Another Doctor Who companion now with the Time Lords

[mr friendly guy]

Its Liz Shaw as played by Caroline John

It’s with great sadness that we confirm the death of Caroline John who played the Doctor’s companion, Liz Shaw, in 1970. She passed away earlier this month.

Steven Moffat, Doctor Who’s lead writer and Executive Producer, commented, ‘Caroline was a brilliant actress and in her role as Liz Shaw, a tremendous co-star for Jon Pertwee in his first year as the Doctor. She was not just a sidekick but a scientist in her own right and a match for the universe's number one know-all. The Doctor's companions should never be his assistants - they're the people who keep him on his toes, and that's what Caroline did. From everyone at the show, our thoughts go out to Caroline’s family.’

Caroline starred in Doctor Who throughout Jon Pertwee’s first season, meaning she was an ever-present at a crucial time in the show’s history. Not only were viewers getting used to a new and very different Doctor, they now had adventures set exclusively on present day Earth and in colour for the very first time! Caroline helped ensure the new era got off to a great start and years after her exploits with the Time Lord, the character of Liz Shaw – feisty, independent and a great friend to the Doctor - remained well-remembered and much-loved.

Caroline John was born in 1940 and studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She was an accomplished stage actress, touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre and her television credits include Z Cars, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, A Perfect Spy and the BBC’s 1981 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, playing opposite Tom Baker. She also returned to the world of Doctor Who making brief appearances in The Five Doctors and Dimensions in Time.

In recent years she appeared in the hugely successful Love Actually and to the delight of many fans she recorded DVD commentaries for most of her Doctor Who episodes. She will be greatly missed.

Caroline John, 1940 – 2012.

While DW previously had "strong" female roles eg Barbara (and weak ones as well), Liz Shaw was arguably the first one who was supposed to be the Doctor's equal. A scientist who had degrees in numerous fields, unlike say Billy Piper's Rose who RTD kept on saying was her equal when the character barely made it out of high school.

Caroline John also starred with Tom Baker (the fourth Doctor) in the adaptation of the Sherlock Holme's novel, the Hounds of the Baskervilles, which no doubt will be found on youtube somewhere.

So another DW companion has now joined the Time Lords.

[The Yosemite Bear]

damn and anotherone from my favorite era too (Sladen, the Brigadeer, it's been a rough 12 months for Pertwee and Baker era fans)

[Havok]

Right, because Rose having a college degree would have helped her with a Dalek and travel through dimensions and time.
Being the Doctor's equal has nothing to do with book smarts as you will NEVER be his equal that way.

RIP Caroline John

[Eternal_Freedom]

Damnit. RIP.

[mr friendly guy]

Right, because Rose having a college degree would have helped her with a Dalek and travel through dimensions and time.
Being the Doctor's equal has nothing to do with book smarts as you will NEVER be his equal that way.

RIP Caroline John

Never be his equal in all fields, but in some yes. Never be his equal if you discount Romana (superior Time Lord knowledge in theoretical, but not practical), Zoe Herriot (human computer with rapid calculations), K-9 (well he is a computer and can beat the Doctor in chess) etc.

There were also male companions who provided the brawn to the Doctor's brains, particularly in his earlier incarnations before they made him an action hero. While they weren't equal in the intellectual field, you can at least see how they were complementary and useful in universe, rather than out universe as eye candy, or as a means for the audience to better relate to the Doctor's character.

[The Yosemite Bear]

hey could we get another Leela action girl companion?

[PREDATOR490]

hey could we get another Leela action girl companion?

Not a chance in hell.
They are consistantly deadset on running with the sterotype companion that does nothing but act as eye candy exposition tool. Additionally we have the hilarious overbearing Doctor will not tolerate violence... unless its his own.

Incidentally, thats why Liz Shaw got booted off. They didnt like that she was ACTUALLY something of an assistant to the Doctor rather than a companion who gets brought along because he is a lonely man. Better to go back to someone that can scream and act stupid on cue so the Doctor can handily rush to the rescue. The line from Steven Moffat is just hilariously ironic.

I liked Liz Shaw and it was a shame to see her time cut short.
Very good character and I would happily take her over Amy Pond or Rose Tyler any day

I imagine a lot of the actors from Doctor Who are going to be dropping like flies over the coming years. Downside of having a show that has had such a massive run.

[The Yosemite Bear]

the closest to Liz Shaw we've had since than has been Ace.....

[Eternal_Freedom]

There were also male companions who provided the brawn to the Doctor's brains, particularly in his earlier incarnations before they made him an action hero. While they weren't equal in the intellectual field, you can at least see how they were complementary and useful in universe, rather than out universe as eye candy, or as a means for the audience to better relate to the Doctor's character.

There was also Ian, who is the archetypal male companion. He was very much the Doctor's equal in terms of stories, if not in technical details. He would take charge, make decisions, face down the Doctor when he was set on a wrong course of action (in the days when the Doctor was allowed to be fallible of course).

[Havok]

Man, I guess I have been watching some different version of Doctor Who than everyone else.

[mr friendly guy]

There were also male companions who provided the brawn to the Doctor's brains, particularly in his earlier incarnations before they made him an action hero. While they weren't equal in the intellectual field, you can at least see how they were complementary and useful in universe, rather than out universe as eye candy, or as a means for the audience to better relate to the Doctor's character.

There was also Ian, who is the archetypal male companion. He was very much the Doctor's equal in terms of stories, if not in technical details. He would take charge, make decisions, face down the Doctor when he was set on a wrong course of action (in the days when the Doctor was allowed to be fallible of course).

I was thinking of Ian, and Jamie when I typed that. I think William Hartnell's doctor once mentioned that Chesterton provided the brawn, while he will provide the brains.

[Ahriman238]

Man, I guess I have been watching some different version of Doctor Who than everyone else.

Considering Liz Shaw was a companion back in 1970, yes and no. The new show has been great at capturing the very best (and some of the worst) of the old show.