Watch Doctor Who, The Companions

Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television series that first aired in 1963. The show follows the adventures of an alien time-traveler known only as the Doctor, who travels through time and space in a ship called the TARDIS, which appears on the outside as an old-fashioned police box. Over the years, the show has gone through several changes, with different actors taking on the role of the Doctor and a revolving cast of companions helping him (or her) on their adventures.

One of the most beloved eras of the show is the revival that began in 2005, which is the focus of the BBC America series Doctor Who: The Companions. The show features interviews with the actors who played the Doctor and the companions during this era, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and clips from some of the most iconic episodes.

One of the earliest and most popular Doctors in the revival is Christopher Eccleston, who played the Ninth Doctor in the first season. Eccleston's Doctor is a bit darker and more serious than some of his successors, but still has a wry sense of humor and a fierce loyalty to his friends. His companion in the first season is Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. Rose is a working-class Londoner who accidentally gets swept up in the Doctor's adventures and becomes his companion. Piper brings a lot of heart to the role, and the chemistry between her and Eccleston is one of the highlights of the season.

In the second season, David Tennant takes over the role of the Doctor, and his version of the character is one of the most popular and enduring. Tennant's Doctor is a bit more quirkily charming than Eccleston's, and his relationship with his companions is often more playful and flirtatious. His main companion for most of his tenure is Rose Tyler, but other companions include Martha Jones (played by Freema Agyeman) and Donna Noble (played by Catherine Tate).

One of the most iconic companions is Amy Pond, played by Karen Gillan. Amy is a feisty, redheaded Scotswoman who initially meets the Doctor as a child and then later as an adult. She becomes his primary companion for much of Matt Smith's tenure as the Doctor. Smith's Doctor is perhaps the most alien of all the Doctors, with his strange, childlike mannerisms and quirky dress sense. His relationship with Amy, and later her husband Rory (played by Arthur Darvill), is one of the emotional centers of the show during this era.

Peter Capaldi takes over the role of the Doctor in later seasons, and his version of the character is a bit grumpier and more irascible than some of his predecessors. His main companion is Clara Oswald, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. Clara is a complex and enigmatic character who starts out as a mystery the Doctor needs to solve, but becomes a close friend and ally. Capaldi's Doctor is also notable for his relationship with Missy (played by Michelle Gomez), a female version of the Doctor's archenemy, the Master.

Overall, Doctor Who: The Companions provides a fascinating look at one of the most beloved sci-fi shows of all time, as well as the actors and characters who helped make it so iconic. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of the Doctor, this series is sure to provide plenty of thrills, laughs, and emotional moments.

Doctor Who, The Companions is a series that ran for 1 seasons (1 episodes) between March 31, 2013 and on BBC America