Martha Jones

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Martha's narrative arc is anchored by her time in the TARDIS, which began when she helped save the day after her hospital was teleported to the Moon. The Doctor initially invited her for a single trip but soon accepted her as a full-time companion, admitting she was 'never just a passenger' and even giving her the key to the TARDIS in the episode '42'. Her journey was emotionally complex; she struggled with unrequited feelings while the Doctor remained oblivious. This tension peaked during the two-part story 'Human Nature' and 'The Family of Blood', where an amnesiac Doctor fell for a human, leading Martha to lament, 'You had to go and fall in love with a human... and it wasn't me'. The series finale, 'The Sound of Drums' and 'Last of the Time Lords', marked her most defining moment. When the Master took over Earth, Martha escaped capture and spent a year traveling the globe alone. Her mission was to keep the Doctor's memory alive in the human consciousness, a plan that ultimately restored him and reversed time. Recognizing the unhealthy nature of their relationship after more than a year of travel, she left the TARDIS of her own accord, telling the Doctor she could not waste her life pining for someone who could not love her back.

In Their Own Story

After leaving the TARDIS, Martha's life on Earth evolved significantly. She finished her medical degree and became engaged, only to find a new path when recruited into UNIT as a 'medical officer'. Her journey continued in Torchwood series two (2008), where she was temporarily drafted by Jack Harkness following the death of Owen Harper. In the episode 'Reset', she joined Cardiff-based Torchwood Three, but left in 'A Day in the Death' once satisfied that Owen had returned to duty after his resurrection. Martha returned to Doctor Who series four (2008) for a three-episode arc starting with 'The Sontaran Stratagem'. Here, she appeared as a more assertive figure who summoned the Doctor to Earth. Later, in 'The Stolen Earth' and 'Journey's End', she had been promoted to a U.S. division of UNIT and worked on a top-secret teleportation project. Facing Davros, she threatened to detonate nuclear warheads to destroy Earth rather than let him succeed, though the Doctor stopped her. In the final moments, she left with Jack Harkness and Mickey Smith. By 2010's 'The End of Time', she had married Mickey, fighting aliens alongside him before being saved from a Sontaran sniper by the Doctor just prior to his regeneration.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace Martha Jones through specific eras defined by her evolving role. Her debut was in series three (2007) with 'Smith and Jones', where she met the Tenth Doctor. Before this, Freema Agyeman appeared in series two's 'Army of Ghosts' as Adeola Oshodi, Martha's cousin. The character also voiced an appearance in the 2007 animated serial 'The Infinite Quest'. Her post-TARDIS career is highlighted by her time with Torchwood and UNIT. In literature, she appears in BBC Books' 'New Series Adventures', starting with 'Sting of the Zygons' and including 'Made of Steel' (published before her TV debut). The book 'The Story of Martha' details her adventures during the year on Earth. For audio drama enthusiasts, she features in the Radio 4 play 'Lost Souls' (Summer 2008) and the Big Finish production 'Dissected' (February 2020), followed by 'The Year of Martha Jones' in December 2021. Originally conceived as a character from 1914, she was finalized as a 23-year-old medical student from 2008. Her family includes her mother Francine (Adjoa Andoh), father Clive (Trevor Laird), sister Tish (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and brother Leo (Reggie Yates). Despite rumors, creator Russell T Davies confirmed she is not a lesbian.

Did You Know?

• Martha was originally conceived to be from the year 1914 before being changed to a 23-year-old medical student in 2008.
• She spent exactly one year traveling alone around Earth to save the Doctor and reverse the Master's invasion, an event detailed in the book 'The Story of Martha'.
• Freema Agyeman first appeared on screen as Martha's cousin, Adeola Oshodi, in the 2006 episode 'Army of Ghosts' before playing Martha Jones.
• In 'The End of Time', Martha is credited specifically as portraying 'Martha Smith-Jones', confirming her marriage to Mickey Smith.
• She was intended to appear in Torchwood series three and The Sarah Jane Adventures but could not due to the actress's other work commitments.