Television - Doctor Who – The Third Doctor and his companions

Television - Doctor Who – The Third Doctor and his companions

Over the years Doctor Who has become one of the most successful British Television shows in history. Due to the show ongoing for over fifty years many actors have portrayed the Doctor and in this article I am going to explore the character of the Third doctor.

Jon Pertwee was the third actor to portray the doctor and did so between 1970 and 1974. He acted as the doctor for five series and acted in 128 episodes.

Jon Pertwee was born in 1919 and passed away in 1996. He was known for acting in several other television shows including SuperTed (1982 - 1986) and Worzel Gummidge Down Under (1987 - 1989).

The Third Doctor

The Third Doctor was incredibly dashing and often described by his other regenerations as dandy. He enjoys inventing new gadgets and enjoyed training in martial arts of which his favourite was Venusian Aikido. He had a very difficult relation with the Brigadier to start, but they grow to be great friends and the Brigadier played a bit part on the Doctor’s personality. He had great compassion and love for his companions, especially Jo Grant.

Companions

The third doctor was seen to travel along side three companions.

Liz Shaw (Caroline John) – 5 Appearances
Dr Elizabeth Shaw worked for Unit as a scientific consultant. She was an expert on meteorites and had several degrees including Physics and Medicine. She never actually travelled in the Tardis, but whilst the Doctor stationed himself on Earth she often worked alongside him.

Jo Grankt (Katy Manning) – 15 Appearances
A junior civilian who worked for UNIT and travelled through time and space with the Doctor. She eventually left the Doctor when she found love with a human professor. She is reintroduced into the world of the Doctor thirty years later in an episode of Sarah Jane Adventures.

Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) – 6 Appearances
The longest running companion of the doctor started her life as a journalist. She travels with the Third Doctor and the Fourth Doctor before leaving the show. After leaving she was part of the pilot show 'K-9 and Company' in 1981. She returns to aid various doctors in the Fifth Doctor's story 'The Five Doctors'. When the show was re booted in 2005, she regularly appeared helping the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. Between 2007 and 2011 she was the central character of the spin off show 'The Sarah Jane Adventures.'

Three Unit Characters are often seen travelling and aiding the Third Doctor but are not classified as official companions. These were:

· Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) – 16 Appearances

· Sergeant Benton (John Levene) – 12 Appearances

· Mike Yates (Richard Franklin) – 10 Appearances