Doctor Who, the iconic British science fiction series, is as much about the characters who travel alongside the Doctor as it is about the Time Lord themselves. These companions bring humanity, perspective, and often bravery to the Doctor’s adventures across time and space. Fans are often intrigued not just by the characters on screen, but also by the actors who bring them to life. Following the exploration of the ages of actors who played the Doctor, it’s fascinating to turn our attention to the dedicated performers who have taken on the mantle of a Doctor Who Companion.
This article delves into the ages of the actors when they first appeared as companions in Doctor Who. Using the broadcast date of their first episode, we’ve compiled a list ordered chronologically from oldest to youngest at the time of their debut. This list aims to provide an interesting perspective on the casting choices throughout the show’s long and rich history, celebrating the diverse talents who have journeyed in the TARDIS.
Intriguing Facts About Doctor Who Companion Actors’ Ages:
Before we dive into the comprehensive list, here are some standout facts regarding the ages of Doctor Who companion actors when they first graced our screens:
- Millennial Milestone: Tosin Cole, born in 1992, holds the distinction of being the only companion actor born in the 1990s.
- Seventies Star: Freema Agyeman, born in 1979, is the sole companion actor born in the 1970s. (Expanding the companion definition slightly to include Mickey Smith brings in Noel Clarke, born in 1975, and considering Nardole adds Matt Lucas, born in 1974).
- Chibnall Era Elders: The era under showrunner Chris Chibnall featured the two oldest companion actors at their broadcast debut: Bradley Walsh at 58 and John Bishop at 54.
- Mature Women at the TARDIS Doors: Catherine Tate leads as the oldest woman at her debut, aged 37 or 38, depending on the episode considered. Jacqueline Hill follows as the second oldest at 34.
- Closest to the Beginning: Daphne Ashbrook was born closest to the inception of Doctor Who, on January 30th, 1963. (If River Song is considered a companion, Alex Kingston, born on March 11th, 1963, is another close contender).
- Youngest Traveler: Matthew Waterhouse claims the title of the youngest actor to debut as a companion, at just 18 years old.
- 21st Century Companion: Millie Gibson marks a new era as the first actor born in the 21st century to become a Doctor Who companion.
- First Companion, Seasoned Actor: William Russell was the first companion actor born, in 1924, bringing a wealth of experience to the role from the outset.
- Common Debut Ages: The ages of 23, 24, and 28 are the most frequently occurring ages for actors debuting as companions, each shared by four individuals.
The Definitive List of Doctor Who Companion Actors’ Ages:
Below is the detailed list of actors who have played Doctor Who companions, ordered from the oldest to youngest based on their age at the time of their first episode broadcast:
Bradley Walsh – Graham O’Brien
- Birth date: June 4th, 1960
- First episode broadcast: October 7th, 2018 (The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
- Age at broadcast: 58 years old
John Bishop – Dan Lewis
- Birth date: November 30th, 1966
- First episode broadcast: October 31st, 2021 (The Halloween Apocalypse)
- Age at broadcast: 54 years old
David Brierley – K-9 (Voice)
- Birth date: January 1935
- First episode broadcast: October 27th, 1979 (The Creature from the Pit, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: ~44 years old
William Russell – Ian Chesterton
- Birth date: November 19th, 1924
- First episode broadcast: November 23rd, 1963 (An Unearthly Child, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 39 years old
John Barrowman – Jack Harkness
- Birth date: March 11th, 1967
- First episode broadcast: May 21st, 2005 (The Empty Child)
- Age at broadcast: 38 years old
Catherine Tate – Donna Noble
- Birth date: December 5th, 1969
- First episode broadcast: December 25th, 2006 (The Runaway Bride) / April 5th, 2008 (Partners in Crime)
- Age at broadcast: 37/38 years old
John Leeson – K-9 (Voice)
- Birth date: March 16th, 1943
- First episode broadcast: October 1st, 1977 (The Invisible Enemy, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 34 years old
Jacqueline Hill – Barbara Wright
- Birth date: November 17th, 1929
- First episode broadcast: November 23rd, 1963 (An Unearthly Child, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 34 years old
Daphne Ashbrook – Grace Holloway
- Birth date: January 30th, 1963
- First episode broadcast: May 12th, 1996 (Doctor Who TV Movie)
- Age at broadcast: 33 years old
Jean Marsh – Sara Kingdom
- Birth date: July 1st, 1934
- First episode broadcast: December 4th, 1965 (The Daleks’ Master Plan, episode 4)
- Age at broadcast: 31 years old
Mandip Gill – Yasmin Khan
- Birth date: January 5th, 1988
- First episode broadcast: October 7th, 2018 (The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
- Age at broadcast: 30 years old
Ian Marter – Harry Sullivan
- Birth date: October 28th, 1944
- First episode broadcast: December 28th, 1974 (Robot, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 30 years old
Pearl Mackie – Bill Potts
- Birth date: May 29th, 1987
- First episode broadcast: April 15th, 2017 (The Pilot)
- Age at broadcast: 29 years old
Caroline John – Liz Shaw
- Birth date: September 19th, 1940
- First episode broadcast: January 3rd, 1970 (Spearhead in Space, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 29 years old
Mary Tamm – Romana I
- Birth date: March 22nd, 1950
- First episode broadcast: September 2nd, 1978 (The Ribos Operation, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 28 years old
Adrienne Hill – Katarina
- Birth date: July 22nd, 1937
- First episode broadcast: November 6th, 1965 (The Myth Makers, episode 4)
- Age at broadcast: 28 years old
Lalla Ward – Romana II
- Birth date: June 28th, 1951
- First episode broadcast: September 1st, 1979 (Destiny of the Daleks, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 28 years old
Freema Agyeman – Martha Jones
- Birth date: March 20th, 1979
- First episode broadcast: March 31st, 2007 (Smith and Jones)
- Age at broadcast: 28 years old
Elisabeth Sladen – Sarah Jane Smith
- Birth date: February 1st, 1946
- First episode broadcast: December 15th, 1973 (The Time Warrior, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 27 years old
Arthur Darvill – Rory Williams
- Birth date: June 17th, 1982
- First episode broadcast: April 3rd, 2010 (The Eleventh Hour)
- Age at broadcast: 27 years old
Janet Fielding – Tegan Jovanka
- Birth date: September 9th, 1953
- First episode broadcast: February 28th, 1981 (Logopolis, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 27 years old
Jenna Coleman – Clara Oswald
- Birth date: April 27th, 1986
- First episode broadcast: March 30th, 2013 (The Bells of Saint John)
- Age at broadcast: 26 years old
Peter Purves – Steven Taylor
- Birth date: February 10th, 1939
- First episode broadcast: June 26th, 1965 (The Chase, episode 6)
- Age at broadcast: 26 years old
Tosin Cole – Ryan Sinclair
- Birth date: July 23rd, 1992
- First episode broadcast: October 7th, 2018 (The Woman Who Fell to Earth)
- Age at broadcast: 26 years old
Louise Jamieson – Leela
- Birth date: April 20th, 1951
- First episode broadcast: January 1st, 1977 (The Face of Evil, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 25 years old
Sophie Aldred – Ace
- Birth date: August 22nd, 1962
- First episode broadcast: November 23rd, 1987 (Dragonfire, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 25 years old
Jackie Lane – Dodo Chaplet
- Birth date: July 10th, 1941
- First episode broadcast: March 26th, 1966 (The Massacre, episode 4)
- Age at broadcast: 24 years old
Billie Piper – Rose Tyler
- Birth date: September 22nd, 1980
- First episode broadcast: March 26th, 2005 (Rose)
- Age at broadcast: 24 years old
Katy Manning – Jo Grant
- Birth date: October 14th, 1946
- First episode broadcast: January 2nd, 1971 (Terror of the Autons, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 24 years old
Anneke Wills – Polly
- Birth date: October 20th, 1941
- First episode broadcast: June 25th, 1966 (The War Machines, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 24 years old
Mark Strickson – Turlough
- Birth date: April 6th, 1959
- First episode broadcast: February 1st, 1983 (Mawdryn Undead, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 23 years old
Michael Craze – Ben Jackson
- Birth date: November 29th, 1942
- First episode broadcast: June 25th, 1966 (The War Machines, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 23 years old
Carole Ann Ford – Susan Foreman
- Birth date: June 16th, 1940
- First episode broadcast: November 23rd, 1963 (An Unearthly Child, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 23 years old
Nicola Bryant – Peri Brown
- Birth date: October 11th, 1960
- First episode broadcast: February 23rd, 1984 (Planet of Fire, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 23 years old
Karen Gillan – Amy Pond
- Birth date: November 28th, 1987
- First episode broadcast: April 3rd, 2010 (The Eleventh Hour)
- Age at broadcast: 22 years old
Bonnie Langford – Melanie Bush
- Birth date: July 22nd, 1964
- First episode broadcast: November 1st, 1986 (Terror of the Vervoids, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 22 years old
Frazer Hines – Jamie McCrimmon
- Birth date: September 22nd, 1944
- First episode broadcast: December 17th, 1966 (The Highlanders, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 22 years old
Maureen O’Brien – Vicki
- Birth date: June 29th, 1943
- First episode broadcast: January 2nd, 1965 (The Rescue, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 21 years old
Wendy Padbury – Zoe Herriot
- Birth date: December 7th, 1947
- First episode broadcast: May 4th, 1968 (The Wheel in Space, episode 2)
- Age at broadcast: 20 years old
Millie Gibson – Ruby Sunday
- Birth date: June 19th, 2004
- First episode broadcast: Late 2023 (?)
- Age at broadcast: 19 years old (estimated)
Deborah Watling – Victoria Waterfield
- Birth date: January 2nd, 1948
- First episode broadcast: May 27th, 1967 (The Evil of the Daleks, episode 2)
- Age at broadcast: 19 years old
Sarah Sutton – Nyssa
- Birth date: December 12th, 1961
- First episode broadcast: February 7th, 1981 (The Keeper of Traken, episode 2)
- Age at broadcast: 19 years old
Matthew Waterhouse – Adric
- Birth date: December 19th, 1961
- First episode broadcast: October 25th, 1980 (Full Circle, episode 1)
- Age at broadcast: 18 years old
Bonus: Characters Often Considered Companions
This section includes characters who, while not always officially designated as companions, are often considered part of the extended TARDIS family by fans:
Bernard Cribbins – Wilfred Mott
- Birth date: December 29th, 1928
- First episode broadcast: December 25th, 2007 (Voyage of the Damned)
- Age at broadcast: 78 years old
Gerald Flood – Kamelion (Voice)
- Birth date: April 21st, 1927
- First episode broadcast: March 16th, 1983 (The King’s Demons, episode 2)
- Age at broadcast: 55 years old
Alex Kingston – River Song
- Birth date: March 11th, 1963
- First episode broadcast: May 31st, 2008 (Silence in the Library)
- Age at broadcast: 45 years old
Matt Lucas – Nardole
- Birth date: March 5th, 1974
- First episode broadcast: December 25th, 2015 (The Husbands of River Song)
- Age at broadcast: 41 years old
Nicholas Courtney – Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
- Birth date: December 16th, 1929
- First episode broadcast: February 17th, 1968 (The Web of Fear, episode 3)
- Age at broadcast: 38 years old
Noel Clarke – Mickey Smith
- Birth date: December 6th, 1975
- First episode broadcast: March 26th, 2005 (Rose)
- Age at broadcast: 29 years old
Conclusion:
Looking at the ages of actors when they first became Doctor Who companions reveals a fascinating spectrum. From the seasoned William Russell to the youthful Millie Gibson, the show has consistently brought diverse talent into the TARDIS. This list not only celebrates these wonderful actors but also offers a unique lens through which to appreciate the ever-evolving world of Doctor Who and its enduring appeal across generations. The range of ages highlights the show’s ability to resonate with viewers of all ages, both through the characters and the actors who portray them.
