Every Classic Doctor Who Companion Ranked From Worst To Best

Melanie Bush suffered slightly from how she was introduced to the show. She was initially shown to the Sixth Doctor during his trial. In a strange twist, her first adventure with the Doctor wasn't shown on-screen, throwing audiences a little. After this, her characterisation served to damage her standing even more.

She was cast, as per her own admission, not for her acting ability but for her screaming ability. She had a roar that could shatter glass. Even with the most deserving situations, that becomes grating after a time. On top of this, she badgered the Doctor almost constantly about staying in shape and keeping a healthy diet, ensuring she came across as preachy rather than friendly.

She benefitted greatly from a deeper exploration in the Big Finish productions, though on-screen she was largely forgotten after being replaced by Ace.