Doctor Who's Human Side...Kicks

This year, the Doctor has a new companion in the TARDIS, Donna Noble, played by comedian Catherine Tate. She's quite different to more recent companions - the blonde and cheeky Rose (Billie Piper) and the beautiful Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) - but what Tate brings to the role is something those two lacked: a down-to-earth, no-nonsense attitude that keeps the Doctor on his Time Lord toes.

Tate, however, is not the first one to break the mould. The Doctor's companions haven't always been pretty human girls - voracious omnisexual Captain Jack travelled with the Doctor and Rose a few years back (before he landed his own series, Torchwood). Back in 1963, the Doctor's first ever companions were definitely unsexy schoolteachers, Ian and Barbara, plus his own granddaughter, Susan.

Over the years, other TARDIS travellers have included kilt-wearing Scotsman from the battle of Culloden, Jamie; computer programmer from the future, Zoe; ever-popular journalist, Sarah Jane Smith; alien savage, Leela; robot dog, K9; Time Lady, Romana; maths genius, Adric; treacherous alien schoolboy, Turlough; and smart-mouthed teenager, Ace.

And it's not always their job to be the screamer who needs rescuing. In more recent times, they've been just as instrumental to defeating enemies as the Doctor has, and Donna Noble, so it appears, is going to be even more crucial to events further down the track than Rose and Martha ever were. And all from a 30-something redhead with a chip on her shoulder and a sharp tongue to boot! Long live Donna Noble!

Doctor Who screens on Sundays at 7.30pm on ABC1. Click here to view Citysearch's TV guide.

Tim Hunter, July 2008