Doctor Who: 11 Most Memorable Companion Exits Of The Last Decade

5. Sarah Jane Smith (School Reunion)

2006 marked the return of one of Doctor Who's most beloved companions when Sarah Jane Smith returned, with K-9 in tow, for the School Reunion to end them all. Elisabeth Sladen was a welcome addition to NuWho for the Classic Series fans who had grown up watching her adventures alongside the Third and Fourth Doctors and for the latest generation of viewers her comeback served as the perfect gateway into the show's far reaching mythology. Her 21st century reunion with the titular Time Lord was full of all the nostalgia you'd expect as it was revealed that she had never truly been able to move on from the Doctor after he dropped her back on Earth at the end of 1976's The Hand of Fear. It was even more special to see the coveted character restored to her former glory after the BBC's previous spin off attempts had gone down like a lead balloon. Here she was back where she belonged and she joined forces with the Doctor in his latest extra terrestrial excursion against the Krillitane. And it was like she had never been away. All good things must come to an end, though, and Sarah Jane decided to move on after finally receiving the closure she'd longed for. As you'll know, it was only just the beginning for her as she later returned in Series 4 to aid her fellow Children of Time against Davros and his Dalek army. When she wasn't catching up with the Doctor she was putting her investigative journalist skills to good use in her very own CBBC spin off The Sarah Jane Adventures which actually got further than a pilot and lasted for five successful series (with more in the pipeline) before Elisabeth sadly passed away in 2011. Sarah Jane is gone but she'll never be forgotten and her timely return and untimely departure in School Reunion only cemented her presence as the definitive Doctor Who companion of all time.