Which Doctor Who Companions Will Return For The 50th Anniversary?

By David Wharton | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

With Doctor Who celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, rumors are flying about how the show will mark the honor, who could return, and more. There have already been hints that at least two former Doctors — Tom Baker and David Tennant — will return in some fashion, but Doctor Who has never just been about the Doctor. The show has always been shaped and defined by the Doctor’s various traveling companions nearly as much as by the Doctor himself, so it’s no surprise that several former companions are now rumored to be returning for the anniversary…and the names might surprise you.

British publication the Express is citing an anonymous source from the show as saying that “There will be plenty of nods to the show’s remarkable history and some old faces are likely to be reappearing. Karen and Billie are two of the Doctor’s greatest companions and it’s hoped they will be involved.” That would be Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, respectively. It’s not entirely clear if they would be involved as their characters or merely putting in appearances in some of the inevitable anniversary specials or what-have-you. If the former, that should be interesting, since both characters exited the storyline in ways that would theoretically make it difficult to arrange a reunion, unless the Doctor runs into them earlier on their timeline or something.

Former Who companions Billie Piper and Karen Gillan

They aren’t only trying to bring back companions from the modern incarnation, however. The Express also claims that “It is also understood that Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor’s first-ever television companion Susan Foreman alongside original Time Lord the late William Hartnell back in the mists of 1963 could be among those appearing.” If true, an appearance from the now 72-year-old Ford would be a great way to callback to the series’ long history, and it would be very interesting to see how the Eleventh Doctor would interact with his “granddaughter.”

Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, the Doctor’s first companion.

Which companions would you like to see return for the 50th anniversary?