Martha Jones

The doctor who ran around the world for a year to save the man she loved.

Martha Jones is the first Black female companion in the history of Doctor Who, portrayed by Freema Agyeman. Introduced in the third series as a companion to the Tenth Doctor, she was created by Russell T Davies with the specific intention of appearing throughout the entire 2007 series and making guest returns later. A medical student who began her journey during an incident at her workplace hospital, Martha's tenure is defined by her resilience and independence. She eventually transitioned from a full-time traveler to a member of UNIT and Torchwood, balancing her life on Earth with the demands of saving humanity.

Quick Facts

Series

Doctor Who

First

"Smith and Jones" (2007)

Creator

Russell T Davies

Portrayed by

Freema Agyeman

Full name

Martha Smith-Jones

Affiliation

Tenth Doctor
UNIT
Torchwood

Family

Clive Jones (father)
Francine Jones (mother)
Letitia Jones (sister)
Leo Jones (brother)

Spouse

Mickey Smith

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.

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?

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.