Doctor Who may finally have a way to revisit one of its most overlooked companions: Martha Jones. A new audio adventure with David Tennant and Freema Agyeman could give the character the recognition her television era never quite delivered.
Martha Jones deserves another journey
Across 63 years of time-travelling stories, the series has introduced plenty of companions who fans consider underappreciated, including Belinda Chandra, Danny Pink, Katarina and Sara Kingdom. Martha, played by Freema Agyeman, belongs firmly in that conversation.
Martha arrived in 2007 during the opening episode of series 3, Smith and Jones. She was an intelligent, capable medical doctor who repeatedly stood up for what was right, even when doing so placed her life in danger. Her time travelling with the Tenth Doctor lasted just 13 episodes before she left, although she later appeared briefly in series 4.
David Tennant has already opened the door
There is a promising reason for fans to hope. In Doctor Who Magazine issue 633, Tennant discussed returning as the Tenth Doctor for a new Big Finish production. He also said he would like to make more audio dramas and shorter adventures.
“It might be nice to do some with Freema [Agyeman]; that would complete the set.”
Tennant has already recorded Big Finish stories with Catherine Tate and Billie Piper, so a production with Agyeman would add Martha to that group. His comments are not confirmation that a Ten-and-Martha project is being developed, but they show that the idea has genuine support from the actor.
Why Fourteen might be the better Doctor
A direct reunion between Martha and the Tenth Doctor would be welcome, but a story pairing Martha with the Fourteenth Doctor could offer more dramatic value. Fourteen is the incarnation Tennant played after Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor regenerated into his face. Rather than immediately moving on, this Doctor had to confront the grief and trauma left unresolved from his earlier life.
That storyline eventually led to bi-generation, an unusual form of regeneration that split the old body from the new one. Fourteen was therefore able to remain behind and continue adventuring with Donna Noble.
His renewed focus on emotional repair leaves an obvious gap: his relationship with Martha. While Fourteen addressed what he needed to with Donna, there is still plenty to explore between the Doctor and the companion he treated so poorly during series 3.
The uncomfortable truth about Ten and Martha
Martha’s television run followed Rose Tyler’s departure, and the Doctor was still bitter and emotionally closed off after that separation. As a result, he was often neglectful and inconsiderate toward Martha.
He repeatedly compared her with Rose and dismissed concerns that deserved to be taken seriously. Episodes such as The Shakespeare Code and Human Nature also placed Martha in situations where her experiences as a Black woman were belittled rather than properly acknowledged. The relationship improved towards the end of series 3, but Martha never fully escaped the shadow of Rose.
That treatment was not evidence that Martha was a weak companion. In fact, she repeatedly saved the Doctor. She resuscitated him in Smith and Jones, helped him recover his memories in The Family of Blood, and travelled around Earth telling people about him in Last of the Time Lords. Those actions gave the Doctor the strength to defeat the Master. At several points, Martha was the more heroic figure in the partnership.
Big Finish could repair the unfinished relationship
An audio drama would give the story room to deal with the resentment, grief and unresolved affection between Martha and the Doctor. It could reunite Ten and Martha, or use Fourteen to examine the damage his earlier self caused without pretending that the past did not matter.
Big Finish has already provided Tennant with several Doctor Who audio adventures. Agyeman has also worked with the company on Torchwood, the more adult spin-off from Doctor Who. The creative connection is therefore already there, even though no Martha project has been confirmed.
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Whether Tennant, Agyeman and Big Finish ultimately return to Martha’s story remains uncertain. Tennant has expressed interest; the next step is for Agyeman and Big Finish to agree that Martha Jones deserves one more trip through time.
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