9. Rory Williams, "The Big Bang"
Let's be honest - when Rory was first introduced in the series 5 premiere along with the new Doctor and Amy Pond, we weren't hugely keen on him but following his induction and adventures into the TARDIS, he become more likeable and his death saving the Doctor and Amy was a punch to the gut. However, it's his acts upon being miraculously resurrected as a Roman soldier that really secure him as a bit of a hero - the Doctor tells him that saving Amy isn't as important as the universe: to which Rory punches him, declaring that she is more important to him. Of course, the Doctor is just checking that Rory, a plastic Auton, is really him, in soul if not in body, and set the bar for boyfriends everywhere pretty darn high.