10 Doctor Who Companions Who Just Couldn't Stay Away
8. K-9
Voiced by John Leeson First appearance: The Invisible Enemy (1977) Last appearance: The Sarah Jane Adventures - Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith (2010) While the majority of the Doctor's companions have been human (or at least variations thereupon), one of his most ardent allies to date has been a loveable robot dog who accompanied the Time Lord throughout his fourth incarnation. They are a man's best friend, after all. Of course the dog in question is K-9, who was originally invented by a professor of extraterrestrial pathological endomorphisms - just call him Marius - on an asteroid in the year 5,000 for the purposes of aiding him in his ongoing medical research. The Doctor first encountered K-9 in The Invisible Enemy and took an instant liking to the mechanical mutt. As such, it wasn't long before he became a permanent fixture in the TARDIS, joining the Time Lord and his companion Leela on a string of adventures and proving that this was one dog which was never tempted to go astray. Every dog has its day though, and this ever faithful version of K-9 eventually decided to stay with Leela when she elected to remain on Gallifrey. And then there was K-9 Mark II, created by the Doctor himself as a back up with marked improvements on the original. K-9's latest incarnation accompanied the Doctor on yet more adventures including their epic quest to locate the Key of Time. With his extreme logic and undivided devotion to his master and mistress, K-9 continued to be adored by viewers both young and old who related to, or revelled in, his unbeatable wit and dry sense of humour. When K-9 Mark II became trapped forevermore in the void between e-Space and our universe (for more, see Warrior's Gate), he wasn't seen on our screens again until 2006, excluding his albeit brief appearance in his very own proposed television spin-off, K-9 & Company, which only went as far as an aired pilot in 1986. His grand, and many would say long overdue, Doctor Who comeback took place in Series 2 of the revived series. It was a School Reunion for the Doctor and his old friend, now in his third mark, who returned under the allegiance of Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, whom the Doctor had shipped K-9 to back in the 70's. K-9 Mark III's time on our screens was to be a short but sweet affair though, as at the end of the said adventure he went and got himself blown up by the shape-shifting Krillitane. Classic. After the BBC's battle to obtain the rights to him, they weren't going to let him go that easily. Cats may have nine lives but K-9 was now on his fourth as the Doctor left Sarah Jane an even newer model complete with "new omniflexible hyperlink capabilities". What more could you want in a pet? For Sarah Jane and K-9, it was the start of a bright and shining new era, which was soon to be documented in the CBBC spin off The Sarah Jane Adventures, as they set out to defend the Earth from extraterrestrial excursions from the comforts of 13 Bannerman Road. Affirmative!
Dan Butler is the Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture.com. When he isn't writing his own articles or editing other people's, he can be found trawling the internet for gifs of Steven Moffat laughing. Contact him via dan.butler@whatculture.co.uk.
His grand, and many would say long overdue, Doctor Who comeback took place in Series 2 of the revived series. It was a School Reunion for the Doctor and his old friend, now in his third mark, who returned under the allegiance of Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, whom the Doctor had shipped K-9 to back in the 70's. K-9 Mark III's time on our screens was to be a short but sweet affair though, as at the end of the said adventure he went and got himself blown up by the shape-shifting Krillitane. Classic. After the BBC's battle to obtain the rights to him, they weren't going to let him go that easily. Cats may have nine lives but K-9 was now on his fourth as the Doctor left Sarah Jane an even newer model complete with "new omniflexible hyperlink capabilities". What more could you want in a pet? For Sarah Jane and K-9, it was the start of a bright and shining new era, which was soon to be documented in the CBBC spin off The Sarah Jane Adventures, as they set out to defend the Earth from extraterrestrial excursions from the comforts of 13 Bannerman Road. Affirmative!