Every Classic Doctor Who Companion Ranked From Worst To Best

27. Adric

Matthew Waterhouse has been tied to Adric since the incredibly annoying character made his debut in the Fourth Doctor serial Full Circle. He was from E-Space, was a genius also a misogynist for good measure. These traits combined to make Adric the least popular companion of the classic era.

It's important to note that it wasn't all Waterhouse's fault, though his acting skills were certainly behind some of his co-stars. Adric would be a difficult character for anyone to pull off. He was brash, arrogant and tended to be right on many occasions, which did nothing to temper him or give him some humility.

His death was shocking but also preventable, something the Doctor himself states in the aftermath. Yes, he could go back in time and save Adric. And he chooses not to, which tells the audience everything they need to know about Adric's standing in the TARDIS gang's eyes.