# Bernard Cribbins got credited as a Companion! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 2, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373 "2010-01-02T04:57:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/1 "2010-01-02T04:57:41Z")
Those who know what I’m talking about may skip this. Most of the rest of you knew it a week ago. He deserved it. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/2 "2010-01-02T05:02:20Z")
RIP?? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/3 "2010-01-02T05:07:32Z")
Oh Wilf was awesome! I must have teared up 4 or 5 times during that episode. God it still hasn’t really sunken in yet. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/4 "2010-01-02T05:09:03Z")
Oh. My bad. I saw an inaccurate obituary. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/5 "2010-01-02T05:10:29Z")
why RIP? Has he died? I can’t see anything on Google news about it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/6 "2010-01-02T09:40:28Z")
It was another member of the cast who died. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/7 "2010-01-02T12:36:04Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Those who know what I’m talking about may skip this. Not to be junior-modding, or anything, but if your OP is really aimed at people who don’t know what you’re talking about, you might want to fill in a few more details. I recognize the name from _Fawlty Towers_ and _Casino Royale_, and I get the _Doctor Who_ reference, but how does one become officially recognized as a companion? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/8 "2010-01-02T13:18:37Z")
By being listed as such on the BBC Dr Who [website](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/characters/), for a start. But there he’s listed as a Friend and Ally. Interestingly, Wilfred isn’t a Companion, but Astrid and Lady Christina are. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/9 "2010-01-02T17:38:28Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > but how does one become officially recognized as a companion? Big spoiler warning. I mean it. Don’t open unless you’ve seen the Christmas special Really. Last chance He gets himself in mortal danger, and the Doctor has to sacrifice one of his remaining lives to release him. Only companions do that. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/10 "2010-01-02T18:01:27Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Big spoiler warning. > > I mean it. Don’t open unless you’ve seen the Christmas special > > Really. Last chance > > He gets himself in mortal danger, and the Doctor has to sacrifice one of his remaining lives to release him. Only companions do that. Well, if that’s the criteria for becoming an official companion, then most of the Doctor’s recognized companions really aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/11 "2010-01-02T18:34:52Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > By being listed as such on the BBC Dr Who [website](http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/characters/), for a start. But there he’s listed as a Friend and Ally. > > Interestingly, Wilfred isn’t a Companion, but Astrid and Lady Christina are. Mere technicalities. He got second billing. That makes him a Companion. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/12 "2010-01-02T20:18:02Z")
Actually, third billing. John Simm was second, and he’s definitely not a companion. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/13 "2010-01-02T20:24:25Z")
BTW, non-Brits can’t get into the “real” Doctor Who website. It says, “not available in your area” or “UK only.” ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/14 "2010-01-02T22:57:57Z")
I’m gonna be rightly pissed if he dies in the show and the OP spoiled the fact. I just checked the Wiki page on Bernard Cribbins is not dead, so I hope that the ‘RIP’ is not a spoiler. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/15 "2010-01-03T02:16:19Z")
Tommy, I already apologized for my error. ☹ He’s alive and well. 🙂 Okay, third billing, but after the last two Time Lords. ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/16 "2010-01-03T14:14:49Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Tommy, I already apologized for my error. ☹ He’s alive and well. 🙂 > > Okay, third billing, but after the last two Time Lords. I missed the apology, but absolutely accepted. It aired here in the US last night and I plan to cozy up with a nice warm drink and watch both episodes later today. Mr. Tennant’s love and respect of the series absolutely showed in his performance and will be sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/17 "2010-01-04T04:12:57Z")
I want a Wilf action figure. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/18 "2010-01-04T04:23:49Z")
I’m used to actors on the Beeb being only there. It wasn’t until Robot Arm mentioned Fawlty Towers that it clicked: “He’s the hotel inspector!” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/19 "2010-01-04T04:24:52Z")
And he is absolutely a Companion. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373/20 "2010-01-04T05:35:04Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I’m used to actors on the Beeb being only there. It wasn’t until Robot Arm mentioned Fawlty Towers that it clicked: “He’s the hotel inspector!” Did you ever see him in [The Last Detective](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080593/)? Well worth checking out. Note that it also has 6th Doctor actor Colin Baker in a medium sized role. (Not a major part, nor a bit part) This was later re-made with 5th Doctor Peter Davison in the [title role](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312895/). A triple Who connection. Bernard’s version was better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernard-cribbins-got-credited-as-a-companion/523373.md?page=2)