Being a companion is a relatively thankless job on Doctor Who. The perks may be great, especially the travel, but the demands of the position and the constant danger make it understandable why there is a certain shelf life for those who become the Doctor’s travelling partner.
People come and go through all of our lives, and that is especially the case on Doctor Who. Given that his lifespan measures in millennia, it is understandable that the Doctor would seek out travelling companions to share his journeys. Unfortunately, those companions often leave in relatively short order.
Perhaps this is due to the constant danger and the demands of the position. Being under constant fire from Daleks or Cybermen, not to mention the Doctor’s other sworn enemies, can be tiresome. Add in the Doctor’s demands and expectations, and it is not surprising that a companion would burn out over time.
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This likely is why those actors who are chosen as the companion do not stay with the Doctor for long. While the Doctor himself keeps changing, most companions tend to last about a series or two, with only Tegan and Sarah Jane staying for four consecutive seasons. Clara had been the longest lasting of the new companions, appearing in thirty stories, but companions that remain for that length of time are more of a rarity.
That one to two year shelf life for the various companions may be for the best. While there are others whom we would want to see return, or may have fared better with a different incarnation of the Doctor, most are more interchangeable than even the Doctor or other recurring guests. In that way, the constant change keeps the show fresh for the viewers, introducing a different dynamic every couple of years.
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As a new companion is slated to be announced tomorrow, it will be an exciting time to imagine what their travels with the Doctor will be like. Before getting too attached, however, just remember that a companion’s time with the Doctor is rather fleeting.