10 Worst Doctor Who Companions Ever

The Doctor says they only choose the best, so how do you explain this lot?

Doctor Who The Long Game Adam Mitchell
BBC Studios

The Ninth Doctor claimed to "only take the best", but as Steven Moffat always likes to remind us, the Doctor lies. How else do you explain some of the less than stellar companions that have travelled in the TARDIS over the years?

The Doctor is clearly saying this to shame Adam for his shenanigans on Satellite 5, but it also neatly sidesteps that time he invited his own potential murderer onboard. Yes, the Doctor's had a fairly good hit-rate over the years, from Ian and Barbara, to Sarah Jane Smith and Ace. But there have also been companions that didn't quite gel with their respective Doctors or TARDIS teams.

So, what do we mean by "Doctor Who companion?"

Generally, it's accepted that anyone who has travelled in the TARDIS with the Doctor is a companion, which means that Sutekh is definitely the worst one. However, we're going to open this out a bit too. For example, Christmas specials, particularly during the RTD1 era, were marketed on the basis that popular stars like Kylie Minogue were the Tenth Doctor's companion.

So characters like Astrid Peth, Lady Christina, and Joy Almondo are also fair game. But will they make the list? Let's find out...

10. Ryan Sinclair

Doctor Who The Long Game Adam Mitchell
BBC

Anyone who's seen Supacell on Netflix will know what a phenomenal lead actor Tosin Cole can be. But unfortunately, the role of Ryan Sinclair rarely gave him chances to tap into that frontman energy. In a stacked TARDIS crew, Ryan often felt surplus to requirements, particularly once Chris Chibnall recognised the chemistry between Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill.

Ryan has a decent arc in his first series as he comes to terms with the death of his grandmother and makes peace with both Graham and his father. The problem is that there wasn't anywhere else to take him in the next series, with the Timeless Child revelations, the Master, and Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor's relationship taking up most of the real estate.

Tosin Cole's decision to underplay him – assumedly because the character is written as slightly awkward and reserved – does him no favours either, as it meant he often faded into the background against more magnetic performers like Jodie Whittaker and Bradley Walsh.

If we'd said goodbye to Ryan and Graham at the end of Series 11, then it's possible we may have thought more fondly of him in the years since. But either way, it's a character that barely registers in the memory.

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Citizen of the Universe, Film Programmer, Writer, Podcaster, Doctor Who fan and a gentleman to boot. As passionate about Chinese social-realist epics as I am about dumb popcorn movies.