Clara Oswald: By the Numbers
Connor Johnston explores the facts and figures of Jenna Coleman’s companion.
Tonight, Clara Oswald’s legacy comes to a close with “Hell Bent,” being the final appearance of Jenna Coleman in Doctor Who for the foreseeable future *sniff*. Among the millions of Clara tributes destined to hit DWTV and the web in the next few weeks, today I wanted to explore the statistical impact of Clara Oswald on the show and truly depict the extant of her influence over the last 3 series. Tonight, as we mourn the ending of an era and celebrate one of the greatest companions of all time, the numbers tell the tale…
You can read the previous “By the Numbers” articles here:
- The 50th Anniversary… By the Numbers by Gustaff Behr
- Regeneration… By the Numbers by Connor Johnston
- Series Openers… By the Numbers by Connor Johnston
31
Clara Oswald (Or variations there upon) has appeared in 31 televised stories of Doctor Who since her debut in 2012’s “Asylum of the Daleks” through the echo of Oswin Oswald. Jenna then returned in the 2012 Christmas Special “The Snowmen” and has appeared in every story in the 3 years since. Note this record is based on publicity and not individual interpretation meaning that “Face the Raven” is counted as an individual story, and both “The Girl Who Died / The Woman Who Lived” and “Heaven Sent/ Hell Bent” are counted as 1 story each.
3
Of these 31 appearances, 3 episodes in Clara’s time aboard the TARDIS have been classed as ‘Companion-Lite’ including “The Crimson Horror”, “The Woman Who Lived” and “Heaven Sent.”
10
A measure of her incredible impact in the history of the show, Clara’s magic number means she has appeared in more stories than a whopping 10 Doctors including William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, John Hurt, Christopher Eccleston and – at least for the time being – Peter Capaldi.
3
This leaves only Tom Baker (sitting comfortable on 41), Matt Smith (39) and David Tennant (37) as the only three Doctors in the show’s history as yet to overcome her tally.
1
This also makes Clara Oswald the longest-serving Doctor Who companion of all time (in terms of individual stories), beating Sarah Jane’s record of 22 (Including her many canon-returns), Rose Tyler’s record of 26 (Counting “Partners in Crime”, “The End of Time” and “Day of the Doctor”, not counting “The Poison Sky” and “Midnight”) and Amy Pond’s 28 (Including “The Doctor the Widow and the Wardrobe” and “Time of the Doctor”.
5
Through her on-screen life we have seen Clara (and once again, variations there upon… probably just best to accept this as a rule) hold down 5 jobs including Junior Entertainment Manager of Starship Alaska, Waitress at the ‘Rose and Crown’, Governess to Francesca and Digby Latimer, Nanny to Angie and Artie Maitland and finally (and most substantially) teacher at Coal Hill High school.
13
Through various platforms, avenues and mainly due to the “Name of the Doctor”, Clara has appeared on screen with all 13 Doctors – breaking yet another companion record.
4
Of course if you’re otherwise inclined, Clara has appeared on screen in person (real life, tangible actors) with 4 Doctors including of course the Eleventh Doctor as played by Matt Smith, the Twelfth Doctor as played by Peter Capaldi, the War Doctor as played by John Hurt and the Tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant.
9
Over her time as companion Clara has had a grand total of 9 pseudo departures and/or deaths, including ‘dying’ in “Asylum of the Daleks”, “The Snowmen” and “The Magician’s Apprentice”, ending her ‘story’ in “The Name of the Doctor”, storming out in a magnificent fashion during “Kill the Moon”, embarking in her last hurrah in “Mummy on the Orient Express”, bidding a bittersweet farewell in “Death in Heaven” and living out into old age in “Last Christmas”… culminating of course her ultimate* demise during “Face the Raven”.
(* as far as we know.)
5
We’ve met 5 of Clara’s family members and/or loved ones (aka extended family members) including parents Ellie and Dave Oswald, her Gran, her step-mother Linda and of course her departed partner Danny ‘Rupert’ Pink.
7
A grand total of 7 Actresses have played the role of Clara – including of course Jenna Coleman, Sophie Downham in “Name of the Doctor” and 5 more uncredited actresses portraying the early years of her life in “The Rings of Akhaten”
30
In her time aboard the TARDIS, Clara has battled against and encountered a grand total of 30 monsters and villains including the Daleks, Ice Warriors, the Foretold, the Boneless, the Quantum Shade and the Cybermen among many others. This number is again subject to interpretation in that it separates Kizlet and the Whispermen from the Great Intelligence, so to for the Fisher King and the ghosts. Finally this figure also assumes there was no entity in Listen.
4
Jenna Coleman has portrayed 4 named variations on her character – including Oswin Oswald, Clara Oswin Oswald, Clara Oswald and Bonnie the Zygon.
13
Clara’s character has been written by a grand total of 13 scriptwriters including Neil Cross, Mark Gatiss, Steve Thompson, Neil Gaiman, Phil Ford, Gareth Roberts, Jamie Mathieson, Peter Harness, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Toby Whithouse, Catherine Tregenna, Sarah Dollard and finally, Steven Moffat.
111
Clara Oswald has appeared in 111 Prose adventures with the Doctor including numerous Novels, Short Stories, Comics and Audio Exclusives.
67+
Clara has worn over 67 plus outfits throughout her time on the show. I say ‘plus’ because after spending so much time hunting for little flashbacks and cameos of different outfits I’m almost certain I’ve missed probably half a dozen and lost my sanity in the process.
10
Clara has walked upon the sands of 10 different planets and moons onscreen; including Earth, Gallifrey, Akhaten, Trenzalore and Skaro.
6
Clara has appeared in 6 short episodes or ‘skits’ including “The Ultimate Guide”, “Proms 2013 skit”, “BAFTAs 2013 Skit”, “Clara and the TARDIS”, “He Said She Said” and “The Bells of St John: A Prequel”
4
Breaking yet another record among companions, Clara has featured heavily in 4 verified specials including “The Snowmen”, “The Day of the Doctor”, “The Time of the Doctor” and “Last Christmas”. This could increase if we were counting the feature-length episodes of “Death in Heaven” and “Hell Bent”.
3
Clara has featured in three series openers, trapped inside a Dalek Asylum as Oswin Oswald in Series 7’s “Asylum of the Daleks”, welcoming and learning to accept a new Doctor in Series 8’s “Deep Breath” and travelling to the planet of the Daleks in Series 9’s “The Magician’s Apprentice / The Witch’s Familiar”.
3
Similarly Clara has featured in three series finales, sacrificing herself for the Doctor in Series 7’s “Name of the Doctor”, losing her love and leaving the Doctor in Series 8’s “Dark Water / Death in Heaven” and tonight bowing out in Series 9’s “Heaven Sent / Hell Bent”.
32
Out of almost 1,200 (no joke ALMOST 1,200!!!) feature articles published on Doctor Who TV on record – 32 of them to date have focused centrally on Clara… Well, now, 33.
38th…
“Hell Bent” is the 38th and final episode featuring Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald in just over 3 and a half years.
It’s time to say goodbye… tonight on BBC1.
