Doctor Who Companion

Ian Chesterton (William Russell) (1963–1965)
The First Doctor's action man.

Ian Chesterton was a science teacher at the Coal Hill School and works with Barbara Wright, a history teacher. He was one of the programme's very first regulars and appeared in the bulk of its first two seasons from 1963-65.

Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) (1963–1965)
A sixties schoolteacher whisked into history by the First Doctor.

Barbara was a history teacher at the Coal Hill School, working with science teacher Ian Chesterton. She was one of the programme's very first regulars and appeared in the bulk of its first two seasons from 1963-65.

Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) (1963–1964 and appearance in 1983)

Susan was the First Doctor's grand daughter. Susan first appeared in the First Doctor serial, 'An Unearthly Child'. Susan continues to travel with the Doctor and her two teachers until the 1964 serial 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth'. Carole Ann Ford reprised the role of Susan on television in the 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors (1983).

Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) (1965)
The First Doctor's second "Granddaughter".

Vicki was an orphan from the 25th century. Vicki first appeared in the serial 'The Rescue', a survivor of a spaceship crash on the planet Dido and menaced by the monstrous Koquillion when she meets the Doctor and his companions Ian and Barbara. Vicki character was a regular in the programme in Seasons 2 and 3. Her last name was never revealed during the tv series.

Steven Taylor (Peter Purves) (1965–1966)
A lost astronaut (and Blue Peter presenter) who threw in his lot with the First Doctor.

Steven was a space pilot from Earth in the future. Steven first appeared in the serial 'The Chase', when the Doctor and his companions, Ian, Barbara and Vicki, found him on the planet Mechanus where he crash-landed two years before. He was a regular in the programme from 1965 to 1966.

Sara Kingdom (Jean Marsh) (1965)

Sara was a security officer for Mavic Chen from the 41st century. She would later join the First Doctor and Steven to work against Chen's interests. She appeared in parts 4 to 12 of the 12 part 1965 serial 'The Daleks' Master Plan'.

Katarina (Adrienne Hill) (1965)
The First Doctor's most tragic companion

Katarina was an inhabitant of ancient Troy. Katarina is introduced in the serial 'The Myth Makers', which takes place during the siege of Troy. She was the first companion in the tv  series to die. Katarina appeared in the programme from November to December, 1965.

Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet (Jackie Lane ) (1966)
Chirpy young Londoner who joined the First Doctor by mistake.

Dodo was an Earth teenager from the year 1966. Dodo was introduced at the end of the serial 'The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve'. She was a regular in the programme in its third season from February to July, 1966.

Ben Jackson (Michael Craze) (1966–1967)
Sailor who travelled with the First and Second Doctors.

Ben was a seaman in the Royal Navy from 1966. Ben first appeared in the First Doctor serial, 'The War Machines' when he meets Polly and Dodo in a London nightclub called the Inferno. He was a regular in the programme from 1966 to 1967.

Polly (Anneke Wills) (1966–1967)
Sixties swinger and companion of the First and Second Doctors.

Polly (Anneke Wills) - departed in the serial 'The Faceless Ones'.

Ben Jackson (Michael Craze)  - departed in the serial 'The Faceless Ones'.
 

Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) (1966–1969 and appearances in 1983 and 1985)
The Second Doctor's Scottish companion.

Jamie was a piper of the Clan McLaren who lived in 18th century Scotland. Jamie first appeared in 'The Highlanders' encountering the Doctor, Ben and Polly in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. At the end of the story, Polly suggests that the Doctor take Jamie along with them. Jamie continues to travel with the Doctor even after Ben and Polly leave the TARDIS at the end of The Faceless Ones. He appeared in all but the very first Second Doctor serial 'The Power of the Daleks'. He was a regular in the programme from 1966 to 1969.

Victoria Waterfield (Deborah Watling) (1967–1968)
Prim traveller with the Second Doctor.

Victoria was a native of Victorian England. Victoria first appeared in the 1967 serial 'The Evil of the Daleks'. She was the daughter of scientist Edward Waterfield who in 1866 was experimenting with time travel and had attracted the attention of the Daleks. She was a regular in the programme from 1967 to 1968.

Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury) (1968–1969)
Quick-witted companion to the Second Doctor.

Zoe was a young astrophysicist who lived on a space wheel in the 21st century. Zoe first appeared in the serial 'The Wheel in Space' where she wass the librarian on board Space Station W3, also known as the Wheel. When the Cybermen attacked, she aided the Doctor and Jamie in defeating them before stowing away aboard the TARDIS. She was a companion of the Second Doctor and a regular in the programme from 1968 to 1969.

Jo Grant (Katy Manning ) (1971–1973)
Ditzy assistant to the Third Doctor.

Jo was a junior civilian operative for UNIT that defended the Earth from alien threats. Jo first appeared in the 1971 serial 'Terror of the Autons' having been assigned to the Doctor as a replacement for Liz Shaw. Apparently, she gained the assignment to UNIT because her uncle, a high ranking civil servant, had pulled some strings. Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart assigned her to the Doctor, who initially was dismayed when he found out that she was not a scientist, but accepted her because he didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise. She was a regular in the programme from 1971 to 1973.