Life After Doctor Who: Where Are The Companions Now?
By Lacy Baugher
Catherine Tate as Donna Noble on “Doctor Who” (Photo: BBC)
Catherine Tate
Catherine Tate was already a well known performer in her own right before joining Doctor Who. She continued to appear in various comedic roles and sketches after her departure from the TARDIS, including Big School, Billionaire Boy and a couple of episodes of the UK Drunk History. Most notably for American audiences, she played Nellie Bertram in the final three seasons of the US The Office. (Spoiler alert: Tate was far and away the best part of that show’s slow spiral toward its end.)
Tate did return to Doctor Who for David Tennant’s farewell in late 2009. Sadly, Donna wasn’t given a lot to do in that episode. (Unless you count being unconscious for a large chunk of it. Sigh.)
What’s next for her? Tate is slated to take her Catherine Tate Show act on a 21-date tour in the UK later this year. She will resurrect several of her best known characters for new sketches, including teenager Lauren Cooper, Irish nurse Bernie, office worker Geordie and Essex girl Sam.
And for those who miss Donna – which let’s face it, is basically all of us – Tate has thankfully recorded several new Doctor Who audio adventures with Tennant. Not that any of that makes up for Donna having her mind wiped or anything (seriously, never over it), but, you know, it’s something!
Next: John Barrowman