Karen Gillan, and Pearl Mackie. The new friends appearing in ‘Doctor Who’ Season 11 are played by Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, and Mandip Gill.
The announcement that Jodie Whittaker would be taking on the role of the Doctor, making her the first female to do so, was met with praise and backlash. However, it would seem she resonated with fans, as more viewers tuned in for her first episode than Peter Capaldi, Matt Smith, and David Tennant. ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’ earned an average of 8.2 million, with a peak of 9 million. All of those fancy numbers mean that the broadcast was the most-watched since the 2008 season premiere opened with 8.4 million viewers.
Tune in to watch Whittaker and her friends when ‘Doctor Who’ airs on Sundays on the BBC!
