In recent years of the show love has been a major factor in the biology of Doctor Who. David Tennant's Tenth Doctor and Billie Piper's Rose are the prime example of this. The next two incarnations have been romantically inclines with River Song, and the Eleventh Doctor's companions Amy and Rory were an item. Back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s this was very rare. William Hartnell's First Doctor gets engaged in 'The Aztecs' and Paul McGann in the form of Doctor number Eight does more than a bit of flirting with one time companion Grace. Apart from this most of the Doctor's opinion on relationships can be summed up by the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) in 'City of Death' "you're an attractive woman ... probably".
And so we come to the subject of my article; The Third Doctor.
Doctor number three was portrayed by Jon Petwee and happens to be my favourite Doctor. He was also the one who grabbed my interest in the program and was the first doctor I saw a complete story of. During his time he aquired three female companions with ditsy Jo Grant as his mainstay.
She travelled with the Doctor from Jon's second season and left in his penultimate. The relationship between this Doctor and this companion is considered one of the strongest and easily rivals Four and Sarah-Jane, Ten and Rose, Seven and Ace and Two and Jamie, but was there something underlying going on?
Obviously in the 1970s this kind of storyline with a childrens Hero just wouldnt have happened but looking closer I definately feel there was something more than just friends.
In season eight's opening episode Jo comes in all bumbling and isnt the ideal companion for this Doctor. She ruins his experiment in her first few minutes and has been quickly relegated to "making tea" standard of person by him. But they exchange a small quip and the relationship begins.
Thus must be Jo's first proper job, maybe she has asked her uncle to pull strings and get her the position because she had failed in every other job she had. I can just imagine her being responsible for burning down a chip shop or causing absolute meltdown in a factory. I think at this moment she warms to the Doctor and you can even see the twinkle in her eyes.
It was originally concieved that she would be involved with Captain Mike Yates and you can see snippets of this in future serials but it never comes to fruit. By the end of the series Jo has befriended the Doctor so much she is willing to give her life for him.
In her second series, Jo's affection for the Doctor is on full show. The best example can be found in 'The Curse of Peladon'.
"All dolled up for a night of the town with Mike Yates" it's often quoted and most people would be curious to know what a night on the town would be with kind hearted Captaon Yates, the Brigadier shows more enthusiasm for entertainment at the beginning of 'The Planet of The Spiders' when he enjoys a good erotic dancer even if the comedian leaves him a little off.
But its not about what she and Mike will get up to its the fact she chooses the Doctor over him. She is about to go on a date but when the doctor comes calling she drops everything. At this point she hasnt been into space, 'The Time Monster' has been the closest for her. So she wouldn't necessarily expect a quick trip to a distant planet. Her affection for The Doctor must be greater than her affection for poor Mike Yates.
In the same story she falls for the King of Peladon, an emotion that is returned. Throughout the story the very handsome, kind and Glam Rock dressed character gives her plently of signals, to the point that he is only an engagement ring away from a full Royal Wedding. But she says no. Once again remember that this is her first journey into space.
It's important to think realistically what is actually on offer. She could be a queen with a beautiful king who has a personality to match. Its a whole new world to explore, a new planet with new people. We know nothing of what her home life brings, nor do we know what her working hours are so we do not know if she is spending extra time with UNIT. So we don't entirely know what she is leaving behind, but on screen we see nothing more than work.
Remember The Doctor hasn't shown her anywhere like this before. This, for all she knows, is her one chance to explore space. So why go back with The Doctor? Why say no to the king?
This is where my theory starts. In the same story Jo has turned two guys down so she can go with The Doctor.
This is a prime example for this season but the next series opener 'The Three Doctors' shows more evidence Doctor number Three has taken her fancy.
The only timelord she has met other than The Doctor has been The Master. He is evil so there is a good reason our Jo doesnt go with him to travel. But why didnt she suddenly want to go with the other two Doctors she meets in this anniversary serial?
William Hartnel's First Doctor is trapped and she only sees him briefly and this is through a monitor. Plus he comes across as a tad grumpy so she may not have wanted to. But Patrick Troughton's version of the Doctor is completely different. Hes fun, charming, friendly and has a TARDIS that works. If travelling was so important then why not take off with him?
Obviously this would mess up the episodes we had already seen. It would be extremely complicated to fit this in, and then have Jon Pertwee not knowing who she is at the beginning of 'Terror of the Autons'. But if this was real life and travelling was that important she would have took the opportunity.
The other option we need to cancel out before we come to this conclusion that she loved the Doctor is her homelife. This would explain why she didnt want to move to Peladon, this would also explain why she didnt want to travel with a different Doctor. It doesnt explain Mike Yates but if you dont love someone you dont love someone!
The evidence for this lies within Jo's final story 'The Green Death'. Right at the end Jo agrees to move with Professor Jones to the Amazon. She has no second thoughts she just agrees. Any concern at this point is for the UNIT staff. Wouldnt your family come first?
'The Green Death' presents us with the biggest proof that she did fancy the Doctor. In this story she gets to know a new man who would later become her husband. Professor Jones and Jo Grant's meeting paralells the meeting between her and the Doctor. Their love blossoms over the course of the story until we come to the moment we truely have proof it was our favourite timelord she wanted all this time.
"He reminds me of a younger you" Jo actually says this to the Doctor, shes trying to convince him that she loves Prof. Jones but if you watch the rest of the episode play out you realise that this is the moment where she is having one last chance. She is subtly hinting at the Doctor that she is marrying the man because he reminds her of him, the pause suggests she is waiting for the 'you can have me' response but never gets it. He doesnt see the hint and the celebrations begin.
The Doctor sneaks out, he has lost a friend.
Jo Grant watches the Doctor leave, she watches the man she loves walk out the door.
On a side note that shot of the Doctor driving Bessie, his wonderful vintage car, is a beautiful image.
A year later a crystal used in this story is then returned to the Doctor by Jo. She's moved on by the sound of the letter accompanying it and can finally return the only reminder of her time with the Timelord.
Katy Manning adored Jon Pertwee, watch any documentry, attend any convention or read any interview. Her feelings for him are definate. Did these feelings come through in her portrayal of Jo?
By feelings I dont mean Love in the sense I am trying to state Jo had for the Doctor, but a great friendship. This would explain why this wasnt apparent in the first few episodes but grew.
I do belive that Jo fell in love with the Third Doctor, his charm, sophistication and daredevil attitude to gadgets and vehicles is a lot to capture anyones affections.
Two afterthoughts here. The first is in regards to The Doctor's feelings towards her. In 'The Five Doctors' Jo doesn't appear, she isn't even in the Ghosts of the Past section. We all know this is due to contractual reasons but what if the affections we see between this Doctor and this companion are similar to William Hartnell and Vicki or Tom Baker and Leela? Maybe The Doctor meant more to Jo than she did to him. Although this does raise the question why was Liz Shaw and Captain Yates there, maybe it was respect? Maybe of all the companions brought to The Death Zone or appearing as Ghosts were companions the Doctor respected. Liz Shaw was a brilliant Scientist and Mike Yates redeemed himself. Maybe the only companion that returned that was purely out of love instead of respect was Susan, his granddaughter.
The second side note also returns to Mike Yates. Without Jo to love (if only from afar) what was left in UNIT for him? Why wouldnt a man scorned in love by a beautiful woman want the world to return to a simpler time, a time where he can run away from his heartache. Unfortunately for him this falls through and he heads towards meditation.