Doctor Who is not a human
In the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works , the term `` companion '' refers to a character who travels with , or shares the adventures of the Doctor . Doctor Who . Doctor Who has also spawned numerous spin-offs , including comic books , films , novels , audio dramas , and the television series Torchwood ( 2006 -- 2011 ) , The Sarah Jane Adventures ( 2007 -- 2011 ) , K-9 ( 2009 -- 2010 ) , and Class '' ( 2016-present ) , and has been the subject of many parodies and references in popular culture .