Series 10 started filming today (as of this writing) which got us to thinking … The notion of a modern companion in Doctor Who really isn’t all that different from back in the classic series days.
Then again even that isn’t strictly true. After Ian and Barbara departed in The Chase (leaving Hartnell as the remaining original cast member) the revolving door for companions really started to swing for a while until Ben and Polly left at the end of The Evil of the Daleks.
The notion that a companion would stick around for whole or even multiple seasons started there. Nu-Who has basically followed that same tenet–almost to its detriment. Did Karen Gillan stick around too long, or Jenna Coleman for that matter? Some would argue they did. But Nu-Who also provides examples, just as the old series did with Katarina and Sara Kingdom, of the short-term companion as well. Did Adam back in Series 1 qualify as a companion just because he spanned a couple of stories? Most would agree that’s a no. Mickey in Series 2 probably should rate as he was in 4 straight stories, but again most don’t. And as for River … well, good luck with that.
Now comes news that Matt Lucas, who played Nardole in The Husbands of River Song will be back, and according to Mount Moffat:
“Delighted and slightly amazed to be welcoming Matt Lucas back on to the TARDIS – and this time it’s not just for Christmas, he’s sticking around. One of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space.”
Will Matt Lucas be a Katarina or a Sarah Jane? With Pearl Mackie already aboard we suspect more the former than the latter. But in the meantime, we renew the Tour Tradition of pulling together a small gallery of Matt Lucas images. They’ll be around until Series 10 premieres in Spring 2017. That’s not short term is it?