Gallery: All Aboard The TARDIS… of Love

There’s clearly something about traveling in the outer realms of time and space that brings out the romantic in people (and Time Lords). How else can you explain the sheer volume of furtive cuddling, infatuation, and general doe-eyed smoochery among the Doctor’s companions? A pheromone button in the console? Ambient lighting?

Here’s a brief roundup of some of the most prominent lovey-dovey moments in Doctor Who history.

: We start with River Song, the Doctor’s very own snugglebunny.

: The Doctor’s very first companion, his granddaughter, ended her traveling days when she met and fell in love with a human freedom fighter called David, during The Dalek Invasion of Earth in the 22nd Century. The Doctor had to lock her out of the TARDIS to ensure she stayed with the man she loved. Who says Time Lords don’t understand romance?

: OK, so Grace was the first human to snog the Doctor, and this idea was a little uncomfortable at first, but look at the Doctor. Just look at him! Never mind the constrictions of the TV show’s narrative, poor Grace is only human (and the Doctor didn’t exactly push her away). Let’s put it down to post-regeneration giddiness, shall we?

: You’d expect a savage amazon warrior to be in touch with her animal urges, but luckily for the Fourth Doctor, she refrained from snaring and hog-tying any mates during their travels together. In fact, the TARDIS has such an elevating effect on her that she ends up falling in love with a Time Lord called Andred and living on Gallifrey.

: We already know about these two, don’t we? And let’s not linger on how their daugher River Song was conceived. In fact, let’s not linger at all. Give them some privacy, people!

: It’s not clear whether these two were already close before they decided to investigate their freakishly clever pupil Susan Foreman, or if their subsequent adventures in the TARDIS brought them together. All we know is that, according to Sarah Jane Smith, they married, became professors in Cambridge, and haven’t aged a day since 1965. That’s the rejuvenating power of love (and probably some leaky time goop from the TARDIS).

: Another TARDIS veteran who found love as a result of her adventures (with Professor Clifford Jones, an environmental scientist who wants to take her up the Amazon). The Doctor should consider starting a dating service.

: Mickey only came into the TARDIS because he was Rose’s boyfriend and was worried about her. He watched as Rose became more and more entangled in the Doctor’s troubles, and eventually realized he had to step back. Then he met Martha Jones, and they decided to go and shoot Sontarans for a honeymoon. As for Rose…

: The unspoken love between these two grew from a very pure place. She could see how lonely he was; he needed someone to rescue him from the horror of his wartime experiences. Of course the Doctor can’t settle down with anyone, but at least Rose’s love was rewarded, in the shape of her own, human version of the Doctor, who will grow old with her.

: On paper they should never have got together. She’s a sparky, uptown girl; he’s a scrappy backstreet guy (I think I know a song about this) on shore leave from the navy. But a quick trip aboard the TARDIS and Bob’s yer uncle. See that look he’s giving her? That’s pure love, that is.

: Yet another of the Doctor’s charges who left the TARDIS when love came calling. Vicki ended up in Ancient Greece, as the actual Cressida (of Troilus and… fame). This could only be beaten as a history-sized love story if it turned out Sarah Jane Smith was actually Mona Lisa.

: Not a love match made in the stars, despite, y’know, all the stars and stuff. It’s the night before Amy’s wedding, a long lost figure from her past has returned, and he’s rather dashing, no wonder the poor girl’s head gets turned a little. Luckily (for Rory) the Doctor puts a stop to it right away. But Amy is far from the first companion to get the wrong idea…

: Oh dear, poor Martha. A handsome man arrives in her hospital, kisses her, saves everyone from the walking rhino men and invites her off for a trip in his little box. What’s a girl to think? Well not that. Talk about mixed signals.

: Let’s be honest, this might not be a lasting love affair. But when Alonso Frame wanders into a space bar, after losing his ship and nearly his life, what he needs is a pick-me-up, and that’s exactly what the Doctor provides, in the shape of the rampant Captain Jack Harkness.

: Never have two people with obvious chemistry been so keen to point out to anyone who will listen that they’re not a couple. To the extent that it looks like denial, and indeed probably would be if she hadn’t had her memory wiped in order to save her life. Hands up, who thinks the Doctor whispered “it’s not you, it’s me” into her ear, as he cleaned out her synapses?