10 Longest Gaps Between Doctor Who Character Appearances

10. Jo Grant (13,639 Days)

Third Doctor companion Jo Grant was instantly recognisable to Doctor Who fans in The Power of the Doctor, when actress Katy Manning's laugh could be heard during Graham's speech at the companion meeting. But of course, this wasn't the first Doctor Who return that Manning had made since she departed the role in 1973's The Green Death.

Jo's departure is one of the most melancholic exits in all of Doctor Who, and it was only right that she made a return to the show - the long way round.

After Matt Smith's first series, Russell T Davies wrote what many believed would be his last script for the Doctor in the Sarah Jane Adventures two-parter Death of the Doctor, which featured the long-awaited return of Jo.

Part one aired on 25 October 2010, just over 37 years since Jo got engaged to Professor Clifford Jones in the final episode of The Green Death on 23 June 1973.

Death of the Doctor also updated fans on the whereabouts of Ace - who missed out on this list by a few thousand days - and Ian, but more on him later.