Tom Baker’s Rejected Doctor Who Companion Reveals A Big Problem With The Classic Era

Tom Baker wanted a famous comic actor as his Doctor Who companion, and this would-be casting highlights a wider issue with the classic series’ vision of what TARDIS companions should be. As the longest-reigning Doctor in Doctor Who history, Tom Baker enjoyed his fair share of companions, ranging from the wild and untamed Leela to the refined Time Lady Romana. Baker presided over one of Doctor Who‘s most popular and critically-acclaimed periods, and his companions played a significant part in his success as the Fourth Doctor. Half a century later, and with Doctor Who celebrating its 60th anniversary, much has changed.