Carole Anne Ford (1963-1964): - Carole was not happy with how Susan was portrayed, thinking that the character wasn't developing. Whitaker and Lambert had previously thought about axing Jacqueline Hill as Barbara to shake the cast up. However after Carole's complaints were heard and that her husband was looking for her to leave the role it was decided that Susan would leave the TARDIS at the end of The Dalek Invasion of Earth
William Russel and Jacqueline Hill (1963-1965) - Both William and Jacqueline wished to leave at the end of the second recording block. This would be the original finale of the series but now pernaltamate episode of Season 2, The Chase.
Maureen O'Brian (1964-1965) - Producer John Wiles was unhappy of Maureen's complaints of her dialogue in the story The Myth Makers that he asked Vicki to be written out of the story.
Adrienne Hill (1965) - Following the sudden axing of the character Vicki, Katrina was swiftly added to replace her. It was difficult to have a companion from the past who had to be explained to constantly what things were, including things that the audience would be aware of. Therefore Wiles asked Terry Nation to kill off Katarina in Episode 4 of The Daleks' Master plan
Jean Marsh (1965) - Sara Kingdom was brought in to fill the female companion role in The Daleks' Master Plan that was originally meant for Vicki then Katarina. John Wiles and Donald Tosh briefly thought about making her continue but decided that she too should be killed off at the end of the serial.
Peter Purves (1965-1966) - New producer and script editor, Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davies respectively both thought that Peter's character, Steven was shallow and not interesting for the audience. They decided that Steven should be written out of the series.
Jackie Lane (1966) - Following their decision to axe Peter Purves as Steven, Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davies decided to have a clean sweep of companions therefore axing Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet.
William Hartnell (1963-1966) - Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davies got permission from their superiors to axe William Hartnell as the Doctor as he was finding it difficult to remember lines. Lloyd and Davies were also aware that viewing figures were going down so thought that a new star as the doctor would gain more viewers.
Michael Craze and Anneke Wills (1966-1967) - Lloyd and Davies thought that now the TARDIS crew had Jamie, who was a popular success with children, that they didn't need Michael Craze's companion, Ben Jackson. Michael was axed and Anneke decided to leave with him. Lloyd and Davies were planning on axing her in the next story Evil of the Daleks but now they had no need.
Deborah Walting (1967-1968) - Deborah Walting wished to leave the series
Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines (1966-1969), Wendy Pedbury (1968-1969) - Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines had previously told showrunner, Peter Bryant that they would leave at the end of Season 6. New coming producer, Derrick Sherwin, hoped that Wendy would remain as Zoe for the new format that would begin with Season 7. However Wendy too left, meaning that all the leads were leaving in one story.
Caroline John (1970) - Barry Letts thought that Caroline's character, Liz was too intelligent to serve as the audience's surrogate. Therefore she was axed from the show at the end of the seventh recording block.
Roger Delgado (1971) - The decision was made to make Roger's character, the Master no longer the villain in every story, as it was feared from the fanbase that he may loose his popularity. The Master was ot be written out in the final story of season 11, The Final Game but Delgado's death prevented this
Nicholas Courtney and John Levene (1970-1973) and Richard Franklin (1971-1972) - Stories set on Earth was set up at the start of season 7 both to be cheaper for the show and to make Doctor Who different. Letts and Dicks both decided that it was time for the Doctor to return to space and time after requests from the fanbase. This meant that the UNIT Trio could no longer be regular. They too, like the Master, became recurring thereafter.
Katy Manning (1971-1973) - Katy Manning suggested to Letts that she might leave at the end of season 10. Letts concurred that Manning remaining has Jo for another season would be damaging for her as she would likely be typecast. Letts also thought that Jon Pertwee might leave at the end of the next season and he didn't want the doctor and the companion leaving at the same time. Therefore Lettsa and co-writer, Robert Sloman decided to write out Katy Manning as Jo Grant.
Jon Pertwee (1970-1974) - Jon Petwee was best friends with Roger Delgado. Delgado was a former series regular (as the master) for season 8 and had been recurring since. The final story of season 11 would have seen Delgado written out as the Master. This however never occurred because Delgado died in a car crash whilst filming in Turkey. This was very upsetting for the cast. Pertwee had lost a friend and at the end of the last season Katy Manning left as the companion. The UNIT Regulars were in the show less and less and season 11 would be the last season that was run by the Letts and Dicks partnership that had lasted for the entirety of Pertwee's run. Pertwee thought that if he continued he would be the only one left of the UNIT Family + Crew. The BBC were keen on him remaining but Pertwee wasn't keen. Pertwee asked the BBC to increase his pay but they declined, therefore Pertwee decided to leave Doctor Who.
Ian Marter (1974-1975) - Ian Marter was brought in as Harry Sullivan to be the more action man type of role like Ian Chesterton was for the first doctor. Originally it was an idea that the 4th Doctor would be an elderly man but the casting of a younger Tom Baker meant that Ian's character, Harry was now redundant. That was Hinchcliffe, the new producer's, view. Robert Holmes, the script editor disagreed with this. He thought that Harry was valuable and key ingredient to the series. Hinchcliffe, as showrunner, overruled Holmes and asked Ian Stuart Black to axe Harry. Hinchcliffe later regretted his descision.
Elizabeth Sladen (1973-1976) - Elizabeth Sladen informed producer and showrunner Philip Hinchcliffe that she wished to leave at the beginning of season 14. Originally Holmes came up with the idea that she would be killed off. Sladen protested saying that it wouldn't be good for the younger audiences. Therefore Sarah Jane was written out a different way.
Louise Jameson (1976-1978) - Louise Jameson informed producer and showrunner Graham Williams that she wished to leave Doctor Who at the end of Season 15. Graham Williams failed to write an exit scene for Leela because he believed that he could convince Jameson last minute to remain for Season 16. However Jameson did not change her mind and still wished to leave at the end of Season 15. Graham Williams therefore had to write a bizarre exit for the character of Leela where she mysteriously falls in love with Time Lord Guard, Andred. Louise was unhappy with this as she wished her character to be killed off. Williams thought this to be too upsetting for a young audience
Mary Tamm (1978-1979) - Mary Tamm was unhappy with the way her character, Romana was going. She thought that Romana was turning into just another screaming companion. Williams was eager for Tamm to continue into the next season but Tamm was not quick to respond. Tamm finally informed Williams that she did not wish to continue into Season 17. Tamm left it too late that there was no time to add an ending to the character at the end of season 16.
David Briely (1979-1980) - Following John Leeson's departure from the show as the voice of K9 in Season 16, Graham Williams had to look for a new voice actor, David Briely. Williams liked the character of K9 as did the audience so he thought that the character had to continue past the leaving of John Leeson. When John Nathan Turner succeeded Graham Williams at the end of season 17 he was keen to change the cast. Briely met with JNT to see if he could star in the next season as a character and not as only a voice. JNT declined and this caused Briely to leave the role as the voice of K9.
John Leeson (1977-1980) - At the end of season 16, John Leeson wished to leave the role as the voice of K9. Graham Williams and the audience loved the character of K9 so Williams was eager for a new voice actor, which came with David Briely. When Briely left the show after a disagreement with incoming showrunner John Nathan Turner, JNT tried to convince Leeson to return to the show, promising him that K9 would not have many stories and this would be his final season. Leeson agreed. John Nathan Turner then wrote K9 out of the show at the end of the fifth story Warrior's Gate. This caused an outcry from the audience.
Lalla Ward (1979-1980) - When John Nathan Turner became showrunner he wanted to change the cast because he felt that the character TARDIS crew of two time lords and a robot dog were too intelligent and that there was no easy way of explaining the plot to the audience as the crew would understand what was going on and had no means to explain it. John Nathan Turner therefore axed Lalla Ward as Rommana, along with John Leeson as K9 at the end of Warrior's Gate.
Tom Baker (1974-1981) - Tom Baker was getting more and more demanding. He was very keen to part of more of the behind the scenes production. His disagreements with former showrunner Graham Williams was one of the lesser reasons why he decided to leave the show. John Nathan Turner wanted to do away with the humourous side of Doctor Who that Graham Williams introduced. This upset Tom Baker greatly as he preferred that side of Doctor Who. Baker was also upset with the axing of co-star Lalla Ward, who was his wife. Baker therefore decided to leave the role as the Doctor after seven years. JNT was know concerned as Season 18 would loose both the nation's favourite companion of all time, K9, and the nation's favourite doctor. He offered Elizabeth Sladen the chance to return as Sarah Jane Smith to help bridge the gap between Doctors in the New Beginnings Trilogy (the last two Tom Baker stories and the first Peter Davison). She declined. Then JNT offered Louise Jameson the chance to return as Leela. She declined also. He then considered keeping K9 for the trilogy but it had already been leaked to the press of his axing. John Nathan Turner therefore abandoned his plot of bringing back a familiar friend by bringing back an old enemy, the Master.
Mathew Waterhouse (1980-1982) - John Nathan Turner had built the TARDIS crew to 4 just like it was in the eariler days. However, JNT felt that the TARDIS Crew was too crowded and it was difficult for writers to write for 4 lead actors. JNT decided that he had to axe one of the 3 companions. He went with Mathew Waterhouse as Adric, the longest serving companion of the three of them. This was because he thought that Waterhouse was awkward to be around. JNT also decided to kill off the character so the audience would not feel that the doctor and his companions were always safe. Mathew Waterhouse was very upset about this. He didn't want to leave and he also thought that when he did he would return someday. Now that his character was killed off, Mathew could and never did return to Doctor Who.
Sarah Sutton (1981-1983) - Come mid Season 20, JNT asked the writer of Terminus to write Nyssa out. JNT felt that Nyssa had run her course on the show. Peter Davison actively objected to this, thinking that Nyssa was the perfect companion for his doctor. Peter's disagreements did not change JNT's mind and Terminus became Sarah Sutton's last adventure as Nyssa.
Janet Fielding (1981-1984) - At the end of Season 19, JNT wanted to leave a cliffhanger. He decided that Janet Fielding's Tegan being left behind was perfect for this. However when the next season arrived JNT had changed his mind and asked the writers to re include her. At the beginning of Season 21, Janet Fielding and her co stars said that they wanted to leave. JNT decided that Tegan should be the first to go so she was written out in the 4th serial.
Gerald Flood (1983-1984) - After the axing of popular robot companion, K9, JNT wanted to introduce a new robot - now a humanoid - Kamelion. The android prop that Gerald Flood would voice was actually a real android. One problem was that the android could only be operated properally by its creator. Unfortunately the creator died so there was no one who knew how to operate Kamelion. Therefore JNT and Eric Saward decided to write Kamelion out.
Mark Strickson (1983-1984) - At the beginning of Season 21 all three of the regular cast had asked to leave. JNT and Eric Saward agreed to space this out through the season. Janet was the first to go, then an unexpected exit for Gerald Flood, then it was time for Mark's Turlough to be written out.
Peter Davison (1981-1984) - When Peter Davison agreed to be the Doctor he signed a three season contract. Davison was disappointed by the scripts in Season 20 and, with encouragement from Patrick Troughton, Davison informed JNT that he wished to leave at the end of season 21.John Nathan Turner hoped that Davison would sign on for one more season as, at this point, Patrick Troughton was the only doctor to do three seasons. JNT decided that Davison would leave in the penultimate story so the audience could get used to the 6th Doctor before the 9 month season break. This upset Davison who wanted to do three full seasons. Davison also thought that the scripts for season 21 were much better than season 20 and had later regretted not signing on for one more season.
Nicola Bryant (1984-1986) - JNT and Eric Saward both decided to replace Peri mid-way through The Trial of a Timelord. They planned to kill her off. JNT met with Nicola Bryant to discuss his plans for her and she excepted her axing as she was intending to leave soon anyway.
Colin Baker (1984-1986) - After falling ratings, BBC One Controller, Michael Grade informed JNT and executive producer Jonathan Powell that if Doctor Who wanted to continue to its 24th Season then Colin Baker would have to be axed from the show. JNT tried to convince Michael Grade for Colin Baker to have one 4 part serial at the beginning of season 24 so that his doctor could have a regeneration story. Michael Grade agreed. Colin Baker however was furious. He demanded to have one last season because between seasons he would be out of work and he didn't want to be out of work for 9 months only to return for one story. This was not excepted by Michael Grade. Colin Baker therefore left. His doctor regenerated at the beginning of serial one of season 24, without Colin Baker being present.
Bonnie Langford (1986-1987) - JNT suggested to Bonnie that her character be written out midway through season 25, Bonnie declined asking for the character to be written out at the end of the first serial. JNT declined and decided to write Mel out at the end of season 24.
Sophie Aldred (1987-1989) - After the cancellation of the show at the end of season 26, Sophie Aldred's Ace could no longer continue. The failed 30th anniversary episode would have seen her return. Then after Seagal agreed with the casting of Sylvester McCoy, he the planned to have a role for Ace, who would later be written out in favour of a new companion. This however was vetoed by the BBC. The future 6th series of The Sarah Jane Adventures would have finally dealt with what happened to Ace. This however never happened after the death of Elizabeth Sladen.
Sylvester McCoy (1987-1989, 1996) - When Philip Seagal manage to secure Doctor Who for Fox television in America it was initially unknown whether it would be a reboot of the former show or continuation. Philip Seagal at first was not keen on re-using Sylvester McCoy and cast new Doctor Paul McGann. The write assigned to the pilot, Mathew Jacobs was keen on having the Doctor regenerate at the beginning of the film to the new doctor, Paul McGann. At first Seagal opposed the idea as the American audience would be unaware of the concept of regeneration and would be confused. He did however later agree. Jacobs envisioned Sylvester McCoy to be the one to regenerate to Paul McGann. Jo Wright (the representative for the BBC) wanted Tom Baker to be the doctor at the beginning as he was the only actor to play the doctor who was known in the United States. Seagal agreed with Jacobs and Sylvester McCoy was cast as the 'old doctor'. Seagal now envisioned the series to be a continuation of the orignal.
Paul McGann, Daphne Ashbrook and Yee Tee Yso (1996) - The Doctor Who TV Movie was not a success in America, with only a 9% audience share. No where near the minimum that Fox wanted which was 17%. Therefore the series was cancelled leaving the Doctor and his companions not returning. Yee Tee Yso's Chang Lee and Daphne's Grace Halloway had already been written out at the end of the TV film but there were hopes that Grace Halloway would return in the never made TV series. Seagal announced that no TV Series was to be made when former DW writers, Pip and Jane Baker requested to write for the forthconming TV series. When Russel T Davies got permission to make Doctor Who he wanted to star off with a new doctor and new companion so Paul McGann and crew were not brought back. McGann would later have his regeneration in the Doctor Who minisode in 2013 The Night of the Doctor.
Bruno Langley (2005) - When Russel T Davies brought Doctor Who back he wanted to create a companion who wasn't capable of travelling in the TARDIS. Bruno's Adam was this role. The character was therefore only meant to appear in the two stories.
John Barrowman (2005) - Captain Jack was only meant to appear for the remainder of series 1, but Russel T Davies always knew that he was going to bring the character back for the 3rd series. Something he didn't know, however, at the time of creation was that Captain Jack would be the lead star in the new spin off show called Torchwood.
Christopher Eccleston (2005) - Christopher Eccleston never got on with people higher up then him in Doctor Who. He therefore decided to leave after one series. The key details of why he left are still very much hidden.
Billie Piper (2005-2006) - Billie Piper thought that two series on a demanding show was enough so asked Russel if she could leave Doctor Who.
Freema Agyman (2007) - Russel T Davies only intended Martha to be in one series but did plan to have her brought back in the next series and in Torchwood series 2.
Catherine Tate (2006, 2008) - Catherine Tate portrayed Donna Noble in a one off performance for the Christmas special. She greatly enjoyed her time on Doctor Who and asked Russel T Davies if she could reprise the role for the 4th series. He agreed. This meant that Donna would have to leave at the end of the series.
Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill (2010-2012) - By the time series 7 started, Karen Gillan's Amy Pond had become the longest running companion of the modern era, spanning two full seasons and the upcoming series 7. Steven Moffat thought that the story of the Ponds was over and decided to write Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill's Rory Williams in the mid series finale.
Jenna Coleman (2012-2015) - Jenna Coleman originally left at the end of series 8. This is also what everyone thought at the time as well. She later agreed to return in the Christmas Special of that year where she would be killed off. After the filming of the episode had concluded Jenna Coleman had once again changed her mind about leaving. Clara's "death" was now another dream. Jenna Coleman appeared in series 9 where she made her last appearance, becoming the longest running modern era companion. However, with the upcoming Christmas Special absent of a companion (Pearl Mackie joins AsBill (pun intended) in Series 10 proper) it off cause possible that we may see Clara again.
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